Peripheral Nervous System: Comprehensive Quizzes for Medical Students

Question 1

Which cranial nerve controls the muscles used for chewing?

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Answer

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT considered a primary function of the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Performing complex cognitive tasks

Answer

Transmitting sensory information to the central nervous system

Answer

Controlling voluntary muscle movements

Answer

Regulating involuntary bodily functions

Question 3

The facial nerve (CN VII) is a mixed nerve with multiple functions. Which of the following functions is NOT performed by the facial nerve?

Accepted Answer

Constricting the pupils

Answer

Controlling facial expressions

Answer

Providing taste sensation to the anterior two-thirds of the tongue

Answer

Stimulating tear production in the lacrimal gland

Question 4

Which of the following spinal nerves innervates the muscle responsible for breathing?

Accepted Answer

T7-T11

Answer

C3-C5

Answer

C5-C8

Answer

L1-L5

Question 5

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system generally has which of the following effects on the body?

Accepted Answer

Increases heart rate and blood pressure

Answer

Dilates blood vessels in skeletal muscle

Answer

Promotes digestion

Answer

Inhibits bladder contraction

Question 6

Which of the following receptors is NOT involved in transmitting pain signals to the central nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Mechanoreceptors

Answer

Aδ fibers

Answer

C fibers

Answer

Thermoreceptors

Question 7

The dorsal root ganglia are associated with which type of nerves?

Accepted Answer

Spinal nerves

Answer

Cranial nerves

Answer

Autonomic nerves

Answer

Peripheral nerves

Question 8

The median nerve is responsible for innervating which of the following muscles in the hand?

Accepted Answer

Flexor carpi radialis

Answer

Abductor pollicis brevis

Answer

Triceps brachii

Answer

Deltoid

Question 9

A patient presents with diminished sensation on the plantar surface of the foot. Which peripheral nerve is most likely affected, and what diagnostic test would be most appropriate to confirm the diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Tibial nerve, Nerve conduction study (NCS)

Answer

Median nerve, Electromyography (EMG)

Answer

Ulnar nerve, Sensory evoked potentials (SEP)

Question 10

Which of the following correctly describes the contrasting functions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems?

Accepted Answer

Parasympathetic: Inhibitory, Sympathetic: Excitatory

Answer

Sympathetic: Inhibitory, Parasympathetic: Excitatory

Answer

Parasympathetic: Uses norepinephrine, Sympathetic: Uses acetylcholine

Answer

Sympathetic: Uses acetylcholine, Parasympathetic: Uses norepinephrine

Question 11

Which function is NOT performed by the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Breakdown of food in the digestive tract

Answer

Sensory input from the environment

Answer

Control of voluntary muscle movement

Answer

Regulation of body temperature

Question 12

Which cranial nerve is responsible for innervating the muscles of facial expression?

Accepted Answer

Facial

Answer

Trigeminal

Answer

Glossopharyngeal

Answer

Vagus

Question 13

Which type of nerve fiber is responsible for transmitting sensations of pain and temperature?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

A alpha

Answer

B

Answer

A beta

Question 14

Which symptom is commonly associated with peripheral neuropathy?

Accepted Answer

Numbness

Answer

Ringing in the ears

Answer

Loss of vision

Answer

Difficulty speaking

Question 15

Guillain-Barré syndrome is primarily caused by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

An autoimmune response

Answer

A viral infection

Answer

A genetic mutation

Answer

Physical trauma

Question 16

Identify the cranial nerve responsible for supplying motor innervation to the muscles involved in chewing.

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Answer

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Answer

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 17

Which spinal nerve is responsible for providing sensory innervation to the lateral aspect of the upper limb?

Accepted Answer

Radial nerve (C5-T1)

Answer

Median nerve (C6-T1)

Answer

Ulnar nerve (C8-T1)

Answer

Axillary nerve (C5-6)

Question 18

Explain the primary function of the dorsal root ganglia in the peripheral nervous system.

Accepted Answer

Housing sensory neuron cell bodies

Answer

Transmitting motor impulses to muscles

Answer

Regulating involuntary bodily functions

Answer

Producing cerebrospinal fluid

Question 19

Describe the primary role of the autonomic nervous system in regulating bodily functions.

Accepted Answer

Controlling involuntary bodily functions

Answer

Responding directly to conscious stimuli

Answer

Mediating voluntary skeletal muscle movement

Answer

Processing sensory information from the environment

Question 20

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for preparing the body for the "fight-or-flight" response?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division

Answer

Parasympathetic division

Answer

Enteric division

Answer

Sacral division

Question 21

Identify the type of receptor that is activated by the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction.

Accepted Answer

Nicotinic receptor

Answer

Muscarinic receptor

Answer

Adrenergic receptor

Answer

Dopaminergic receptor

Question 22

Which spinal reflex is responsible for the involuntary withdrawal of a limb from a painful stimulus?

Accepted Answer

Withdrawal reflex

Answer

Patellar reflex

Answer

Achilles reflex

Answer

Babinski reflex

Question 23

Describe the primary function of Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system.

Accepted Answer

Forming the myelin sheath and neurilemma around axons

Answer

Producing neurotransmitters

Answer

Transmitting electrical impulses along axons

Answer

Regulating blood flow to nerve tissues

Question 24

Which of the following is outside the remit of the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Higher cognitive processes

Answer

Sensory reception

Answer

Control of muscular activity

Answer

Regulation of internal body functions

Question 25

The somatic division of the peripheral nervous system primarily innervates:

Accepted Answer

Skeletal muscles

Answer

Smooth muscles

Answer

Cardiac muscles

Answer

Endocrine glands

Question 26

The cervical plexus gives rise to all of the following nerves except:

Accepted Answer

Median nerve

Answer

Phrenic nerve

Answer

Suprascapular nerve

Answer

Axillary nerve

Question 27

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for:

Accepted Answer

Preparing the body for 'fight-or-flight' responses

Answer

Promoting 'rest-and-digest' activities

Answer

Regulating blood pressure

Answer

Controlling gastrointestinal motility

Question 28

Which neurotransmitter is released at the neuromuscular junction to facilitate muscle contraction?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Dopamine

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

GABA

Question 29

The dorsal root ganglia of spinal nerves primarily contain:

Accepted Answer

Sensory neuron cell bodies

Answer

Motor neuron cell bodies

Answer

Myelinating Schwann cells

Answer

Intercalated neurons

Question 30

Which nerve injury classification system is commonly employed in clinical practice?

Accepted Answer

Sunderland classification

Answer

Guttmann classification

Answer

Lovett classification

Answer

Mayo Clinic classification

Question 31

The brachial plexus is formed by the ventral rami of which spinal nerves?

Accepted Answer

C5-C8, T1

Answer

C1-C4

Answer

L2-L4

Answer

S1-S3

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Higher-level cognitive processes

Answer

Sensory reception

Answer

Motor control

Answer

Homeostasis regulation

Question 33

The facial nerve (CN VII) primarily innervates which muscle group?

Accepted Answer

Orbicularis oculi

Answer

Masseter

Answer

Sternocleidomastoid

Answer

Trapezius

Question 34

The brachial plexus gives rise to which of the following peripheral nerves?

Accepted Answer

Median nerve

Answer

Femoral nerve

Answer

Sciatic nerve

Answer

Tibial nerve

Question 35

In which layer of the spinal cord are the cell bodies of spinal nerves located?

Accepted Answer

Gray matter

Answer

White matter

Answer

Meninges

Answer

Pia mater

Question 36

Which two main divisions comprise the autonomic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic and Parasympathetic

Answer

Sensory and Motor

Answer

Somatic and Visceral

Answer

Central and Peripheral

Question 37

Which of the following is a typical function of the sympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Stimulates heart rate

Answer

Contracts the pupils

Answer

Increases digestive activity

Answer

Promotes glucose uptake

Question 38

Which cranial nerve innervates both the heart and the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Answer

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Answer

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Control of higher cognitive functions

Answer

Sensory perception

Answer

Motor control

Answer

Regulation of visceral functions

Question 40

Which cranial nerve innervates the muscles involved in chewing?

Accepted Answer

Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

Answer

Facial nerve (CN VII)

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)

Answer

Vagus nerve (CN X)

Question 41

What type of nerve fiber transmits pain and temperature sensations?

Accepted Answer

C

Answer

Aα

Answer

Aβ

Answer

B

Question 42

Which plexus gives rise to the nerve that supplies sensation to the thumb and index finger?

Accepted Answer

Brachial plexus

Answer

Cervical plexus

Answer

Lumbar plexus

Answer

Sacral plexus

Question 43

What is the primary function of the autonomic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

To regulate involuntary bodily functions

Answer

To control voluntary movements

Answer

To transmit sensory information

Answer

To control hormone secretion

Question 44

Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for preparing the body for the fight-or-flight response?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division

Answer

Parasympathetic division

Answer

Enteric nervous system

Answer

Central autonomic system

Question 45

What neurotransmitter is released by neurons in the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine

Answer

Acetylcholine

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Dopamine

Question 46

In which structure are the cell bodies of sensory neurons located?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal root ganglion

Answer

Spinal cord

Answer

Ventral root ganglion

Answer

Cranial nerve ganglia

Question 47

The brachial plexus, responsible for innervating the upper limb, is formed by the ventral rami of which spinal nerves?

Accepted Answer

C5-T1

Answer

L2-S4

Answer

T12-L1

Answer

C1-C4

Question 48

Which cranial nerve is responsible for transmitting taste sensations from the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

Accepted Answer

Facial nerve (VII)

Answer

Hypoglossal nerve (XII)

Answer

Vagus nerve (X)

Answer

Glossopharyngeal nerve (IX)

Question 49

Which of the following areas of the body receives sensory innervation from the ulnar nerve?

Accepted Answer

Medial aspect of the hand (little finger and half of ring finger)

Answer

Lateral aspect of the arm

Answer

Posterior aspect of the leg

Answer

Anterior aspect of the thigh

Question 50

The cell bodies of spinal motor neurons, responsible for controlling voluntary movements, are located in the:

Accepted Answer

Gray matter of the spinal cord

Answer

White matter of the spinal cord (contains myelinated axons)

Answer

Ventral root ganglia (do not exist)

Answer

Dorsal root ganglia (contain sensory neuron cell bodies)

Question 51

Which of the following is **NOT** a neurotransmitter commonly released by neurons in the peripheral nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Dopamine (primarily associated with the central nervous system)

Answer

Acetylcholine (major neurotransmitter in the PNS)

Answer

GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter, found in the PNS)

Answer

Norepinephrine (important neurotransmitter in the sympathetic nervous system)

Question 52

The patellar reflex, a common neurological test, is mediated by which peripheral nerve?

Accepted Answer

Femoral nerve

Answer

Ulnar nerve

Answer

Sciatic nerve

Answer

Radial nerve

Question 53

The peripheral nervous system is essential for:

Accepted Answer

All of the above

Answer

Maintaining homeostasis (regulating internal environment)

Answer

Motor control (voluntary and involuntary movements)

Answer

Sensory perception (touch, taste, smell, sight, hearing)