Questions About the Central (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)
Multiple-Choice Questions: CNS and PNS
1. Which of the following structures are part of the Central Nervous System (CNS)?
A) Brain and spinal cord
B) Nerves and muscles
C) Spinal nerves and ganglia
D) Autonomic nerves only
E) Sensory receptors
2. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) includes:
A) Brain and spinal cord
B) Only motor neurons
C) Cranial and spinal nerves
D) Only the sympathetic division
E) Brain stem and cerebellum
3. What protects the brain and spinal cord from mechanical damage?
A) Blood-brain barrier
B) Cerebrospinal fluid
C) Skull and vertebral column
D) All of the above
E) Only A and B
4. The largest part of the brain, responsible for thinking and voluntary actions, is the:
A) Brainstem
B) Cerebellum
C) Cerebrum
D) Hypothalamus
E) Medulla oblongata
5. Which of the following controls balance and coordination?
A) Cerebrum
B) Brainstem
C) Medulla
D) Thalamus
E) Cerebellum
6. The spinal cord primarily functions to:
A) Control vision
B) Interpret emotions
C) Transmit signals between the brain and body
D) Regulate digestion
E) Filter blood
7. Which structure connects the two hemispheres of the brain?
A) Cerebellum
B) Thalamus
C) Brainstem
D) Corpus callosum
E) Hypothalamus
8. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is part of the:
A) CNS
B) Sensory division
C) PNS
D) Spinal cord
E) Brainstem
9. The somatic nervous system controls:
A) Involuntary muscles
B) Glandular secretion
C) Voluntary muscle movements
D) Reflexes only
E) Hormone levels
10. The sympathetic division of the autonomic system is responsible for:
A) Digestion and rest
B) "Fight or flight" response
C) Voluntary muscle movement
D) Visual processing
E) Emotional thinking
11. The parasympathetic division is most active when:
A) You are running from danger
B) You are exercising
C) You are resting and digesting
D) You're angry
E) You’re solving a problem
12. Which of these cranial nerves is responsible for vision?
A) Olfactory
B) Facial
C) Optic
D) Vagus
E) Accessory
13. How many pairs of cranial nerves are there?
A) 10
B) 12
C) 14
D) 31
E) 33
14. How many pairs of spinal nerves does a typical human have?
A) 12
B) 24
C) 31
D) 33
E) 36
15. Which part of the brain controls basic vital functions like breathing and heart rate?
A) Cerebellum
B) Midbrain
C) Medulla oblongata
D) Hippocampus
E) Amygdala
16. Which structure regulates body temperature, hunger, and thirst?
A) Thalamus
B) Medulla
C) Cerebellum
D) Hypothalamus
E) Frontal lobe
17. The meninges are:
A) Brain ventricles
B) Types of neurons
C) Membranes covering the CNS
D) Nerve fibers
E) Synapses
18. The cerebrospinal fluid is found in the:
A) Bloodstream only
B) Lymph nodes
C) Ventricles and subarachnoid space
D) Bone marrow
E) Muscle tissues
19. Which lobe of the cerebrum is involved in processing visual information?
A) Frontal
B) Temporal
C) Occipital
D) Parietal
E) Limbic
20. Which type of neuron carries impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS?
A) Motor neurons
B) Interneurons
C) Efferent neurons
D) Afferent neurons
E) Reflex neurons
21. Which nervous system structure is involved in reflex arcs?
A) Cerebrum
B) Spinal cord
C) Thalamus
D) Medulla
E) Pons
22. Which part of the brain is responsible for language and speech?
A) Occipital lobe
B) Cerebellum
C) Broca’s area
D) Hippocampus
E) Pons
23. The PNS transmits information between:
A) Brain and brainstem
B) Brain and spinal cord
C) CNS and the rest of the body
D) Brain hemispheres
E) Cerebellum and cerebrum
24. Sensory neurons are part of which division?
A) Somatic motor
B) Sympathetic
C) Sensory (afferent) division of PNS
D) CNS only
E) Interneuron system
25. What is the function of the thalamus?
A) Control heart rate
B) Relay sensory information to the cortex
C) Balance hormones
D) Form memories
E) Control skeletal muscles
26. Which nervous system is responsible for involuntary control of smooth muscle?
A) CNS
B) Somatic nervous system
C) Autonomic nervous system
D) Sensory nervous system
E) Endocrine system
27. Which type of nerve fiber is myelinated for faster conduction?
A) Interneurons
B) Unipolar neurons
C) Gray matter
D) White matter
E) Non-myelinated axons
28. The frontal lobe of the brain is involved in:
A) Visual processing
B) Muscle coordination
C) Speech comprehension
D) Decision-making and personality
E) Balance
29. The limbic system plays a key role in:
A) Breathing
B) Reflexes
C) Emotions and memory
D) Sleep cycles
E) Blood pressure
30. Which cranial nerve controls heart rate, digestion, and other parasympathetic activities?
A) Optic nerve
B) Trigeminal nerve
C) Vagus nerve
D) Facial nerve
E) Glossopharyngeal nerve
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Answer Key with Explanations
1. A – CNS includes brain and spinal cord.
2. C – PNS includes cranial and spinal nerves.
3. D – All listed structures protect the CNS.
4. C – The cerebrum handles higher functions.
5. E – The cerebellum controls balance and coordination.
6. C – The spinal cord relays messages to/from brain and body.
7. D – The corpus callosum connects the hemispheres.
8. C – ANS is part of the PNS.
9. C – The somatic system manages voluntary movements.
10. B – Sympathetic division triggers "fight or flight".
11. C – Parasympathetic division activates during rest.
12. C – The optic nerve transmits visual signals.
13. B – There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
14. C – Humans have 31 spinal nerve pairs.
15. C – Medulla regulates vital autonomic functions.
16. D – Hypothalamus controls homeostasis.
17. C – Meninges are protective coverings of the CNS.
18. C – CSF fills ventricles and surrounds the CNS.
19. C – Occipital lobe processes vision.
20. D – Afferent neurons carry sensory input to CNS.
21. B – Reflexes are processed in the spinal cord.
22. C – Broca’s area governs speech production.
23. C – PNS connects CNS to the rest of the body.
24. C – Sensory neurons are part of the sensory division of PNS.
25. B – Thalamus relays all sensory data to the brain.
26. C – ANS controls smooth muscle, involuntarily.
27. D – White matter contains myelinated fibers.
28. D – Frontal lobe is tied to decision-making.
29. C – The limbic system governs emotions and memory.
30. C – The vagus nerve controls many parasympathetic activities.
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