PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. Obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow at the cerebral aqueduct (aqueduct of Sylvius) would lead to dilation (enlargement) of the:

a. Lateral ventricles

b. Fourth ventricle

c.

d. Subarachnoid space

e. Conus medullaris

2. CSF is principally formed at the:

a. Arachnoid villi

b. Aqueduct of Sylvius

c. Choroid plexuses

d. Subarachnoid space

e. Dorsal sagittal sinus

3. You are performing a spinal tap on an anesthetized horse and measuring CSF pressure. Cellular debris has obstructed the arachnoid villi following meningitis. What would you expect regarding CSF pressure?

a. Pressure would be higher than normal.

b. Pressure would lower than normal.

c. Pressure would be normal.

4. For many veterinary species, diagnostic sampling of CSF is often performed by placing a sampling needle in the:

a. Lateral ventricles

b. Dorsal sagittal sinus

c. Third ventricle

d. Cerebral aqueduct of Sylvius

e. Cisterna magna

5. Which two of the following are false regarding the blood­brain barrier (BBB)?

a. The BBB is very effective at the Circumventricular organs of the brain.

b. Astrocytic end-feet are thought to be associated with development of the BBB.

c. Brain capillaries generally have a high number of endothelial tight junctions.

d. Many dyes injected into the blood can typically penetrate most tissues of the body, but usually not the brain.

e. Small, uncharged, lipid-soluble molecules do not generally pass through the BBB.