Neurophysiology and special senses: subthalamic nucleus: practice question

The best answer is B, Left subthalamic nucleus. Hemiballismus follows a lesion of the subthalamic nucleus, which normally excites the output of the basal ganglia to restrain movement.

Loss of the substantia nigra pars compacta causes a hypokinetic parkinsonian state.

Caudate damage is associated with chorea, not violent flinging movements.

A right subthalamic lesion would cause movements on the left.

It tests Neurophysiology and special senses: subthalamic nucleus in Physiology. The basal ganglia act on the opposite side of the body, so right-sided movements indicate a left lesion.

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

For each system, sketch the key graph (pressure–volume loop, oxygen dissociation curve, nephron handling) and explain it aloud. Then use the flashcards and the other Physiology questions on this site to test what stuck.

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.