Question

which thalamic nucleus routes information from the primary motor cortex down the spinal cord to your muscles?
lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn)
medial geniculate nucleus (mgn)
ventro - anterior (va) and ventro - lateral (vl) nuclei
ventral postero - lateral nucleus (vpl)
ventral postero - medial nucleus (vpm)
none of the above

axons that terminate in the neuromuscular junction release what neurotransmitter to talk to muscle fibers?
acetylcholine
dopamine
gaba
glutamate
norepinephrine

Explanation:

• First question: The ventro - anterior (VA) and ventro - lateral (VL) nuclei are involved in motor pathways. The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) is for visual processing, the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) is for auditory processing, the ventral postero - lateral nucleus (VPL) is for somatosensory (except face) processing, and the ventral postero - medial nucleus (VPM) is for somatosensory (face) processing.
• Second question: Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction. Dopamine is involved in reward, movement regulation (e.g., in the basal ganglia), etc. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter. Glutamate is the main excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Norepinephrine is involved in the sympathetic nervous system response (e.g., "fight - or - flight").

Answer:

• First question: ventro - anterior (VA) and ventro - lateral (VL) nuclei
• Second question: acetylcholine