MRI ARRT Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Question 1

The cerebellar vermis is best seen on which MRI plane?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Sagittal. The midline sagittal plane displays the cerebellar vermis in its entirety, clearly showing its lobular anatomy and its relationship to the fourth ventricle, brainstem, and tentorium cerebelli.

Question 2

The primary fissure of the cerebellum separates which two major lobes?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Anterior and posterior lobes. The primary fissure (preculminate fissure) is the deepest fissure on the superior cerebellar surface and divides the anterior lobe (lobules I–V) from the posterior lobe (lobules VI–IX).

Question 3

On a T1 sagittal MRI, the dentate nucleus of the cerebellum appears as:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

A crinkled hypointense band in the white matter of each hemisphere. The dentate nucleus is the largest and most lateral cerebellar deep nucleus; it has a corrugated (crinkled) appearance on MRI and contains significant iron, making it hypointense on T2 and slightly hypointense on T1 relative to surrounding white matter.

Question 4

On a midline sagittal MRI, the most anterior part of the corpus callosum is called the:

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Rostrum. The corpus callosum is divided from anterior to posterior into the rostrum (inferiormost), genu (anterior bend), body (trunk), and splenium (posterior thickening). The genu is the most anteriorly visible portion on a true midline sagittal.

Question 5

Fibers of the corpus callosum that interconnect the occipital lobes pass through which portion?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Splenium. The splenium, the thickest and most posterior part of the corpus callosum, carries fibers connecting the occipital (and posterior parietal) lobes. These fibers fan out as the forceps major.

Question 6

The arcuate fasciculus is a white matter tract that connects which regions and is critical for which function?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Broca's and Wernicke's areas; language. The arcuate fasciculus (part of the superior longitudinal fasciculus) arcs through the temporal and frontal lobes connecting Wernicke's area (language comprehension) to Broca's area (speech production); damage causes conduction aphasia.

Question 7

On DTI tractography, the corticospinal tract descends through which portion of the internal capsule before entering the cerebral peduncles?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Posterior limb. The corticospinal (pyramidal) tract runs in the posterior limb of the internal capsule, specifically its anterior two-thirds. It then continues into the middle three-fifths of each cerebral peduncle in the midbrain.

Question 8

The thalamus is connected across the midline third ventricle by which structure?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Massa intermedia (interthalamic adhesion). The massa intermedia (interthalamic adhesion or middle commissure) is a gray-matter bridge connecting the two thalami across the cavity of the third ventricle; it is absent in about 20–30% of people.

Question 9

On coronal MRI, the hypothalamus is located relative to the thalamus in which position?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Anteroinferior. The hypothalamus forms the floor and inferolateral walls of the third ventricle, lying anteroinferior to the thalamus. The hypothalamic sulcus on the lateral wall of the third ventricle marks their boundary.

Question 10

The lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus relays visual information to which cortical area?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Brodmann area 17 via the optic radiations. The LGN receives input from the optic tract and projects to the primary visual cortex (V1, Brodmann area 17) in the occipital lobe via the optic radiations (geniculocalcarine tract) that pass through the temporal and parietal white matter.

MRI ARRT Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

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