Question 1

Why might it be advantageous for glial cells to serve as a "buffer" between capillaries and neurons?

Accepted Answer

A)  Glial cells can increase the speed of transfer of neurotransmitters to neurons. 
B)  Capillaries can easily burst, which could damage neurons. 
C)  Glial cells can help regulate blood flow in relation to neural activity. 
D)  Neurons can send neurotransmitters through capillaries to other neurons. 
E)  Capillaries contain toxins that can kill neurons through direct contact. 
A)  Glial cells can increase the speed of transfer of neurotransmitters to neurons. 
B)  Capillaries can easily burst, which could damage neurons. 
C)  Glial cells can help regulate blood flow in relation to neural activity. 
D)  Neurons can send neurotransmitters through capillaries to other neurons. 
E)  Capillaries contain toxins that can kill neurons through direct contact.

Question 2

You are a graduate student conducting an experiment in which you are using an intracellular electrode to record the membrane potential of an optic neuron when exposed to a very brief (0.1 second) flash of light. To your surprise, the optic neuron's membrane potential is recording at -90 mV and there is a longer-than-expected delay between the flash of light and depolarization of the neuron. You report your findings to the lab PI, who responds,

Accepted Answer

A)  "The organism likely has a mutation which causes their neurons to have lower resting potentials." 
B)  "You likely placed the electrode in an adjacent glial cell." 
C)  "The organism has improper myelination, resulting in a slower-than-normal response to light." 
D)  "Glial cells can cause neurons to have lower resting potentials; remove the glial cells and try again." 
E)  "You placed the electrode in the neuron's cell body instead of its axon." 
A)  "The organism likely has a mutation which causes their neurons to have lower resting potentials." 
B)  "You likely placed the electrode in an adjacent glial cell." 
C)  "The organism has improper myelination, resulting in a slower-than-normal response to light." 
D)  "Glial cells can cause neurons to have lower resting potentials; remove the glial cells and try again." 
E)  "You placed the electrode in the neuron's cell body instead of its axon."

Question 3

Which statement about microglia is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They develop from the neural crest and are found in the central nervous system. 
B)  They develop from the neural crest and are found in the peripheral nervous system. 
C)  They develop from the mesoderm and are found in the central nervous system. 
D)  They develop from the mesoderm and are found in the peripheral nervous system. 
E)  They develop from the neural tube and are found in the central nervous system. 
A)  They develop from the neural crest and are found in the central nervous system. 
B)  They develop from the neural crest and are found in the peripheral nervous system. 
C)  They develop from the mesoderm and are found in the central nervous system. 
D)  They develop from the mesoderm and are found in the peripheral nervous system. 
E)  They develop from the neural tube and are found in the central nervous system.

Question 4

One consequence of gap junction connections between glial cells is

Accepted Answer

A)  faster transport of neurotransmitter molecules between glial cells. 
B)  lower intracellular concentrations of potassium, allowing for continuous reuptake of potassium. 
C)  higher intracellular concentrations of potassium, slowing down reuptake of potassium. 
D)  easier transfer of nutrients between glial cells. 
E)  higher concentration gradients between glial cells. 
A)  faster transport of neurotransmitter molecules between glial cells. 
B)  lower intracellular concentrations of potassium, allowing for continuous reuptake of potassium. 
C)  higher intracellular concentrations of potassium, slowing down reuptake of potassium. 
D)  easier transfer of nutrients between glial cells. 
E)  higher concentration gradients between glial cells.

Question 5

Typical neural development involves pruning of excess connections between neurons, but this process fails without the presence of immunological complement receptor 3 (CR3). Which type of glial cell expresses CR3?

Accepted Answer

A)  Astrocytes 
B)  Microglia 
C)  Oligodendrocytes 
D)  Schwann cells 
E)  Radial glial cells 
A)  Astrocytes 
B)  Microglia 
C)  Oligodendrocytes 
D)  Schwann cells 
E)  Radial glial cells

Question 6

Glial cells generally have different resting membrane potentials than neurons. What is one consequence of this?

Accepted Answer

A)  Glial cells can continuously uptake potassium ions over a concentration gradient. 
B)  Glial cells can send faster signals to one another. 
C)  Glial cells can release more sodium ions to the extracellular space. 
D)  Glial cells can uptake more water from the extracellular space over a concentration gradient. 
E)  Glial cells can serve as effective insulators for axons. 
A)  Glial cells can continuously uptake potassium ions over a concentration gradient. 
B)  Glial cells can send faster signals to one another. 
C)  Glial cells can release more sodium ions to the extracellular space. 
D)  Glial cells can uptake more water from the extracellular space over a concentration gradient. 
E)  Glial cells can serve as effective insulators for axons.

Question 7

Glial cells are implicated in the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters. One of these is glutamate, an excess of which can activate certain receptors in neurons, leading to calcium entry and

Accepted Answer

A)  over-myelination. 
B)  increased conduction velocity. 
C)  release of other neurotransmitters. 
D)  lower resting potential. 
E)  cell death. 
A)  over-myelination. 
B)  increased conduction velocity. 
C)  release of other neurotransmitters. 
D)  lower resting potential. 
E)  cell death.

Question 8

Glial cells in the central nervous system can myelinate _______ section(s) of an axon; glial cells in the peripheral nervous system can myelinate _______ section(s) of an axon.

Accepted Answer

A)  one; one 
B)  several; several 
C)  several; one 
D)  one; several 
E)  no; several 
F) several; no 
A)  one; one 
B)  several; several 
C)  several; one 
D)  one; several 
E)  no; several 
F) several; no

Question 9

Describe at least one way in which waves of a certain ion can begin propagating through networks of glial cells.

Accepted Answer

Waves of calcium ions can begi

Question 10

Some glial cells have been shown to be especially apt at myelination, even myelinating synthetic material. This fact suggests that

Accepted Answer

A)  glial cells can myelinate any cell. 
B)  myelination must be inhibited to avoid over-myelination. 
C)  myelination is an efficient process. 
D)  glial cells must undergo cell death to avoid over-myelination. 
E)  new axons cannot be myelinated. 
A)  glial cells can myelinate any cell. 
B)  myelination must be inhibited to avoid over-myelination. 
C)  myelination is an efficient process. 
D)  glial cells must undergo cell death to avoid over-myelination. 
E)  new axons cannot be myelinated.

Question 11

Describe which glial cells respond to lesions and how they assist with clearing the lesion site.

Accepted Answer

Microglial cells are able to m

Question 12

Gaps in the myelin sheath around axons contribute to the increased velocity of conduction down axons because

Accepted Answer

A)  the nodes contain higher concentrations of potassium pumps. 
B)  ions can only flow into the axon via these nodes. 
C)  the nodes are impermeable to ions. 
D)  microglial cells make contact with the axon at the nodes in the CNS. 
E)  water can flow into the axon via these nodes. 
A)  the nodes contain higher concentrations of potassium pumps. 
B)  ions can only flow into the axon via these nodes. 
C)  the nodes are impermeable to ions. 
D)  microglial cells make contact with the axon at the nodes in the CNS. 
E)  water can flow into the axon via these nodes.

Question 13

The blood-brain barrier serves important functions. Describe its main function and suggest potential consequences if the blood-brain barrier did not exist.

Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier protec

Question 14

Glial cells play important roles during the development of the adult nervous system. Describe one such glial cell and the part it plays in development.

Accepted Answer

During CNS developme

Question 15

Like immune cells, _______ have specialized receptors for _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  astrocytes; cytokines 
B)  oligodendrocytes; adenosine 
C)  microglia; cytokines 
D)  astrocytes; glutamate 
E)  microglia; adenosine 
A)  astrocytes; cytokines 
B)  oligodendrocytes; adenosine 
C)  microglia; cytokines 
D)  astrocytes; glutamate 
E)  microglia; adenosine

Question 16

Certain glial cells can change shape when responding to an injury. How does changing from star-shaped, to globular, to round-shaped body help in this response?

Accepted Answer

A)  It allows the glial cell to travel throughout the CNS. 
B)  It allows the glial cell to send signals to damaged neurons. 
C)  It allows the glial cell to replicate. 
D)  It allows the glial cell to engage in phagocytosis, clearing debris. 
E)  It allows the glial cell to form new myelin around damaged neurons. 
A)  It allows the glial cell to travel throughout the CNS. 
B)  It allows the glial cell to send signals to damaged neurons. 
C)  It allows the glial cell to replicate. 
D)  It allows the glial cell to engage in phagocytosis, clearing debris. 
E)  It allows the glial cell to form new myelin around damaged neurons.

Question 17

Observing microglial cells in living tissue has revealed that these cells

Accepted Answer

A)  are able to change structure to become more like oligodendrocytes. 
B)  extend fine processes throughout the environment and contact surrounding cells. 
C)  transport calcium ions to neurons. 
D)  are unchanging from the time an organism reaches adulthood. 
E)  are responsible for blood clotting in injured adult brains. 
A)  are able to change structure to become more like oligodendrocytes. 
B)  extend fine processes throughout the environment and contact surrounding cells. 
C)  transport calcium ions to neurons. 
D)  are unchanging from the time an organism reaches adulthood. 
E)  are responsible for blood clotting in injured adult brains.

Question 18

Given the role that myelination plays, describe how the behavior of an organism with inadequate myelination might differ from one with proper myelination.

Accepted Answer

Organisms with inadequate myel

Question 19

Certain glial cells can release growth factors and neurotrophin-3, which have effects on the development of neurons. What does this fact suggest about glial cells?

Accepted Answer

A)  They contribute to action potentials. 
B)  They contribute to neuroplasticity. 
C)  They contribute to CNS immune responses. 
D)  They contribute to synaptic pruning. 
E)  They contribute to clearing of debris. 
A)  They contribute to action potentials. 
B)  They contribute to neuroplasticity. 
C)  They contribute to CNS immune responses. 
D)  They contribute to synaptic pruning. 
E)  They contribute to clearing of debris.

Question 20

Astrocytes placed in culture also containing T lymphocytes, a type of immune cell, have been shown to

Accepted Answer

A)  attack T lymphocytes. 
B)  both stimulate and suppress activity of T lymphocytes. 
C)  only suppress activity of T lymphocytes. 
D)  only stimulate activity of T lymphocytes. 
E)  myelinate T lymphocytes. 
A)  attack T lymphocytes. 
B)  both stimulate and suppress activity of T lymphocytes. 
C)  only suppress activity of T lymphocytes. 
D)  only stimulate activity of T lymphocytes. 
E)  myelinate T lymphocytes.

Exam 10: Properties and Functions of Neuroglial Cells

Why might it be advantageous for glial cells to serve as a "buffer" between capillaries and neurons?

Which statement about microglia is true?

One consequence of gap junction connections between glial cells is

Typical neural development involves pruning of excess connections between neurons, but this process fails without the presence of immunological complement receptor 3 (CR3). Which type of glial cell expresses CR3?

Glial cells generally have different resting membrane potentials than neurons. What is one consequence of this?

Glial cells are implicated in the reuptake of certain neurotransmitters. One of these is glutamate, an excess of which can activate certain receptors in neurons, leading to calcium entry and

Glial cells in the central nervous system can myelinate _______ section(s) of an axon; glial cells in the peripheral nervous system can myelinate _______ section(s) of an axon.

Describe at least one way in which waves of a certain ion can begin propagating through networks of glial cells.

Some glial cells have been shown to be especially apt at myelination, even myelinating synthetic material. This fact suggests that

Describe which glial cells respond to lesions and how they assist with clearing the lesion site.

Gaps in the myelin sheath around axons contribute to the increased velocity of conduction down axons because

The blood-brain barrier serves important functions. Describe its main function and suggest potential consequences if the blood-brain barrier did not exist.

Glial cells play important roles during the development of the adult nervous system. Describe one such glial cell and the part it plays in development.

Like immune cells, _______ have specialized receptors for _______.

Certain glial cells can change shape when responding to an injury. How does changing from star-shaped, to globular, to round-shaped body help in this response?

Observing microglial cells in living tissue has revealed that these cells

Given the role that myelination plays, describe how the behavior of an organism with inadequate myelination might differ from one with proper myelination.

Certain glial cells can release growth factors and neurotrophin-3, which have effects on the development of neurons. What does this fact suggest about glial cells?

Astrocytes placed in culture also containing T lymphocytes, a type of immune cell, have been shown to

Principles of Signaling and Organization

Signaling in the Visual System

Functional Architecture of the Visual Cortex

Ion Channels and Signaling

Structure of Ion Channels

Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential

Ionic Basis of the Action Potential

Electrical Signaling in Neurons

Ion Transport Across Cell Membranes

Mechanisms of Direct Synaptic Transmission

Indirect Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Release of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System

Transmitter Synthesis, Storage, Transport, and Inactivation

Synaptic Plasticity

The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Synaptic Plasticity

Mechanisms of Extrasynaptic Communication

Autonomic Nervous System

Walking, Flying, and Swimming: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Behavior in Invertebrates

Sensory Transduction

Transduction and Transmission in the Retina

Touch, Pain, and Texture Sensation

Auditory and Vestibular Sensation

Constructing Perception

Initiation and Control of Coordinated Muscular Movements

Development of the Nervous System

Critical Periods in Sensory Systems

Regeneration and Repair of Synaptic Connections After Injury

Appendix

Filters

Glial cells in the central nervous system can myelinate _ section(s) of an axon; glial cells in the peripheral nervous system can myelinate _ section(s) of an axon.

Like immune cells, _ have specialized receptors for _.