Deck 2: Functional Neuroanatomy: The Cells and Structures of the Nervous System

Question 1

Which histological technique is used for tract tracing?

A) labeled pseudorabies virus
B) In situ hybridization
C) Golgi stain
D) Nissl stain

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The adult human brain contains

A) 100‒150 billion circuits.
B) 80‒90 billion neurons.
C) 100‒150 million neurons.
D) 100‒150 million glial cells.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The neuron doctrine

A) was confirmed using electron microscopy.
B) proposed the existence of synaptic contacts between neurons.
C) stemmed from the work of the great neuroanatomist Ramón y Cajal.
D) All of the above

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The "giant" axons of some invertebrate animals can have diameters as large as

A) 20 m.
B) 1 mm.
C) 500 m.
D) 20 nm.

Question 5

Which statement does not describe a reason that tract-tracing studies have been difficult to perform?

A) Fibers with different destinations often travel together.
B) Axons have very small diameters and therefore are hard to see.
C) Axons from different sources look alike.
D) All of the above are reasons for the difficulty.

Question 6

The size range of most nerve cell bodies is

A) 1‒10 m.
B) 1‒10 mm.
C) 10‒100 nm.
D) 10‒100 m.

Question 7

The range of diameters of mammalian axons is

A) 1‒10 mm.
B) 0.2‒20 m.
C) 0.05‒2.0 m.
D) 100‒300 m.

Question 8

In which way(s) are dendrites and axons similar?

A) Both are characterized by branching.
B) They have similar lengths.
C) Both exhibit a tapering of diameter with increasing distance from the cell body.
D) All of the above

Question 9

Dendrites are

A) a type of glial cell.
B) the input zone of a nerve cell.
C) the output zone of a nerve cell.
D) small cerebellar neurons.

Question 10

The "slow" rate of axonal transport is

A) 400 mm/day.
B) 1 m/day.
C) less than 8 mm/day.
D) 40 mm/day.

Question 11

Which statement about dendritic spines is true?

A) Alzheimer's disease is associated with a pathological change in dendritic spines.
B) Dendritic spines are outgrowths on the surface of dendrites that are modified by experience.
C) Dendritic spines are neuronal structures found along the axon.
D) Only the structure of dendritic spines can be altered by experience.

Question 12

Which statement about dendrites is false?

A) A single cell's dendrites form a dendritic tree.
B) The diversity of neuronal shapes is caused primarily by variation in the form and shape of dendrites.
C) Dendrites may be several meters in length in giraffes.
D) Dendritic spines appear to be subject to modification as a result of experience.

Question 13

Substances are conveyed from the cell body of the neuron to the distant reaches of the axon through the process of

A) innervation.
B) axonal transport.
C) neurotransmission.
D) conduction.

Question 14

Although nerve cells typically have only one axon, an axon may divide into numerous axon

A) hillocks.
B) receptors.
C) conduction zones.
D) collaterals.

Question 15

Which neurons can collect the most information?

A) Bipolar
B) Monopolar
C) Multipolar
D) Unipolar

Question 16

Every neuron has all of these components except

A) myelin.
B) dendrites.
C) axons.
D) a nucleus.

Question 17

Most neurons

A) receive input related to changes in the environment.
B) are classified as motoneurons.
C) are classified as sensory neurons.
D) are classified as interneurons.

Question 18

Synaptic vesicles are found in the

A) cell body.
B) dendritic spines.
C) axon hillock.
D) synaptic boutons.

Question 19

Axon terminals form the _______ side of a synapse, and dendrites form the _______ side of a synapse.

A) presynaptic; postsynaptic
B) input; output
C) postsynaptic; presynaptic
D) conduction; integration

Question 20

The gaps between segments of myelin are known as

A) synaptic clefts.
B) nodes of Ranvier.
C) terminal boutons.
D) neuromuscular junctions.

Question 21

The width of the synaptic cleft is about

A) 200 nm.
B) 200 m.
C) 20 m.
D) 20 nm.

Question 22

Synaptic boutons are

A) found within synaptic vesicles.
B) protrusions occurring along the length of dendrites.
C) swellings found at axon terminals.
D) specialized synapses occurring on muscles.

Question 23

The electrical impulse that stimulates neurotransmitter release, thereby transmitting information to other neurons, arises in the

A) dendrites.
B) axon hillock.
C) axon.
D) dendritic spine.

Question 24

The two major cell types that make up the nervous system are _______ cells and _______.

A) mitochondria; ribosomes
B) collateral; terminals
C) glial; neurons
D) axons; dendrites

Question 25

The major function of Schwann cells is the

A) transmission of nutrients to neurons.
B) myelination of peripheral nerve fibers.
C) scavenging of cellular debris.
D) myelination of axons in the brain.

Question 26

In the disease multiple sclerosis, myelin in the brain is lost. Which cells are responsible for myelination in the brain?

A) Oligodendrocytes
B) Schwann cells
C) Astrocytes
D) Both a and b

Question 27

Which type of cells give rise to brain tumors?

A) Pyramidal cells
B) Multipolar cells
C) Glial cells
D) Granule cells

Question 28

Which glial cells have sucker-like extensions that contact blood vessels?

A) Oligodendrocytes
B) Astrocytes
C) Microglial cells
D) Stellate cells

Question 29

Fibers that carry information away from the brain are called _______, whereas fibers that carry information toward the brain are called _______.

A) efferents; afferents
B) output zones; input zones
C) cranial nerves; spinal nerves
D) sensory nerves; motor nerves

Question 30

The three main components of the peripheral nervous system are the _______ nerves, the _______ nerves, and the _______ nervous system.

A) frontal, parietal, and temporal
B) cranial, spinal, autonomic
C) motor; somatic, sensory
D) central, peripheral, autonomic

Question 31

Which three cranial nerves are involved in the control of eye movements?

A) Oculomotor, trochlear, vagus
B) Oculomotor, trochlear, abducens
C) Trochlear, abducens, vagus
D) Abducens, oculomotor, vagus

Question 32

How many pairs of spinal nerves do humans have?

A) 5
B) 12
C) 31
D) It varies, depending on an individual's age and height.

Question 33

Which cranial nerve carries both motor and sensory information?

A) Facial
B) Olfactory
C) Optic
D) Hypoglossal

Question 34

The preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system are found in the

A) basal ganglia.
B) sympathetic chain.
C) spinal cord.
D) muscles.

Question 35

Which bodily response is a consequence of sympathetic activation?

A) Increased salivation
B) Increased heart rate
C) Decreased blood pressure
D) Increased digestion

Question 36

Refer to the figure.
The plane labeled A is called the _______ plane, the plane labeled B is the _______, and the plane marked C is the _______.

A) dorsal; sagittal; posterior
B) sagittal; ipsilateral; coronal
C) horizontal; sagittal; coronal
D) coronal; horizontal; sagittal

Question 37

The left and right portions of the body are divided by the _______ plane.

A) sagittal
B) frontal
C) coronal
D) horizontal

Question 38

The four major lobes of the cerebral cortex are named for

A) the skull bones lying over them.
B) their anatomical positions relative to one another.
C) their major functions.
D) their gross appearance.

Question 39

In which plane of section would it be easiest to see the corpus callosum?

A) Sagittal cut directly down the midline
B) Horizontal cut at the level of the brainstem
C) Coronal cut at the level of the cerebellum
D) Sagittal cut at the level of the temporal lobe

Question 40

What percentage of the surface of the cortex is hidden within the convolutions of the brain?

A) 2%
B) 25%
C) 33%
D) 66%

Question 41

Which region of the cortex is crucial for motor control?

A) Postcentral gyrus
B) Parietal lobe
C) Precentral gyrus
D) Prefrontal cortex

Question 42

The ridges of tissue on the convoluted surface of the cortex are called

A) gyri.
B) sulci.
C) nuclei.
D) ganglia.

Question 43

Almost all incoming sensory information passes through the _______, which sends the information on to the overlying cortex.

A) medulla
B) basal ganglia
C) thalamus
D) cerebellum

Question 44

The hypothalamus is located _______ to the thalamus.

A) inferior
B) superior
C) dorsal
D) ventral

Question 45

A collection of neurons in the nervous system is known as a

A) nodule.
B) nucleus.
C) fiber.
D) plexus.

Question 46

The brainstem contains which structure?

A) Medulla
B) Inferior colliculus
C) Corpus callosum
D) Central sulcus

Question 47

How many distinct layers are observed in the human neocortex?

A) One
B) Three
C) Six
D) About one-million

Question 48

Which statement about allocortex is true?

A) It has six cell layers.
B) It is found in the frontal lobe.
C) It can have an unlayered organization.
D) It is organized into columns.

Question 49

In the cerebral cortex, layers V and VI are unique in that they

A) are a different color than the other layers.
B) contains many neurons with large cell bodies.
C) contains many fibers.
D) are quite variable from region to region.

Question 50

Which structures are part of the basal ganglia?

A) Globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, amygdala
B) Caudate nucleus, putamen, fornix
C) Putamen, amygdala, mammillary bodies
D) Globus pallidus, substantia nigra, putamen

Question 51

Which structure contains the reticular formation?

A) Diencephalon
B) Brainstem
C) Metencephalon
D) Telencephalon

Question 52

Parallel fibers are a feature of the

A) basal ganglia.
B) superior colliculus.
C) corpus callosum.
D) cerebellum.

Question 53

Two important motor nuclei, the substantia nigra and the _______ nucleus, are contained within the _______.

A) caudate; brainstem
B) oculomotor; diencephalon
C) raphe; telencephalon
D) red; midbrain

Question 54

Within the midbrain, the _______ receive auditory (sound) information.

A) inferior colliculi
B) red nucleus
C) superior colliculi
D) reticular formation

Question 55

Purkinje cells are located in the

A) cerebral cortex.
B) cerebellum.
C) cervical spinal cord.
D) basal ganglia.

Question 56

The ventricular system contains

A) the circle of Willis.
B) blood.
C) cerebrospinal fluid.
D) the meninges.

Question 57

The specialized vascular tissue that produces the cerebrospinal fluid is called the

A) circle of Willis.
B) dura mater.
C) corpus callosum.
D) choroid plexus.

Question 58

Refer to the figure.
The dashed arrows in this figure represent what key process?

A) The vascular circulation of blood that maintains blood pressure
B) The glymphatic flow that provides protection from harmful substances in the brain
C) The regeneration of the choroid plexus.
D) The opening and closing of the aquaporins to waste material.

Question 59

A person suffers a stroke that affects the base of the anterior cerebral artery. This will likely result in reduced blood flow to the

A) medial frontal and parietal lobes.
B) occipital lobe.
C) lateral temporal lobe.
D) lateral frontal and parietal lobes.

Question 60

Which arteries provide blood to the brain?

A) Basilar artery and carotid artery only
B) Carotid artery and vertebral artery only
C) Basilar artery, carotid artery, and vertebral artery
D) Carotid artery, choroid plexus, and vertebral artery

Question 61

The anterior and middle cerebral arteries branch from the

A) superior vena cava.
B) internal carotid artery.
C) basilar artery.
D) vertebral artery.

Question 62

Which statement about the blood-brain barrier is true?

A) It is a part of the immune system that involves the release of antibodies to protect the brain from infectious agents.
B) It is a property of the closely packed endothelial cells of the walls of brain capillaries that prevents large molecules from entering the brain.
C) It is a property of the blood vessels of the brain that promotes the diffusion of nutrients into the tissue of the brain.
D) It is a property of neurons that prevents them from accidentally releasing their neurotransmitters into the blood circulation.

Question 63

The basilar artery of the brain is formed by the fusion of the _______ arteries.

A) carotid
B) vertebral
C) subclavian
D) femoral

Question 64

_______ makes use of radio waves and magnetic fields to form images of the living brain.

A) CAT
B) MRI
C) PET
D) Angiography

Question 65

Refer to the photo.
The procedure depicted here is most likely

A) transcranial magnetic stimulation.
B) DTI tractography.
C) dyadic functional MRI.
D) angiography.

Question 66

The physiological activity of the brain can be visualized using

A) PET.
B) CT.
C) DTI.
D) electron microscopy.

Question 67

Which imaging technique is not used for studies of the structural details of the brain?

A) CT scan
B) fMRI scan
C) MRI scan
D) Angiography

Question 68

Which imaging technology could provide a physician with a very high-resolution image of the thalamus?

A) MRI
B) CT
C) PET
D) DTI

Question 69

Which technique does not provide information about the activity level of brain regions?

A) PET
B) fMRI
C) CT
D) Autoradiography

Question 70

Which statement about conventional fMRI is true?

A) Subjects must fast before testing.
B) Subjects must lie completely motionless.
C) It involves the use of X-rays.
D) Subjects must perform specific cognitive tasks.

Question 71

A dyadic fMRI could be used to

A) test a person's response to two voices coming through headphones.
B) sequentially examine the brain responses of identical twins.
C) simultaneously examine how two people respond to the same stimulus.
D) stimulate movement of two people simultaneously.

Question 72

What have we learned about the functional organization of the brain from fMRI studies?

A) Local regions of the brain are used for multiple functions across multiple domains, like cognition, language, sensation, emotion, and action planning.
B) Multiple behaviors can be associated with a single specific region in the brain.
C) Multiple cognitive processes can be associated with a single specific region in the brain.
D) During many behaviors and cognitive processes, all the neurons in a local region of the brain will be active at once, as represented by the color scale in an fMRI image.

Question 73

Substances are conveyed from the cell body of the neuron to the distant reaches of the axon through the process of _______.

Question 74

Although nerve cells typically have only one axon, an axon may divide into numerous axon _______.

Question 75

The dorsal root consists of _______ projections from the body to the spinal cord.

Question 76

Almost all incoming sensory information passes through the _______, which sends the information on to the overlying cortex.

Question 77

The hypothalamus is located _______ to the thalamus.

Question 78

The _______ sulcus divides the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe.

Question 79

The most prominent type of neuron of the cerebral cortex-the pyramidal neuron-features an apical dendrite that extends toward the outer surface of the cortex, and _______ dendrites that spread out horizontally from the cell body.

Question 80

Located within the basal ganglia are the globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, and _______.