BSC 2085 STUDY GUIDE 2026 EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Neuroglia of the Peripheral Nervous System - ✔✔1. Satellite cells
2. Schwann cells
✔✔Satellite cells - ✔✔Also called amphicytes
Surround ganglia
Regulate environment around neuron (similar in function to astrocytes in the CNS)
✔✔Schwann cells - ✔✔Also called neurilemma cells
Form myelin sheath (neurilemma) around peripheral axons
One Schwann cell sheaths one segment of axon
Many Schwann cells are needed to sheath an entire axon
Myelination not complete, nodes of Ranvier located between internodes
✔✔Neurons perform - ✔✔All communication, information processing, and control
functions of the nervous system
✔✔Neuroglia preserve - ✔✔Physical and biochemical structure of neural tissue
✔✔Neuroglia are essential to - ✔✔Survival and function of neurons
✔✔Neural Responses to Injuries - ✔✔1. Wallerian degeneration
2. Macrophages migrate into area and remove cellular debris (dead cells, etc)
3. Schwann cells form path for new growth
✔✔Wallerian degeneration - ✔✔(occurs in the PNS) Axon distal to injury site
degenerates
✔✔Schwann cells form path for new growth - ✔✔Schwann cells do not degenerate
Proliferate and form solid cellular cord which follows path of original axon
Wrap new axon in myelin once the axon has grown back across the damage site
✔✔Limited Regeneration in CNS - ✔✔Many more axons likely to be involved (situation
more complicated)
✔✔Astrocytes limit regeneration by: - ✔✔Releasing chemicals that block regrowth of
axons
Producing scar tissue (physically interfere with regrowth of axon)
✔✔Membrane potential - ✔✔Difference between charges outside and inside of cell
, ✔✔Ion Movements and Electrical Signals - ✔✔All plasma (cell) membranes produce
electrical signals by ion movements
Membrane potential is particularly important to neurons
The membrane potential is caused by a difference of charge between the inside and
outside of the cell
✔✔Five Main Membrane Processes in Neural Activities - ✔✔1. Resting potential
2. Graded potential
3. Action potential
4. Synaptic Activity
5. Information Processing
✔✔Resting potential - ✔✔The membrane potential of resting cell
✔✔Graded potential - ✔✔Caused by stimulus
Temporary, localized change in resting potential
Can make inside more positive or more negative
✔✔Action potential - ✔✔An electrical impulse
Produced by graded potential (if it is strong enough)
Propagates along surface of axon to the synapse
✔✔Synaptic activity - ✔✔Releases neurotransmitters at presynaptic membrane
Neurotransitter diffuses across synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on postsynaptic cell
Produces graded potentials in postsynaptic membrane
✔✔Information Processing - ✔✔Response (integration of stimuli) of postsynaptic cell to
the graded potentials that have been generated
✔✔The Membrane Potential
3 Important Concepts - ✔✔1. The extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular
fluid (cytosol) differ greatly in ionic composition
2. Cells have selectively permeable membranes
3. Membrane permeability varies by ion
✔✔1. The extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular
fluid (cytosol) differ greatly in ionic composition - ✔✔Concentration gradient of ions
(Na+, K+)
More Na+ outside, less inside; more K+ inside , less outside
✔✔2. Cells have selectively permeable membranes - ✔✔Remember, water soluble
substance including ions cannot pass through hydrophobic region of lipid bilayer, need
channel/carrier protein
ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Neuroglia of the Peripheral Nervous System - ✔✔1. Satellite cells
2. Schwann cells
✔✔Satellite cells - ✔✔Also called amphicytes
Surround ganglia
Regulate environment around neuron (similar in function to astrocytes in the CNS)
✔✔Schwann cells - ✔✔Also called neurilemma cells
Form myelin sheath (neurilemma) around peripheral axons
One Schwann cell sheaths one segment of axon
Many Schwann cells are needed to sheath an entire axon
Myelination not complete, nodes of Ranvier located between internodes
✔✔Neurons perform - ✔✔All communication, information processing, and control
functions of the nervous system
✔✔Neuroglia preserve - ✔✔Physical and biochemical structure of neural tissue
✔✔Neuroglia are essential to - ✔✔Survival and function of neurons
✔✔Neural Responses to Injuries - ✔✔1. Wallerian degeneration
2. Macrophages migrate into area and remove cellular debris (dead cells, etc)
3. Schwann cells form path for new growth
✔✔Wallerian degeneration - ✔✔(occurs in the PNS) Axon distal to injury site
degenerates
✔✔Schwann cells form path for new growth - ✔✔Schwann cells do not degenerate
Proliferate and form solid cellular cord which follows path of original axon
Wrap new axon in myelin once the axon has grown back across the damage site
✔✔Limited Regeneration in CNS - ✔✔Many more axons likely to be involved (situation
more complicated)
✔✔Astrocytes limit regeneration by: - ✔✔Releasing chemicals that block regrowth of
axons
Producing scar tissue (physically interfere with regrowth of axon)
✔✔Membrane potential - ✔✔Difference between charges outside and inside of cell
, ✔✔Ion Movements and Electrical Signals - ✔✔All plasma (cell) membranes produce
electrical signals by ion movements
Membrane potential is particularly important to neurons
The membrane potential is caused by a difference of charge between the inside and
outside of the cell
✔✔Five Main Membrane Processes in Neural Activities - ✔✔1. Resting potential
2. Graded potential
3. Action potential
4. Synaptic Activity
5. Information Processing
✔✔Resting potential - ✔✔The membrane potential of resting cell
✔✔Graded potential - ✔✔Caused by stimulus
Temporary, localized change in resting potential
Can make inside more positive or more negative
✔✔Action potential - ✔✔An electrical impulse
Produced by graded potential (if it is strong enough)
Propagates along surface of axon to the synapse
✔✔Synaptic activity - ✔✔Releases neurotransmitters at presynaptic membrane
Neurotransitter diffuses across synaptic cleft and binds to receptors on postsynaptic cell
Produces graded potentials in postsynaptic membrane
✔✔Information Processing - ✔✔Response (integration of stimuli) of postsynaptic cell to
the graded potentials that have been generated
✔✔The Membrane Potential
3 Important Concepts - ✔✔1. The extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular
fluid (cytosol) differ greatly in ionic composition
2. Cells have selectively permeable membranes
3. Membrane permeability varies by ion
✔✔1. The extracellular fluid (ECF) and intracellular
fluid (cytosol) differ greatly in ionic composition - ✔✔Concentration gradient of ions
(Na+, K+)
More Na+ outside, less inside; more K+ inside , less outside
✔✔2. Cells have selectively permeable membranes - ✔✔Remember, water soluble
substance including ions cannot pass through hydrophobic region of lipid bilayer, need
channel/carrier protein
