NEUROSCIENCE PRACTICE EXAM
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Nucleolus - Answer-A substructure within the cell nucleus where ribosomes are
produced
Ribosome - Answer-An organelle in the cell body involved with protein synthesis
Endoplasmic Reticulum - Answer-An organelle in the cell body that participates in
protein synthesis
Golgi Apparatus - Answer-An organelle in the cell body that packages proteins in the
vesicles
Mitochondria - Answer-Organelles that provide energy to the cell by transforming
pyruvic acid and oxygen into molecules of adenine triphosphate (ATP)
Neurotransmitter - Answer-A chemical messenger that transfers information across a
synapse
Synaptic Gap - Answer-The tiny fluid-filled space between the neurons at a synapse
Dendritic Spine - Answer-A knob on the dendrite that provides additional membrane
area for the formations of synapses with other neurons
Axon Hillock - Answer-The cone-shaped segment of axon located at the junction of
the axon and cell body that is specialized for the generation of action potentials
Action Potential - Answer-The nerve impulse arising in an axon
Myelin - Answer-The fatty insulating material covering some axons that boosts the
speed and efficiency of electrical signaling
Local Circuit Neuron - Answer-A neuron that communicates with neurons in its
immediate vicinity
Projected Neuron - Answer-A neuron with a very long axon that communicates with
neurons in distant areas of the nervous system
Collateral - Answer-One of the branches near the end of the axon closest to its
targets
Axon Terminal - Answer-The swelling at the tip of an axon collateral specialized for
the release of neurochemicals
, Axonal Varicosity - Answer-A swelling in an unmyelinated segment of axon
containing mitochondria and in some cases, synaptic vesicles
Synaptic Vesicles - Answer-A small structure in the axon terminal that contains
neurochemicals
Node of Ranvier - Answer-The uncovered section of axon membrane between two
adjacent segments of myelin
Unipolar Neuron - Answer-A neuron with one branch that extends a short distance
from the cell body then splits into two branches
Voltage-Dependent Channel - Answer-An ion channel that opens or closes in
response to the local electrical environment
Ligand-Gated Channel - Answer-An ion channel in the neural membrane that
responds to chemical messengers
Synapse - Answer-The junction between two neurons at which information is
transferred from one to another
Sodium-Potassium Pump - Answer-An ion pump that uses energy to transfer three
sodium ions to the extracellular fluid for every two potassium ions retrieved from the
extracellular fluid
Calcium Pump - Answer-A protein structure embedded in the neural membrane that
uses energy to move calcium ions out of the cell
Cytoskeleton - Answer-A network of filaments that provides the internal structure of a
neuron
Microtubule - Answer-The largest fiber in the cell cytoskeleton, responsible for the
transport of neurotransmitters and other products to and from the cell body
Anterograde Transport - Answer-Movement of materials from the cell body of a
neuron to the axon terminal along the microtubules
Retrograde Transport - Answer-Movement of material from the axon terminal back to
the cell body via the cell's system of microtubules
Neurofilament - Answer-A neural fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that is
responsible for structural support
Microfilament - Answer-The smallest fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that may
participate in the changing of the length and shape of axons and dendrites
Nucleus - Answer-The substructure within a cell body that contains the cell's DNA
Bipolar Neuron - Answer-A neuron with two branches extending from the cell body:
one axon and one dendrite
QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Nucleolus - Answer-A substructure within the cell nucleus where ribosomes are
produced
Ribosome - Answer-An organelle in the cell body involved with protein synthesis
Endoplasmic Reticulum - Answer-An organelle in the cell body that participates in
protein synthesis
Golgi Apparatus - Answer-An organelle in the cell body that packages proteins in the
vesicles
Mitochondria - Answer-Organelles that provide energy to the cell by transforming
pyruvic acid and oxygen into molecules of adenine triphosphate (ATP)
Neurotransmitter - Answer-A chemical messenger that transfers information across a
synapse
Synaptic Gap - Answer-The tiny fluid-filled space between the neurons at a synapse
Dendritic Spine - Answer-A knob on the dendrite that provides additional membrane
area for the formations of synapses with other neurons
Axon Hillock - Answer-The cone-shaped segment of axon located at the junction of
the axon and cell body that is specialized for the generation of action potentials
Action Potential - Answer-The nerve impulse arising in an axon
Myelin - Answer-The fatty insulating material covering some axons that boosts the
speed and efficiency of electrical signaling
Local Circuit Neuron - Answer-A neuron that communicates with neurons in its
immediate vicinity
Projected Neuron - Answer-A neuron with a very long axon that communicates with
neurons in distant areas of the nervous system
Collateral - Answer-One of the branches near the end of the axon closest to its
targets
Axon Terminal - Answer-The swelling at the tip of an axon collateral specialized for
the release of neurochemicals
, Axonal Varicosity - Answer-A swelling in an unmyelinated segment of axon
containing mitochondria and in some cases, synaptic vesicles
Synaptic Vesicles - Answer-A small structure in the axon terminal that contains
neurochemicals
Node of Ranvier - Answer-The uncovered section of axon membrane between two
adjacent segments of myelin
Unipolar Neuron - Answer-A neuron with one branch that extends a short distance
from the cell body then splits into two branches
Voltage-Dependent Channel - Answer-An ion channel that opens or closes in
response to the local electrical environment
Ligand-Gated Channel - Answer-An ion channel in the neural membrane that
responds to chemical messengers
Synapse - Answer-The junction between two neurons at which information is
transferred from one to another
Sodium-Potassium Pump - Answer-An ion pump that uses energy to transfer three
sodium ions to the extracellular fluid for every two potassium ions retrieved from the
extracellular fluid
Calcium Pump - Answer-A protein structure embedded in the neural membrane that
uses energy to move calcium ions out of the cell
Cytoskeleton - Answer-A network of filaments that provides the internal structure of a
neuron
Microtubule - Answer-The largest fiber in the cell cytoskeleton, responsible for the
transport of neurotransmitters and other products to and from the cell body
Anterograde Transport - Answer-Movement of materials from the cell body of a
neuron to the axon terminal along the microtubules
Retrograde Transport - Answer-Movement of material from the axon terminal back to
the cell body via the cell's system of microtubules
Neurofilament - Answer-A neural fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that is
responsible for structural support
Microfilament - Answer-The smallest fiber found in the cell cytoskeleton that may
participate in the changing of the length and shape of axons and dendrites
Nucleus - Answer-The substructure within a cell body that contains the cell's DNA
Bipolar Neuron - Answer-A neuron with two branches extending from the cell body:
one axon and one dendrite
