MCB 461 Exam 1 Questions with Correct Answers Latest Update 2025/2026
Function of neurons - Answers process and transmit information; sense environmental changes
Nissl stain - Answers a neural stain that has an affinity for structures in neuron cell bodies
Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) - Answers Acidophilic H stains nucleus, ribosomes, rough ER
Basophilic E stains cytoplasmic proteins
Silver impregnation/Golgi stain - Answers Silver stains Golgi, reticulum, nerve fibers and cell
borders of the mesothelium dark violet to black.
Golgi postulated continuity hypothesis - Answers neurites of different cells are fused together to
form continuous reticulum
Neuron Doctrine (Ramon y Cajal) - Answers Info stored in the brain results from alteration in
synaptic connections between neurons (neuronal circuit)
Dendrites - Answers dendritic spines are postsynaptic sites that receive signals from axon
terminal
Soma - Answers cell body
nucleus site of transcription
cytoplasm site of translation, modification, regulation
Axon hillock - Answers Where AP fires
Axon proper - Answers middle of axon
Axon terminal - Answers The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are released
Differences bw axon and soma/dendrites - Answers -ER doesn't extend into axon
-Protein composition is unique
Synapse - Answers A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.
-electrical to chemical to electrical transformations
Synaptic transmission dysfunction can cause these disorders - Answers Autism, Alzheimer's,
Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Addiction, Depression
Excitatory synapses - Answers - dendritic spines
- majority is glutamate
,Inhibitory synapses - Answers - dendritic shafts
- majority GABA
- leads to hyperpolarization of membrane
- membrane potential becomes more negative
- large mitochondria
Classifying neurons based on # of neurites - Answers - Unipolar: single neurite
- Bipolar: 2 neurites
- Multipolar: > 2 neurites
Classifying neurons based on somatic morphologies - Answers - Stellate: star shaped
- Pyramidal: pyramid shaped
- Spiny or Aspinous
Classifying neurons on connections within CNS - Answers primary sensory, motor neurons,
interneurons
Goli Type I vs Golgi Type II neurons - Answers Type I: long axons extend to other part of brain
Type II: short exons extend in vicinity of cell body
Glia function - Answers - insulates, supports, nourishes neurons
- mediates immune response
radial glia - Answers - guide the migration of neurons and their axons and dendrites during
embryonic development
- pruning
- strengthening connections
myelinating glia - Answers - Oligodendrocytes (in CNS)
- Schwann cells (in PNS)
Insulate axons
Nodes of Ranvier - Answers - gaps in the myelin sheath
- AP travels faster by saltatory conduction
, - .5-10 m/s vs 150/200 m/s
- allows cells to fire longer bc less energy required to restore ion conc.
Oligodendrocyte - Answers - make myelin sheaths in CNS using PLP (proteolipid protein)
- Multiple extensions can myelinate up 50 neurons
- White matter of brain is myelinated neurons
Schwann Cell - Answers - produce myelin sheaths in PNS using protein zero
- myelinated fibers are wrapped in concentric layers of Schwann cell plasma membrane
Astrocytes - what are they? - Answers - type of glial cell that transports water and salts from
capillaries
- important for CNS homeostasis
- 20-50% total cells in brain
- Identified by GFAP (intermediate filament)
Astrocyte isolation of brain parenchyma - Answers - fences in neurons and oligodendrocytes
- glia limitans (projection to ependyma and pia mater)
- cuffs around nodes of ranvier
- cover capillary surfaces by providing perivascular endfeet
- engulfs synapses and dendrites
Astrocytes produce _________ factors - Answers neurotropic/growth
-regulate morphology, proliferation, differentiation, survival of neurons
_______ induce and maintain tight junctions in endothelial cells that form BBB - Answers
astrocytes
How do astrocytes regulate chemical content of extracellular space? - Answers - absorb excess
neurotransmitters
- spatial buffering (absorbs K+ ions)
- Detox (sequesters metal and neuroactive substances, BPA)
Astrogliosis - Answers formation of a glial scar caused by proliferation of astrocytes in
response to local tissue injury
Function of neurons - Answers process and transmit information; sense environmental changes
Nissl stain - Answers a neural stain that has an affinity for structures in neuron cell bodies
Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) - Answers Acidophilic H stains nucleus, ribosomes, rough ER
Basophilic E stains cytoplasmic proteins
Silver impregnation/Golgi stain - Answers Silver stains Golgi, reticulum, nerve fibers and cell
borders of the mesothelium dark violet to black.
Golgi postulated continuity hypothesis - Answers neurites of different cells are fused together to
form continuous reticulum
Neuron Doctrine (Ramon y Cajal) - Answers Info stored in the brain results from alteration in
synaptic connections between neurons (neuronal circuit)
Dendrites - Answers dendritic spines are postsynaptic sites that receive signals from axon
terminal
Soma - Answers cell body
nucleus site of transcription
cytoplasm site of translation, modification, regulation
Axon hillock - Answers Where AP fires
Axon proper - Answers middle of axon
Axon terminal - Answers The endpoint of a neuron where neurotransmitters are released
Differences bw axon and soma/dendrites - Answers -ER doesn't extend into axon
-Protein composition is unique
Synapse - Answers A junction where information is transmitted from one neuron to the next.
-electrical to chemical to electrical transformations
Synaptic transmission dysfunction can cause these disorders - Answers Autism, Alzheimer's,
Epilepsy, Schizophrenia, Addiction, Depression
Excitatory synapses - Answers - dendritic spines
- majority is glutamate
,Inhibitory synapses - Answers - dendritic shafts
- majority GABA
- leads to hyperpolarization of membrane
- membrane potential becomes more negative
- large mitochondria
Classifying neurons based on # of neurites - Answers - Unipolar: single neurite
- Bipolar: 2 neurites
- Multipolar: > 2 neurites
Classifying neurons based on somatic morphologies - Answers - Stellate: star shaped
- Pyramidal: pyramid shaped
- Spiny or Aspinous
Classifying neurons on connections within CNS - Answers primary sensory, motor neurons,
interneurons
Goli Type I vs Golgi Type II neurons - Answers Type I: long axons extend to other part of brain
Type II: short exons extend in vicinity of cell body
Glia function - Answers - insulates, supports, nourishes neurons
- mediates immune response
radial glia - Answers - guide the migration of neurons and their axons and dendrites during
embryonic development
- pruning
- strengthening connections
myelinating glia - Answers - Oligodendrocytes (in CNS)
- Schwann cells (in PNS)
Insulate axons
Nodes of Ranvier - Answers - gaps in the myelin sheath
- AP travels faster by saltatory conduction
, - .5-10 m/s vs 150/200 m/s
- allows cells to fire longer bc less energy required to restore ion conc.
Oligodendrocyte - Answers - make myelin sheaths in CNS using PLP (proteolipid protein)
- Multiple extensions can myelinate up 50 neurons
- White matter of brain is myelinated neurons
Schwann Cell - Answers - produce myelin sheaths in PNS using protein zero
- myelinated fibers are wrapped in concentric layers of Schwann cell plasma membrane
Astrocytes - what are they? - Answers - type of glial cell that transports water and salts from
capillaries
- important for CNS homeostasis
- 20-50% total cells in brain
- Identified by GFAP (intermediate filament)
Astrocyte isolation of brain parenchyma - Answers - fences in neurons and oligodendrocytes
- glia limitans (projection to ependyma and pia mater)
- cuffs around nodes of ranvier
- cover capillary surfaces by providing perivascular endfeet
- engulfs synapses and dendrites
Astrocytes produce _________ factors - Answers neurotropic/growth
-regulate morphology, proliferation, differentiation, survival of neurons
_______ induce and maintain tight junctions in endothelial cells that form BBB - Answers
astrocytes
How do astrocytes regulate chemical content of extracellular space? - Answers - absorb excess
neurotransmitters
- spatial buffering (absorbs K+ ions)
- Detox (sequesters metal and neuroactive substances, BPA)
Astrogliosis - Answers formation of a glial scar caused by proliferation of astrocytes in
response to local tissue injury
