NSCI 175 Final Exam Questions
and 100% Correct Answers
How many neurons and glia are there in the brain answer - 85 billion neurons and 85 billion glia
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is answer - the process by which a neurotransmitter is injected
into bloodstream of animal; produces immune response and antibodies that bind to
transmitter; solution placed onto brain tissue; marks neurotransmitter receptors
In situ hybridization (ISH) is answer - -scientists produce complementary strand of mRNA for
the strand they are targeting (called a probe) and mark with color
-when complementary strand hybridizes to real strand, can be quantified how cell is using
mRNA strands
What did Golgi and Cajal disagree about? answer - The connections neurons make between
each other.
-Golgi proposed that neurons were connected to each other like vasculature; reticular theory
-Cajal proposed that neurons not directly in contact with each other, but instead send electrical
and chemical signals to one another
What is the reticular theory answer - The theory that neurons are directly connected to each
other like vasculature; Golgi supported
What is the neuron doctrine answer - States that neurons are not directly in contact with each
other, but are instead separated by synaptic clefts; says cell theory applies to neurons
,The cytoskeleton of a neuron is composed of answer - -microtubules
-microfilaments
-neurofilaments
Microtubules answer - -large; run longitudinally down neurites
-smaller strands composed of protein tubulin
-microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) anchor microtubules to one another and other parts
-do not extend into axon terminal
Microfilaments answer - -same thickness of cell membrane; braids of two thin strands that
form a polymer of actin
-mostly present in neurites
-actin one of most abundant proteins; believed to help change cell shape
Neurofilaments answer - -exist in all cells of body as intermediate filament
-most closely resemble bones and ligaments of skeleton
Dendritic spines are answer - specialized structures covering some dendrites
Axon collaterals are answer - axon branches that travel long distances to communicate with
different parts of NS
Recurrent collaterals are answer - axons collaterals that return to communicate with same cell
or with dendrites of neighbors
Axon hillock answer - the beginning end of the neuron, which generates the AP
,Axon terminal (terminal button) answer - ending of the neuron, where axon meets the
dendrites of another neuron; had mitochondria
Myelin sheath answer - insulates the axon and helps lower electrical resistance; aids in
conduction of an AP
Oligodendrocytes answer - can also insulate axon and aid in AP conduction
Nodes of ranvier answer - spaces in myelin sheath surrounding the axon where VG potassium
channels can be found; potassium enters into axon through these nodes
Neurons classified by their connections include answer - -primary sensory neurons
-motor neurons
-interneurons
Neurons classified by their dendritic tree shape include answer - -stellate cells (star shaped, in
cerebral cortex)
-pyramidal cells (pyramid shaped)
Neurons classified by their dendritic spines include answer - -spiny (all pyramidal cells in
cerebral cortex)
-aspinous
Neurons classified by their axon length include answer - -Golgi type I (projection neurons); long
axons that extend from one part of the brain to the other
-Golgi type II (local circuit neurons); short axons that do not extend beyond vicinity of cell body
, Nissl stain answer - -class of dyes that stains the nuclei of all cells and clumps of material
surrounding them (Nissl bodies)
-only stains soma
-distinguishes between neurons and glia
Golgi stain answer - -silver chromate solution
-showed that neurons have two parts: cell body and neurites (axons and dendrites)
-stains soma, dendrites, and axon
Microglia are answer - the primary immune defense system of CNS
Macroglia are answer - astrocytes and other cells
Astrocyes answer - -most numerous in the brain and fill most spaces between neurons
-regulate chemical context of extracellular space
-remove excess neurotransmitters
-envelop synaptic junctions, restricting spread of neurotransmitters
Myelinating glia include answer - -oligodendroglial; myelinates neurons in CNS, one can
myelinate multiple axons
-Schwann cells; myelinates neurons in PNS, can only myelinate single axon
Ependymal cells answer - -line ventricle in brain
-direct cell migration in brain development
-produce cerebrospinal fluid
Radial glia answer - -promote neurogenesis
and 100% Correct Answers
How many neurons and glia are there in the brain answer - 85 billion neurons and 85 billion glia
Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is answer - the process by which a neurotransmitter is injected
into bloodstream of animal; produces immune response and antibodies that bind to
transmitter; solution placed onto brain tissue; marks neurotransmitter receptors
In situ hybridization (ISH) is answer - -scientists produce complementary strand of mRNA for
the strand they are targeting (called a probe) and mark with color
-when complementary strand hybridizes to real strand, can be quantified how cell is using
mRNA strands
What did Golgi and Cajal disagree about? answer - The connections neurons make between
each other.
-Golgi proposed that neurons were connected to each other like vasculature; reticular theory
-Cajal proposed that neurons not directly in contact with each other, but instead send electrical
and chemical signals to one another
What is the reticular theory answer - The theory that neurons are directly connected to each
other like vasculature; Golgi supported
What is the neuron doctrine answer - States that neurons are not directly in contact with each
other, but are instead separated by synaptic clefts; says cell theory applies to neurons
,The cytoskeleton of a neuron is composed of answer - -microtubules
-microfilaments
-neurofilaments
Microtubules answer - -large; run longitudinally down neurites
-smaller strands composed of protein tubulin
-microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) anchor microtubules to one another and other parts
-do not extend into axon terminal
Microfilaments answer - -same thickness of cell membrane; braids of two thin strands that
form a polymer of actin
-mostly present in neurites
-actin one of most abundant proteins; believed to help change cell shape
Neurofilaments answer - -exist in all cells of body as intermediate filament
-most closely resemble bones and ligaments of skeleton
Dendritic spines are answer - specialized structures covering some dendrites
Axon collaterals are answer - axon branches that travel long distances to communicate with
different parts of NS
Recurrent collaterals are answer - axons collaterals that return to communicate with same cell
or with dendrites of neighbors
Axon hillock answer - the beginning end of the neuron, which generates the AP
,Axon terminal (terminal button) answer - ending of the neuron, where axon meets the
dendrites of another neuron; had mitochondria
Myelin sheath answer - insulates the axon and helps lower electrical resistance; aids in
conduction of an AP
Oligodendrocytes answer - can also insulate axon and aid in AP conduction
Nodes of ranvier answer - spaces in myelin sheath surrounding the axon where VG potassium
channels can be found; potassium enters into axon through these nodes
Neurons classified by their connections include answer - -primary sensory neurons
-motor neurons
-interneurons
Neurons classified by their dendritic tree shape include answer - -stellate cells (star shaped, in
cerebral cortex)
-pyramidal cells (pyramid shaped)
Neurons classified by their dendritic spines include answer - -spiny (all pyramidal cells in
cerebral cortex)
-aspinous
Neurons classified by their axon length include answer - -Golgi type I (projection neurons); long
axons that extend from one part of the brain to the other
-Golgi type II (local circuit neurons); short axons that do not extend beyond vicinity of cell body
, Nissl stain answer - -class of dyes that stains the nuclei of all cells and clumps of material
surrounding them (Nissl bodies)
-only stains soma
-distinguishes between neurons and glia
Golgi stain answer - -silver chromate solution
-showed that neurons have two parts: cell body and neurites (axons and dendrites)
-stains soma, dendrites, and axon
Microglia are answer - the primary immune defense system of CNS
Macroglia are answer - astrocytes and other cells
Astrocyes answer - -most numerous in the brain and fill most spaces between neurons
-regulate chemical context of extracellular space
-remove excess neurotransmitters
-envelop synaptic junctions, restricting spread of neurotransmitters
Myelinating glia include answer - -oligodendroglial; myelinates neurons in CNS, one can
myelinate multiple axons
-Schwann cells; myelinates neurons in PNS, can only myelinate single axon
Ependymal cells answer - -line ventricle in brain
-direct cell migration in brain development
-produce cerebrospinal fluid
Radial glia answer - -promote neurogenesis
