NUR968 Central Nervous System Test
With Solution
True or false: Like the autonomic nervous system, there are several different
neurotransmitters that communicate between neurons in the central nervous
system. These neurotransmitters can be classified in a variety of ways -
ANSWER True
What are the amino acid-type CNS neurotransmitters? (4) - ANSWER 1.
Glutamate - Excitatory
2. Aspartate - Excitatory
3. Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - Inhibitory
4. Glycine - Inhibitory
What do the amino acid type CNS neurotransmitters contain? - ANSWER A
NH3 structure
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - ANSWER 1. Opening of CATION channels
2. Movement of RMP CLOSER to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more POSITIVE
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
,1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - ANSWER 1. Opening of ANION channels
2. Movement of RMP FARTHER AWAY from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more NEGATIVE
Glutamate is the MAJOR excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system. Where it it found? (2) - ANSWER 1. Brain
2. Spinal cord
When glutamate is released from the pre-synaptic neuron, it can attach to
several receptors. What are 2 of them? (2) - ANSWER 1. α
-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)
2. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)
α -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) is a
__-gated channel - ANSWER Ligand-gated
AMPA
What happens when glutamate attaches? (2) - ANSWER 1. The channel opens
2. The channel is non-selective & will allow both sodium & potassium to
move down their concentration gradient (Na+ in; K+ out)
True or false: Glutamate (gone wrong) stimulation of AMPA is implicated as a
mechanism in seizures - ANSWER True
What must happen for the NMDA receptor to open? (2) - ANSWER 1. BOTH
glycine & glutamate must attach to their receptors
,2. AND the magnesium plug (located in the channel) must dislodge & leave
Is the NMDA channel selective or non-selective? What does this allow for? -
ANSWER Non-selective & will allow cation movement (calcium, sodium &
potassium)
True or false: Studies show that intracellular calcium has both positive &
negative effects - ANSWER True
What is the positive effect of intracellular calcium? - ANSWER Intracellular
pathways (intracellular second messenger systems) that are initiated by
calcium are responsible for SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
-A fancy term that means forming memory & learning
What is the negative effect of intracellular calcium? - ANSWER When there is
excessive amounts of glutamate, the massive increase in intracellular calcium
promotes LYSOSOME ACTIVITY & can trigger both necrotic & apoptotic cell
death
So which electrolyte is a player in extension of ischemic cell death? -
ANSWER Calcium
True or false: NMDA dysfunction has been implicated in many diseases -
ANSWER True
Glutamate is released with noxious surgical pain & neuropathic pain. Thus,
blocking glutamate is implicated in pain management. Which medication
does this? - ANSWER Ketamine
-Blocks glutamate attachment
-No movement of Ca++
, GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter found where? - ANSWER Brain
There are sub-types of the GABA receptor. The major receptor is? - ANSWER
GABA-A
What does GABA-A contain? - ANSWER 2 alpha, 2 beta & gamma or delta
subunit
What do GABA-A agonists do? What is the result? - ANSWER 1. Open the
channel that allows chloride to enter the cell (becomes more negative)
2. This drives the cell further away from depolarization
True or false: With GABA-A, several anesthetic drugs work on or near this
receptor - ANSWER True
True or false: The delta (δ ) sub-unit is called the "one glass of wine" subunit
- ANSWER True
Glycine is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter found where? - ANSWER Spinal
cord
What does attachment to GLY receptors result in? - ANSWER Promotes
chloride channel opening
What are the most common neurophysiological disorder in children? -
ANSWER Seizures
-Up to 5% of children will experience seizures (i.e febrile seziures)
__: defined as the clinical manifestation of an abnormal & excessive
SYNCHRONIZATION of a population of cortical neurons - ANSWER Seizure
__: a tendency towards RECURRENT SEIZURES unprovoked by any systemic or
acute neurological insult - ANSWER Epilepsy
With Solution
True or false: Like the autonomic nervous system, there are several different
neurotransmitters that communicate between neurons in the central nervous
system. These neurotransmitters can be classified in a variety of ways -
ANSWER True
What are the amino acid-type CNS neurotransmitters? (4) - ANSWER 1.
Glutamate - Excitatory
2. Aspartate - Excitatory
3. Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - Inhibitory
4. Glycine - Inhibitory
What do the amino acid type CNS neurotransmitters contain? - ANSWER A
NH3 structure
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - ANSWER 1. Opening of CATION channels
2. Movement of RMP CLOSER to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more POSITIVE
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
,1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - ANSWER 1. Opening of ANION channels
2. Movement of RMP FARTHER AWAY from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more NEGATIVE
Glutamate is the MAJOR excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous
system. Where it it found? (2) - ANSWER 1. Brain
2. Spinal cord
When glutamate is released from the pre-synaptic neuron, it can attach to
several receptors. What are 2 of them? (2) - ANSWER 1. α
-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)
2. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)
α -amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) is a
__-gated channel - ANSWER Ligand-gated
AMPA
What happens when glutamate attaches? (2) - ANSWER 1. The channel opens
2. The channel is non-selective & will allow both sodium & potassium to
move down their concentration gradient (Na+ in; K+ out)
True or false: Glutamate (gone wrong) stimulation of AMPA is implicated as a
mechanism in seizures - ANSWER True
What must happen for the NMDA receptor to open? (2) - ANSWER 1. BOTH
glycine & glutamate must attach to their receptors
,2. AND the magnesium plug (located in the channel) must dislodge & leave
Is the NMDA channel selective or non-selective? What does this allow for? -
ANSWER Non-selective & will allow cation movement (calcium, sodium &
potassium)
True or false: Studies show that intracellular calcium has both positive &
negative effects - ANSWER True
What is the positive effect of intracellular calcium? - ANSWER Intracellular
pathways (intracellular second messenger systems) that are initiated by
calcium are responsible for SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
-A fancy term that means forming memory & learning
What is the negative effect of intracellular calcium? - ANSWER When there is
excessive amounts of glutamate, the massive increase in intracellular calcium
promotes LYSOSOME ACTIVITY & can trigger both necrotic & apoptotic cell
death
So which electrolyte is a player in extension of ischemic cell death? -
ANSWER Calcium
True or false: NMDA dysfunction has been implicated in many diseases -
ANSWER True
Glutamate is released with noxious surgical pain & neuropathic pain. Thus,
blocking glutamate is implicated in pain management. Which medication
does this? - ANSWER Ketamine
-Blocks glutamate attachment
-No movement of Ca++
, GABA is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter found where? - ANSWER Brain
There are sub-types of the GABA receptor. The major receptor is? - ANSWER
GABA-A
What does GABA-A contain? - ANSWER 2 alpha, 2 beta & gamma or delta
subunit
What do GABA-A agonists do? What is the result? - ANSWER 1. Open the
channel that allows chloride to enter the cell (becomes more negative)
2. This drives the cell further away from depolarization
True or false: With GABA-A, several anesthetic drugs work on or near this
receptor - ANSWER True
True or false: The delta (δ ) sub-unit is called the "one glass of wine" subunit
- ANSWER True
Glycine is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter found where? - ANSWER Spinal
cord
What does attachment to GLY receptors result in? - ANSWER Promotes
chloride channel opening
What are the most common neurophysiological disorder in children? -
ANSWER Seizures
-Up to 5% of children will experience seizures (i.e febrile seziures)
__: defined as the clinical manifestation of an abnormal & excessive
SYNCHRONIZATION of a population of cortical neurons - ANSWER Seizure
__: a tendency towards RECURRENT SEIZURES unprovoked by any systemic or
acute neurological insult - ANSWER Epilepsy
