CMN 548 TEST 4 PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What are the four regions of a neuron?
Cell body/Soma, Dendrites, Axon, Axon terminals.
What is the function of the cell body/soma in a neuron?
It contains the nucleus and is the metabolic center of the neuron.
What role do dendrites play in neuronal function?
They serve as the major recipient zones of input from other neurons.
What is the axon and its primary function?
A single process that conveys information to other neurons.
What are axon terminals?
Fine branches near the end of the axon that release neurotransmitters and synapse with other
neurons.
How are neurons classified based on their function?
As Projection Neurons (long axons) or Local Circuit Neurons (short axons).
What is the primary function of projection neurons?
To convey information from the periphery to the brain, between brain regions, or from the brain
to effector organs.
What distinguishes local circuit neurons from projection neurons?
Local circuit neurons have short axons and process information within distinct brain regions.
What are astrocytes and their primary functions?
The most numerous glial cells that support neurons, participate in the blood-brain barrier, and
regulate blood flow.
What is the tripartite synapse?
A concept where peri-synaptic astrocytes participate actively in synaptic transmission by
releasing gliotransmitters.
What are the two types of astrocytes?
Protoplasmic Astrocytes (in gray matter) and Fibrous Astrocytes (in white matter).
,What role do oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells play in the nervous system?
They form the myelin sheath that facilitates the conduction of action potentials.
Where are oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells located?
Oligodendrocytes are found in the CNS, while Schwann cells are found in the PNS.
What is the function of microglia?
They act as scavengers that eliminate debris and regulate neurogenesis and synaptic function.
How are altered glial cells related to psychiatric disorders?
Changes in glial cell numbers are linked to disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.
What is the role of collaterals in neural circuits?
They allow axons to produce branches that contact multiple targets during development.
What does it mean for connections in neural circuits to be reciprocal?
Each region receives input from the regions to which it sends axonal projections.
What is the difference between direct and indirect connections in neural circuits?
Direct connections innervate target regions directly, while indirect connections pass through
additional regions.
What is a divergent connection in neural circuits?
It conveys information from a neuron to a larger number of neurons in diverse brain areas.
What is a convergent connection in neural circuits?
It directs output from multiple brain regions towards a single area.
What are the three primary vesicles of the neural tube?
Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, and Rhombencephalon.
What structures are derived from the prosencephalon?
Telencephalon (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala) and Diencephalon (thalamus,
hypothalamus).
What is the primary motor region of the brain?
The precentral gyrus located in the frontal lobe.
What is the primary auditory cortex and where is it located?
It is located in the superior temporal lobe.
What components make up the basal ganglia?
, Caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus.
What are the functions of the thalamus?
It acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.
What is the hypothalamus responsible for?
It is involved in autonomic and endocrine functions.
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
It is involved in autonomic and endocrine functions.
What does the ventricular system of the brain consist of?
It consists of two C-shaped lateral ventricles divided into five parts: anterior horn, body, inferior
horn, posterior horn, and atrium.
What connects the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle?
The foramina of Monro (interventricular foramina).
What is the function of the cerebral aqueduct?
It connects the third ventricle with the fourth ventricle in the pons and medulla.
What fills the ventricular system?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What is the choroid plexus and its function?
It makes 70% of CSF and is located in the lateral ventricles and the roof of the third and fourth
ventricles.
What is the Blood CSF Barrier?
It is formed by ependymal cells with tight junctions that prevent leakage of substances into the
CSF.
What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
CSF cushions the brain, maintains the extracellular environment, and correlates with substances
in the brain.
What is the composition of CSF?
It contains low levels of protein, glucose, and potassium, and relatively high concentrations of
sodium and chloride.
What is the significance of amyloid beta 1-42 and total tau in CSF?
VERIFIED ANSWERS
What are the four regions of a neuron?
Cell body/Soma, Dendrites, Axon, Axon terminals.
What is the function of the cell body/soma in a neuron?
It contains the nucleus and is the metabolic center of the neuron.
What role do dendrites play in neuronal function?
They serve as the major recipient zones of input from other neurons.
What is the axon and its primary function?
A single process that conveys information to other neurons.
What are axon terminals?
Fine branches near the end of the axon that release neurotransmitters and synapse with other
neurons.
How are neurons classified based on their function?
As Projection Neurons (long axons) or Local Circuit Neurons (short axons).
What is the primary function of projection neurons?
To convey information from the periphery to the brain, between brain regions, or from the brain
to effector organs.
What distinguishes local circuit neurons from projection neurons?
Local circuit neurons have short axons and process information within distinct brain regions.
What are astrocytes and their primary functions?
The most numerous glial cells that support neurons, participate in the blood-brain barrier, and
regulate blood flow.
What is the tripartite synapse?
A concept where peri-synaptic astrocytes participate actively in synaptic transmission by
releasing gliotransmitters.
What are the two types of astrocytes?
Protoplasmic Astrocytes (in gray matter) and Fibrous Astrocytes (in white matter).
,What role do oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells play in the nervous system?
They form the myelin sheath that facilitates the conduction of action potentials.
Where are oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells located?
Oligodendrocytes are found in the CNS, while Schwann cells are found in the PNS.
What is the function of microglia?
They act as scavengers that eliminate debris and regulate neurogenesis and synaptic function.
How are altered glial cells related to psychiatric disorders?
Changes in glial cell numbers are linked to disorders such as schizophrenia and depression.
What is the role of collaterals in neural circuits?
They allow axons to produce branches that contact multiple targets during development.
What does it mean for connections in neural circuits to be reciprocal?
Each region receives input from the regions to which it sends axonal projections.
What is the difference between direct and indirect connections in neural circuits?
Direct connections innervate target regions directly, while indirect connections pass through
additional regions.
What is a divergent connection in neural circuits?
It conveys information from a neuron to a larger number of neurons in diverse brain areas.
What is a convergent connection in neural circuits?
It directs output from multiple brain regions towards a single area.
What are the three primary vesicles of the neural tube?
Prosencephalon, Mesencephalon, and Rhombencephalon.
What structures are derived from the prosencephalon?
Telencephalon (cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala) and Diencephalon (thalamus,
hypothalamus).
What is the primary motor region of the brain?
The precentral gyrus located in the frontal lobe.
What is the primary auditory cortex and where is it located?
It is located in the superior temporal lobe.
What components make up the basal ganglia?
, Caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus.
What are the functions of the thalamus?
It acts as a relay station for sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex.
What is the hypothalamus responsible for?
It is involved in autonomic and endocrine functions.
What is the role of the hypothalamus?
It is involved in autonomic and endocrine functions.
What does the ventricular system of the brain consist of?
It consists of two C-shaped lateral ventricles divided into five parts: anterior horn, body, inferior
horn, posterior horn, and atrium.
What connects the lateral ventricles to the third ventricle?
The foramina of Monro (interventricular foramina).
What is the function of the cerebral aqueduct?
It connects the third ventricle with the fourth ventricle in the pons and medulla.
What fills the ventricular system?
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
What is the choroid plexus and its function?
It makes 70% of CSF and is located in the lateral ventricles and the roof of the third and fourth
ventricles.
What is the Blood CSF Barrier?
It is formed by ependymal cells with tight junctions that prevent leakage of substances into the
CSF.
What are the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)?
CSF cushions the brain, maintains the extracellular environment, and correlates with substances
in the brain.
What is the composition of CSF?
It contains low levels of protein, glucose, and potassium, and relatively high concentrations of
sodium and chloride.
What is the significance of amyloid beta 1-42 and total tau in CSF?
