1
NSC 4330 Exam 2 Terms (for final) Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
experimental ablation Answer: the removal or destruction of a portion
of the brain of a laboratory animal; presumably, the functions that can
no longer be performed are the ones the region previously controlled
lesion study Answer: a synonym for experimental ablation
excitotoxic lesion Answer: a brain lesion produced by intracerebral
injection of an excitatory amino acid, such as kainic acid
sham lesion Answer: a placebo procedure that duplicates all of the
step of producing a brain lesion except for the one that actually causes
the brain damage
stereotaxic surgery Answer: brain surgery using a stereotaxic
apparatus to position an electrode or cannula in a specified position of
the brain
stereotaxic atlas Answer: a collection of drawings of sections of the
brain of a particular animal with measurements that provide
coordinates for stereotaxic surgery
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
bregma Answer: the junction of the sagittal and coronal sutures of the
skull; often used as a reference point for stereotaxic brain surgery
stereotaxic apparatus Answer: a device that permits a surgeon to
position an electrode or cannula into a specific part of the brain
deep brain stimulation Answer: a technique using stereotaxic surgery
to implant a permanent electrode in the brain; used to treat chronic
pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, depression, and obsessive-
compulsive disorder
fixative Answer: a chemical such as formalin; used to prepare and
preserve body tissue
formalin Answer: the aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas; the most
commonly used tissue fixative
microtome Answer: an instrument that produces very thin slices of
body tissues
cyrostat Answer: an instrument that produces very thin slices of body
tissue inside a freezer chamber
© 2025 All rights reserved
NSC 4330 Exam 2 Terms (for final) Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
experimental ablation Answer: the removal or destruction of a portion
of the brain of a laboratory animal; presumably, the functions that can
no longer be performed are the ones the region previously controlled
lesion study Answer: a synonym for experimental ablation
excitotoxic lesion Answer: a brain lesion produced by intracerebral
injection of an excitatory amino acid, such as kainic acid
sham lesion Answer: a placebo procedure that duplicates all of the
step of producing a brain lesion except for the one that actually causes
the brain damage
stereotaxic surgery Answer: brain surgery using a stereotaxic
apparatus to position an electrode or cannula in a specified position of
the brain
stereotaxic atlas Answer: a collection of drawings of sections of the
brain of a particular animal with measurements that provide
coordinates for stereotaxic surgery
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2
bregma Answer: the junction of the sagittal and coronal sutures of the
skull; often used as a reference point for stereotaxic brain surgery
stereotaxic apparatus Answer: a device that permits a surgeon to
position an electrode or cannula into a specific part of the brain
deep brain stimulation Answer: a technique using stereotaxic surgery
to implant a permanent electrode in the brain; used to treat chronic
pain, movement disorders, epilepsy, depression, and obsessive-
compulsive disorder
fixative Answer: a chemical such as formalin; used to prepare and
preserve body tissue
formalin Answer: the aqueous solution of formaldehyde gas; the most
commonly used tissue fixative
microtome Answer: an instrument that produces very thin slices of
body tissues
cyrostat Answer: an instrument that produces very thin slices of body
tissue inside a freezer chamber
© 2025 All rights reserved
