Brain Basics

Question 1

Brain is composed of

Answer 1

neurons, glia, stem cells, blood vessels

Question 2

Brain Cells are not

Answer 2

Replaced. No adult neurogenesis.

Question 3

Humans have the highest brain

Answer 3

neuron density

Question 4

The neuron is composed of

Answer 4

Dendrite -> soma -> axon -> terminals

Question 5

Pyramidal shaped neuron

Answer 5

Has apical and basal long dendrites.

Question 6

Stellate shaped neuron

Answer 6

Neuron with star like shape. Dendrites in all directions

Question 7

Purkinje shaped neuron

Answer 7

Very thin dendrites in a dense configuration, like roots.

Question 8

Projection neurons (Shape, function)

Answer 8

Long axon. Projects from one brain area to another brain area.
Example: Medium spiny projection neurons (MSNs) 96% of neurons

Question 9

Interneurons (Shape, function)

Answer 9

Star shaped. 
Axons project locally. 
Modify the signals.
Often inhibitory in nature.
Can synchronize the activity of projection neurons. 
Can gate information.

Question 10

Glial Cells - Microglia

Answer 10

It spots problems and “hunts it”, they engulf the problem. (Like the immune system of your brain.)

Question 11

Glial Cells - Astrocytes

Answer 11

The most abundant.
Regulates the environment of synapses.
Mediates needs and how active the brain is

Question 12

Glial Cells - Oligodendrocytes

Answer 12

Their function is to myelinate multiple axons at once in the central nervous system

Question 13

Glial Cells - Schwann cells

Answer 13

Work in the Peripheral nervous system.

They wrap around axons of motor and sensory neurons to form the myelin sheath.

Question 14

The Tripartite synapse

Answer 14

2 neurons and 1 glial cell wrapped around the synaptic site

Question 15

Astrocyte in Tripartite synapse

Answer 15

Astrocytes release signals in synapse, shaping conditions. Helps with cleaning of NTs. They release D-serine.

Question 16

D-serine

Answer 16

Astrocytes release this to the site to manipulate ???
glutamatergic contribution to central chemoreception
D-Serine activates glutamate receptors that are involved in the formation of new synapses, which are important for learning and memory

Question 17

Gray matter

Answer 17

Cell bodies of the neurons and unmyelinated neurons (like interneurons)

Question 18

White matter

Answer 18

Myelinated axons

Question 19

Anatomical dimensions

Anterior and posterior

Answer 19

Front and back (brain) up and down (spine)
(in most animals it is just front and back)
Varies on a Z-axis

Question 20

Anatomical dimensions

Left Lateral, Right lateral and Medial

Answer 20

Varies on a X-axis. from left to right

Question 21

Anatomical dimensions

Dorsal and ventral

Answer 21

Dorsal = superior (top of the head)
Ventral = inferior (bottom surface)
Varies on a Y-Axis on the brain

Question 22

Peripheral nervous system

Answer 22

Somatic and autonomic

Question 23

Somatic system

Answer 23

Neurons we can control consciously.

Can be Afferent or efferent

Question 24

Autonomic system

Answer 24

Neurons our brains control automatically
Can be Afferent or efferent
The autonomic efferent can be sympathetic or parasympathetic

Question 25

Afferent nervous system

Answer 25

Nerve impulses from sensory stimuli towards the central nervous system

Question 26

Efferent nervous system

Answer 26

motor neurons that carry neural impulses away from the central nervous system and towards muscles to cause movement.

Question 27

Autonomic efferent nervous system

Answer 27

Can be sympathetic - mobilize - or parasympathetic - rest and digest.

Question 28

Drugs often act the autonomic...

Answer 28

Efferent nervous system. on the sympathetic or parasympathetic

Question 29

Major divisions of the brain

Answer 29

Forebrain Midbrain Hindbrand

Question 30

Forebrain

Answer 30

Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, limbic system, and the olfactory bulb

Question 31

Hindbrain (components and function)

Answer 31

cerebellum, pons, medulla. Governs most basic functions of body.

Question 32

Convolutions Gyrus Sulcus/ fissures

Answer 32

Gyrus - outward fold | Sulcus/ fissures - Inward fold

Question 33

Lobes of the brain | Named after the bones

Answer 33

``` Frontal Parietal Occipital Temporal Cerebellum ```

Question 34

Brain Nuclei

Answer 34

Grey matter clusters under the cortex

Question 35

Hypothalamus

Answer 35

In the forebrain, cluster of nuclei. Each has very specific roles. (eating, aggression, sexual behaviors) Evolutionarily interesting roles, no conscious control over

Question 36

Limbic ‘system’

Answer 36

Nuclei below the cortex | Emotion and behaviour

Question 37

Nucleus accumbens

Answer 37

Ventral striatum. Part of basal ganglia. Plays a critical role in addiction and motivation.

Question 38

What parts of the brain controls voluntary movement?

Answer 38

Prefrontal cortex, premotor cortex, motor cortex, basal ganglia, pons, cerebellum, more

Question 39

Long term memory

Answer 39

hippocampus (important in consolidation), basal ganglia very important for learning

Question 40

Short term (working) memory

Answer 40

the frontal lobe of the cerebral cortex

Question 41

Cerebral blood flow | no redundancy of supply

Answer 41

Left internal carotid Right internal carotid Vertebral - 2

Question 42

Blood-brain barriers

Answer 42

Protects the brain - astrocytes. doesn't let most things into the brain. We need drugs that pass this barrier. Active transport for large molecules

Question 43

Skull and meninges - protection | Layers?

Answer 43

Dura mater Arachnoid mater fluid between arachnoid and pia Pia mater

Question 44

Polymorphisms

Answer 44

Genetic Differences between individuals

Question 45

Epigenetics

Answer 45

Some drugs, activities and trauma can alter the way the DNA is stored. How tightly or loosely packed it is. Makes it harder or easier to transcript

Question 46

Neurogenetics

Answer 46

All the genes that are related to the nervous system

Question 47

Knockout animals

Answer 47

We block or decrease a gene in the animal so it doesn't express a trait

Question 48

Conditional Knockout animals

Answer 48

rats normal until they are adult, but something in environment will knockout a gene (and therefore protein)

Question 49

Glial cells

Answer 49

``` Provide supporting functions to the nervous system. microglia astrocytes oligodendrocytes schwann cells ```