neurobiology

Question 1

What are the two main types of nerve cells?

Answer 1

Neurons and glial cells.

Question 2

What is the function of neurons?

Answer 2

Transmit electrical impulses.

Question 3

What do glial cells do?

Answer 3

Support, insulate, and protect neurons.

Question 4

Which cell type transmits electrical impulses?

Answer 4

Neurons.

Question 5

Which cell type supports and insulates neurons?

Answer 5

Glial cells.

Question 6

What are the functions of the nervous system?

Answer 6

Sensory input, integration, and motor output.

Question 7

What does CNS stand for?

Answer 7

Central Nervous System.

Question 8

What does PNS stand for?

Answer 8

Peripheral Nervous System.

Question 9

What parts make up the CNS?

Answer 9

Brain and spinal cord.

Question 10

What types of neurons make up the PNS?

Answer 10

Sensory and motor neurons.

Question 11

What is the resting potential of a neuron?

Answer 11

-70 mV.

Question 12

What maintains the resting potential?

Answer 12

The Na+/K+ pump.

Question 13

What is a graded potential?

Answer 13

A potential that varies in strength and degrades with distance.

Question 14

What is an action potential?

Answer 14

An all-or-none signal that propagates along an axon.

Question 15

What are the phases of an action potential?

Answer 15

Resting, depolarization, repolarization, hyperpolarization, return to rest.

Question 16

Which ion enters the cell during depolarization?

Answer 16

Na+ (sodium).

Question 17

Which ion exits the cell during repolarization?

Answer 17

K+ (potassium).

Question 18

What are the two types of synapses?

Answer 18

Electrical and chemical.

Question 19

How does an electrical synapse work?

Answer 19

Direct ion flow.

Question 20

How does a chemical synapse work?

Answer 20

Neurotransmitter release.

Question 21

Name three neurotransmitters.

Answer 21

Acetylcholine, dopamine, serotonin.

Question 22

What are the effects of neurotransmitters?

Answer 22

Excitatory or inhibitory.

Question 23

What are the brain regions in the CNS?

Answer 23

Cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem.

Question 24

What is the function of the spinal cord?

Answer 24

Conduction and reflex arc.

Question 25

What does the somatic system control?

Answer 25

Voluntary control of skeletal muscles.

Question 26

What does the autonomic system control?

Answer 26

Involuntary control.

Question 27

What are the divisions of the autonomic system?

Answer 27

Sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Question 28

What is the function of the sympathetic division?

Answer 28

Fight or flight.

Question 29

What is the function of the parasympathetic division?

Answer 29

Rest and digest.

Question 30

What do mechanoreceptors detect?

Answer 30

Pressure, touch.

Question 31

What do thermoreceptors detect?

Answer 31

Temperature.

Question 32

What do chemoreceptors detect?

Answer 32

Taste and smell.

Question 33

What do photoreceptors detect?

Answer 33

Vision.

Question 34

What do nociceptors detect?

Answer 34

Tissue damage.

Question 35

What cells are involved in taste?

Answer 35

Gustatory cells, taste buds.

Question 36

What cells are involved in smell?

Answer 36

Olfactory cells.

Question 37

What structure detects sound?

Answer 37

Cochlea.

Question 38

What structure detects rotational motion?

Answer 38

Semicircular canals.

Question 39

What structure detects acceleration?

Answer 39

Vestibule.

Question 40

What photoreceptors are used in low light?

Answer 40

Rods.

Question 41

What photoreceptors are used for color vision?

Answer 41

Cones.

Question 42

What causes a blind spot in the eye?

Answer 42

No photoreceptors at the optic disc.

Question 43

What happens in Alzheimer's disease?

Answer 43

Degeneration of neurons.

Question 44

What is damaged in multiple sclerosis?

Answer 44

Myelin sheath.

Question 45

Name a disorder that causes deafness.

Answer 45

Otitis media or Ménière’s disease.

Question 46

Name a disorder affecting vision.

Answer 46

Cataracts, glaucoma, or retinal detachment.

Question 47

How does the structure of a neuron help its function?

Answer 47

The long axon transmits impulses over distances, dendrites receive signals, and the myelin sheath increases conduction speed.

Question 48

Why is myelin important for neuron function?

Answer 48

It insulates axons and speeds up electrical impulse transmission.

Question 49

How do glial cells contribute to nervous system efficiency?

Answer 49

They provide structural support, nutrition, insulation, and help repair neurons.

Question 50

What would happen if sodium channels failed to open during an action potential?

Answer 50

The neuron would not depolarize, preventing the action potential from firing.

Question 51

Why is the all-or-none principle important for action potentials?

Answer 51

It ensures consistent signal strength regardless of stimulus size once the threshold is reached.

Question 52

Why is the spinal cord important for reflex actions?

Answer 52

It processes and responds to stimuli quickly without brain involvement, allowing fast reflexes.

Question 53

How does the structure of the brainstem support its role in autonomic functions?

Answer 53

It connects the brain to the spinal cord and contains centers for breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Question 54

Why are different sensory receptors necessary?

Answer 54

Different receptors are specialized to detect specific stimuli like light, pressure, or chemicals, allowing accurate perception.

Question 55

Why do cones provide better visual acuity than rods?

Answer 55

Cones are concentrated in the fovea and have a one-to-one connection with neurons, allowing precise color and detail detection.

Question 56

What structural feature explains the blind spot in vision?

Answer 56

The optic disc has no photoreceptors, causing a blind spot.

Question 57

How does damage to the myelin sheath affect nerve signal transmission?

Answer 57

It slows or blocks signals, as seen in multiple sclerosis.

Question 58

What structural changes occur in Alzheimer’s that lead to memory loss?

Answer 58

Degeneration of neurons and synaptic connections impairs brain communication.