Question 1

What is the function of the blood-brain barrier?
A) It provides protective cushion.
B) It allows substances to easily access the brain.
C) It prevents harmful substances from entering brain.
D) It converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.

Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier serves to protect the brain by preventing many harmful substances present in the blood from entering the brain tissue.

Question 2

Everyone has genes for eye color, but variations in the coding sequence of these genes allow for a variety of eye colors in a population. The term to best describe this variation in coding sequences is ____.
A) independent assortment
B) allelic segregation
C) heritability
D) polymorphism

Accepted Answer

Polymorphism refers to the occurrence of two or more distinct forms of a gene within a population, which in this context explains the variation in eye color coding sequences.

Question 3

Dr. Leighton is performing a literature search to learn more about a process termed gliosis. What is she likely to find out?
A) Astrocytes facilitate axonal regrowth after injury.
B) Astrocytes hinder axonal regrowth after injury.
C) Astrocytes produce new myelin for injured axons.
D) Astrocytes strip injured axons of old myelin.

Accepted Answer

Astrocytes, in the context of gliosis, often form a glial scar that can hinder axonal regrowth after injury, rather than facilitating it or directly participating in myelin repair or removal.

Question 4

What term is used to describe a decrease in cerebral blood flow that may potentially cause cell death if severe or persistent enough?
A) infarct
B) excitotoxicity
C) ischemia
D) hyperemia

Accepted Answer

Ischemia refers to a reduction in blood flow to a tissue, causing a shortage of oxygen and nutrients that can lead to cell death if severe or prolonged. This term is specifically used in the context of cerebral ischemia when discussing the brain.

Question 5

Expecting mom Giselle reads about her pregnancy on the website Mommy-and-Me. She learns that her unborn baby developed noticeable ridges and grooves (termed gyri and sulci) within the cerebral cortex. During which gestational period do these gyri and sulci first become most apparent?
A) 12 to 18 weeks into a pregnancy
B) 18 to 24 weeks into a pregnancy
C) 24 to 30 weeks into a pregnancy
D) 30 to 36 weeks into a pregnancy

Accepted Answer

The gyri and sulci, which are the ridges and grooves on the cerebral cortex, respectively, first become most apparent during the 24 to 30 weeks of gestation period. This development is a critical part of brain maturation, allowing for the increased surface area necessary for complex brain functions.

Question 6

The activation of genes leads to the synthesis and release of genetic information, a process referred to as gene ____.
A) transcription
B) encoding
C) transference
D) translation

Accepted Answer

Gene transcription is the process where genetic information from DNA is copied to RNA, leading to the synthesis and release of genetic information.

Question 7

The blueprints for a neuron and its functions reside within the ____.
A) axon terminals
B) dendrites
C) mitochondria
D) nucleus

Accepted Answer

The nucleus of a neuron contains its DNA, which holds the blueprints for the neuron and its functions.

Question 8

The type of RNA used to trigger protein synthesis is called ____ RNA.
A) transfer
B) nucleic
C) ribosomal
D) messenger

Accepted Answer

Messenger RNA (mRNA) is the type of RNA that carries genetic information from DNA to the ribosome, where it serves as a template for protein synthesis.

Question 9

Drug X passes through the blood-brain barrier via active transport. What does this mean?
A) Drug X diffuses through the blood-brain barrier.
B) Drug X uses osmosis to pass through the blood-brain barrier.
C) Drug X directly attaches to neurons to pass through the blood-brain barrier.
D) Drug X uses channels to pass through the blood-brain barrier.

Accepted Answer

Active transport involves the use of specific channels or transport mechanisms to move substances across membranes, including the blood-brain barrier, often against a concentration gradient and requiring energy.

Question 10

Which is a function of cerebrospinal fluid?
A) It transports oxygen.
B) It produces immune cells.
C) It serves as a protective cushion.
D) It clears myelin.

Accepted Answer

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) serves as a protective cushion for the brain, providing a buffering system that protects the central nervous system from physical impact.

Question 11

Peter's physician, Dr. Ma, is concerned that he suffered a stroke after he complains of loss of feeling in his left arm. Which diagnostic test will help Dr. Ma visualize Peter's circulatory system to determine if he suffered a stroke?
A) CAT scan
B) PET scan
C) fMRI
D) angiogram

Accepted Answer

An angiogram is a diagnostic test that uses X-rays to take pictures of your blood vessels. It can help visualize the circulatory system and detect blockages or abnormalities that could indicate a stroke.

Question 12

The primary features of the central nervous system are produced during the ___ trimester of pregnancy.
A) first
B) second
C) third
D) fourth

Accepted Answer

The primary features of the central nervous system are produced during the first trimester of pregnancy, when the neural tube forms and differentiates into the brain and spinal cord.

Question 13

Which is the correct order of events during brain cell development? i. synaptic rearrangement
ii. differentiation
iii. migration
iv. synaptogenesis
v. apoptosis
vi. proliferation
A) ii, vi, iii, v, i, iv
B) vi, iii, ii, iv, v, i
C) ii, iii, vi, iv, i, v
D) vi, ii, iii, iv, i, v

Accepted Answer

The correct order is: proliferation (vi), migration (iii), differentiation (ii), synaptogenesis (iv), apoptosis (v), synaptic rearrangement (i).

Question 14

How many chromosomes does a child inherit from each parent?
A) 16
B) 23
C) 43
D) 46

Accepted Answer

A child inherits 23 chromosomes from each parent, making a total of 46 chromosomes.

Question 15

The brain contains cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities called ____.
A) periaqueductal gray areas
B) arterioles
C) ventricles
D) meninges

Accepted Answer

The brain contains cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities known as ventricles.

Question 16

The brain is supplied with blood through two major arteries: ____.
A) the dorsal scapular artery and the vertebral artery
B) the dorsal scapular artery and the carotid artery
C) the carotid artery and the femoral artery
D) the carotid artery and the vertebral artery

Accepted Answer

The brain receives its blood supply from two major pairs of arteries: the carotid arteries and the vertebral arteries. The carotid arteries primarily supply the anterior parts of the brain, while the vertebral arteries, joining to form the basilar artery, supply the posterior parts.

Question 17

What is the role of nitric oxide in the brain?
A) increases blood flow and increases oxygen levels
B) decreases blood flow, but increases oxygen levels
C) increases blood flow, but decreases oxygen levels
D) decreases blood flow and decreases oxygen levels

Accepted Answer

Nitric oxide acts as a vasodilator in the brain, which means it helps to widen blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow and subsequently increasing oxygen levels to the brain tissues.

Question 18

Dr. Pearson wants to design a drug that easily passes through the blood-brain barrier. As an expert in psychopharmacology, you suggest that Dr. Pearson ensure that the chemical structure that he designs is small, as well as ____.
A) lipid soluble and uncharged
B) water soluble and uncharged
C) lipid soluble and charged
D) water soluble and charged

Accepted Answer

The blood-brain barrier is selectively permeable and favors the passage of small, lipid-soluble, and uncharged molecules. These characteristics allow such molecules to diffuse more easily through the cell membranes that make up the barrier.

Question 19

Each chromosome contains a strand of ____.
A) ribonucleic acid
B) deoxyribonucleic acid
C) transcription factors
D) ribosomes

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are structures within cells that contain DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, which carries the genetic instructions for the development, functioning, growth, and reproduction of all known organisms and many viruses.

Question 20

Dr. Ambroise is developing a drug to help promote axonal regeneration following brain injury. What might be an effective mechanism of action for Dr. Ambroise's drug?
A) Inhibit BDNF production.
B) Block uptake of neurotrophin-3.
C) Break down proteoglycans.
D) Increase production of semaphorin 3.

Accepted Answer

Breaking down proteoglycans can be an effective mechanism because proteoglycans in the extracellular matrix can inhibit axonal growth. By breaking them down, the drug could potentially promote axonal regeneration following brain injury.

Quiz 2: The Nervous System

What is the function of the blood-brain barrier?

Everyone has genes for eye color, but variations in the coding sequence of these genes allow for a variety of eye colors in a population. The term to best describe this variation in coding sequences is ____.

Dr. Leighton is performing a literature search to learn more about a process termed gliosis. What is she likely to find out?

What term is used to describe a decrease in cerebral blood flow that may potentially cause cell death if severe or persistent enough?

Expecting mom Giselle reads about her pregnancy on the website Mommy-and-Me. She learns that her unborn baby developed noticeable ridges and grooves (termed gyri and sulci) within the cerebral cortex. During which gestational period do these gyri and sulci first become most apparent?

The activation of genes leads to the synthesis and release of genetic information, a process referred to as gene ____.

The blueprints for a neuron and its functions reside within the ____.

The type of RNA used to trigger protein synthesis is called ____ RNA.

Drug X passes through the blood-brain barrier via active transport. What does this mean?

Which is a function of cerebrospinal fluid?

Peter's physician, Dr. Ma, is concerned that he suffered a stroke after he complains of loss of feeling in his left arm. Which diagnostic test will help Dr. Ma visualize Peter's circulatory system to determine if he suffered a stroke?

The primary features of the central nervous system are produced during the ___ trimester of pregnancy.

Which is the correct order of events during brain cell development? i. synaptic rearrangement ii. differentiation iii. migration iv. synaptogenesis v. apoptosis vi. proliferation

How many chromosomes does a child inherit from each parent?

The brain contains cerebrospinal fluid-filled cavities called ____.

The brain is supplied with blood through two major arteries: ____.

What is the role of nitric oxide in the brain?

Dr. Pearson wants to design a drug that easily passes through the blood-brain barrier. As an expert in psychopharmacology, you suggest that Dr. Pearson ensure that the chemical structure that he designs is small, as well as ____.

Each chromosome contains a strand of ____.

Dr. Ambroise is developing a drug to help promote axonal regeneration following brain injury. What might be an effective mechanism of action for Dr. Ambroise's drug?