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Question Bank
- 1What are the two main components of the nervous system?
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Central Nervous System (CNS) and Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - 2What is the Central Nervous System (CNS) composed of?
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Brain and spinal cord - 3What are the two divisions of the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)?
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Autonomic and Somatic - 4What are the three main types of cells in the nervous system?
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Neurons, interneurons, and glial cells - 5What is the difference between a nucleus and a ganglion?
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nucleus: cluster of neural cell bodies in CNS ganglion: group of neural cell bodies outside the CNS - 6What layer does the nervous system start developing from
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ectoderm - 7What is the neural plate and what does it develop into?
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thickened region of ectoderm → develops into neural tube and neural crest - 8What are the anterior and posterior ends of the neural tube responsible for developing?
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Anterior: brain structures Posterior: spinal cord - 9What do neural tube cells become
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giver ise to neurons and glia in CNS - 10What are neural tube defects?
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Congenital malformations of the nervous system - 11What is anencephaly?
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- severe neural tube defect - failure of closure of the anterior neural tube - absence of the brain and skull bones - infants dying shortly after birth - 12What is Spina bifida?
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defective closure of the posterior neuropore - 13What are the subtypes of Spina bifida according to severity?
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Spina bifida occulta and severe cases. - 14What is Spina bifida occulta?
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mild, asymptomatic form where one or more vertebrae don't fully close, but the spinal cord is undamaged - 15What is the primary source of blood supply to the brain?
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The Circle of Willis - 16Which arteries form the Circle of Willis?
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- Anterior communicating artery - posterior communicating artery - two posterior cerebral arteries - 17What percentage of daily cardiac output does the brain receive?
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15% - 18What are the two main arteries that supply blood to the anterior part of the brain?
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Anterior carotid arteries - 19Which pair of arteries supplies blood to the posterior part of the brain?
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Vertebral arteries - 20Through which vein does venous drainage from the brain occur?
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Internal Jugular vein - 21What is the function of the cell body in a neuron?
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- contains the nucleus and other organelles - genetic and metabolic center of the neuron - 22What are dendrites and what do they do?
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Dendrites receive stimuli or input via chemoreceptors. - 23What is the definition of a multipolar neuron?
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multiple dendrites originating from the cell soma and a single axon - 24What are the examples of neurons that are multipolar?
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CNS and somatic NS. - 25What is the definition of a bipolar neuron?
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2 processes that extend from opposite sides of a round or oval-shaped cell body - 26What is a pseudounipolar neuron
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1 process that bifurcates shortly after leaving the soma e.g sensory neurons of PNS - 27What is the largest diameter and fastest conduction velocity for myelinated nerve fibers?
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A-alpha A-beta A-gamma A-delta B - 28Which fiber is unmylinated
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C - 29Pattern between type of fiber vs diameter vs conduction velocity
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myelinated - bigger - faster unmyelinated - smaller - slower - 30What is the function of sensory neurons?
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- afferent - receive stimuli from internal and external environments - conduct impulses towards the CNS for processing and analysis - 31What is the function of motor neurons?
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- efferent - conduct impulses from the CNS towards effector tissues - responsible for 'action' - 32What is the role of interneurons?
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connect sensory and motor neurons regulate the signals transmitted between neurons - 33What is the primary function of glial cells?
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To support neuronal function and survival - 34What are the two main types of glial cells classified into?
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Microglia and macroglia - 35What type of glial cells does the CNS have
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• oligodendrocytes • astrocytes • ependymal cells • microglial cells - 36What type of glial cells does the PNS have
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• Schwann cells • satellite cells - 37What are Microglia
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immune cells of the CNS - from monocytes - tissue-resident macrophages - branched processes for motion between grey and white matter - 38Microglia function
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Immune defense mechanism - removing cellular debris from injury, infection, and disease - phagocytosis - secreting immunoregulatory factors - 39What are the types of macroglia
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• astrocytes • ependymal cells • oligodendrocytes • Schwann cells • Satellite cells - 40What is the most common type of glial cell in the CNS and what protein does it produce?
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Astrocytes produce GFAP (glial fibrillary acid protein). - 41What are the functions of astrocytes?
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• Scaffold for neural migration • synaptic transmission • neural protection • BBB formation; astrocyte end feet • nutrient transfer; blood → neurons - 42What is the function of ependymal cells in the central nervous system (CNS)?
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Produce cerebrospinal fluid • cilia to facilitate CSF movement • microvilli to help with CSF absorption - 43Where are oligodendrocytes foud
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only in CNS - 44What is the function of oligodendrocytes
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Produce myelin sheath for neural axons in CNS - 45What is the myelin sheath
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• fatty layer that electrically insulates the axon • facilitates rapid transmission of nerve impulses - 46What are Schwann cells
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• found in the PNS • produce myelin sheath - 47What are satellite cells
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• found in PNS • functions for electricity insulation and nutrient/waste exchange along ganglia - 48What is the difference between grey matter and white matter in the brain?
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Grey: consists of neuron cell bodies, dendrites, astrocytes, and microglial cells White: lipid-rich myelin sheaths surrounding axons - 49What are the three main parts of the brain?
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Forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain - 50What are the two parts of the forebrain?
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Telencephalon - cerebrum Diencephalon - thalamus, pineal gland, posterior pituitary gland - 51What structures are found in the midbrain?
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• Superior and inferior colliculi • cerebral peduncle • substantia nigra - 52What structures make up the hindbrain
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• pons • medulla • cerebellum - 53What are the three main components of the cerebrum?
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• Cortex • cerebral white matter • subcortical structures (basal ganglia, hippocampus) - 54What is the cerebral cortex?
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The outer layer of the cerebrum. - 55What is the Brodmann classification?
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A classification that divides the cerebral cortex into 52 regions based on neural shapes and arrangement. - 56What is the frontal lobe responsible for?
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• prefrontal cortex: judgment, reasoning, and social behavior • primary motor cortex - 57What is the function of the parietal lobe?
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primary sensory cortex • integration of sensory input and attention - 58Where is the occipital lobe located?
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primary visual cortex - 59What are the functions of the temporal lobe?
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Auditory processing, language recognition, and formation of new and long-term memories. - 60What is the function of the corpus callosum?
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• Interconnects left and right hemispheres • allowing hemispheres to communicate - 61What are projection fibers and what do they connect?
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Connect the cerebral cortex with lower portions of the brain or the spinal cord • enabling cortex to receive or transmit signals - 62What is the role of association fibers in the brain?
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• connect various regions within the same hemisphere • permit cortex to function as a coordinated unit - 63List the main structures of the basal ganglia.
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Striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen), globus pallidus, substantia nigra - 64What is the function of the basal ganglia?
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Responsible for thalamus-cortical neural signaling - 65What are the functions of the basal ganglia in the brain?
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• fine motor movement • cognition and decision-making • motivation and brain reward system - 66What disease is associated with lesions in the striatum?
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Huntington disease - 67What are the main components of the diencephalon?
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thalamus, hypothalamus, pineal gland, and the posterior part of the pituitary gland - 68What is the thalamus and where is it located?
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• relay station that relays sensory and motor signals to the cerebral cortex • in both hemispheres and surrounds the third ventricle - 69What are the functions of the thalamus?
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• relay station • regulates cortical activation, memory, and visual input - 70What are the main functions of the hypothalamus?
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• maintenance of homeostasis and emotional control • endocrine control - hypothalamic-hypophyseal system • regulation of temperature by inducing shivering • regulation of food intake - 71What are thermoreceptors and what do they do?
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• provide temperature information to the preoptic area in the hypothalamus • maintain a constant core body temperature - 72What are the mechanisms the hypothalamus uses to increase heat production?
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• increased metabolism via the thyroid gland • shivering • inhibiting sweating • promoting vasoconstriction to reduce heat loss through skin - 73Mechanisms anterior hypothalamus uses to enable heat loss
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• Vasodilation of skin blood vessels • sweating • decrease in heat production - 74What are pyrogens and how do they contribute to fever?
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•substances from infections • trigger the production of IL-1 and increase PG E2 • reduces the activity of preoptic nuclei and anterior hypothalamus • changing the body's temperature set point - 75What is the role of PGE2 in fever?
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reduces the activity of preoptic nuclei and anterior hypothalamus → preventing heat dissipation - 76What does substantia nigra contain
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dopamine-producing neurons - 77What are the components of the Hindbrain?
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pons, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum - 78What does brainstem consist of?
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midbrain, pons, and medulla oblongata - 79function of the pons
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• relays sensory info between cerebrum and spinal cord • contains nerve nuclei for sensation, eye movement, and auditory functions • regulates the arousal/sleep cycle - 80medulla function
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• reflex center for cardiovascular and respiratory control • contains ascending and descending fiber tracts connecting the brainstem to the spinal cord • responsible for the vomiting reflex - 81where is the cerebellum located?
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posterior cranial fossa behind the pons and medulla - 82What are the two hemispheres of the cerebellum separated by?
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a narrow ridge called the vermis - 83What are the three layers of the cerebellar cortex?
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Molecular layer, Purkinje cell layer, and granular layer - 84What neurotransmitter is responsible for the inhibitory output of the cerebellum?
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Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) - 85What is the function of the Purkinje cell layer in the cerebellum?
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It is responsible for the inhibitory output of the cerebellum. - 86Functions of the cerebellum
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• Anterior lobe: regulation of muscle tone • Posterior lobe: planning fine motor movements & coordinate motor function • Flocculonodular lobe: maintenance of posture/balance • dysfunction = hypotonia and ataxia - 87What are the three main types of ataxia?
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Cerebellar, sensory, and vestibular. - 88What is cerebellar ataxia
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• Caused by cerebellar degeneration • genetic cause: Friedreich's Ataxia, Ataxia Telangiectasia - 89What is Friedreich's Ataxia and how is it inherited?
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It is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation of the frataxin gene. - 90What gene is defective in Ataxia Telangiectasia and what are some of its symptoms?
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The ATM gene is defective • cerebellar atrophy • immune deficiency • children: high risk of cancer • DNA highly sensitive to ionizing radiation - 91What are the four ventricles of the brain?
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Two lateral ventricles, one third ventricle, and one fourth ventricle. - 92What is the function of the ventricular system in the brain?
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production + circulation of CSF - 93What is the Foramen of Monro and how does it relate to the ventricular system?
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connects the lateral ventricles with the third ventricle - 94How do the 3rd and 4th ventricle communicate
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cerebral aqueduct - 95What is hydrocephalus?
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A condition characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain, leading to ventricular dilatation. - 96What are the causes of hydrocephalus?
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Excessive cerebrospinal fluid production • impaired absorption of cerebrospinal fluid • or obstructions within the ventricular system - 97What is hydrocephalus in children?
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Enlargement of the head due to the skull bones not being completely fused - 98What are the symptoms of hydrocephalus in children?
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changes in tooth eruption patterns higher plaque accumulation higher caries prevalence. - 99What is a ventriculoperitoneal shunt?
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device used to drain excess CSF from brain into the abdominal cavity or atrium - 100What are some dental modifications for patients with a VA shunt?
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chair positioning avoiding excessive force to the catheter possible antibiotic prophylaxis shorter appointments