Basic Neurobiology

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Ok, we will start with a question regarding action potentials first. What accounts for the rising phase of an action potential in a typical neuron? Influx of sodium (Na+) ions into the neuron Sodium (Na+) leaving the neuron Influx of potassium (K+) ions into the neuron Neither sodium nor potassium are involved in neuronal action potentials

2. There are many severe neurological disorders out there. What disease would you be suffering from if I were to demyelinate your axons? Parkinson's Disease Multiple Sclerosis Brain cancer Huntington's disease

3. With regards to the axons of dorsal column medial-lemniscus pathway for sending somatic information to the brain: where do these axons cross the midline? They cross the midline immediately. At the level of the spinal cord. These axons do not cross the midline, they remain ipsilateral (on the same side). At the level of the brain stem

4. If I were to damage your Edinger-Westphal nucleus what would you have trouble doing? Smelling citrus odors Moving the muscles in your iris Seeing the color red Producing tears

5. Lower motor neurons have an interesting distribution within the ventral horn of the spinal cord. What muscles would I damage if I were to destroy the lateral most part of the ventral horn? None of the above, motor neurons are located in the dorsal horn not the ventral horn Motor neurons innervating proximal muscles Motor neurons innervating distal muscles Motor neurons that innervate your deltoid muscle

6. The output of the basal ganglia is... Inhibitory A mix of excitatory and inhibitory Excitatory The basal ganglia only receives input it does not send output to the rest of the body

7. This disease of the basal ganglia is inherited and is caused by a glutamine repeat in a particular gene Huntington's disease Basal ganglitis Parkinson's disease hydrocephalus

8. Now on to a little brain development... We all start out as a tube within a tube composed of three germ layers which give rise to all of the structures and tissues. What would be the result on the development of the nervous system if I removed the mesoderm layer? The brain will develop outside of the head The nervous system would develop normally The nervous system would not develop The brain would form but the spine won't

9. Serious diseases can develop when the neural tube fails to close properly during development. Which of the following are diseases that result from an incomplete closure of the neural tube? Both Spina Bifida Anencephaly Neither

10. Because I enjoy developmental biology I will give you one more on neuro devo...Which product should a pregnant woman never use because of its link to an increased risk of birth defects? Isotretinoin Fluorinated toothpaste Acetaminophen Foods high in starch