Mock Exam

Question 1

1. Write the appropriate terms corresponding to each letter.

A: ___________________________________

B: ___________________________________

C: ___________________________________

D: ___________________________________

E: ___________________________________

Answer 1

A: Third Ventrical

B: Corpus collosum

C: Caudate nucleus

D: Putamen

E: Mammillary body

Question 2

2.

Complete as appropriate.

Points: 0= completely incorrect or no response; 1= partially correct; 2 = correct .

The ____________________________________is the portion of the neuron that carries information toward the cell body.

Answer 2

The dendrite is the portion of the neuron that carries information toward the cell body.

Question 3

3. Complete as appropriate.

Points: 0= completely incorrect or no response; 1= partially correct; 2 = correct.

The oligodendrocytes are glia cells and they are responsible for the production of ____________________________________

Answer 3

The oligodendrocytes are glia cells and they are responsible for the production of myelin, which is an insulating covering around the axon

Question 4

4.

At “resting potential” means that the electrical charge of intracelllular environment is more _____________ than extracellular environment.

Answer 4

At “resting potential” means that the electrical charge of intracelllular environment is more negative than extracellular environment.

Question 5

5.

The ____________________________________pump is mainly responsible for this electrical difference and uneven ion ____________________________________

Answer 5

The sodium-potassium pump is mainly responsible for this electrical difference and uneven ion concentration (i.e. balance of Na+(Sodium ions), K+(Potassium ions))

Question 6

6.

The purkinje cells are typical cells of the ____________________________________

Answer 6

The purkinje cells are typical cells of the cerebellum

Question 7

7.

The neocortex is divided in _______________ layers, which contain two types of cells: star-shaped cells (stellata) and _______________________________cells.

Answer 7

The neocortex is divided in VI (six) layers, which contain two types of cells: star-shaped cells (stellata) and pyramidal cells.

Note there are also large pyramidal cells (Betz cells) as well as the ordinary pyramidal neurons

Question 8

8.

___________________________________ hair cells are responsible to send information to the auditory nerve.

Answer 8

Inner hair cells are responsible to send information to the auditory nerve.

Question 9

9.

____________________________________visual receptive fields of the lateral geniculate bodies are ____________________________________shaped.

Answer 9

Concentric single opponent cells visual receptive fields of the lateral geniculate bodies are circular shaped.

Question 10

10.

From CCN - still maybe relevant

Smell information reaches the _________________bulb.

Answer 10

olfactory

Question 11

11.

Briefly describe what happens in the post-synaptic membrane when an action potential reaches the terminal button of the pre-synaptic neuron.

Answer 11

At the end of the terminal buttons of the pre-synaptic neuron there is the synaptic cleft where neurotransmitters are released when an AP is being sent. These reach the postsynaptic receptors resulting in an increase or decrease of the resting electrical activity ofthe postsynaptic membrane.

Question 12

12.

Describe the role of basal ganglia in movement and mention a possible syndrome resulting from a malfunction of these structures.

Answer 12

The function of basal ganglia is quite complex. They are strongly involved in movement and motor control. They do NOT initiate movements but they are involved in a loop of modulation with the cortex that is constantly active. Therefore they are actively involved in monitoring the force to be applied to a task and gross postural adjustments.

In both Huntington’s Chorea and Ballismus syndromes, the involuntary movements are caused by a abnormal discharges of upper motor neurons that are not adequately inhibited (modulated) by basal ganglia.

Question 13

13.

Compare and briefly describe differences between visual receptive field of ganglion cells and visual receptive field of simple cells in the primary visual cortex.

Answer 13

Ganglion receptive fields:

• They make up complex cells are larger than simple cells and they don’t have discrete excitatory and inhibitory zones.
• Stimulus orientation is crucial, but position within the receptive field is less critical.
• Simple cells and, at some extent, also geniculate cells form the input to Complex cells.
• Some complex cells respond optimally only to movement in a certain direction

Receptive fields of simple cells:

• respond to different orientation (vertical, horizontal, oblique).
• Simple cells have discrete excitatory and inhibitory zones, which are larger than those found in retina and in LGN, and their size is rectangular rather than circular.

Question 14

14.

Did bipedalism affect our brain size at birth?

Answer 14

Humans develop a very large brain and yet because of bipedal locomotion the female of the species has a long and narrow birth canal. Hence rather than waiting, we push our babies out early.

In humans the brain continues to grow at the foetal rate for two years after birth (Bogin 1997). By 3 year of age it is at 80% adult capacity and 90% by five years of age (Dekaban & Sadowsky 1978)

Question 15

15

1. Write the appropriate terms corresponding to each number:

Answer 15

1. Optic Tract
2. Amygdaloid complex
3. External capsule
4. Internal capsule
5. Third Ventricle
6. Lateral Ventricle
7. Corpus collosum
8. Caudate nucleus
9. Striatum (Neostriatum)
10. Putaman
11. Lenticular nucleus (putamen & globus pallidus)
12. Pallidum (globus pallidus)
13. Globus pallidus lateral segment
14. Globus pallidus medial segment
15. Subthalamic nucleus
16. Red nucleus
17. Mamillary body