Neural System Development

Question 1

Neurodevelopment

Answer 1

development of the nervous system

an ongoing process (the nervous system is plastic)

Question 2

Genie (case study)

Answer 2

completely normal when born
-subject to an insufficient environment
=> after she was rescued, she never could become “normal”

Question 3

ovum

Answer 3

human egg cell

Question 4

zygote

Answer 4

a single cell formed by an ova and sperm

Question 5

cell division

Answer 5

the zygote separates into 2, then 4 cells, etc

Question 6

differentiation

Answer 6

the cells that have been multiplied slowly morph into different types of cells (muscle, brain, etc)

Question 7

neural plate

Answer 7

a small patch of ectoderm tissue-develops bc of chemical signals from the mesoderm

Question 8

potency

Answer 8

being able to differentiate into different cell types

Question 9

totipotent

Answer 9

able to develop into any cell in the human body

ex: fertilized egg

Question 10

multipotent

Answer 10

able to develop into any cell in a certain category

Question 11

pluripotent

Answer 11

able to develop into many (not all) kinds of cells

-ex: blastocyst

Question 12

unipotent

Answer 12

able to develop into one kind of cell

Question 13

Gastrulation

Answer 13

the second phase of development, creates 3 “germ layers”

Question 14

ectoderm

Answer 14

germ layer: becomes outer layer of skin, hair, ling of nose and mouth, and the nervous system

Question 15

endoderm

Answer 15

germ layer: becomes digestive tract, respiratory tract,

Question 16

mesoderm

Answer 16

germ layer: becomes muscles and skeleton

“the organizer”

Question 17

neural tube

Answer 17

the neural plate folds to make a tube

becomes the CNS

Question 18

inside the neural tube

Answer 18

becomes the cerebral ventricles and spinal cord

Question 19

3 swellings on the end of the neural tube

Answer 19

becomes the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain

Question 20

Neural crest

Answer 20

becomes the PNS

Question 21

Somite

Answer 21

becomes the skull and vertebrae

Question 22

neural proliferation

Answer 22

different parts of the neural tube begin to swell (more cells)

Question 23

ventricular zone

Answer 23

where most of the neural proliferation occurs

next to the ventricle

Question 24

migration

Answer 24

cells that are differentiated move to the appropriate parts of the “body”
chemical signals

Question 25

radial migration

Answer 25

cells move from the ventricular zone, out in a straight line

like a radius, duh

Question 26

tangential migration

Answer 26

cells move in a right angle (tangent, duh) from radial migration

Question 27

somal translocation

Answer 27

cells move by an extension growing and “testing” the external environment. If it “likes” it, it will pull itself that way, etc.

Question 28

glia mediated migration

Answer 28

cells can move along a radial network of glia cells that is established
(radial migration only)

Question 29

aggregation

Answer 29

after cells have migrated to the appropriate areas, they have to align themselves with other cells to create structures

Question 30

Cell Adhesion Molecules (CAMs)

Answer 30

aids in aggregation

-they can recognize specific molecules and adhere to them

Question 31

axon growth

Answer 31

after aggregation is accomplished, axonsand dendrites begin to grow

Question 32

growth cone

Answer 32

a cone with fingerlike structures at the end of each axon

-“searches” for a correct route to grow

Question 33

filopodia

Answer 33

the fingerlike growths on the end of a growth cone

Question 34

synaptogenesis

Answer 34

the formation of new synapses

-depends on the presence of glial cells (astrocytes)

Question 35

neuron death

Answer 35

• 50% more neurons are created than necessary

- it’s normal for neurons to die/ get damaged to some degree, but too much is bad

Question 36

necrosis

Answer 36

passive cell death

-cells break apart and spill their contents (harmful)

Question 37

aptosis

Answer 37

active cell death

-parts of the cell are packaged before breaking apart (much safer than necrosis)

Question 38

synapse rearrangement

Answer 38

during cell death, the cells that have formed wring synapses die
-this makes everything rearrange

Question 39

Postnatal Development

Answer 39

brain volume quadruples between birth and adulthood

bc of: synaptogenesis, myelination, dendritic branching

Question 40

neurogenesis

Answer 40

growth of new neurons

-olfactory bulb and hippocampus

Question 41

Autism

Answer 41

• cognitive impairment

- reduced social interaction/ interpretation of emotions

Question 42

Williams Syndrome

Answer 42

• cognitive impairment

- reduced spatial ability