Pre-release

Question 1

What is the spinal cord part of?

Answer 1

Central nervous system

Question 2

Define paralysis

Answer 2

Loss of the ability to move some or all of the body. Often caused by damage to the spinal cord.

Question 3

How can spinal cord damage be detected?

Answer 3

MRI

Question 4

Other than spinal cord damage, what can a MRI also detect?

Answer 4

areas of demyelination

Question 5

Why do safety considerations need to be taken into account with a MRI?

Answer 5

the large magnet that creates a magnetic field to line up the protons in hydrogen atoms. a beam of radio waves then spins the protons and the signal emitted is converted into a 3D detailed image.

Question 6

Define stem cells

Answer 6

Undifferentiated cells which are either totipotent, pluripotenet or multipotent

Question 7

The brain is made up of many distinct regions to coordinate control of the body, name them

Answer 7

• cerebrum
• cerebellum
• medulla oblongata
• hypothalamus
• pituitary gland

Question 8

What does the central nervous system contain?

Answer 8

the brain and spinal cord

Question 9

What is the CNS part of?

Answer 9

the nervous system

Question 10

Describe the role of neurones

Answer 10

Adapted to transmit nerve impulses. relay neurones lie within the CNS and transfer impulses from sensory neurones to motor neurones. they have no myelin sheath

Question 11

Define oligodendrocytes

Answer 11

A type of cell in the NS that produce myelin. Their function is to provide support and insulation to axons in the CNS. Their equivalent in the peripheral nervous system is the Swchann cell

Question 12

Define axons

Answer 12

Part of the neurone. A single long extension that carries impulses away from the cell body.

Question 13

Define quadriplegic

Answer 13

where the whole body is paralysed

Question 14

Define paraplegic

Answer 14

where the legs are paralysed

Question 15

Describe immune cells

Answer 15

White blood cells ( Leucocytes) . Leucocytes can be split into granulocytes and agranulocytes. Neutrophils are types of granulocytes and are involved in phagocytosis .
The agranulocytes include lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophage.

Question 16

Define growth factor

Answer 16

a protein molecule made by the body; it functions to regulate cell division & cell survival.

Question 17

Define free radicals

Answer 17

molecules which possess a single, unpaired electron in their outer shell. This makes the molecule highly reactive and will attack a wide variety of biological molecules, removing their electrons in a bid to find an electron pair.

Question 18

Describe inflammation

Answer 18

Damage to the cell results in mast cells releasing histamine, serotonin and prostaglandins which dilate arterioles and make the walls of the capillaries so that phagocytic white blood cells ( neutrophils , monocytes and marcophage) can leave the blood more easily. They also increase blood flow to the area and increase pain sensitivity . Resulting in soreness, swelling, redness and increased temperature of the area.

Question 19

Describe clinical trials

Answer 19

Drugs must be tested before they can be licensed and made available to patients.
Human testing happens after animal testing. In spinal cord injuries rats are used as the spinal cord is similar to humans
Phase 1 - usually involves 10-20 people - used to establish the upper limit of safe dose.
Phase 2- around 200 people. Used to assess effectivenss of the drug . Will use placebo
Phase 3 - Drug compared against the best current treatment - thousands of participants . Conducted on patients with the disease so no placebo used as unethical.
Randomised grouping of new or established drug so group is similar in terms of age, gender, lifestyle. Statistical test done.

Question 20

What type of stem cell derived from human brain tissue, could make any of the three major kinds of neural cell found in the central nervous system.

Answer 20

Multipotent stem cells

Question 21

What is the purpose of immunosuppressive drugs?

Answer 21

prevent organ rejection - although the donor stem cells will ideally be a close genetic match to the recipient. the immune system will still recognise foreign antigens

Question 22

What are Human Leucocyte Antigens (HLA)

Answer 22

the human versions of the Major histocompatabilty complex (MHC). The proteins produced by these genes are on the surface of almost all cell membranes.

Question 23

HLA antigens are coded for _ on chromosome _. They are close together so are often inherited as a _. This is a type of linkage is _. HLA genes exhibit _.

Answer 23

6 gene loci
6
set (haplotype)
autosomal linkage
codominance

Question 24

Define mesenchymal/stromal stem cells

Answer 24

Multipotent stem cells found in the bone marrow, not the same as haemotopic blood stem cells also found in the bone marrow.

Question 25

What is special about mesenchymal/stromal stem cells derived from the patient’s own bone marrow, adipose tissue (fat) or cord blood.

Answer 25

They would not have the concern of rejection

Question 26

Define mesenchymal/stromal stem cells derived from cord blood

Answer 26

stem cells taken from umbilical cord at birth

Question 27

Define oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs)

Answer 27

Precursor cells to oligodendrocytes that may also differentiate into neurones

Question 28

Define human embryonic stem (hES) cells

Answer 28

pluripotent cells obtained from embryo’s that are younger than 14 days old

Question 29

Describe concerns associated with the use of human embryonic stem (hES) cells

Answer 29

Some people view embryo’s as a ball of undifferentiated cells . Other’s see this as wrong regardless of the age.
Others concern is that this could lead to reproductive cloning of humans or the potential to develop tumours.
Robert Lanza in 2006 made it possible to obtain embryonic stem cells without destroying an embryo- reducing ethical concerns.

Question 30

Define thoracic spinal cord injury

Answer 30

injury to the upper back, paraplegic

Question 31

Define chronic injury

Answer 31

The sort of physical injury, illness, or disease that develops slowly and is persistent and long-lasting, or constantly recurring over time.

Question 32

Define clinical trial

Answer 32

A series of controlled studies in which a new medicinal drug is tested.

Question 33

Define inflammation

Answer 33

A tissue reaction to injury or an antigen that may include release of histamine, swelling , pain, itchiness, redness, heat and loss of function

Question 34

Define motor (function)

Answer 34

movements and actions of the bone structures

Question 35

Define myelin

Answer 35

a mixture of proteins and phospholipids forming a whitish insulating sheath around many nerve fibres, which increases the speed at which impulses are conducted

Question 36

Define myelin sheath

Answer 36

The insulating envelope of myelin that surrounds the core of an axon; it facilitates the transmission of nerve impulses

Question 37

Define neurones

Answer 37

Nerve cells; a cell specialised for the conduction of nerve impulses

Question 38

Define scar

Answer 38

a mark left on the skin or within body tissue where a wound, burn, or sore has not healed completely and fibrous connective tissue has developed

Question 39

Define sensory (function)

Answer 39

the extent to which an individual correctly senses skin stimulation, sounds, proprioception, taste and smell, and visual images

Question 40

Define toxin

Answer 40

Poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms

Question 41

Define transplantation

Answer 41

the process of taking an organ or living tissue and implanting it in another part of the body or in another body