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SSB HISTOLOGY Nervous Tissue

SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS

NOTE: The following questions are designed for introductory drill.  They do not necessarily represent the quality of questions which will appear on the Unit evaluation.

Set I.  Questions 1-36, multiple choice.

Set II.  Questions 37-81, true or false.

(reference:  http://www.siumed.edu/~dking2/ssb/neuron.htm).

QUESTION SET I.  Multiple choice.

Point to an answer.  Green color and bold indicates "CORRECT."  Red color and italics indicates "Wrong answer."  (NOTE:  In cases where all of the responses are correct, only "all of the above" will be indicated as correct.)

  1. Another name for nerve cell is:
    1. ganglion
    2. dendrite
    3. axon
    4. neuron
    5. nerve
       
  2. The portion of a nerve cell which contains the nucleus and most of the metabolic machinery is called the:
    1. axon
    2. dendrite
    3. synapse
    4. cell body
    5. Nissl body
       
  3. The terms "soma" and "perikaryon" refer to the:
    1. axon
    2. dendrite
    3. synapse
    4. cell body
    5. Nissl body
       
  4. A site of communication between neurons is called a:
    1. axon
    2. dendrite
    3. synapse
    4. cell body
    5. Nissl body
       
  5. The principal region of the neuron for receiving information is the:
    1. dendrite
    2. axon
    3. myelin
    4. ganglion
    5. nucleus
       
  6. Information is carried away from the neuron cell body by the:
    1. dendrite
    2. axon
    3. myelin
    4. ganglion
    5. nucleus
       
  7. A resting membrane potential based on high internal K+ concentration, high external Na+ concentration, and differential permeability to these ions, occurs:
    1. along axon membrane.
    2. along dendrite membrane.
    3. along neuron cell body membrane.
    4. at postsynaptic membrane.
    5. all of the above
       
  8. The element of a synapse which contains neurotransmitter prior to release is called the:
    1. synaptic cleft
    2. presynaptic membrane
    3. postsynaptic membrane
    4. synaptic vesicle
    5. dendritic spine
       
  9. The element of a synapse which contains neurotransmitter receptors is called the:
    1. node of Ranvier
    2. presynaptic membrane
    3. postsynaptic membrane
    4. synaptic vesicle
    5. synaptic cleft
       
  10. The element of a synapse which contains binding sites for synaptic vesicles is called the:
    1. node of Ranvier
    2. presynaptic membrane
    3. postsynaptic membrane
    4. dendritic spine
    5. synaptic cleft
       
  11. The element of a synapse across which neurotransmitter diffuses during synaptic transmission is called the:
    1. node of Ranvier
    2. presynaptic membrane
    3. postsynaptic membrane
    4. dendritic spine
    5. synaptic cleft
       
  12. The distance which neurotransmitter must diffuse to cross a synaptic cleft is approximately:
    1. 30 nm
    2. 300 nm
    3. 3 µm
    4. 30 µm
    5. 300 µm
       
  13. Synaptic vesicles are most commonly located:
    1. within the axon hillock.
    2. within presynaptic axon terminals.
    3. within the synaptic cleft.
    4. within postsynaptic dendrites.
    5. all of the above
       
  14. The normal site for initiation of a neuronal action potential is the:
    1. dendritic spine.
    2. axon hillock.
    3. axon terminal.
    4. two of the above
    5. all of the above
       
  15. The common term "nerve fibers" refers to:
    1. actin and myosin
    2. axons
    3. neurofilaments
    4. microtubules
    5. nerves
       
  16. Movement of materials between nerve cell bodies and distant axon sites is called:
    1. chromatolysis
    2. synaptic transmission
    3. saltatory conduction
    4. active propagation
    5. axoplasmic transport
       
  17. Structures extending the length of the axon which provide the substrate for axoplasmic transport are the:
    1. Nissl bodies
    2. microtubules
    3. synaptic vesicles
    4. nodes of Ranvier
    5. Schwann cells
       
  18. Nissl bodies consist of:
    1. clusters of synaptic vesicles.
    2. microtubules and microfilaments.
    3. rough endoplasmic reticulum and ribosomes.
    4. Golgi bodies.
    5. lysosomes and lipofuscin granules.
       
  19. Within a typical neuron, mitochondria may occur within:
    1. somata.
    2. axons.
    3. dendrites.
    4. axon terminals.
    5. all of the above
       
  20. A bundle of axons in the peripheral nervous system is called a:
    1. nerve
    2. ganglion
    3. nucleus
    4. tract or commissure
    5. column
       
  21. A bundle of axons in the central nervous system is called a:
    1. nerve
    2. ganglion
    3. nucleus
    4. tract or commissure
    5. plexus
       
  22. Peripheral axons are ensheathed by a cell type called the:
    1. ganglion cell
    2. oligodendroglia
    3. astrocyte
    4. Schwann cell
    5. fibroblast
       
  23. Schwann cell membrane wrapped many times around an individual axon is called:
    1. axolemma
    2. myelin
    3. proteoglycan
    4. choroid plexus
    5. node of Ranvier
       
  24. The presence of myelin decreases the:
    1. electrical resistance of the axon membrane.
    2. electrical capacitance of the axon membrane.
    3. conduction velocity of the axon membrane.
    4. tensile strength of the axon.
    5. ability of the axon to regenerate after injury.
       
  25. The gap between two adjacent myelin segments along an axon is called the:
    1. axolemma
    2. internode
    3. axonal cleft
    4. choroid plexus
    5. node of Ranvier
       
  26. Which of the following ranges encompasses the length of a typical myelin segment (internode), between two nodes of Ranvier?
    1. 20 to 200 nm
    2. 0.2 to 2 µm
    3. 2 to 20 µm
    4. 20 to 200 µm
    5. 0.2 to 2 mm
       
  27. Which of the following ranges encompasses the diameter of most myelinated axons?
    1. 10 to 200 nm
    2. 0.1 to 2 µm
    3. 1 to 20 µm
    4. 10 to 200 µm
    5. 0.1 to 2 mm
       
  28. Peripheral axons which are enveloped by Schwann cell cytoplasm but are not wrapped by several layers of membrane are called:
    1. motor nerve fibers.
    2. myelinated nerve fibers.
    3. unmyelinated nerve fibers.
    4. sensory nerve fibers.
    5. postganglionic nerve fibers.
       
  29. A group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system is called a:
    1. nerve
    2. ganglion
    3. nucleus
    4. column
    5. commissure
       
  30. Small cells closely associated with neurons in peripheral ganglia may be called:
    1. satellite cells
    2. pyramidal cells
    3. postganglionic cells
    4. autonomic cells
    5. preganglionic cells
       
  31. Cell bodies of the peripheral receptor neurons associated with spinal sensory nerve roots are located:
    1. near the peripheral receptor organ (in skin or muscle).
    2. in spinal gray matter.
    3. in dorsal root ganglia.
    4. two of the above.
    5. all of the above
       
  32. Cell bodies of motor neurons associated with spinal motor nerve roots may be located:
    1. within the epimysium of the muscle they innervate.
    2. in spinal gray matter.
    3. in dorsal root ganglia.
    4. at any point along a motor nerve.
    5. in the cerebral cortex.
       
  33. Dorsal root ganglia contain:
    1. cell bodies of peripheral skin and muscle receptor neurons.
    2. spinal motor neurons.
    3. sympathetic neurons.
    4. parasympathetic neurons.
    5. all of the above
       
  34. White matter appears white because of:
    1. the absence of blood vessels.
    2. the absence of glial cells.
    3. the presence of many collagen fibers.
    4. the presence of many myelinated axons.
    5. more than one of the above
       
  35. Fresh, living gray matter is colored:
    1. gray, of course.
    2. black.
    3. white.
    4. pink.
    5. all of the above
       
  36. In sectioned and stained specimens of nervous tissue, what could the color of white matter be?
    1. White, of course.
    2. Black.
    3. It depends on the stain. Read the slide label or figure legend.
    4. Any of the above.

QUESTION SET II.  TRUE or FALSE.

These are not subtle or tricky statements; each statement either is boldly false or else, within the limits of any brief statement, is true. Parenthetical comments and phrases set off by commas are intended only to clarify or illuminate, not to mislead. Try to revise any false statement so that it will become a CORRECT statement about the same subject.

Point to an answer.  Green color indicates the CORRECT choice.  Red color indicates the incorrect choice.

 

  1. Action potentials travel only along myelinated axons; unmyelinated axons do not support action potentials.
  2. Action potentials travel fastest along unmyelinated axons.
  3. Action potentials normally travel from the axon terminal toward the cell body.
  4. Unmyelinated axons conduct more slowly than myelinated axons.
  5. Efferent axons from alpha motor neurons to extrafusal muscles fibers and afferent axons from muscle spindle receptors are among the largest myelinated axons in peripheral nerves.
  6. Unmyelinated axons generally have a smaller diameter than myelinated axons.
  7. Meissner's and Pacinian corpuscles are usually served by myelinated axons.
  8. Axons from receptors for slow, burning pain are typically small and unmyelinated.
  9. Myelinated axons do not usually enter gray matter.
  10. Dendrites receive synapses from the axon terminals of other neurons; receptor molecules for neurotransmitters are found on the surface of dendritic membranes.
  11. Dendrites are found in gray matter.
  12. Graded postsynaptic potentials occur along dendrites when membrane permeability is altered by neurotransmitter release.
  13. Neurons with large rather than small cell bodies usually give rise to relatively long rather than local axons.
  14. Among the features which distinguish axons from cell bodies and dendrites is the absence of ribosomes from axons and axon terminals.
  15. White matter in the central nervous system consists of axon tracts with abundant myelin, where neuron cell bodies and dendrites are scarce or absent.
  16. A single Schwann cell forms myelin around one and only one axon, while a single oligodendroglial cell forms myelin around several separate axons.
  17. Myelinated axons found in white matter usually begin in gray matter and terminate in gray matter.
  18. For long-axon neurons (those whose axons leave the gray matter location where the cell body resides), the volume of axoplasm will usually exceed the volume of cytoplasm in the cell body.
  19. During an action potential, internal Na+ concentration rises until it exceeds the external Na+ concentration.
  20. During an inhibitory synaptic potential (IPSP), external K+ concentration rises until it exceeds the internal K+ concentration.
  21. The sodium pump is inactivated during membrane potential changes.
  22. Increasing permeability to K+ (increasing K+ conductance) normally depolarizes the cell membrane.
  23. Increasing permeability to Na+ (increasing Na+ conductance) normally depolarizes the cell membrane.
  24. Rapid axoplasmic transport involves movement along microtubules as the primary mechanism, with ATP from mitochondria supplying the energy.
  25. After damage to a mixed peripheral nerve, motor axons initially degenerate distal to the site of injury.
  26. After damage to a mixed peripheral nerve, sensory axons initially degenerate proximal to the site of injury.
  27. After damage to a mixed peripheral nerve, Schwann cell bodies remain alive, aligned within the nerve.
  28. After damage to a mixed peripheral nerve, the time before normal function may be restored depends on the length of axon distal to injury.
  29. Neuron cell bodies respond to axonal injury with observable changes called chromatolysis.
  30. Motor axons cannot regenerate after peripheral nerve injury.
  31. After peripheral nerve injury, both motor and sensory axons can regenerate to reinnervate their targets provided that the segment proximal to the site of injury is aligned with the (degenerated) distal route.
  32. Damaged axons in the central nervous system usually do not regenerate to reestablish normal contacts.
  33. The longest axons may be over a meter in length.
  34. The thickest axons may be over 50 µm in diameter.
  35. Epineurium and perineurium are names for the connective tissue which ensheaths peripheral nerves and axon bundles within nerves.
  36. Endoneurium is the name for the delicate collagen framework which supports axons within a peripheral nerve.
  37. The many nuclei which may be found within peripheral nerves belong to Schwann cells and fibroblasts.
  38. Some of the nuclei found within peripheral nerves belong to cell bodies of first order sensory neurons.
  39. Myelin is an extracellular, secretory product of Schwann cells.
  40. The composition of myelin is primarily lipid with some protein, similar to other cell membranes.
  41. Nodes of Ranvier are sites where myelin is absent along an axon, between adjacent Schwann cells.
  42. In a neuroanatomical section stained with Weigert's myelin stain, myelin appears black or deep purple.
  43. Nodes of Ranvier are sites where action potentials are regenerated during saltatory conduction.
  44. The cell bodies for peripheral sensory receptors (e.g., touch receptors, muscle spindles) are located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.
  45. The cell bodies for motor neurons innervating segmental musculature are located in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

 

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Last updated:  5 April 2004 / dgk