PATH 120 TESTBANK QUESTIONS WITH
100% CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the function of microglia in the CNS? - Answer- They act as the resident
immune system, clearing damaged neurons, pruning synapses, and removing debris.
What is the purpose of the blood-brain barrier? - Answer- It is a highly selective
membrane that regulates molecules entering the brain from the circulatory system to
protect against toxins and pathogens.
What does an ACE score measure? - Answer- It assesses the number of negative
experiences (trauma, neglect, abuse) that occurred in the first 18 years of life.
What is the relationship between ACE scores and health outcomes? - Answer- As ACE
scores increase, the risk for developing physical, mental, and social problems in
adulthood increases.
What is the primary goal of treatment for neurodegenerative disorders? - Answer- Since
there are no cures, the goal is managing symptoms and slowing progression where
possible.
How is dementia defined? - Answer- A general term for a decline in cognitive function
sufficient to interfere with activities of daily living.
Why might dementia be under-diagnosed in some Indigenous communities? - Answer-
Memory loss may be perceived as a natural part of aging rather than a medical illness,
and there may be no specific word for dementia in some languages.
What are the two primary protein abnormalities associated with Alzheimer's disease? -
Answer- Amyloid beta plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles.
What is the amyloid cascade hypothesis? - Answer- The model proposing that the
accumulation of misfolded amyloid beta is the primary cause of Alzheimer's disease.
What role does tau protein play in healthy neurons? - Answer- It binds to microtubules
to stabilize them and assists in the transport of cargo like vesicles and mitochondria
along axons.
,What are three macroscopic changes seen in the brain during severe Alzheimer's? -
Answer- Cerebral cortical atrophy, enlarged ventricles, and hippocampal atrophy.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease? - Answer- An inherited neurological
disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system (PNS), causing muscle atrophy and
sensory deficits.
What is the difference between CMT1 and CMT2? - Answer- CMT1 is a demyelinating
neuropathy affecting Schwann cells, while CMT2 is an axonal neuropathy causing
degeneration of neuronal axons.
What is the standard of care for managing CMT? - Answer- Physiotherapy to maintain
muscle strength and prevent further atrophy.
What is a synapse? - Answer- The site between adjacent neurons where signals are
transmitted via neurotransmitters.
What triggers the release of neurotransmitters in a neuron? - Answer- The arrival of an
action potential at the axon terminal.
What is the function of astrocytes? - Answer- They provide growth factors and nutrients
to neurons and help maintain the blood-brain barrier.
What is the difference between mental health and mental illness? - Answer- Mental
health is a state of well-being, while mental illness refers to diagnosable medical
conditions that reduce the ability to function.
What are resilience factors in the context of childhood development? - Answer-
Strategies like developing positive coping skills, asking for help, and building healthy,
trusting relationships.
Which brain region is typically affected first in Alzheimer's disease? - Answer- The
hippocampus.
How is cancer defined in biological terms? - Answer- Cancer is a collection of related
diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that divide without
stopping and can spread to surrounding tissues.
What is the statistical likelihood of a Canadian receiving a cancer diagnosis in their
lifetime? - Answer- Approximately half of all Canadians are expected to receive a
cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
What does the term 'age-standardized' mean in the context of cancer statistics? -
Answer- It is a statistical method used to account for differences in age groups, which is
necessary because cancer rates are often higher in older populations.
, What is the current status of cancer as a cause of death in Canada? - Answer- Despite
decreases in age-standardized mortality rates, cancer remains the leading cause of
death for Canadians.
What is the etymological origin of the word 'cancer'? - Answer- It is derived from the
Latin word for 'crab,' reflecting the way the disease holds on and does not let go.
Define 'neoplasm'. - Answer- A neoplasm is any abnormal tissue that forms when cells
grow and divide more than they should, or when they fail to die when they should; it can
be harmless or cancerous.
What is a 'tumour'? - Answer- A tumour is a non-specific term for a neoplasm, referring
to a mass, swelling, or abnormal enlargement on the body.
What is the primary difference between benign and malignant tumours regarding their
growth? - Answer- Benign tumours cannot spread to other tissues, whereas malignant
tumours are capable of invading surrounding tissues.
What is the term for the process where cancer cells spread to other areas of the body? -
Answer- Metastasis.
Can a benign tumour be considered a neoplasm? - Answer- Yes, a neoplasm is a broad
category that includes both harmless (benign) and cancerous (malignant) growths.
What are the two defining characteristics of malignant cells? - Answer- Malignant cells
exhibit uncontrolled division and the ability to invade or spread to other tissues.
What is the primary mechanism by which cancer kills? - Answer- Metastasis, the spread
of cancer cells to other parts of the body.
How do pathologists determine the origin of a malignant tumour? - Answer- They use
full-body imaging and gene expression analysis.
Define Carcinoma. - Answer- A type of cancer that affects epithelial cells, such as those
in the skin or blood vessels, and forms solid tumours.
What is the difference between Sarcoma and Lymphoma? - Answer- Sarcoma begins in
supporting tissues like fat, muscle, bone, or cartilage, while Lymphoma begins in
lymphocytes of the immune system.
What is the definition of a carcinogen? - Answer- A substance or agent known to
damage DNA and cause cancer.
Why are stem cells in the airway particularly vulnerable to mutation from tobacco
smoke? - Answer- They undergo repeated rapid cell division to repair epithelial tissue
damaged by toxic chemicals in the smoke, increasing the chance of replication errors.
100% CORRECT ANSWERS
What is the function of microglia in the CNS? - Answer- They act as the resident
immune system, clearing damaged neurons, pruning synapses, and removing debris.
What is the purpose of the blood-brain barrier? - Answer- It is a highly selective
membrane that regulates molecules entering the brain from the circulatory system to
protect against toxins and pathogens.
What does an ACE score measure? - Answer- It assesses the number of negative
experiences (trauma, neglect, abuse) that occurred in the first 18 years of life.
What is the relationship between ACE scores and health outcomes? - Answer- As ACE
scores increase, the risk for developing physical, mental, and social problems in
adulthood increases.
What is the primary goal of treatment for neurodegenerative disorders? - Answer- Since
there are no cures, the goal is managing symptoms and slowing progression where
possible.
How is dementia defined? - Answer- A general term for a decline in cognitive function
sufficient to interfere with activities of daily living.
Why might dementia be under-diagnosed in some Indigenous communities? - Answer-
Memory loss may be perceived as a natural part of aging rather than a medical illness,
and there may be no specific word for dementia in some languages.
What are the two primary protein abnormalities associated with Alzheimer's disease? -
Answer- Amyloid beta plaques and tau protein neurofibrillary tangles.
What is the amyloid cascade hypothesis? - Answer- The model proposing that the
accumulation of misfolded amyloid beta is the primary cause of Alzheimer's disease.
What role does tau protein play in healthy neurons? - Answer- It binds to microtubules
to stabilize them and assists in the transport of cargo like vesicles and mitochondria
along axons.
,What are three macroscopic changes seen in the brain during severe Alzheimer's? -
Answer- Cerebral cortical atrophy, enlarged ventricles, and hippocampal atrophy.
What is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease? - Answer- An inherited neurological
disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system (PNS), causing muscle atrophy and
sensory deficits.
What is the difference between CMT1 and CMT2? - Answer- CMT1 is a demyelinating
neuropathy affecting Schwann cells, while CMT2 is an axonal neuropathy causing
degeneration of neuronal axons.
What is the standard of care for managing CMT? - Answer- Physiotherapy to maintain
muscle strength and prevent further atrophy.
What is a synapse? - Answer- The site between adjacent neurons where signals are
transmitted via neurotransmitters.
What triggers the release of neurotransmitters in a neuron? - Answer- The arrival of an
action potential at the axon terminal.
What is the function of astrocytes? - Answer- They provide growth factors and nutrients
to neurons and help maintain the blood-brain barrier.
What is the difference between mental health and mental illness? - Answer- Mental
health is a state of well-being, while mental illness refers to diagnosable medical
conditions that reduce the ability to function.
What are resilience factors in the context of childhood development? - Answer-
Strategies like developing positive coping skills, asking for help, and building healthy,
trusting relationships.
Which brain region is typically affected first in Alzheimer's disease? - Answer- The
hippocampus.
How is cancer defined in biological terms? - Answer- Cancer is a collection of related
diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells that divide without
stopping and can spread to surrounding tissues.
What is the statistical likelihood of a Canadian receiving a cancer diagnosis in their
lifetime? - Answer- Approximately half of all Canadians are expected to receive a
cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.
What does the term 'age-standardized' mean in the context of cancer statistics? -
Answer- It is a statistical method used to account for differences in age groups, which is
necessary because cancer rates are often higher in older populations.
, What is the current status of cancer as a cause of death in Canada? - Answer- Despite
decreases in age-standardized mortality rates, cancer remains the leading cause of
death for Canadians.
What is the etymological origin of the word 'cancer'? - Answer- It is derived from the
Latin word for 'crab,' reflecting the way the disease holds on and does not let go.
Define 'neoplasm'. - Answer- A neoplasm is any abnormal tissue that forms when cells
grow and divide more than they should, or when they fail to die when they should; it can
be harmless or cancerous.
What is a 'tumour'? - Answer- A tumour is a non-specific term for a neoplasm, referring
to a mass, swelling, or abnormal enlargement on the body.
What is the primary difference between benign and malignant tumours regarding their
growth? - Answer- Benign tumours cannot spread to other tissues, whereas malignant
tumours are capable of invading surrounding tissues.
What is the term for the process where cancer cells spread to other areas of the body? -
Answer- Metastasis.
Can a benign tumour be considered a neoplasm? - Answer- Yes, a neoplasm is a broad
category that includes both harmless (benign) and cancerous (malignant) growths.
What are the two defining characteristics of malignant cells? - Answer- Malignant cells
exhibit uncontrolled division and the ability to invade or spread to other tissues.
What is the primary mechanism by which cancer kills? - Answer- Metastasis, the spread
of cancer cells to other parts of the body.
How do pathologists determine the origin of a malignant tumour? - Answer- They use
full-body imaging and gene expression analysis.
Define Carcinoma. - Answer- A type of cancer that affects epithelial cells, such as those
in the skin or blood vessels, and forms solid tumours.
What is the difference between Sarcoma and Lymphoma? - Answer- Sarcoma begins in
supporting tissues like fat, muscle, bone, or cartilage, while Lymphoma begins in
lymphocytes of the immune system.
What is the definition of a carcinogen? - Answer- A substance or agent known to
damage DNA and cause cancer.
Why are stem cells in the airway particularly vulnerable to mutation from tobacco
smoke? - Answer- They undergo repeated rapid cell division to repair epithelial tissue
damaged by toxic chemicals in the smoke, increasing the chance of replication errors.
