©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
NUR968: Central Nervous System Exam
Practice Questions and Answers
True or false: Like the autonomic nervous system, there are several different neurotransmitters that
communicate between neurons in the central nervous system. These neurotransmitters can be classified
in a variety of ways - Ans:✔✔-True
What are the amino acid-type CNS neurotransmitters? (4) - Ans:✔✔-1. Glutamate - Excitatory
2. Aspartate - Excitatory
3. Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - Inhibitory
4. Glycine - Inhibitory
What do the amino acid type CNS neurotransmitters contain? - Ans:✔✔-A NH3 structure
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
Page 1/39
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2. Movement of RMP __ to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - Ans:✔✔-1. Opening of CATION channels
2. Movement of RMP CLOSER to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more POSITIVE
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - Ans:✔✔-1. Opening of ANION channels
2. Movement of RMP FARTHER AWAY from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more NEGATIVE
Glutamate is the MAJOR excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Where it it found?
(2) - Ans:✔✔-1. Brain
2. Spinal cord
Page 2/39
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When glutamate is released from the pre-synaptic neuron, it can attach to several receptors. What are 2
of them? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)
2. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)
α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) is a __-gated channel - Ans:✔✔-Ligand-
gated
AMPA
What happens when glutamate attaches? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. The channel opens
2. The channel is non-selective & will allow both sodium & potassium to move down their concentration
gradient (Na+ in; K+ out)
True or false: Glutamate (gone wrong) stimulation of AMPA is implicated as a mechanism in seizures -
Ans:✔✔-True
What must happen for the NMDA receptor to open? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. BOTH glycine & glutamate must
attach to their receptors
2. AND the magnesium plug (located in the channel) must dislodge & leave
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FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Is the NMDA channel selective or non-selective? What does this allow for? - Ans:✔✔-Non-selective &
will allow cation movement (calcium, sodium & potassium)
True or false: Studies show that intracellular calcium has both positive & negative effects - Ans:✔✔-True
What is the positive effect of intracellular calcium? - Ans:✔✔-Intracellular pathways (intracellular second
messenger systems) that are initiated by calcium are responsible for SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
-A fancy term that means forming memory & learning
What is the negative effect of intracellular calcium? - Ans:✔✔-When there is excessive amounts of
glutamate, the massive increase in intracellular calcium promotes LYSOSOME ACTIVITY & can trigger
both necrotic & apoptotic cell death
So which electrolyte is a player in extension of ischemic cell death? - Ans:✔✔-Calcium
True or false: NMDA dysfunction has been implicated in many diseases - Ans:✔✔-True
Glutamate is released with noxious surgical pain & neuropathic pain. Thus, blocking glutamate is
implicated in pain management. Which medication does this? - Ans:✔✔-Ketamine
-Blocks glutamate attachment
Page 4/39
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
NUR968: Central Nervous System Exam
Practice Questions and Answers
True or false: Like the autonomic nervous system, there are several different neurotransmitters that
communicate between neurons in the central nervous system. These neurotransmitters can be classified
in a variety of ways - Ans:✔✔-True
What are the amino acid-type CNS neurotransmitters? (4) - Ans:✔✔-1. Glutamate - Excitatory
2. Aspartate - Excitatory
3. Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) - Inhibitory
4. Glycine - Inhibitory
What do the amino acid type CNS neurotransmitters contain? - Ans:✔✔-A NH3 structure
Excitatory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
Page 1/39
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
2. Movement of RMP __ to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - Ans:✔✔-1. Opening of CATION channels
2. Movement of RMP CLOSER to threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more POSITIVE
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter
1. Opening of __ channels
2. Movement of RMP __ from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more __ - Ans:✔✔-1. Opening of ANION channels
2. Movement of RMP FARTHER AWAY from threshold
3. Interior of the cell is more NEGATIVE
Glutamate is the MAJOR excitatory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Where it it found?
(2) - Ans:✔✔-1. Brain
2. Spinal cord
Page 2/39
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
When glutamate is released from the pre-synaptic neuron, it can attach to several receptors. What are 2
of them? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA)
2. N-Methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA)
α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) is a __-gated channel - Ans:✔✔-Ligand-
gated
AMPA
What happens when glutamate attaches? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. The channel opens
2. The channel is non-selective & will allow both sodium & potassium to move down their concentration
gradient (Na+ in; K+ out)
True or false: Glutamate (gone wrong) stimulation of AMPA is implicated as a mechanism in seizures -
Ans:✔✔-True
What must happen for the NMDA receptor to open? (2) - Ans:✔✔-1. BOTH glycine & glutamate must
attach to their receptors
2. AND the magnesium plug (located in the channel) must dislodge & leave
Page 3/39
, ©GRACEAMELIA 2024/2025 ACADEMIC YEAR. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
FIRST PUBLISH OCTOBER 2024
Is the NMDA channel selective or non-selective? What does this allow for? - Ans:✔✔-Non-selective &
will allow cation movement (calcium, sodium & potassium)
True or false: Studies show that intracellular calcium has both positive & negative effects - Ans:✔✔-True
What is the positive effect of intracellular calcium? - Ans:✔✔-Intracellular pathways (intracellular second
messenger systems) that are initiated by calcium are responsible for SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY
-A fancy term that means forming memory & learning
What is the negative effect of intracellular calcium? - Ans:✔✔-When there is excessive amounts of
glutamate, the massive increase in intracellular calcium promotes LYSOSOME ACTIVITY & can trigger
both necrotic & apoptotic cell death
So which electrolyte is a player in extension of ischemic cell death? - Ans:✔✔-Calcium
True or false: NMDA dysfunction has been implicated in many diseases - Ans:✔✔-True
Glutamate is released with noxious surgical pain & neuropathic pain. Thus, blocking glutamate is
implicated in pain management. Which medication does this? - Ans:✔✔-Ketamine
-Blocks glutamate attachment
Page 4/39
