CLINICAL NEUROBIOLOGY EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the major functions of the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex? - Answer-Frontal-
reasoning/planning/judgment/speech/regulating movement/MOTOR
FUNCTION/executive function/emotion/problem solving/cognition
Parietal- movement/orientation/recognition/perception of stimuli/INTEGRATION OF
SENSORY INFORMATION
Temporal- auditory processing/hearing/memory/perception
Occipital- visual processing
What is the role of the cerebellum? - Answer-Balance, posture, coordination
What is the difference between principal/typical neurons and intrinsic/interneurons? -
Answer-Principal neurons can exist in the CNS and PNS (in the PNS, comprise
sensory and motor neurons), can be excitatory or inhibitory, and can span long or
short distances.
Interneurons/intrinsic neurons are found nearly? exclusively in the CNS (brain and
spinal cord), are primarily inhibitory, and are confined/intrinsic to one particular
structure of the CNS (e.g. within the spinal cord only).
Astrocyte functions - Answer-Homeostasis, metabolism, structural support for
neurons, synchronization/regulation of neuronal firing, removal of waste and dead
neurons, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter turnover, vasodilation.
Restricted to the CNS!
Microglia functions - Answer-"immune" cells, phagocytosis, surveillance, waste
removal
Oligodendrocyte functions - Answer-Myelination and axon support in the CNS
Schwann cell functions - Answer-Myelination and axon support in the PNS
Describe the scientific impact of Santiago Ramon y Cajal. - Answer-discovered that
neurons are individual cells, drew/stained different glia and neurons, used Camillo
Golgi's silver staining method.
Describe the scientific impact of Ben Barres. - Answer-transgender neurobiologist
who advocated for gender equality in science/academia. His work focused on glial
cells: discovered how developing neurons signal oligodendrocytes to myelinate their
axons, and researched how glia are fundamental in forming and eliminating neuronal
synapses.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What are the major functions of the 4 lobes of the cerebral cortex? - Answer-Frontal-
reasoning/planning/judgment/speech/regulating movement/MOTOR
FUNCTION/executive function/emotion/problem solving/cognition
Parietal- movement/orientation/recognition/perception of stimuli/INTEGRATION OF
SENSORY INFORMATION
Temporal- auditory processing/hearing/memory/perception
Occipital- visual processing
What is the role of the cerebellum? - Answer-Balance, posture, coordination
What is the difference between principal/typical neurons and intrinsic/interneurons? -
Answer-Principal neurons can exist in the CNS and PNS (in the PNS, comprise
sensory and motor neurons), can be excitatory or inhibitory, and can span long or
short distances.
Interneurons/intrinsic neurons are found nearly? exclusively in the CNS (brain and
spinal cord), are primarily inhibitory, and are confined/intrinsic to one particular
structure of the CNS (e.g. within the spinal cord only).
Astrocyte functions - Answer-Homeostasis, metabolism, structural support for
neurons, synchronization/regulation of neuronal firing, removal of waste and dead
neurons, synaptogenesis, neurotransmitter turnover, vasodilation.
Restricted to the CNS!
Microglia functions - Answer-"immune" cells, phagocytosis, surveillance, waste
removal
Oligodendrocyte functions - Answer-Myelination and axon support in the CNS
Schwann cell functions - Answer-Myelination and axon support in the PNS
Describe the scientific impact of Santiago Ramon y Cajal. - Answer-discovered that
neurons are individual cells, drew/stained different glia and neurons, used Camillo
Golgi's silver staining method.
Describe the scientific impact of Ben Barres. - Answer-transgender neurobiologist
who advocated for gender equality in science/academia. His work focused on glial
cells: discovered how developing neurons signal oligodendrocytes to myelinate their
axons, and researched how glia are fundamental in forming and eliminating neuronal
synapses.
