Understanding the brain: MCQs

Which part of the neuron releases neurotransmitters?

1. Dendrites

2. Axon hillock

3. Axon

4. Terminal buttons

4. Terminal buttons

Which of the following is responsible for myelination in the PNS?

1. Axon membrane

2. Nodes of Ranvier

3. Schwann cells

4. Oliogodendrocytes

3. Schwann cells

If a patient has relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, which of the following statements is true

1. The worst treatment would be interferon B

2. The worst treatment would be glatiramer acetate

3. Interferon B is more effective than glatiramer acetate

4. Interferon B and glatiramer acetate are both effective treatment

3. Interferon B is more effective than glatiramer acetate

Fill in the blanks: in an unmyelinated axon, an action potential causes ________ spread of current, where ion movement is a continuous process down the ________.

1. Active, myelinated sheath

2. Active, synapses

3. Passive, membrane

4. Passive, synapses

3. Passive, membrane

Fill in the blanks: In a myelinated axon, the myelin stops _______ across the membrane and action potentials are only triggered at each __________.

1. Ion influx, synapse

2. Ion leakage, nodes of ranvier

3. Ion transfer, dendrite

4. Neurotransmitters, synapse

2. Ion leakage

Multiple Sclerosis is a disorder of which part of the nervous system?

1. PNS

2. CNS

3. Motor neurons

4. Ganglia

2. CNS

An unmyelinated axon produces a faster speed of conductance than a myelinated axon of the same diameter.

1. True

2. False

2. False

Which statement is true regarding the action potential?

1. The action potential is carried along the glial membrane

2. The action potential is a graded signa;

3. The action potential is long-lasting

4. The action potential is always the same of the same amplitude and duration in a given cell

4. The action potential is always the same of the same amplitude and duration in a given cell

You feel a tickle on your arm that feels like a spider. You jerk your arm away. What is the typical neural pathway for this type of action?

1. Interneuron -> sensory neuron -> motor neuron -> muscle

2. Sensory neuron -> motor neuron -> interneuron -> muscle

3. Muscle -> sensory neuron -> interneuron -> motor neuron

4. Sensory neuron -> interneuron -> motor neuron -> muscle

4. Sensory neuron -> interneuron -> motor neuron -> muscle

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune demyelinating disease. At scattered locations within the central nervous system, the person’s immune system attacks _____  _____

1. Axon hillock

2. Terminal buttons

3. Nodes of ranvier

4. Myelin sheath

4. Myelin sheath

Demyelination from MS leaves behind hard patches of debris called _______  ________.

1. Scar tissue

2. Neural scoliosis

3. Sclerotic plaques

4. Myelinated sheath

3. Sclerotic plaques

MS usually occurs in individuals in their late twenties or thirties, with men diagnosed ______ frequently than women.

 

1. More

2. Less

3. As

2. Less

people that spend their childhood living close to the equator are ____ likely to be diagnosed with the disease than those who live far from the equator

1. More

2. Less

3. As

2. Less

People born during the late winter and early spring are at _______ risk of MS to those born in the summer or autumn

1. Higher

2. Lower

3. Similar

1. Higher

Interferon b and glatiramer acetate are effective for what form of MS

1. Primary progressive

2. Secondary progressive

3. Remitting-relapsing

4. All of the above

3. Remitting-relapsing

Meningitis is caused by…

1. Bacteria

2. Virus

3. Fungi

4. All of the above

4. All of the above

What is the name of the fluid between the meninges and the brain or spinal cord?

1. Cerebral blood

2. Cerebrospinal fluid

3. Pleural fluid

4. Ventricular fluid

2. Cerebrospinal fluid

Meningitis is contagious

1. True

2. False

3. Depends on type

1. True

 

What is typically used to confirm a diagnosis of meningitis?

1. Glass test

2. Spinal tap

3. Magnetic resonance imaging

4. DNA test

2. Spinal tap

The stiff and painful neck symptom of meningitis is associated with which of the following processes?

1. Excess astrocyte phagocytes

2. Damage to neurons in the neck

3. Stretching of inflamed meninges

4. Pressure on the cortoid artery

3. Stretching of inflamed meninges

Bacterial meningitis can usually be treated with....

1. Vaccination

2. Antibiotics

3. Spinal tap

4. A shunt

2. Antibiotics

Where in the world is meningitis most common?

1. South east Asia

2. South America

3. Sub-Saharan Africa

4. North Africa

3. Sub-Saharan Africa

Which of the following is NOT a World Health Organisation target for Meningitis?

1. Elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics

2. Elimination of viral meiningitis epidemics

3. Reduction of cases

1. Elimination of bacterial meningitis epidemics

Which of the following correctly lists the three layers of meninges covering the CNS from outermost to innermost?
A) Pia mater → Arachnoid → Dura mater
B) Dura mater → Arachnoid → Pia mater
C) Arachnoid → Dura mater → Pia mater
D) Dura mater → Pia mater → Arachnoid

B) Dura mater → Arachnoid → Pia mater

Hydrocephalus can result from:
A) Increased myelination
B) Accumulation of CSF in the ventricles
C) Overproduction of astrocytes
D) Weakness of the blood-brain barrier

B) Accumulation of CSF in the ventricles

Which glial cell acts as the immune system in the brain and is primarily responsible for inflammation after damage?
A) Astrocytes
B) Microglia
C) Oligodendrocytes
D) Schwann cells

B) Microglia

Obstructive hydrocephalus differs from communicating hydrocephalus in that:
A) It is caused by reduced absorption by arachnoid villi
B) It is caused by a blockage in CSF flow
C) It results in underproduction of CSF
D) It only occurs in the PNS

B) It is caused by a blockage in CSF flow

Which glial cell is responsible for phagocytosis of dead or dying neurons in the CNS?
A) Astrocytes
B) Microglia
C) Oligodendrocytes
D) Schwann cells

B) Microglia

Which of the following can cross the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion?
A) Water-soluble molecules
B) Lipid-soluble molecules
C) Proteins like insulin
D) Glucose

B) Lipid-soluble molecules

The area postrema is significant because:
A) It is a primary site of CSF production
B) It has a weaker BBB, allowing detection of toxins to induce vomiting
C) It is part of the subarachnoid space
D) It forms part of the cerebral aqueduct

B) It has a weaker BBB, allowing detection of toxins to induce vomiting

Astrocytes help regulate neurotransmitter dispersion by:
A) Forming myelin sheaths around axons
B) Surrounding synapses to limit diffusion
C) Producing cerebrospinal fluid
D) Forming the blood-brain barrier

B) Surrounding synapses to limit diffusion

Which substance is actively transported across the BBB?
A) Oxygen
B) Lipid-soluble vitamins
C) Glucose
D) Carbon dioxide

C) Glucose

Which feature of the presynaptic terminal most directly indicates high metabolic activity?

A) Presence of receptor proteins
B) Synaptic cleft width
C) Abundance of mitochondria
D) Density of ion channels

C) Abundance of mitochondria

What is the immediate effect of calcium (Ca²⁺) influx into the presynaptic terminal?

A) Opening of postsynaptic ion channels
B) Diffusion of neurotransmitters across the cleft
C) Migration and fusion of synaptic vesicles
D) Reuptake of neurotransmitters

C) Migration and fusion of synaptic vesicles

Why can neurotransmitters not enter the postsynaptic neuron directly?

A) They are repelled by membrane charge
B) They are too large to cross the membrane
C) Only ions pass through receptor-linked channels
D) They are degraded before reaching the membrane

C) Only ions pass through receptor-linked channels

Which statement best distinguishes ionotropic from metabotropic receptors?

A) Ionotropic receptors require ATP, metabotropic do not
B) Ionotropic receptors produce slower responses
C) Metabotropic receptors activate intracellular processes before ion channel opening
D) Metabotropic receptors are only inhibitory

C) Metabotropic receptors activate intracellular processes before ion channel opening

A neurotransmitter that opens Na⁺ channels will most likely produce:

A) Hyperpolarisation and inhibition
B) Depolarisation and excitation
C) No change in membrane potential
D) Enzymatic deactivation

B) Depolarisation and excitation

Which mechanism explains why K⁺ channel opening produces an inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)?

A) Influx of positive ions
B) Efflux of positive ions
C) Influx of negative ions
D) Blockage of Na⁺ channels

B) Efflux of positive ions

Neural integration refers to:

A) Synthesis of neurotransmitters
B) Balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs
C) Movement of ions across membranes
D) Release of neurotransmitters

B) Balance of excitatory and inhibitory inputs

Which statement about monoamines is correct?

A) They are exclusively inhibitory
B) They include dopamine and serotonin
C) They are only found in the PNS
D) They do not affect mood

B) They include dopamine and serotonin

Which type of tolerance involves changes in drug metabolism (ADME)?

A) Acute tolerance
B) Behavioural tolerance
C) Pharmacokinetic tolerance
D) Pharmacodynamic tolerance

C) Pharmacokinetic tolerance

What is primarily responsible for converting sound energy to electrical signals?

1. Pinna

2. Ossicles

3. Organs of corti

4. Cochlear nerve

3. Organs of corti

Which of the following is a vestibular sac?

1. Cochlear

2. Ampullae

3. Tubular duct

4. Utricle

4. Utricle

What is responsible for fine touch?

1. Ruffini's endings

2. Pacinian corpuscles

3. Meissners corpuscle

4. Nociceptors

3. Meissner’s corpuscle

The primary somatosensory cortex is..

1. Rostral to the primary motor cortex

2. Inferior to the auditory cortex

3. Rostral to the somatosensory association cortex

4. Causal to the visual association cortex

3. Rostral to the somatosensory association cortex

Which group A fibres are responsible for pain?

1. Alpha

2. Beta

3. Delta

4. Gamma

3. Delta

1. Which statement most accurately characterizes the cerebellum’s contribution to motor control?

A. It generates primary motor commands via direct corticospinal projections
B. It integrates sensory feedback to modulate the precision and timing of movements
C. It initiates voluntary movement through basal ganglia loops
D. It relays autonomic motor output to peripheral organs

B. It integrates sensory feedback to modulate the precision and timing of movements

Which description of spinal cord structure is MOST accurate?

A. A cylindrical structure with uniform diameter composed primarily of grey matter externally
B. A tapering structure continuous with the brainstem, with centrally located grey matter
C. A segmented column of ganglia connected by peripheral nerves
D. A hollow tube containing cerebrospinal fluid with no distinct matter organization

B. A tapering structure continuous with the brainstem, with centrally located grey matter

Afferent fibres entering the spinal cord will MOST directly synapse in which region?

A. Ventral horn
B. Dorsal horn
C. Lateral column
D. Ventral root

B. Dorsal horn

Which pairing of structure and function is INCORRECT?

A. Dorsal root – transmission of sensory information toward the CNS
B. Ventral horn – location of somatic motor neuron cell bodies
C. White matter – primary site of synaptic integration
D. Grey matter – contains neuronal cell bodies and dendrites

C. White matter – primary site of synaptic integration

The functional significance of myelination in spinal white matter is BEST described as:

A. Enabling neurotransmitter synthesis at synapses
B. Increasing conduction velocity via saltatory conduction
C. Allowing bidirectional signal propagation within a single neuron
D. Supporting metabolic activity of neuronal cell bodies

B. Increasing conduction velocity via saltatory conduction

Which outcome would MOST likely result from selective damage to the ventral horn?

A. Loss of sensory discrimination
B. Impaired voluntary muscle contraction
C. Disruption of ascending sensory tracts
D. Loss of autonomic regulation

B. Impaired voluntary muscle contraction

Which statement BEST explains why the spinal cord is considered part of the central nervous system?

A. It connects peripheral receptors to effectors
B. It is enclosed within vertebrae and processes information centrally
C. It consists exclusively of afferent and efferent neurons
D. It operates independently of brain input

C. It consists exclusively of afferent and efferent neurons

In the context of spinal nerve organisation, which sequence is correct?

A. Spinal nerve → ventral root (sensory) + dorsal root (motor)
B. Spinal nerve → dorsal root (motor) + ventral root (sensory)
C. Spinal nerve → dorsal root (sensory) + ventral root (motor)
D. Spinal nerve → grey matter → white matter

C. Spinal nerve → dorsal root (sensory) + ventral root (motor)

Which feature BEST distinguishes efferent from afferent pathways?

A. Efferent pathways terminate in sensory receptors
B. Afferent pathways originate in the CNS
C. Efferent pathways transmit signals from CNS to effectors
D. Afferent pathways are confined to the spinal cord

C. Efferent pathways transmit signals from CNS to effectors

Which scenario BEST reflects afferent signalling?

A. Activation of skeletal muscle following cortical stimulation
B. Transmission of nociceptive input from skin to spinal cord
C. Release of hormones from endocrine glands
D. Propagation of impulses within interneurons only

B. Transmission of nociceptive input from skin to spinal cord

Which structural feature MOST directly contributes to the spinal cord’s role as a conduit?

A. Presence of synaptic vesicles in dendrites
B. Organisation of ascending and descending tracts in white matter
C. Distribution of neurotransmitter receptors in grey matter
D. Density of glial cells in the CNS

B. Organisation of ascending and descending tracts in white matter

If the dorsal root is severed, which function is primarily compromised?

A. Motor output to skeletal muscle
B. Sensory input to the spinal cord
C. Coordination of reflex arcs entirely
D. Myelination of axons

B. Sensory input to the spinal cord

Which combination BEST reflects correct anatomical orientation and function?

A. Ventral = posterior; sensory processing
B. Dorsal = anterior; motor output
C. Ventral = anterior; motor output
D. Dorsal = lateral; integration

C. Ventral = anterior; motor output