41 Questions
Where did Dr. Zuccarelli receive her BA degree in Biology and Chemistry from?
Albertus Magnus College
In which institution did Dr. Zuccarelli do her post-doctoral studies?
Georgetown University
Where is Dr. Zuccarelli currently the Chair of the Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences?
Salve Regina University
What is Dr. Zuccarelli's area of interest?
Regeneration of the nervous system and biofeedback
Where was Dr. Zuccarelli a faculty member from 1993-2003?
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Which degree did Dr. Zuccarelli obtain from New York University?
MS and PhD
During which years was Dr. Zuccarelli a faculty member at Georgetown University School of Medicine and the School of Nursing and Health Studies?
1993
What type of influence does an axosomatic synapse primarily have?
Inhibitory
Which part of a neuron can receive up to 3,000 synapses from other neurons?
Cell body
What results from increasing graded depolarizations at multiple synapses in a neuron?
Excitatory postsynaptic potentials
What characterizes axoaxonic synapses?
Modulating the information in the second cell
In muscle and nerve transmission, what kind of relationship exists between nerve cells and muscle cells?
Excitatory and inhibitory
What does each small change induced by chemical transmission at a synapse lead to?
Either excitatory or inhibitory effects
What type of potential results from the increasing decay of the membrane potential to its resting level?
Inhibitory postsynaptic potential
In multiple inputs onto a single neuron, what does the combination of information coming to each cell body resemble?
Receiving advice from multiple sources
What is the role of axoaxonic synapses in modulating information?
Regulating the information in the second cell
Which specialized cells from the dorsolateral ectoderm within the neural fold form the neural crest?
Sensory roots/sheath cells of cranial nerves
What do neural crest cells in the head migrate as a unit to become?
Juxtamural and intramural parasympathetic ganglia
Where do neural crest cells in the trunk disperse in two major directions?
Superficial and dorsal direction
Which cells develop into Schwann cells?
Neural crest cells
What do migrating neural crest cells develop into that are involved in the eye's structure?
Sclera and choroid layers of the eye
Which type of ganglia are affected by neural crest cells in the head?
Juxtamural and intramural parasympathetic ganglia
Where do neural crest cells in the trunk disperse to become pigment cells?
Superficial direction
Which structures do neural crest cells not develop into?
Cells of pia mater
Which is a correct statement about the differentiation of the neural tube into three layers?
It forms the walls of unfused neural folds.
What is responsible for determining specifications of the neural plate and differentiation of the dorsal columns?
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)
Which peptide establishes the location of motor neurons in the spinal cord?
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)
What is well known to prevent spina bifida by promoting proper cellular biochemistry of specific regulator molecules?
Folic acid
Which gene family is expressed sequentially to form the anterior–posterior plane of the nervous system?
Hox family of genes
Which peptide determines neural induction, neural differentiation, and neural crest formation?
Wingless (wnt)
What is responsible for anomalies of neural induction and differentiation due to improper regulation of gene expression?
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)
Which group of molecules are controlled by precise gene expression during embryological development of the nervous system?
Tropic and trophic molecules
Which peptide is implicated in diseases like holoprosencephaly, medulloblastomas, and basal cell carcinoma?
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)
What do certain peptides contribute to in the developing nervous system?
Basic organization of the nervous system
What is the primary factor determining neuronal survival?
Constant contact with target tissue
Which of the following is NOT a consequence of loss of connectivity between a neuron and its target?
Increased release of neurotransmitters at axon terminals
What is the primary purpose of remodeling in the nervous system during development?
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT a factor in maintaining the connections between a neuron and its target?
Availability of oxygen
What determines the health of an axon?
The connectivity with the target tissue
Which of the following is NOT a consequence of lack of electrical activity in a neuron?
Degeneration of the axon
What is the relationship between dendritic tree growth and contact at the synapse?
Both B and C are correct
Study Notes
Types of Synapses
- Axodendritic: terminal bouton of the presynaptic cell aligned with dendrite of the postsynaptic cell, primarily excitatory influence
- Axosomatic: terminal bouton of the presynaptic cell aligned with the cell body of the postsynaptic cell, primarily inhibitory influence
- Axoaxonic: terminal bouton of the axon of the presynaptic cell aligned with the axon of the postsynaptic cell, either excitatory or inhibitory influence, modulating the information in the second cell
Neurotransmission
- Multiple inputs onto a single neuron from other neurons, up to 3,000 synapses on one neuron
- Each synapse induces small changes in membrane potentials caused by chemical transmission, which can be either excitatory or inhibitory
- Excitatory postsynaptic potentials result from increasing graded depolarizations at multiple synapses
- Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials result from increasing decay of the membrane potential to its resting level
Embryological Development of the Nervous System
- Neural crest cells have the capacity to migrate widely and differentiate specifically into neurons and other cells of the PNS
- Neural crest cells in the head migrate as a unit to become sensory roots/sheath cells of cranial nerves, juxtamural and intramural parasympathetic ganglia, and branchial cartilages
- Neural crest cells of the trunk disperse in two major directions: superficial and dorsal direction (pigment cells of epidermis and dermis) and deep and ventral direction (chromaffin cells of adrenal medulla and gut parasympathetic ganglia)
Development of the Neural Tube
- Begins as a hollow, closed tube formed by the walls of the fused neural folds
- Cells destined to become neuronal component of the nervous system and the central canal of the spinal cord and ventricular system
- Differentiation of neural tube into three layers
Maintenance of Mature Neuronal Connections
- Neuronal survival is target dependent, requiring constant contact with target tissue
- Loss of connectivity decreases conduction of impulses, leading to dystrophic anatomic changes, upregulation or downregulation of receptors, alterations in neurotransmitter release, and pruning of dendrites
Trophic and Tropic Molecules
- Controlled by precise gene expression, promoting competition at the target, ensuring "safety factor", and providing for efficient use of neurotransmitters
- Specific genes produce important peptides for gene expression in the developing nervous system, such as bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), sonic hedgehog (Shh), and wingless (wnt)
This quiz module covers the cellular physiology of the nervous system. Learn from Dr. Lisa Zuccarelli OP, a seasoned instructor with a strong background in Biology and Chemistry.
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