AP Biology : Neural Anatomy

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #6 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures

Please complete the following statement.

The presence of __________ in the brain indicates a modification to __________.

Possible Answers:

white matter. . . electro-chemical gradients

gray matter. . . sunlight exposure

multiple lobes. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios

folds. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios

the corpus callosum. . . circulation patterns

Correct answer:

folds. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios

Explanation:

Folds are present in the human brain due to the rapid evolution of brain-related tasks while the skull shape and size remained relatively constant; therefore, folds are present as modifications to limited surface-area-to-volume ratios in the skull cavity.

Example Question #21 : Neural Anatomy

Which of the following is the best explanation for why we have a "blind spot?"

Possible Answers:

The optic nerve exits the optic disc through the blind spot

None of the choices are true

There are only rods in the blind spot, but no cones

There are only cones in the blind spot, but no rods

There are both rods and cones present, but they do not contain opsins

Correct answer:

The optic nerve exits the optic disc through the blind spot

Explanation:

In the blind spot, there is a lack of photoreceptors as the optic nerve exits the optic disk. We normally overcome this automatically when our brains use the information of the surrounding visual field and "fills in" the blind spot. 

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