AP Biology : Nervous System
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Example Question #1 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
Unlike the spinal cord, the brain mainly has grey matter on the __________ and white matter on the __________.
right half . . . left half
left half . . . right half
inner layer . . . outermost layer
outermost layer . . . inner layer
outermost layer . . . inner layer
Unmyelinated nervous system components make up grey matter, while myelinated axons make up white matter. The cerebral cortex on the surface of the brain contains unmyelinated neural tissue, namely the cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system. This region is rich in connections. Below its surface lie many myelinated axon tracts to inner nuclei, the cerebellum, other areas of the cortex, and the spinal cord.
Example Question #2 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
Please complete the following statement.
The presence of __________ in the brain indicates a modification to __________.
white matter. . . electro-chemical gradients
the corpus callosum. . . circulation patterns
folds. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios
gray matter. . . sunlight exposure
multiple lobes. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios
folds. . . surface-area-to-volume ratios
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 #2 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
Which of the following is the best explanation for why we have a "blind spot?"
The optic nerve exits the optic disc through the blind spot
There are both rods and cones present, but they do not contain opsins
There are only cones in the blind spot, but no rods
There are only rods in the blind spot, but no cones
None of the choices are true
The optic nerve exits the optic disc through the blind spot
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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