Question 1

In the human embryo, structures vaguely resembling gills emerge early but transform into facial muscles, middle ear bones, and other structures.This seems to support which hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

The hypothesis "ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny" suggests that the development of an organism (ontogeny) passes through stages resembling the evolutionary history of its species (phylogeny). The presence of gill-like structures in human embryos, which later develop into other structures, supports this hypothesis by indicating that embryonic development mirrors the evolutionary history of the species.

Question 2

All of the following are main processes involved in the development of neurons EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

Action potentiation is not a process involved in the development of neurons. The other choices (consolidation, migration, and myelination) are all important processes in the development of neurons.

Question 3

Heavily myelinated bundles of axons in the brain are called:

Accepted Answer

Heavily myelinated bundles of axons in the brain are called white matter. White matter refers to the areas of the brain that are primarily made up of myelinated axons, which are responsible for transmitting electrical signals between different areas of the brain. The term "white matter" comes from the appearance of these areas when viewed under a microscope, where they appear white due to the high lipid content of the myelin sheath.

Question 4

William is a veteran who has experienced a traumatic brain injury.This injury has affected his language, organizational capacity, and regulation of emotion.Which region of the brain is most likely affected by the injury?

Accepted Answer

The frontal lobe is responsible for language production, executive functioning, and emotional regulation, making it the most likely region to be affected by William's traumatic brain injury.

Question 5

________ are the gaps between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another.

Accepted Answer

Synapses are the spaces (gaps) between the axon terminals of one neuron and the dendrites of another where neurotransmitters are released and received, allowing for communication between neurons.

Question 6

________ is a fatty substance that coats the axon and speeds message transfer.

Accepted Answer

Myelin is the fatty substance that coats axons and speeds up message transfer. Glial cells are responsible for producing myelin. Axtol and neural tubing are not terms used in neuroscience.

Question 7

Neural structures can be pruned through programmed cell death, or:

Accepted Answer

Programmed cell death, also known as apoptosis, is the process by which neural structures can be pruned. This process involves the selective elimination of unnecessary or dysfunctional neurons and synapses, allowing for the refinement of neural circuits and the optimization of brain function. Myelination refers to the process by which axons are coated in a fatty substance called myelin, which helps to increase the speed and efficiency of neural transmission. Synaptogenesis refers to the formation of new synapses between neurons, which can enhance communication and information processing in the brain. Synaptic pruning refers to the elimination of unused or weak synapses, which can help to strengthen important connections and improve overall neural efficiency. However, only apoptosis specifically refers to the process of programmed cell death that leads to neural structure pruning.

Question 8

Which brain structure is likely to be the last to develop?

Accepted Answer

The prefrontal cortex is the last brain structure to fully develop and is not fully formed until a person's mid-20s. This area of the brain is responsible for decision making, planning, and impulse control, which are all cognitive functions associated with adulthood.

Question 9

Certain cells might first differentiate into three general groups: cells that can form muscles, organs, or bones.At first the cells in the muscle group can become any kind of muscle but later they specialize to form particular parts of specific muscles.This illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The differentiation of cells into three general groups followed by specialization into specific parts of certain tissues or organs is an example of successive differentiation. This process involves a series of steps where cells become progressively restricted in their developmental potential, ultimately forming mature and specialized cell types.

Question 10

Having a right and left kidney, right and left ear, and right and left arm are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

Bilateral symmetry refers to having two corresponding, mirror-image halves of the body, such as with right and left kidneys, ears, and arms. A is incorrect because unilateral symmetry refers to having only one symmetrical half of the body, while C and D are incorrect because proportionality is not the same as symmetry.

Question 11

Some unspecialized cells develop into brain cells before birth.This is an example of ________ development.

Accepted Answer

The term "prenatal" refers to the period of development that occurs before birth, which includes the time when unspecialized cells develop into brain cells. Therefore, option C is the correct answer.

Question 12

Which lobe of the brain is involved in processing and interpreting touch sensations and integrating visual and spatial information?

Accepted Answer

The parietal lobe of the brain is responsible for processing and interpreting touch sensations as well as integrating visual and spatial information. It is located at the top of the brain, behind the frontal lobe.

Question 13

Allen and Harold are twins with nearly identical genotypes.These brothers can be described as ________ twins.

Accepted Answer

Monozygotic twins are identical twins who come from a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos, resulting in nearly identical genotypes, as in the case of Allen and Harold. Conjoined twins, on the other hand, are identical twins who are physically joined at birth, while dizygotic twins, also known as fraternal twins, come from two separate fertilized eggs and can have different genotypes.

Question 14

As an infant, Macie develops arm control before leg control.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Cephalocaudal development refers to the pattern of development that occurs from the head down to the feet. Infants typically develop arm control before leg control in this pattern, as seen in Macie's development.

Question 15

The cerebrum includes all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The cerebrum includes the basal ganglia, cerebral cortex, and olfactory bulb, but the cerebellum is not part of the cerebrum. It is a separate structure located under the cerebrum and is responsible for coordination and balance.

Question 16

Which of the following is FALSE regarding premature infants?

Accepted Answer

The statement that "the more immature the preterm infant is at birth, the higher the risk of medical problems just in infancy but not in childhood and beyond" is false. Premature infants are at a higher risk for a range of medical, developmental, and cognitive issues throughout their childhood and beyond, regardless of how premature they were at birth.

Question 17

The brainstem is concerned with all of the following EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

The brainstem is responsible for controlling many of the body's automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate, and swallowing. The coordination of voluntary movement is primarily controlled by other parts of the brain such as the cerebellum and motor cortex.

Question 18

Which of the following statements is FALSE regarding communication between neurons?

Accepted Answer

Neurons do not release neurotransmitters from the dendrites, but rather from the axon terminals. Dendrites receive incoming signals from other neurons and send them towards the cell body. It is the axon terminals that release neurotransmitters into the synapse to communicate with another neuron.

Question 19

Which of the following is FALSE regarding risk factors for preterm births?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. Infections at distant sites, including dental infections, have been associated with an increased risk of preterm birth.

Question 20

The blastocyst's middle cell layer, the mesoderm, will eventually form all of the following EXCEPT the:

Accepted Answer

The mesoderm will not form the nervous system, but it will form the skeleton, internal organs, and muscles.

Quiz 2: The Biology of Development