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Physiology of the Brain Flashcards

7 cards from real TBI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Physiology of the Brain flashcards as text

  1. Which process describes excess glutamate release leading to neuronal death after TBI?

    Answer: Excitotoxicity

    Excess glutamate overstimulates receptors, causing calcium influx and cell injury, a key secondary injury mechanism.

  2. Which cells produce myelin in the central nervous system?

    Answer: Oligodendrocytes

    Oligodendrocytes myelinate CNS axons, while Schwann cells do so in the peripheral nervous system.

  3. Which glial cells are most involved in supporting the blood-brain barrier and buffering extracellular potassium?

    Answer: Astrocytes

    Astrocytes support the blood-brain barrier, regulate ions and clear neurotransmitters.

  4. What injury mechanism primarily causes diffuse axonal injury?

    Answer: Rotational acceleration-deceleration forces that shear axons

    Rapid rotational acceleration and deceleration stretch and shear axons throughout the white matter.

  5. Which substrate is the brain's primary energy source under normal conditions?

    Answer: Glucose

    The brain relies mainly on glucose and uses roughly 20% of the body's oxygen despite being about 2% of its weight.

  6. Which neurotransmitter is the main inhibitory transmitter in the brain?

    Answer: GABA

    GABA is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter, whereas glutamate is the main excitatory one.

  7. The blood-brain barrier's selectivity is mainly due to:

    Answer: Tight junctions between cerebral endothelial cells

    Tight junctions between capillary endothelial cells restrict passage of substances into brain tissue.

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