VERMONT BRAIN BEE – STUDY PREP – STUCTURE LIST

I. Written (50 questions)

All questions come from the “Brain Facts” publication
Answers are one-word or short phrase fill-in-the-blank answers

II. Identification (25 questions)

A mixture of fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice (see example below)

A. Histology (pictures)
Be able to recognize structure and location or function

- Pyramidal neuron - cerebral cortex

- Purkinje neuron - cerebellar cortex
- Astrocyte – deliver glucose to neurons, buffer extracellular potassium, recycle neurotransmitters, provide
structural support
- Ependymal cell – line ventricles
- Choroid plexus – make cerebral spinal fluid (CSF)
- Oligodendrocyte – myelinate CNS neurons
- Schwann cell – myelinate PNS neurons
- muscle spindle – sensory receptor for muscle length
- Golgi tendon organ – sensory receptor for muscle tension
- Neuromuscular junction – release acetylcholine onto muscle fiber to cause contraction

B. Cross-section (pictures or microscope slide)

- Cerebral cortex
- Cerebellum
Brainstem
- Midbrain – substantia nigra (makes dopamine, neurons die in Parkinson’s disease)
- Pons
- Medulla – olive (motor learning)
- Spinal cord – dorsal and ventral root of spinal nerve, dorsal root ganglion, dorsal (sensory) and ventral (motor)
horn of gray mater

C. Anatomy (wet specimens)

- Lobes: frontal, including precentral gyrus (primary motor cortex)
parietal, including postcentral gyrus (primary somatosensory cortex)
temporal, including auditory cortex
occipital, including primary visual cortex
- Ventricles: lateral, third, cerebral aqueduct, fourth
- Blood vessels: vertebral, basilar, internal carotid, anterior cerebral, middle cerebral, posterior cerebral
- Cranial nerves & function
- Internal structures: corpus callosum, internal capsule, basal ganglia, thalamus, hypothalamus
- Braintsem: midbrain (cerebral peduncle, superior and inferior colliculi), pons, medulla (olive, pyramid)
- Spinal Cord: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, cauda equina

This cranial nerve allows you to smile.

III. Oral Examination: only the top ranked 50% of students will participate in
the oral examination.

IV. Final Elimination: The top 5 students will compete in the final double
elimination Oral Examination. The five competitors will be read the same
question and will respond in writing on a notepad. Once a participant answers
two questions incorrectly they are eliminated until one participant remains.