Q 01/05

What are the three main parts of the human brain?

A) Cerebrum, brainstem, cerebellum

B) Cortex, thalamus, spinal cord

C) Frontal, parietal, temporal

D) Neurons, glia, meninges

Answer · why

A) Cerebrum, brainstem, cerebellum

Together with the spinal cord it forms the central nervous system.

Q 02/05

Roughly how much does an adult human brain weigh?

A) About 0.5 kg

B) About 1.2 to 1.4 kg

C) About 2.5 kg

D) About 4 kg

Answer · why

B) About 1.2 to 1.4 kg

That is about 2 percent of body weight, yet it uses up to 20 percent of the body's energy.

Q 03/05

About how many neurons are in the human brain?

A) 10 billion

B) 1 trillion

C) 86 billion

D) 500 million

Answer · why

C) 86 billion

There are roughly as many supportive glial cells as neurons.

Q 04/05

The brain uses up to what share of the body's energy?

A) 5%

B) 50%

C) 75%

D) 20%

Answer · why

D) 20%

It also takes about 20 percent of the oxygen and a quarter of the glucose.

Q 05/05

What is the main fuel the brain normally runs on?

A) Glucose

B) Protein

C) Fat

D) Oxygen alone

Answer · why

A) Glucose

During fasting it can switch to ketone bodies; low blood sugar can cause loss of consciousness.

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