Sample Question Set I

 

1.       The cells which carry electrical signals are __________.

          a.   axons

          b.   neurons

          c.   processes

          d.   glial cells

          e.   acinar cells

 

2.       The afferent and efferent axons together form the _________.

          a.   central nervous system

          b.   autonomic division system

          c.   somatic motor division of the nervous system

          d.   peripheral nervous system

          e.   visceral nervous system

 

3.       Processes or appendages that are part of neurons include __________.

          a.   axons

          b.   dendrites

          c.   neuroglia

          d.   A and B

          e.   A, B and C

 

4.       The thin, branched processes of a neuron whose main function is to receive incoming signals are the __________.

          a.   cell bodies

          b.   axons

          c.   dendrites

          d.   somata

          e.   none of these

 

5.       EPSPs (excitatory postsynaptic potentials) occur when __________.

          a.   more potassium ions than usual leak out of a cell

          b.   more calcium ions than usual leak out of a cell

          c.   chloride ions enter a cell

          d.   sodium channels are opened

          e.   hyperpolarizations occur

 

6.       Spatial summation refers to __________.

          a.   electrical signals reaching neurons from outer space.

          b.   multiple graded potentials originating from different locations simultaneously.

          c.   repeated graded potentials reaching the trigger zone one after the other.

          d.   suprathreshold potentials triggering action potentials that are extra-large.

          e.   all of these accurately describe spatial summation

 


7.       Temporal summation refers to __________.

          a.   the temporal lobe of the brain coordinating neuronal interaction.

          b.   multiple graded potentials originating from different locations simultaneously.

          c.   repeated graded potentials reaching the trigger zone one after the other.

          d.   suprathreshold potentials triggering action potentials that are extra large.

          e.   all of these accurately describe temporal summation.

 

8.       Which of the following statements are true regarding the action potential in a given cell?

          a.   Each action potential is identical to any other action potential.

          b.   An action potential does not diminish in strength as it travels along the cell membrane.

          c.   As long as a stimulus is above threshold, the strength of the stimulus doesn't matter.

          d.   Both A and C are true.

          e.   A, B and C are true.

 

9.       The all-or-none phenomenon applies to __________.

          a.   action potentials

          b.   graded potentials

          c.   both A and B

          d.   neither A nor B

 

10.     EPSPs (excitatory postsynaptic potentials) occur when __________.

          a.   more potassium ions than usual leak out of a cell

          b.   more calcium ions than usual leak out of a cell

          c.   chloride ions enter a cell

          d.   sodium channels are opened

          e.   hyperpolarization occurs

 

11.     The absolute refractory period of an action potential __________.

          a.   ensures one-way travel down an axon

          b.   allows a neuron to ignore a second signal sent that closely follows the first

          c.   prevents summation of action potentials

          d.   A and B

          e.   A, B and C

 

12.     In order to signal a stronger stimulus, action potentials become __________.

          a.   larger

          b.   more frequent

          c.   longer lasting

          d.   both A and B

          e.   both A and C

 

13.     Saltatory conduction refers to __________.

          a.   conduction in frog neurons

          b.   conduction in squid axons

          c.   leapfrogging neurotransmitters

          d.   action potentials "leaping" from one node of Ranvier to the next

          e.   movement of NaCl (a salt) across membranes

 

14.     Saltatory conduction occurs in __________.

          a.   dendrites

          b.   unmyelinated axons

          c.   myelinated axons

          d.   skeletal muscle cells

          e.   all of these

 

15.     The organ that is vital in the maintenance of Na+ and K+ levels in the blood is the __________.

          a.   liver

          b.   spleen

          c.   kidney

          d.   brain

          e.   lung

 

16.     Which type of synapse dominates the nervous system?

          a.   chemical

          b.   electrical

          c.   mechanical

          d.   processing

          e.   radiative

 

17.     The ion needed to initiate the release of acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft is ___________.

          a.   sodium

          b.   potassium

          c.   calcium

          d.   chloride

          e.   zinc

 

18.          Excitatory neurotransmitters of the CNS usually act by opening _________ gates.

          a.   Na+

          b.   K+

          c.   Cl-

          d.   H+

          e.   Ca2+

 

19.          The following are steps involved in transmission at a cholinergic synapse.

     1. Chemically regulated ion channels on the postsynaptic membrane

        are activated.

     2. Calcium ions enter the axon terminal.

     3. An action potential depolarizes the axon terminal at the

        presynaptic membrane.

     4. Acetylcholine is released from storage vesicles by exocytosis.

     5. Acetylcholine binds to receptors on the postsynaptic membrane.

The correct sequence for these events is

          a.   4, 2, 1, 5, 3

          b.   3, 2, 4, 5, 1

          c.   2, 4, 1, 3, 5

          d.   2, 5, 4, 1, 3

          e.   1, 2, 3, 4, 5

 

20.   What ion channel is the most important in the generation of the resting membrane potential?

 

a.   Voltage dependent K channel

b.   Passive Na channel

c.   Passive K channel  

d.   Chemically activated K channel

 

21.          What happens to membrane permeability when an action potential is initiated in a nerve cell?

a.   The membrane permeability switches from being highly permeable to K ions to being highly permeable to Na ions

b.   The membrane permeability switches from being highly permeable to Na to being highly permeable to K ions

c.   The membrane permeability does not change

d.   The membrane becomes highly permeable to Ca ions

 

22.          What type of sensory receptor is important in initiating the stretch reflex commonly called the nerve jerk reflex?

a.   Thr Golgi tendon organ

b.   Muscle spindles    

c.   Pacinian corpuscles

d.   Nociceptive receptors

 

23.   What is the neurotransmitter released from the presynaptic motor axon at the neuromuscular junction?

a.   serotonin

b.   glutamate

c.   acetylcholine  

d. norepinepherine

 

24.   What happens to the generator potential in a sensory receptor if you decrease the intensity of the adequate stimulus?

a.   it increases in amplitude

b.   it stays the same

c.   it decreases in amplitude   

d.   it increases in duration

 

25.   What would happen to action potentials recorded in an optic nerve if you decreased the intensity of light used to stimulate the receptor?

a.   The amplitude would be increased

b.   The frequency  would be decreased      

c.   The amplitude would be decreased

d.   The frequency would not be altered

 

26.   What would happen to the amplitude of the post synaptic potential if the synapse was bathed in a solution that blocks voltage dependent Ca channels?

a.   It would be decreased

b.   It would not be altered

c.   No post synaptic potential would be recorded       

d.   There would be an increase in amplitude

 

27.   If a post synaptic cell at a synapse was depolarized towards  -45mV then

a. The presynaptic cell would release more transmitter

b.   There is an increased probability that the postsynaptic cell will be activated    

c.   There is an increased probability that the postsynaptic cell will be inhibited

d.   The postsynaptic cell will be not be influenced

 

28.   What type of axons have the fastest conduction velocities?

a.   Large diameter unmyelinated axons

b.   Small diameter myelinated axons

c.   Small diameter unmyelinated axons

d.   Large diameter myelinated axons     

 

29.   What sensory pathway transmits information about painful stimuli?

a.       The dorsal column pathway

b.       The anterolateral pathway  

c.       The corticospinal pathway

d.       The ventromedial pathway

 

30.   During the afterhyperpolariztion phase of the action potential, which of the following statements is true.

a.   Passive K channels are closed and voltage gated K channels are open,

b.   Voltage dependent Na channels are open and passive Na channels are open

c.   Voltage dependent Na channels are open and passive K channels are open

d.   Voltage dependent K channels are open and passive K channels are open                           

 

31.   The basic structural and functional unit of the human body is __________.

a.       protein

b.       the cell

c.       tissue

d.       the organ

e.       the organ system

 

32.   The watery medium that surrounds a cell is known as __________.

a.       cytosol

b.       protoplasm

c.       extracellular fluid

d.       cytoplasm

e.       a colloidal gel

 

33.   There are trillions of cells in your body. How many primary types of tissue are there?

a.       four

b.       one hundred

c.       one

d.       ten

e.       forty

 

34.   The tissue that secretes material to the external environment is

a.       epithelial tissue

b.       connective tissue

c.       muscle tissue

d.       neural tissue

e.       contractile tissue

 

35.   What are the two extracellular fluid compartments in the body?

    a. intracellular and plasma

    b. plasma and interstitial

    c. interstitial and intracellular

    d. plasma and the fluid portion of the blood

    e. none of these

 

36.   Which of the following statements is FALSE?

a.       diffusion is the movement of solute molecules from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration

b.       diffusion is slow over long distances

c.       the smaller the molecule, the faster the molecule will diffuse

d.       the larger the surface area, the more molecules can diffuse across per unit time

e.       all of these statements are true

 

37.   Which of the following is a way for solutes in an aqueous solution to move from an area of high solute concentration to an area of low solute concentration?

          a. facilitated diffusion

          b. osmosis

          c. active transport

          d. A and B

          e. none of these

 

38.   Hyposmotic solutions __________.

          a. have higher concentrations of solutes than hyperosmotic solutions

          b. have lower concentrations of solutes than other hypotosmotic solutions

          c. have the same concentration of solutes as hyperosmotic solutions

          d. have lower concentrations of solutes than hyperosmotic solutions

          e. none of these

 

39.   Which of the following statements about the Na+/K+ pump is FALSE?

          a. it transports Na+ out of the cell and K+ into the cell

          b. it is present in neurons

          c. its activity requires the expenditure of metabolic (cellular) energy

          d. it transports Na+ and K+ in a 1:1 ratio

 

40.   Which of the following is more concentrated inside the cell?

          a. K+

          b. Na+

          c. Cl-

          d. extracellular proteins

 

41.   The principal cations in our extracellular fluid are __________.

          a. sodium, potassium

          b. sodium, calcium

          c. potassium, calcium

          d. calcium, magnesium

          e. sodium, magnesium

 

42.   Which of the following defines the term specificity?

          a. movement of molecules by the use of vesicles

          b. the energy required to move molecules

          c. a group of carrier proteins operating at their maximum rate

          d. carrier transport of a group of closely related molecules

 

43.   Which of the following pairs of molecular characteristics favors diffusion through the cell membrane?

          a. large, polar

          b. large, non-polar

          c. small, polar

          d. small, non-polar

 

44.   If a 10% sucrose solution is separated from a 20% sucrose solution by a membrane impermeable to sucrose, in which direction will net movement of water occur?

          a. from the 10% sucrose solution to the 20% sucrose solution

          b. from the 20% sucrose solution to the 10% sucrose solution

          c. there will be no net movement of water in this case

          d. both A and B

          e. neither A nor B

 

45.   Diffusion tends to __________.

          a. increase local concentration gradients

          b. create concentration gradients

          c. move substances against the concentration gradient

          d. eliminate concentration gradients

 

46.   Facilitated diffusion and active transport differ in that __________.

          a. facilitated diffusion uses cell membrane proteins to move substances, whereas active transport does not

          b. facilitated diffusion uses a substrate to bind to a protein carrier, whereas active transport does not

          c. ATP is necessary for active transport, but not for facilitated diffusion

          d. facilitated diffusion moves water across the cell membrane, whereas active transport does not

 

47.   Water will always move from _________ situations to _________ situations.

          a. hyperosmotic, hyposmotic

          b. hyposmotic, hyperosmotic

          c. hyposmotic, isosmotic

          d. hyperosmotic, isosmotic

 

48. With the exception of olfaction, all sensory pathways first travel to the _________, which acts as a relay and processing station.

a.       cerebrum

b.      thalamus

c.       cerebellum

d.      hypothalamus

e.       medulla oblongata

 

49.     When catecholamines (norepinephrine and epinephrine) bind to receptor, _____________________.

a.       alpha 2 receptors cause smooth muscle contraction.

b.   alpha 1 receptors cause smooth muscle contraction

c.       beta 2 receptors cause smooth muscle contraction

d.      M receptors cause smooth muscle contraction

e.       beta 1 receptors cause smooth muscle to relax

 

50.     The division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares the body for intense levels of activity and stress is the __________.

a.       sympathetic division

b.      parasympathetic division

c.       craniosacral division

d.      intramural division

e.       somatomotor division

 

51.     What sensory pathway transmits information about tactile stimuli?

a.       The dorsal column pathway

b.      The anterolateral pathway  

c.       The corticospinal pathway

d.      The ventromedial pathway