Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

Accepted Answer

It innervates smooth and cardiac muscle and glands to regulate involuntary body functions.

Question 2

A patient is experiencing increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and cold, sweaty skin after a car accident. Which division of the ANS is primarily responsible for these symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter is released by all preganglionic fibers in both the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the ANS?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine (ACh)

Question 4

A drug that blocks muscarinic receptors would most likely cause which of the following effects?

Accepted Answer

Increased heart rate and decreased digestive activity

Question 5

Which of the following statements about sympathetic tone is correct?

Accepted Answer

It keeps blood vessels in a continual state of partial constriction.

Question 6

A patient is prescribed an alpha-blocker drug to treat hypertension. What is the physiological basis for this treatment?

Accepted Answer

Alpha-blockers interfere with vasomotor fibers, reducing vasoconstriction and lowering blood pressure.

Question 7

Which of the following is a unique function of the sympathetic division that is NOT influenced by the parasympathetic division?

Accepted Answer

Thermoregulatory responses to heat

Question 8

Which receptor type is generally excitatory when norepinephrine binds to it, except at the heart where it is excitatory?

Accepted Answer

Alpha ($$\alpha) $$receptor

Question 9

Why does sympathetic activation produce longer-lasting effects than parasympathetic activation?

Accepted Answer

Norepinephrine is inactivated more slowly than acetylcholine and uses a second-messenger system.

Question 10

A person stands up quickly and feels dizzy due to a sudden drop in blood pressure. This is most likely due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Orthostatic hypotension caused by slow sympathetic vasoconstriction response

Question 11

Which of the following best explains referred pain?

Accepted Answer

Visceral pain afferents travel along the same pathways as somatic pain fibers, causing pain to be perceived as somatic in origin.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a typical effect of parasympathetic activation?

Accepted Answer

Increased heart rate and blood pressure

Question 13

Which neurotransmitter and receptor combination is correctly matched for the parasympathetic division?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine and muscarinic receptor

Question 14

A patient with a spinal cord injury loses the ability to sweat below the level of injury. Which division and function of the ANS is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division; thermoregulatory response

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the role of the hypothalamus in ANS control?

Accepted Answer

It is the main integration center for ANS activity, regulating heart activity, blood pressure, body temperature, and emotional states.

Question 16

During exercise, blood flow to the digestive organs is reduced while flow to skeletal muscles is increased. Which division of the ANS mediates this response and through which mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division; vasoconstriction of digestive vessels and vasodilation of skeletal muscle vessels

Question 17

Which of the following is a correct statement about the effects of beta ($$\beta) $$adrenergic receptors?

Accepted Answer

They are generally inhibitory except at the heart, where they are excitatory.

Question 18

A patient with dry eyes and constipation is most likely experiencing decreased efficiency in which division of the ANS, and why?

Accepted Answer

Parasympathetic division; reduced stimulation of digestive and glandular activity

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why the effects of the parasympathetic division are more localized and short-lived compared to the sympathetic division?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is rapidly destroyed by acetylcholinesterase at the synapse.

Question 20

A patient is given a drug that mimics the effect of acetylcholine at nicotinic receptors. Which of the following is the most likely result?

Accepted Answer

Excitation of all postganglionic neurons in both sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

Autonomic Nervous System: Structure, Function, and Control

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