Question 1

Which of the following best describes the process of sensory adaptation?

Accepted Answer

It is the decreased response of sensory receptors to a continuous or unimportant stimulus, requiring a stronger stimulus to trigger impulses.

Question 2

A patient presents with pain in the left shoulder and medial portion of the left arm during a heart attack. This phenomenon is best explained by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Referred pain due to common nerve pathways between the heart and skin

Question 3

Which type of sensory receptor is primarily responsible for detecting changes in blood oxygen concentration?

Accepted Answer

Chemoreceptors

Question 4

Which of the following statements about pain receptors (nociceptors) is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

They are stimulated by tissue damage, chemicals, mechanical forces, or extremes in temperature.

Question 5

A person is unable to distinguish between two closely spaced points on their skin. Which receptor type is most likely not functioning properly?

Accepted Answer

Tactile (Meissner’s) corpuscles

Question 6

Which of the following best describes the role of the thalamus in pain perception?

Accepted Answer

It begins the sensation of pain.

Question 7

Which of the following is a function of the Golgi tendon organ?

Accepted Answer

Stimulates reflexes that oppose stretch reflexes, helping maintain posture and protecting muscle attachments

Question 8

A patient with sensorineural deafness is most likely to have damage in which of the following structures?

Accepted Answer

Cochlea or vestibulocochlear nerve

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why spicy foods can cause a burning sensation?

Accepted Answer

They stimulate a class of pain receptors (nociceptors) in the mouth.

Question 10

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the process of accommodation in the eye?

Accepted Answer

The ciliary muscle contracts, relaxing the suspensory ligaments, and the lens thickens to focus on near objects.

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the function of the basilar membrane in the cochlea?

Accepted Answer

It forms the floor of the cochlear duct and supports the spiral organ, allowing detection of different sound frequencies.

Question 12

A person with myopia (nearsightedness) has an eyeball that is too long. Which lens type is used to correct this condition, and why?

Accepted Answer

Concave lens, because it diverges light rays so the focal point moves back onto the retina.

Question 13

Which of the following is the correct sequence for the pathway of sensory information from a receptor to the CNS?

Accepted Answer

Stimulus → Transduction → Transmission → Interpretation

Question 14

Which of the following is a characteristic of fast pain (A-delta) fibers?

Accepted Answer

They are myelinated and conduct impulses rapidly, producing sharp, localized pain.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why the image formed on the retina is upside down and reversed from left to right?

Accepted Answer

Refraction of light through the convex surfaces of the cornea and lens bends light rays, inverting and reversing the image.

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE about the macula and fovea centralis in the retina?

Accepted Answer

The fovea centralis contains only cones and produces the sharpest vision.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the function of the crista ampullaris?

Accepted Answer

It detects rotational movements of the head and body (dynamic equilibrium).

Question 18

Which of the following is a correct statement about olfactory receptor neurons?

Accepted Answer

They are replaced regularly, which is unusual for neurons in adults.

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why a person with damage to the optic chiasma may have difficulty with depth perception?

Accepted Answer

The optic chiasma allows medial fibers from each optic nerve to cross, enabling stereoscopic vision.

Nervous System III: Senses – Structured Study Notes

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards