Question 1

Which of the following best describes the main function of the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

To control and communicate information throughout the body via electrical and chemical signals.

Question 2

A patient suffers a spinal cord injury that disrupts the transmission of impulses from the CNS to skeletal muscles. Which division of the nervous system is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Somatic nervous system

Question 3

Which glial cell type is primarily responsible for forming the myelin sheath in the central nervous system (CNS)?

Accepted Answer

Oligodendrocytes

Question 4

Which of the following is a function of astrocytes in the CNS?

Accepted Answer

Supporting and bracing neurons, and regulating the chemical environment around neurons

Question 5

A patient is unable to feel pain in their hand after a nerve injury. Which type of sensory receptor is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Nociceptors

Question 6

Which of the following best explains why myelinated axons conduct impulses faster than nonmyelinated axons?

Accepted Answer

Myelin allows for saltatory conduction, where action potentials jump between nodes of Ranvier.

Question 7

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the blood-brain barrier?

Accepted Answer

It is absent in the hypothalamus and vomiting center to allow monitoring of blood composition.

Question 8

A person is startled by a loud noise, resulting in increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and sweating. Which division of the autonomic nervous system is primarily responsible for these responses?

Accepted Answer

Sympathetic division

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the sequence of a simple reflex arc?

Accepted Answer

Receptor → Sensory neuron → Integration center → Motor neuron → Effector

Question 10

Which of the following drugs would be most appropriate to use to dilate a patient’s pupils for an eye examination?

Accepted Answer

Atropine

Question 11

Which of the following statements about graded potentials and action potentials is correct?

Accepted Answer

Graded potentials operate over short distances and can summate, while action potentials are all-or-none long-distance signals.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the role of the thalamus in the brain?

Accepted Answer

It acts as the main relay and sorting center for sensory information ascending to the cerebral cortex.

Question 13

A patient with damage to the prefrontal cortex would most likely experience difficulty with which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Judgment, reasoning, and planning

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct pairing of a neuroglial cell and its function?

Accepted Answer

Ependymal cell – circulates cerebrospinal fluid with cilia

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why most CNS nerve fibers do not regenerate after injury?

Accepted Answer

Oligodendrocytes produce growth-inhibiting proteins and astrocytes form scar tissue that blocks regrowth.

Question 16

Which of the following is TRUE regarding the organization of white and gray matter in the brain?

Accepted Answer

White matter contains dense collections of myelinated fibers, while gray matter contains neuron cell bodies and nonmyelinated fibers.

Question 17

A patient is prescribed a beta-blocker for asthma. What is the expected effect of this drug?

Accepted Answer

It will block beta receptors, leading to dilation of lung bronchioles.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the effect of depolarization on a neuron’s membrane potential?

Accepted Answer

It decreases the membrane potential, making the inside of the cell less negative and increasing the probability of a nerve impulse.

Question 19

Which of the following is a correct sequence for the flow of information in a typical neuronal pathway?

Accepted Answer

Receptor → Sensory neuron → Integration center → Motor neuron → Effector

Study Notes: Nervous System (BIOL 1161)

Study Guide - Practice Questions

Study Guide - Flashcards