Question 1

Which type of sensory receptor is most likely to detect pain and temperature in the skin?

Accepted Answer

Free nerve ending

Question 2

A patient is unable to perceive touch on the left side of their body. Which region of the brain is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Right primary somatosensory cortex

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the difference between sensation and perception?

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the activation of sensory receptor cells; perception is the conscious awareness of a stimulus.

Question 4

Which equation best represents the propagation of an action potential along a neuron?

Accepted Answer

$$\frac{dV}{dt} = \frac{1}{RC}(V_{rest} - V)$$

Question 5

Which pathway is responsible for transmitting fine touch and proprioception from the body to the brain?

Accepted Answer

Dorsal column system

Question 6

If a person consumes freshly baked cookies, which type of sensory receptor is activated in their mouth?

Accepted Answer

Chemoreceptor

Question 7

Which of the following statements about the corticospinal tract is correct?

Accepted Answer

It contains two consecutive neurons: upper and lower motor neurons.

Question 8

A lesion in the medullary pyramids would most likely affect which function?

Accepted Answer

Motor control of appendicular muscles

Question 9

Which of the following best explains why the right side of the body is connected to the left side of the brain?

Accepted Answer

Contralateral crossing-over (decussation) of neural pathways

Question 10

Which sensory receptor is most likely to be involved in detecting pressure and touch?

Accepted Answer

Encapsulated nerve ending

Question 11

Which of the following is true about the sensory homunculus?

Accepted Answer

It shows the cortical region where sensory processing occurs, with more sensitive areas depicted larger.

Question 12

Which equation would you use to calculate the membrane potential change during an action potential?

Accepted Answer

$$\Delta V = V_{max} - V_{rest}$$

Question 13

A patient has lost the ability to perceive pain and temperature on the right side of their body. Which pathway is most likely damaged?

Accepted Answer

Spinothalamic tract

Question 14

Which of the following is a real-life example of a chemoreceptor in action?

Accepted Answer

Sensing odorant molecules from freshly baked cookies

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the function of the ventral root of a spinal nerve?

Accepted Answer

Contains axons of motor neurons that propagate motor information to the PNS

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a function of the primary somatosensory cortex?

Accepted Answer

Initiating voluntary muscle contraction

Question 17

Which pathway would be most affected by a lesion in the anterior corticospinal tract?

Accepted Answer

Motor control of body trunk muscles

Question 18

Which of the following is a multi-step process involving both sensation and perception?

Accepted Answer

Activation of photoreceptors in the retina followed by conscious awareness of light

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the role of the dorsal root ganglion?

Accepted Answer

Contains cell bodies of sensory neurons

Question 20

Which of the following is true regarding decussation in the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Decussation refers to the crossing-over of neural pathways, resulting in contralateral control.

The Somatic Nervous System: Sensory and Motor Pathways

Study Guide - Practice Questions