General Biology

Neurons communicate by __________.

What are ganglia?

A neuron that transmits an impulse to the central nervous system after the neuron is stimulated by the environment is called a(n) __________.

Which of the following is specifically a part or a function of the central nervous system?

The part of a neuron that carries nerve impulses toward the cell body is called a(n) __________.

Cells that provide metabolic and structural support to the neurons are called __________.

If your fingers touch a hot stove and you suddenly pull back, you have experienced a reflex. What is the correct order of the information processing in this reflex?

Which of the following statements is correct?

In descriptions of synapse organization, which type of cell is the transmitting neuron, and which type of neuron, muscle, or gland cell receives the signal?

The interplay of multiple excitatory and inhibitory inputs most affects what part of a neuron?

Which of the following is a mechanism by which neurotransmitters can be rapidly cleared from the synaptic cleft?

Which of the following neurotransmitters typically has inhibitory effects?

Which of the following statements about the resting potential is true?

Which of the following correctly pairs up a type of synapse and its characteristic?

Which of the following is a natural pain reliever?

In humans, making more serotonin available to brain cells typically __________.

Acetylcholinesterase is the enzyme that degrades acetylcholine. What effect on nerve transmission would occur following the administration of a chemical that inhibited acetylcholinesterase?

Which of the following statements about the transmission across a typical chemical synapse is true?

How are neurons structurally adapted to chemically transmit impulses to neighboring neurons?

Action potentials are generated along a neuron because __________.

Saltatory conduction means that the membrane potential changes __________.

The period in which an axon membrane cannot generate an action potential is called __________.

An action potential is __________.

The sodium-potassium pump __________.

Which of the following statements is true?

Schwann cells make up the __________.

Blocking potassium ion channels in a mammalian cell membrane would __________.

What is an increase in the magnitude of the membrane potential called?

A drug that causes potassium to leak out of a neuron, increasing the positive charge on the outside, would __________.

Threshold is of great significance in the physiology of neurons. What happens if threshold is not reached?

Which of the following is caused by the death of specific neurons in the brain that release dopamine?

Taking illegal amphetamines ("speed") can induce symptoms similar to which of the following?

Which of the following neurotransmitters is most closely associated with schizophrenia, addiction, and Parkinson's disease?

Suppose a particular neurotransmitter causes an IPSP in postsynaptic cell X and an EPSP in postsynaptic cell Y. A likely explanation is that a. the threshold value in the postsynaptic membrane is different for cell X and cell Y. b. the axon of cell X is myelinated, but that of cell Y is not. c. only cell Y produces an enzyme that terminates the activity of the neurotransmitter. d. cells X and Y express different receptor molecules for this particular neurotransmitter.

Where are neurotransmitter receptors located? a. the nuclear membrane b. the nodes of Ranvier c. the postsynaptic membrane d. synaptic vesicle membranes

What happens when a resting neuron’s membrane depolarizes? a. There is a net diffusion of Na+ out of the cell. b. The equilibrium potential for K+(EK) becomes more positive. c. The neuron’s membrane voltage becomes more positive. d. The cell’s inside is more negative than the outside.

Which of the following is the most direct result of depolarizing the presynaptic membrane of an axon terminal? a. Voltage-gated calcium channels in the membrane open. b. Synaptic vesicles fuse with the membrane. c. Ligand-gated channels open, allowing neurotransmitters to enter the synaptic cleft. d. An EPSP or IPSP is generated in the postsynaptic cell.

Why are action potentials usually conducted in one direction? a. Ions can flow along the axon in only one direction. b. The brief refractory period prevents reopening of voltage-gated Na+ channels. c. The axon hillock has a higher membrane potential than the terminals of the axon. d. Voltage-gated channels for both Na+ and K+ open in only one direction.

A common feature of action potentials is that they a. cause the membrane to hyperpolarize and then depolarize. b. can undergo temporal and spatial summation. c. are triggered by a depolarization that reaches threshold. d. move at the same speed along all axons.

Which would be present in an animal with a nerve net?

What is the difference between a neuron and a nerve?

A neuron that transmits an impulse to the central nervous system after the neuron is stimulated by the environment is called a(n) __________.

Which of the following is specific to the central nervous system?

Which of the following is a true statement regarding a reflex response?

Which class of glial cells contributes most to the formation of the blood-brain barrier?

The glia cells present throughout the vertebrate central nervous system include __________.

Which of the following systems includes all the others?

While sitting quietly watching television, you suddenly hear the sound of glass breaking. Which of the following is responsible for your resulting rapid heartbeat?

The gray matter of the cerebral cortex, where most higher-level thinking occurs, is composed mostly of __________.

Which of the following structures constitutes the mammalian forebrain?

A car accident victim presents with no memory of the accident or events following the accident but can clearly recall events that occurred prior to the accident. Neurologists thus suspect damage to the __________.

The developing embryonic brain is shaped by __________.

After a stroke, Bill can feel his left leg but is unable to move it. His neurologists suspect damage to the __________.

Which of the following is not regulated by the association areas in the cerebral cortex?

The auditory (hearing) centers are located in the __________.

Which of the following parts of the nervous system would allow you to discover the qualities of a mouthful of black pepper?

Damage to the occipital lobe would be most likely result in __________.

As a child you stepped on a wasp's nest and were stung numerous times. Many years later, you see a wasp's nest and immediately your heart begins racing and you break out in a cold sweat. This "emotional memory" is stored in what part of your brain?

A physician friend tells you about a patient with a head injury who suddenly stopped breathing during an examination. What portion of the brain was probably injured?

As you start to pick up your biology book, you suddenly realize that it is much heavier than you expected. Which of the following brain regions is responsible for the rapid adjustment of muscle force that allows you to pick up the book smoothly?

The limbic system is involved in __________.

One of the functions of the __________ is monitoring breathing centers in the medulla.

The main input center for sensory information going to the cerebrum is the __________.

An important concept in biology is that evolution is a process that remodels ancestral body plans. Developmental sequences in embryos often display evidence of evolutionary relationships. Using this evidence, which part of the brain was most prominent in early vertebrates?

A man is admitted to the hospital suffering from an abnormally low body temperature, a loss of appetite, and extreme thirst. A brain scan shows a tumor located in the __________.

The corpus callosum connects the __________.

In humans, the part of the brain that increases in size and complexity most significantly during the second and third month of embryonic development is derived from the embryonic __________.

The cerebral cortex plays a major role in (A)emotional memory. (B)hand-eye coordination. (C)circadian rhythm. (D)breath holding.

DRAW IT The reflex that pulls your hand away when you prick your finger on a sharp object relies on a neuronal circuit with two synapses in the spinal cord. (b) Draw a simple diagram of the brain indicating where pain would eventually be perceived.

DRAW IT The reflex that pulls your hand away when you prick your finger on a sharp object relies on a neuronal circuit with two synapses in the spinal cord. (a) Using a circle to represent a cross section of the spinal cord, draw the circuit. Label the types of neurons, the direction of information flow in each, and the locations of synapses.

Activation of the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system a. increases heart rate. b. enhances digestion. c. triggers release of epinephrine. d. causes conversion of glycogen to glucose.

After suffering a stroke, a patient can see objects anywhere in front of him but pays attention only to objects in his right field of vision. When asked to describe these objects, he has difficulty judging their size and distance. What part of the brain was likely damaged by the stroke? a. the left frontal lobe b. the right frontal lobe c. the right parietal lobe d. the corpus callosum

Patients with damage to Wernicke’s area have difficulty a. coordinating limb movement. b. generating speech. c. recognizing faces. d. understanding language.

Injury localized to the hypothalamus would most likely disrupt a. regulation of body temperature. b. short-term memory. c. executive functions, such as decision making. d. sorting of sensory information.

The cerebral cortex does not play a major role in a. short-term memory. b. long-term memory. c. circadian rhythm. d. breath holding.

Which of the following structures or regions is incorrectly paired with its function? a. limbic system—motor control of speech b. medulla oblongata—homeostatic control c. cerebellum—coordination of movement and balance d. amygdala—emotional memory