Question 1

Mechanoreceptors are not evenly spaced on your body. What is an advantage of having mechanoreceptors located farther apart?

Accepted Answer

A)  allows often used parts of the human body to feel pressure more severely than areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together 
B)  allows often used parts of the human body to feel pressure less severely than areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together 
C)  allows for greater dendrite regeneration after the body has experienced excessive pressure 
D)  allows for a thicker epidermis than in areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together 
A)  allows often used parts of the human body to feel pressure more severely than areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together 
B)  allows often used parts of the human body to feel pressure less severely than areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together 
C)  allows for greater dendrite regeneration after the body has experienced excessive pressure 
D)  allows for a thicker epidermis than in areas where mechanoreceptors are closer together

Question 2

Suppose you have three water baths in front of you. The temperature of the one on the left is 22°C (cold), the one in the middle is 25°C (room temperature), and the one on the right is 44°C (warm). At the same time, you place the index finger of your right hand into the warm water bath and the index finger of your left hand into the cold water bath, and you leave them there for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, why would you no longer feel a difference in temperature between the two water baths?

Accepted Answer

A)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers speed up the conversion of the stimulus (water) to a chemical signal. 
B)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers diminish the conversion of the stimulus (water) to an electrical signal. 
C)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers become less sensitive over time as they are stimulated repeatedly. 
D)  Receptor potentials in the sensory receptors in your index fingers start off weak and then become stronger. 
A)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers speed up the conversion of the stimulus (water) to a chemical signal. 
B)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers diminish the conversion of the stimulus (water) to an electrical signal. 
C)  The sensory receptors in your index fingers become less sensitive over time as they are stimulated repeatedly. 
D)  Receptor potentials in the sensory receptors in your index fingers start off weak and then become stronger.

Question 3

One of the evolutionary advantages of having two eyes is that

Accepted Answer

A)  two lenses provide greater magnification. 
B)  overlapping fields of view provide uninterrupted images. 
C)  there are more sensory neurons for greater action potentials. 
D)  the blind spot is eliminated. 
A)  two lenses provide greater magnification. 
B)  overlapping fields of view provide uninterrupted images. 
C)  there are more sensory neurons for greater action potentials. 
D)  the blind spot is eliminated.

Question 4

A molecule that is detected by our sense of smell first binds to

Accepted Answer

A)  specific receptor proteins on the cilia of receptor cells located in the epithelium of the upper nasal cavity. 
B)  hairs that extend beyond the mucous layer and line the upper and lower nasal cavities. 
C)  special mechanoreceptor cells located in the epithelium of the lower nasal cavity. 
D)  special receptor proteins located at the surface of thermoreceptor cells lining the upper nasal cavity. 
A)  specific receptor proteins on the cilia of receptor cells located in the epithelium of the upper nasal cavity. 
B)  hairs that extend beyond the mucous layer and line the upper and lower nasal cavities. 
C)  special mechanoreceptor cells located in the epithelium of the lower nasal cavity. 
D)  special receptor proteins located at the surface of thermoreceptor cells lining the upper nasal cavity.

Question 5

If the aqueous humor circulates but does not drain properly, the likely result will be the development of

Accepted Answer

A)  glaucoma. 
B)  myopia. 
C)  astigmatism. 
D)  hyperopia. 
A)  glaucoma. 
B)  myopia. 
C)  astigmatism. 
D)  hyperopia.

Question 6

Individuals medically diagnosed with "dry eyes" experience feelings of dryness, itchiness, burning, and general irritation in their eyes. Dry eyes can be caused by a decreased production of tears by the tear-producing glands in the eyes. What treatment would help alleviate dry eyes?

Accepted Answer

A)  stimulating production of aqueous humor 
B)  blocking the eyelid openings used to drain tears 
C)  stimulating production of vitreous humor 
A)  stimulating production of aqueous humor 
B)  blocking the eyelid openings used to drain tears 
C)  stimulating production of vitreous humor

Question 7

You arrive at your office and are startled by the sounds of building construction outside your window. As you settle into your work for the day, you forget about the construction noises. When a visitor comes to your office later that day, the first thing she comments on is how disruptive the construction noise must be to your concentration. You realize that you have not even noticed it for over an hour. This is due to

Accepted Answer

A)  sensory transduction. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  action potential firing. 
A)  sensory transduction. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  action potential firing.

Question 8

If you were observing two elephants separated by a distance of 4 miles, could the sensory receptors of your ear receive signals passing between them?

Accepted Answer

A)  Yes. Human ears have sound reception over the same range of frequencies as elephants. 
B)  Yes. The organ of Corti in humans is more highly evolved than the comparable organ in elephants. 
C)  No. Elephants have a much wider range of high-frequency hearing. 
D)  No. Human ears cannot hear sounds with frequencies below 20 Hz. 
A)  Yes. Human ears have sound reception over the same range of frequencies as elephants. 
B)  Yes. The organ of Corti in humans is more highly evolved than the comparable organ in elephants. 
C)  No. Elephants have a much wider range of high-frequency hearing. 
D)  No. Human ears cannot hear sounds with frequencies below 20 Hz.

Question 9

Integration of sensory stimuli occurs in

Accepted Answer

A)  highly specialized receptors such as the organ of Corti. 
B)  all receptors. 
C)  the brain. 
D)  the central and peripheral nervous systems. 
A)  highly specialized receptors such as the organ of Corti. 
B)  all receptors. 
C)  the brain. 
D)  the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Question 10

Which part of this figure is the cochlea?

Accepted Answer

A)  part A 
B)  part B 
C)  part C 
D)  part D 
A)  part A 
B)  part B 
C)  part C 
D)  part D

Question 11

Visual information is carried from the retina to the brain via

Accepted Answer

A)  the optic nerve. 
B)  rhodopsin. 
C)  photopsins. 
D)  the blind spot. 
A)  the optic nerve. 
B)  rhodopsin. 
C)  photopsins. 
D)  the blind spot.

Question 12

Which type of sensory receptors becomes more sensitive when damaged tissues produce prostaglandins?

Accepted Answer

A)  deep pressure receptors 
B)  photoreceptors 
C)  pain receptors 
D)  temperature receptors 
A)  deep pressure receptors 
B)  photoreceptors 
C)  pain receptors 
D)  temperature receptors

Question 13

In which part of the ear is the organ of Corti located?

Accepted Answer

A)  pinna 
B)  inner ear 
C)  middle ear 
D)  Eustachian tube 
A)  pinna 
B)  inner ear 
C)  middle ear 
D)  Eustachian tube

Question 14

Myopia can be corrected with artificial lenses or surgery and is generally regarded as a benign disorder. However, as myopia is also associated with more severe conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma, a change in the prevalence of myopia (proportion of the population with myopia) may be a public health concern. The graph shows the change in the prevalence of myopia in three major ethnic groups in Singapore at three points in time.
   Source: Adapted from Morgan, I.G., Ohno-Matsui, K., and Saw, S. M. (2012). Myopia. Lancet, 379: 1739-1748.
-One hypothesis for the development of myopia is that children's eyes do not develop properly when the children are insufficiently exposed to sunlight. Compared to the past, what lifestyle changes should be observed if this hypothesis explains the change in myopia prevalence in Singapore as shown in the graph?

Accepted Answer

A)  Children are now spending more time reading indoors as educational expectations become more demanding. 
B)  Children are now spending more time playing outside as air quality improves. 
C)  Children are now spending equal amounts of time reading indoors and playing outside. 
A)  Children are now spending more time reading indoors as educational expectations become more demanding. 
B)  Children are now spending more time playing outside as air quality improves. 
C)  Children are now spending equal amounts of time reading indoors and playing outside.

Question 15

If you close your eyes, hold your hands over your eyes for a short time, and then uncover your eyes, your pupils will be

Accepted Answer

A)  a darker color than normal. 
B)  smaller than normal. 
C)  larger than normal. 
D)  a lighter color than normal. 
A)  a darker color than normal. 
B)  smaller than normal. 
C)  larger than normal. 
D)  a lighter color than normal.

Question 16

Presbyopia develops with age because the

Accepted Answer

A)  lens becomes less elastic and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. 
B)  eyeball lengthens and so gradually loses its ability to focus on objects that are far away. 
C)  lens becomes more elastic and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. 
D)  eyeball lengthens and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. 
A)  lens becomes less elastic and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. 
B)  eyeball lengthens and so gradually loses its ability to focus on objects that are far away. 
C)  lens becomes more elastic and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects. 
D)  eyeball lengthens and so gradually loses its ability to focus on nearby objects.

Question 17

You are driving at night and decide to pass a slow-moving car. You notice that although you can see the car, you can't tell what color it is. This is due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the poor ability of cones to function in low light. 
B)  the poor ability of rods to function in low light. 
C)  a reduced ability to focus in low light situations. 
D)  the constriction of your pupil in low light situations, which reduces color vision. 
A)  the poor ability of cones to function in low light. 
B)  the poor ability of rods to function in low light. 
C)  a reduced ability to focus in low light situations. 
D)  the constriction of your pupil in low light situations, which reduces color vision.

Question 18

Cilantro tastes soapy to some people because

Accepted Answer

A)  there is genetic variation in at least one of the three types of receptors needed to perceive a nonsoapy flavor. 
B)  they are not an identical twin. Only identical twins detect a soapy flavor in cilantro, while all other people do not detect this soapy flavor. 
C)  their ancestors did not live in cultures where cilantro was a common ingredient in the cuisine. 
D)  they were not raised in an environment where cilantro was a common ingredient in the cuisine. 
A)  there is genetic variation in at least one of the three types of receptors needed to perceive a nonsoapy flavor. 
B)  they are not an identical twin. Only identical twins detect a soapy flavor in cilantro, while all other people do not detect this soapy flavor. 
C)  their ancestors did not live in cultures where cilantro was a common ingredient in the cuisine. 
D)  they were not raised in an environment where cilantro was a common ingredient in the cuisine.

Question 19

Which class of sensory receptors responds to stimuli such as touch, pressure, stretching, and sound?

Accepted Answer

A)  thermoreceptors 
B)  mechanoreceptors 
C)  electromagnetic receptors 
D)  chemoreceptors 
A)  thermoreceptors 
B)  mechanoreceptors 
C)  electromagnetic receptors 
D)  chemoreceptors

Question 20

A person who has blurred vision caused by a misshapen lens or cornea has

Accepted Answer

A)  myopia. 
B)  astigmatism. 
C)  presbyopia. 
D)  hyperopia. 
A)  myopia. 
B)  astigmatism. 
C)  presbyopia. 
D)  hyperopia.

Exam 29: The Senses

Mechanoreceptors are not evenly spaced on your body. What is an advantage of having mechanoreceptors located farther apart?

One of the evolutionary advantages of having two eyes is that

A molecule that is detected by our sense of smell first binds to

If the aqueous humor circulates but does not drain properly, the likely result will be the development of

Individuals medically diagnosed with "dry eyes" experience feelings of dryness, itchiness, burning, and general irritation in their eyes. Dry eyes can be caused by a decreased production of tears by the tear-producing glands in the eyes. What treatment would help alleviate dry eyes?

If you were observing two elephants separated by a distance of 4 miles, could the sensory receptors of your ear receive signals passing between them?

Integration of sensory stimuli occurs in

Which part of this figure is the cochlea?

Visual information is carried from the retina to the brain via

Which type of sensory receptors becomes more sensitive when damaged tissues produce prostaglandins?

In which part of the ear is the organ of Corti located?

If you close your eyes, hold your hands over your eyes for a short time, and then uncover your eyes, your pupils will be

Presbyopia develops with age because the

You are driving at night and decide to pass a slow-moving car. You notice that although you can see the car, you can't tell what color it is. This is due to

Cilantro tastes soapy to some people because

Which class of sensory receptors responds to stimuli such as touch, pressure, stretching, and sound?

A person who has blurred vision caused by a misshapen lens or cornea has

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