Question 1

The part of the brain called the _______ would likely be relatively large in a primate that uses extractive foraging techniques (i.e., techniques that enable it to locate, retrieve, and process hidden foods).

Accepted Answer

The answer of The part of the brain called the...

Question 2

In their classic experiments to determine the electrical properties of neurons, Hodgkin and Huxley used

Accepted Answer

A)  fluid-filled pipettes to sample the cytoplasm of a rat spinal cord neuron. 
B)  electrodes located on either side of the cell membrane of the squid giant axon. 
C)  batteries to cause electrical changes in the membrane potential of sensory neurons. 
D)  patch clamps to determine the activity of individual ion channels in brain neurons. 
E)  recording pipettes to measure the activity of ion channels in the giant axons of earthworms.

Question 3

Damage to the axon hillock of a neuron would most immediately impair

Accepted Answer

A)  the receipt of information from other neurons. 
B)  regrowth of dendrites. 
C)  myelin formation. 
D)  the functioning of most cell organelles. 
E)  the integration of information and generation of action potentials.

Question 4

Action potentials

Accepted Answer

A)  initially cause depolarization of the membrane, usually followed by hyperpolarization. 
B)  cause a return to resting potential when the sodium channels open. 
C)  can be triggered in rapid succession, with no measurable delay between spikes. 
D)  are initiated by the membrane's increased permeability to potassium. 
E)  result from inactivation of leak channels.

Question 5

A spinal reflex, such as the knee-jerk reflex, is the result of a sensory neuron synapsing with a motor neuron, which fires an action potential.The site of this conversion of afferent to efferent information is the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A spinal reflex, such as the knee-jerk...

Question 6

The Nernst and Goldman equations shown are used to predict membrane potentials.  In the Goldman equation, "o" stands for outside or extracellular, "i" stands for inside or intracellular, and "p" stands for permeability.To use the Goldman equation as expressed to calculate the membrane potential of a cell, you must know the _______, as well as the membrane permeability for these ions.

Accepted Answer

A)  total number of ions crossing the membrane 
B)  intracellular and extracellular concentrations of ions that cross the membrane 
C)  fraction of the ions crossing the membrane that are positive 
D)  concentration of the ions that are entering the cell 
E)  different charges on all the ions involved

Question 7

In vertebrates, the sensory and effector neurons that extend or reside outside of the brain and spinal cord make up the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In vertebrates, the sensory and effector neurons...

Question 8

Which statement about neurotransmitters is false?

Accepted Answer

A)  Gases, such as nitric oxide, can act as neurotransmitters. 
B)  Each neurotransmitter has a single type of receptor. 
C)  Amino acids and their derivatives, monoamines, function as neurotransmitters. 
D)  Neurotransmitters have different effects in different tissues. 
E)  Some neurotransmitters are cleared from synapses by enzymes that destroy them.

Question 9

All of the following would occur if a neurotransmitter remained in the synaptic cleft except

Accepted Answer

A)  the postsynaptic membrane would become saturated. 
B)  the postsynaptic cell would not respond to additional action potentials arriving at the presynaptic cell. 
C)  rate of information processing would increase. 
D)  receptors for the neurotransmitter would be constantly activated. 
E)  the postsynaptic cell would remain depolarized or hyperpolarized.

Question 10

The ventral horn of the spinal cord contains the

Accepted Answer

A)  axons of afferent nerves. 
B)  stretch receptors involved in the knee-jerk reflex. 
C)  white matter of the spinal column. 
D)  axons of efferent nerves. 
E)  cell bodies of motor neurons.

Question 11

In an active synapse composed of a presynaptic and postsynaptic cell, which part of the presynaptic cell is the last to participate in the action potential?

Accepted Answer

A)  Axon 
B)  Axon hillock 
C)  Dendrites 
D)  Cell body 
E)  Axon terminals

Question 12

Neurons and macroglia are similar in that they develop from _______, whereas microglia develop from _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  neuronal stem cells; neural tube cells 
B)  blood-forming stem cells; gliablasts 
C)  neuronal stem cells; blood-forming stem cells 
D)  neuroblasts; gliablasts 
E)  neural progenitor cells; macroglial progenitor cells

Question 13

In a neuron at rest, the resting membrane potential is mainly due to

Accepted Answer

A)  the number of voltage-gated channels in the membrane. 
B)  the difference in the concentrations of Na+ inside and outside of the cell. 
C)  passive leak currents in the cell membrane. 
D)  the active transport of K+ ions out of the cell. 
E)  the electrical charge in the extracellular fluid.

Question 14

Infections of the brain are quite rare, thanks to the protective role of the _______, to which astrocytes contribute.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Infections of the brain are quite rare,...

Question 15

All of the following are possible functions of different types of glial cells except

Accepted Answer

A)  providing immune support. 
B)  supplying nutrients. 
C)  generating action potentials. 
D)  taking up neurotransmitters that have been released into synapses. 
E)  insulating axons.

Question 16

In the steady state, the membrane potential that exists in the cell membrane of all animal cells is called the _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the steady state, the membrane potential...

Question 17

All of the following are parts of the basic structure of a neuron except a(n)

Accepted Answer

A)  dendrite. 
B)  cell body. 
C)  spindle. 
D)  axon. 
E)  axon terminal.

Question 18

If you wanted to cause a voltage-gated channel in a cell membrane to open, what might you use for a stimulus?

Accepted Answer

A)  A drug applied to the bathing medium 
B)  An electrical current applied to the membrane 
C)  Pressure on the membrane 
D)  Increased concentration of Na+ in the extracellular fluid 
E)  Increased concentration of K+ in the intracellular fluid

Question 19

During limb movement, one muscle of a pair contracts while the antagonistic muscle relaxes.The interneuron that inhibits firing in the motor neuron for the antagonistic muscle is located in the _______ of the _______.

Accepted Answer

A)  dorsal root; spinal nerve 
B)  gray matter; brain 
C)  white matter; spinal cord 
D)  ventral root; spinal cord 
E)  gray matter; spinal cord

Question 20

Which statement about voltage-gated channels is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  They open or close in response to a change in voltage across the cell membrane. 
B)  They all open and close at the same time in response to an action potential. 
C)  Ions can move through the channels only if the overall membrane potential stays the same. 
D)  Ions are pumped through the channels to maintain the existing membrane potential. 
E)  They open only in response to an action potential.

Exam 44: Neurons, Glia, and Nervous Systems