1) A simple nervous system
A) must include chemical senses,
mechanoreception, and vision.
B) includes a minimum of 12
effector neurons.
C) has information flow in only one direction:
toward an integrating center.
D) has information flow in only
one direction: away from an integrating center.
E) includes
sensory information, an integrating center, and effectors.
Answer: E
2) Most of the neurons in the human brain are
A) sensory
neurons.
B) motor neurons.
C) interneurons.
D)
auditory neurons.
E) peripheral neurons.
Answer: C
3) The nucleus and most of the organelles in a neuron are located in
the
A) dendritic region.
B) axon hillock.
C) axon.
D) cell body.
E) axon terminals.
Answer: D
4) In certain large animals, this type of neuron can extend beyond 1
meter in length.
A) glial cell in the brain
B) a sensory
neuron
C) an interneuron
D) a glial cell at a ganglion
E) a neuron that controls eye movements
Answer: B
5) The somatic nervous system can alter the activities of its
targets, the skeletal muscle fibers, because
A) it is
electrically coupled by gap junctions to the muscles.
B) its
signals bind to receptor proteins on the muscles.
C) its signals
reach the muscles via the blood.
D) its light pulses activate
contraction in the muscles.
E) it is connected to the internal
neural network of the muscles.
Answer: B
6) The point of connection between two communicating neurons is
called
A) the axon hillock.
B) the dendrite.
C) the
synapse.
D) the cell body.
E) the glia.
Answer: C
7) In a simple synapse, neurotransmitter chemicals are released by
A) the dendritic membrane.
B) the presynaptic membrane.
C) axon hillocks.
D) cell bodies.
E) ducts on the
smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Answer: B
8) In a simple synapse, neurotransmitter chemicals are received by
A) the dendritic membrane.
B) the presynaptic membrane.
C) axon hillocks.
D) cell bodies.
E) ducts on the
smooth endoplasmic reticulum.
Answer: A
9) In the communication between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle,
A) the motor neuron is considered the presynaptic cell and the
skeletal muscle is the postsynaptic cell.
B) the motor neuron is
considered the postsynaptic cell and the skeletal muscle is the
presynaptic cell.
C) action potentials are possible on the motor
neuron but not the skeletal muscle.
D) action potentials are
possible on the skeletal muscle but not the motor neuron.
E) the
motor neuron fires action potentials but the skeletal muscle is not
electrochemically excitable.
Answer: A
10) For a neuron with an initial membrane potential at -70 mV, an
increase in the movement of potassium ions out of that neuron's
cytoplasm would result in
A) the depolarization of the neuron.
B) the hyperpolarization of the neuron.
C) the replacement
of potassium ions with sodium ions.
D) the replacement of
potassium ions with calcium ions.
E) the neuron switching on its
sodium-potassium pump to restore the initial conditions.
Answer: B
11) Although the membrane of a "resting" neuron is highly
permeable to potassium ions, its membrane potential does not exactly
match the equilibrium potential for potassium because the neuronal
membrane is also
A) fully permeable to sodium ions.
B)
slightly permeable to sodium ions.
C) fully permeable to calcium
ions.
D) impermeable to sodium ions.
E) highly permeable
to chloride ions.
Answer: B
12) The operation of the sodium-potassium "pump" moves
A) sodium and potassium ions into the cell.
B) sodium and
potassium ions out of the cell.
C) sodium ions into the cell and
potassium ions out of the cell.
D) sodium ions out of the cell
and potassium ions into the cell.
E) sodium and potassium ions
into the mitochondria.
Answer: D
13) A cation that is more abundant as a solute in the cytosol of a
neuron than it is in the interstitial fluid outside the neuron is
A) HCO₃-.
B) Cl-.
C) Ca++.
D) Na+.
E) K+.
Answer: E
14) The membrane potential that exactly offsets an ion's
concentration gradient is called the
A) graded potential.
B) threshold potential.
C) equilibrium potential.
D)
action potential.
E) inhibitory postsynaptic potential.
Answer: C
15) ATP hydrolysis directly powers the movement of
A) K+ out of
cells.
B) Na+ out of cells.
C) Na+ into cells.
D)
Ca++ into cells.
E) Cl- into cells.
Answer: B
16) Two fundamental concepts about the ion channels of a
"resting" neuron are that the channels
A) are always
open, but the concentration gradients of ions frequently change.
B) are always closed, but ions move closer to the channels
during excitation.
C) open and close depending on stimuli, and
are specific as to which ion can traverse them.
D) open and
close depending on chemical messengers, and are nonspecific as to
which ion can traverse them.
E) open in response to stimuli, and
then close simultaneously, in unison.
Answer: C
17) Opening all of the sodium channels, with all other ion channels
closedwhich is an admittedly artificial settingon an otherwise
typical neuron should move its membrane potential to
A) -90 mV.
B) -70 mV.
C) 0 mV.
D) +30 mV.
E) +62 mV.
Answer: E
18) A graded hyperpolarization of a membrane can be induced by
A) increasing its membrane's permeability to Na+.
B)
decreasing its membrane's permeability to H+.
C) decreasing its
membrane's permeability to Cl-.
D) increasing its membrane's
permeability to Ca++.
E) increasing its membrane's permeability
to K+.
Answer: E
19) Self-propagation and refractory periods are typical of
A)
action potentials.
B) graded hyperpolarizations.
C)
excitatory postsynaptic potentials.
D) threshold potentials.
E) resting potentials.
Answer: A
20) The "selectivity" of a particular ion channel refers to
its
A) permitting passage by positive but not negative ions.
B) permitting passage by negative but not positive ions.
C) ability to change its size depending on the ion needing
transport.
D) binding with only one type of neurotransmitter.
E) permitting passage only to a specific ion.
Answer: E
21) A "resting" motor neuron is expected to
A)
release lots of acetylcholine.
B) have high permeability to
sodium ions.
C) be equally permeable to sodium and potassium
ions.
D) exhibit a resting potential that is more negative than
the "threshold" potential.
E) have a higher
concentration of sodium ions on the inside of the cell than on the outside.
Answer: D
22) The "threshold" potential of a membrane
A) is the
point of separation from a living to a dead neuron.
B) is the
lowest frequency of action potentials a neuron can produce.
C)
is the minimum hyperpolarization needed to prevent the occurrence of
action potentials.
D) is the minimum depolarization needed to
operate the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels.
E) is
the peak amount of depolarization seen in an action potential.
Answer: D
23) Action potentials move along axons
A) more slowly in axons
of large than in small diameter.
B) by the direct action of
acetylcholine on the axonal membrane.
C) by activating the
sodium-potassium "pump" at each point along the axonal
membrane.
D) more rapidly in myelinated than in non-myelinated
axons.
E) by reversing the concentration gradients for sodium
and potassium ions.
Answer: D
24) A toxin that binds specifically to voltage-gated sodium channels
in axons would be expected to
A) prevent the hyperpolarization
phase of the action potential.
B) prevent the depolarization
phase of the action potential.
C) prevent graded potentials.
D) increase the release of neurotransmitter molecules.
E)
have most of its effects on the dendritic region of a neuron.
Answer: B
25) After the depolarization phase of an action potential, the
resting potential is restored by
A) the opening of sodium
activation gates.
B) the opening of voltage-gated potassium
channels and the closing of sodium channels.
C) a decrease in
the membrane's permeability to potassium and chloride ions.
D) a
brief inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump.
E) the opening of
more voltage-gated sodium channels.
Answer: B
26) The "undershoot" phase of after-hyperpolarization is
due to
A) slow opening of voltage-gated sodium channels.
B) sustained opening of voltage-gated potassium channels.
C) rapid opening of voltage-gated calcium channels.
D)
slow restorative actions of the sodium-potassium ATPase.
E) ions
that move away from their open ion channels.
Answer: B
27) Immediately after an action potential passes along an axon, it is
not possible to generate a second action potential; thus, we state
that the membrane is briefly
A) hyperexcitable.
B)
refractory.
C) fully depolarized.
D) above threshold.
E) at the equilibrium potential.
Answer: B
28) An action potential can start in the middle of an axon and
proceed in both opposite directions when
A) the neuron is an
inhibitory neuron and operating normally.
B) only the middle
section of the axon has been artificially stimulated by an electrode.
C) the dendritic region fires an action potential.
D) it
is in its typical refractory state.
E) its membrane potential is
above the threshold.
Answer: B
29) The primary means by which a neuron can communicate to a second
neuron is by
A) the frequency of its action potentials.
B)
the peak of the depolarization phase of an action potential.
C)
the peak of the undershoot/hyperpolarization of an action potential.
D) varying how much neurotransmitter it releases for a given
action potential.
E) remaining in the depolarization phase of
the action potential for an extended interval.
Answer: A
30) In the sequence of permeability changes for a complete action
potential, the first of these events that occurs is
A) the
activation of the sodium-potassium "pump."
B) the
inhibition of the sodium-potassium "pump."
C) the
opening of voltage-gated sodium channels.
D) the closing of
voltage-gated potassium channels.
E) the opening of
voltage-gated potassium channels.
Answer: C
31) Saltatory conduction is a term applied to
A) conduction of
impulses across electrical synapses.
B) an action potential that
skips the axon hillock in moving from the dendritic region to the axon
terminal.
C) rapid movement of an action potential reverberating
back and forth along a neuron.
D) jumping from one neuron to an
adjacent neuron.
E) jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next
in a myelinated neuron.
Answer: E
32) The surface on a neuron that discharges the contents of synaptic
vesicles is the
A) dendrite.
B) axon hillock.
C)
node of Ranvier.
D) postsynaptic membrane.
E) presynaptic membrane.
Answer: E
33) Neurotransmitters are released from axon terminals via
A)
osmosis.
B) active transport.
C) diffusion.
D)
transcytosis.
E) exocytosis.
Answer: E
34) The fastest possible conduction velocity of action potentials is
observed in
A) thin, non-myelinated neurons.
B) thin,
myelinated neurons.
C) thick, non-myelinated neurons.
D)
thick, myelinated neurons.
Answer: D
35) Neural transmission across a mammalian synaptic gap is
accomplished by
A) the movement of sodium and potassium ions
from the presynaptic neuron into the postsynaptic neuron.
B)
impulses traveling as electrical currents across the gap.
C)
impulses causing the release of a chemical signal and its diffusion
across the gap.
D) impulses ricocheting back and forth across
the gap.
E) the movement of calcium ions from the presynaptic
into the postsynaptic neuron.
Answer: C
36) One possible disadvantage to a nerve net is that it might conduct
impulses in two directions from the point of the stimulus. Most of the
synapses in vertebrates conduct information in only one direction
A) as a result of the nodes of Ranvier.
B) as a result of
voltage-gated sodium channels found only in the vertebrate system.
C) because vertebrate nerve cells have dendrites.
D)
because only the postsynaptic cells can bind and respond to
neurotransmitters.
E) because the sodium-potassium pump moves
ions in one direction.
Answer: D
37) The release of acetylcholine from the terminal of a motor neuron
is most directly linked to
A) the entry of potassium into the
axon terminal.
B) the exit of potassium from the axon terminal.
C) the entry of sodium into the axon terminal.
D) the exit
of sodium from the axon terminal.
E) the entry of calcium into
the axon terminal.
Answer: E
38) The observation that the acetylcholine released into the junction
between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle binds to a sodium channel
and opens it is an example of
A) a voltage-gated sodium channel.
B) a voltage-gated potassium channel.
C) a ligand-gated
sodium channel.
D) a second-messenger-gated sodium channel.
E) a chemical that inhibits action potentials.
Answer: C
39) An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) occurs in a membrane
made more permeable to
A) potassium ions.
B) sodium ions.
C) calcium ions.
D) ATP.
E) all neurotransmitter molecules.
Answer: A
40) The following steps refer to various stages in transmission at a
chemical synapse.
1. Neurotransmitter binds with receptors associated with the
postsynaptic membrane.
2. Calcium ions rush into neuron's
cytoplasm.
3. An action potential depolarizes the membrane of
the axon terminal.
4. The ligand-gated ion channels open.
5. The synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitter into the
synaptic cleft.
Which sequence of events is correct?
A) 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5
B) 2 → 3 → 5 → 4 → 1
C) 3 → 2 →
5 → 1 → 4
D) 4 → 3 → 1 → 2 → 5
E) 5 → 1 → 2 → 4 → 3
Answer: C
41) The activity of acetylcholine in a synapse is terminated by
A) its active transport across the presynaptic membrane.
B) its diffusion across the presynaptic membrane.
C) its
active transport across the postsynaptic membrane.
D) its
diffusion across the postsynaptic membrane.
E) its degradation
by a hydrolytic enzyme on the postsynaptic membrane.
Answer: E
42) Adjacent neurons with direct (non-neurotransmitter) action
potential transfer are said to have electrical synapses, based on the
presence of
A) tight junctions at their point of contact.
B) gap junctions at their point of contact.
C) leaky
junctions at their point of contact.
D) anchoring junctions at
their point of contact.
E) desmosomes at their point of contact.
Answer: B
43) Ionotropic receptors are found at synapses operated via
A)
ligand-gated ion channels.
B) second-messenger-gated ion
channels.
C) electrical synapses.
D) inhibitory, but not
excitatory, synapses.
E) excitatory, but not inhibitory, synapses.
Answer: A
44) An example of ligand-gated ion channels is
A) the spreading
of action potentials in the heart.
B) acetylcholine receptors at
the neuromuscular junction.
C) cAMP-dependent protein kinases.
D) action potentials on the axon.
E) graded hyperpolarization.
Answer: B
45) An example of the action of metabotropic receptors is when
A) voltage-gated ion channels open.
B) voltage-gated ion
channels close.
C) acetylcholine-gated sodium channels open.
D) cAMP-linked ion channels open.
E) the
undershoot/after-hyperpolarization occurs.
Answer: C
46) Neurotransmitters categorized as inhibitory are expected to
A) act independently of their receptor proteins.
B) close
potassium channels.
C) open sodium channels.
D) close
chloride channels.
E) hyperpolarize the membrane.
Answer: E
47) When several EPSPs arrive at the axon hillock from different
dendritic locations, depolarizing the postsynaptic cell to threshold
for an action potential, this is an example of
A) temporal
summation.
B) spatial summation.
C) tetanus.
D) the
refractory state.
E) an action potential with an abnormally high
peak of depolarization.
Answer: B
48) When several IPSPs arrive at the axon hillock rapidly in sequence
from a single dendritic location, hyperpolarizing the postsynaptic
cell more and more and thus preventing an action potential, this is an
example of
A) temporal summation.
B) spatial summation.
C) tetanus.
D) the refractory state.
E) an action
potential with an abnormally high peak of depolarization.
Answer: A
49) Assume that a single IPSP has a negative magnitude of -0.5 mV at
the axon hillock, and that a single EPSP has a positive magnitude of
+0.5 mV. For a neuron with an initial membrane potential of -70 mV,
the net effect of the simultaneous arrival of six IPSPs and two EPSPs
would be to move the membrane potential to
A) -72 mV.
B)
-71 mV.
C) -70 mV.
D) -69 mV.
E) -68 mV.
Answer: A
50) Receptors for neurotransmitters are of primary functional
importance in assuring one-way synaptic transmission because they are
mostly found on the
A) axonal membrane.
B) axon hillock.
C) dendritic membrane.
D) mitochondrial membrane.
E)
presynaptic membrane.
Answer: C
51) Functionally, which cellular location is the neuron's
"decision-making site" as to whether or not an action
potential will be initiated?
A) axonal membranes
B) axon
hillocks
C) dendritic membranes
D) mitochondrial membranes
E) presynaptic membranes
Answer: B
52) Neurotransmitters affect postsynaptic cells by
A)
initiating signal transduction pathways in the cells.
B) causing
molecular changes in the cells.
C) affecting ion-channel
proteins.
D) altering the permeability of the cells.
E)
All of these options are correct.
Answer: E
53) The primary neurotransmitter from the parasympathetic system that
influences its autonomic targets is
A) acetylcholine.
B)
adenosine.
C) norepinephrine.
D) adrenaline.
E) dopamine.
Answer: A
54) The major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the human brain is
A) acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) glutamate.
D) nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: E
55) The major excitatory neurotransmitter of the human brain is
A) acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) glutamate.
D) nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: C
56) A neuropeptide that might function as a natural analgesic is
A) acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) endorphin.
D) nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: C
57) An amino acid that operates at inhibitory synapses in the brain
is
A) acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) endorphin.
D) nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: E
58) The botulinum toxin reduces the synaptic release of
A)
acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) endorphin.
D)
nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: A
59) The heart rate decreases in response to the arrival of
A)
acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) endorphin.
D)
nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: A
60) A chemical that affects neuronal function but is not stored in
presynaptic vesicles is
A) acetylcholine.
B) epinephrine.
C) endorphin.
D) nitric oxide.
E) GABA.
Answer: D
61) The membrane potential is closest to the equilibrium potential
for potassium at label
A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.
E) E.
Answer: D
62) The membrane's permeability to sodium ions is at its maximum at
label
A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.
E) E.
Answer: B
63) The minimum graded depolarization needed to operate the
voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels is indicated by the label
A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.
E) E.
Answer: A
64) The cell is not hyperpolarized; however, repolarization is in
progress, as the sodium channels are closing or closed, and many
potassium channels have opened at label
A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.
E) E.
Answer: C
65) The neuronal membrane is at its resting potential at label
A) A.
B) B.
C) C.
D) D.
E) E.
Answer: E
66) Action potentials are normally carried in only one direction:
from the axon hillock toward the axon terminals. If you experimentally
depolarize the middle of the axon to threshold, using an electronic
probe, then
A) no action potential will be initiated.
B)
an action potential will be initiated and proceed only in the normal
direction toward the axon terminal.
C) an action potential will
be initiated and proceed only back toward the axon hillock.
D)
two action potentials will be initiated, one going toward the axon
terminal and one going back toward the hillock.
E) an action
potential will be initiated, but it will die out before it reaches the
axon terminal.
Answer: D
67) Assume that excessive consumption of ethanol increases the influx
of negative chloride ions into "common sense" neurons whose
action potentials are needed for you to act appropriately and not harm
yourself or others. Thus, any resulting poor decisions associated with
ethanol ingestion are likely due to
A) increased membrane
depolarization of "common sense" neurons.
B) decreased
membrane depolarization of "common sense" neurons.
C)
more action potentials in your "common sense" neurons.
D) more EPSPs in your "common sense" neurons.
E)
fewer IPSPs in your "common sense" neurons.
Answer: B
68) 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 neuron
is less likely to generate an action potential.
E) The cell's
inside is more negative than the outside.
Answer: C
69) 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 the threshold.
D) move at the same
speed along all axons.
E) require the diffusion of Na+ and K+
through ligand-gated channels to propagate.
Answer: C
70) Where are neurotransmitter receptors located?
A) the
nuclear membrane
B) the nodes of Ranvier
C) the
postsynaptic membrane
D) synaptic vesicle membranes
E) the
myelin sheath
Answer: C
71) Temporal summation always involves
A) both inhibitory and
excitatory inputs.
B) synapses at more than one site.
C)
inputs that are not simultaneous.
D) electrical synapses.
E) multiple inputs at a single synapse.
Answer: E
72) Why are action potentials usually conducted in one direction?
A) The nodes of Ranvier conduct potentials in 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) Ions can
flow along the axon in only one direction.
E) Voltage-gated
channels for both Na+ and K+ open in only one direction.
Answer: B
73) Which of the following is a 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) The postsynaptic cell produces an action
potential.
D) Ligand-gated channels open, allowing
neurotransmitters to enter the synaptic cleft.
E) An EPSP or
IPSP is generated in the postsynaptic cell.
Answer: A