Chapter 48: Nervous Systems

1) Which of the following is (are) characteristic of a

simple nervous system?
A) a nerve net such as is found in cnidarians
B) nerve cell ganglia
D) both A and C

2) Which of the following is associated with the
evolution of a central nervous system?
B) bilateral symmetry

3) An organism that lacks integration centers
C) will not be able to interpret stimuli.

4) Where is the most likely location of a group of nerve
cell bodies known as a ganglion?
B) in the peripheral nervous system

5) The general functions of the nervous system include
which of the following?
I. integration
II. motor output
III. sensory input
E) I, II, and III

6) What do muscles, nerves, and glands have in
common?
A) They synapse with neurons.
B) They are referred to as postsynaptic cells.
C) They are target cells.
E) A, B, and C

7) Integration of simple responses to certain stimuli,
such as the patellar reflex, is accomplished by which of
the following?
A) spinal cord

8) The blood-brain barrier
A) is formed by tight junctions.

9) Which of the following statements is false?
D) The outside of a cell is negative with respect to the
inside of a cell.


10) If the concentration of potassium in the cytoplasm
of a nerve cell with a resting membrane potential of -70
mV were elevated above normal, the new resting
potential would
B) be -69 mV or higher.

11) Neurons at rest are not at the equilibrium potential
for K+ because the cell membrane is
B) slightly permeable to Na+.

12) If an otherwise normal nerve cell were made
permeable to large negative ions, what would happen?
A) The membrane potential would not form.

13) The sodium-potassium pump of neurons pumps
D) Na+ out of the cell and K+ into the cell.


The questions below refer to the following information:
A previously unknown organism has been discovered. It
contains long cells with excitable membranes that
scientists suspect are used for rapid information
transfer. The membrane of the cell is permeable only to
ion X, which carries a negative charge. Active transport
pumps in the membrane move X into the cell while
simultaneously moving ion Y, also carrying a negative
charge, out of the cell.
14) Which of the following is true about the
establishment of the resting membrane potential in this
cell?
E) A positive resting potential is directly produced by
the diffusion of X out of the cell.

15) When neurotransmitter Z is released into the
extracellular fluid in contact with a portion of the cell
membrane, channels open that allow both X and Y
through the membrane. Which of the following is
incorrect?
A) The magnitude of the potential will immediately
increase.

16) Which of the following is a correct statement about
a resting neuron?
D) The membrane potential is more negative than the
threshold potential.

17) Which of following is a true statement about the
threshold potential of a membrane?
D) It is the depolarization that is needed to generate
an action potential.

18) Which statement about transmission along neurons
is false?
B) The intensity of a stimulus is related to the
magnitude of the action potential.

19) What is the mode of action of a toxin that binds
specifically to the voltage-gated sodium channels of
axons?
C) prevent the axon from reaching the threshold
potential

20) After an action potential, the resting potential is
restored by
B) the opening of voltage-sensitive potassium channels
and the closing of sodium activation gates.

21) Repolarization of the membrane of a neuron after
an action potential is a consequence of which of the
following?
II. Na+ channels inactivating
III. K+ channels opening
E) II and III only

22) In the sequence of permeability changes that
depolarizes and then repolarizes the membrane of a
neuron during an action potential, which of the
following changes occurs first?
A) Sodium gates open.


For the following questions, refer to the graph of an
action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to
indicate your answer.
Figure 48.1
23) The membrane is unable to respond to any further
stimulation, regardless of intensity.
Answer: D

24) The sodium gates open.
Answer: A

25) The threshold potential is reached.
Answer: A

26) Repolarization occurs, sodium gates close, and some
potassium gates reopen.
Answer: C

27) The membrane is at resting potential.
Answer: E

28) Action potentials are normally carried in one
direction from the axon hillock to the axon terminals. By
using an electronic probe, you experimentally
depolarize the middle of the axon to threshold. What
do you expect?
D) Two action potentials will be initiated, one going
toward the axon terminal and one going back toward
the hillock.

29) Saltatory conduction is a term applied to conduction
of impulses
E) along myelinated nerve fibers.

30) Which animal movement could be used to
represent impulse conductance along a myelinated
axon?
E) a frog leaping between lily pads

31) Where do synaptic vesicles discharge their contents
by exocytosis?
E) presynaptic membrane

32) Neurotransmitters are released from presynaptic
axon terminals into the synaptic cleft by which
mechanism?
E) exocytosis

33) Which of the following offers the best description of
neural transmission across a mammalian synaptic gap?
C) Neural impulses cause the release of chemicals that
diffuse across the gap.

34) One disadvantage to a nerve net is that it can
conduct impulses in two directions from the point of
the stimulus. The vertebrate system conducts in only
one direction. This one-way conduction occurs
D) because only the postsynaptic cells can bind
neurotransmitters.

35) During an IPSP, the membrane of the postsynaptic
cell becomes more permeable to
A) K+.

36) Given the steps shown below, which of the
following is the correct sequence for transmission at a
chemical synapse?
1. Neurotransmitter binds with receptors associated
with the postsynaptic membrane.
2. Ca2+ ions rush into neuron's cytoplasm.
3. Action potential depolarizes the synaptic terminal
membrane.
4. Ligand-gated ion channels open.
5. Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitter into the
synaptic cleft.
C) 3, 2, 5, 1, 4

37) A drug might act as a stimulant of the somatic
nervous system if it
D) increases the sensitivity of the postsynaptic
membrane to acetylcholine.

38) How does an EPSP facilitate depolarization of the
postsynaptic membrane?
A) by increasing the permeability of the membrane to
Na+

39) The postsynaptic membrane of a nerve may be
stimulated by certain neurotransmitters to permit the
influx of negative chloride ions into the cell. This
process will result in
C) the production of an IPSP.

40) Neurotransmitters categorized as inhibitory would
not be expected to
C) open Na+ channels.

41) Which of the following statements is true regarding
temporal summation?
B) Several action potentials arrive in fast succession
without allowing the postsynaptic cell to return to its
resting potential.

42) A single inhibitory postsynaptic potential has a
magnitude of 0.5 mV at the axon hillock, and a single
excitatory postsynaptic potential has a magnitude of 0.5
mV. What will be the membrane potential at the hillock
after the spatial summation of 6 IPSPs and 2 EPSPs, if
the initial membrane potential is -70 mV?
A) -72 mV

43) A neurotransmitter can trigger different responses
in postsynaptic cells due to which of the following?
A) receptor mode of action
B) receptors present
D) A and B only

The next questions refer to the following terms. Each
term may be used once, more than once, or not at all.
A. meninges
B. ganglion
C. axon hillocks
D. myelin sheaths
E. postsynaptic membranes

44) possess neurotransmitter receptors
E. postsynaptic membranes

45) usually the sites of the initial action potential in
neurons
C. axon hillocks

46) produced by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells
D. myelin sheaths

47) Which statement could be applied to both the
nervous system and the endocrine system?
A) They both use chemical signaling.
B) The final response depends on the receptor mode of
action.
C) Specific parts of both systems use chemical
messengers produced by axons.
E) A, B, and C are correct.

48) 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 the above

49) What is the main neurotransmitter of the
parasympathetic system?
A) acetylcholine
50) What is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the
brain?
E) GABA

51) a neuropeptide that functions as a natural analgesic
C. endorphin

52) an amino acid that operates at inhibitory synapses
in the brain
E. GABA

53) Which statement is true?
B) Learning does not appear to require a specific
number of neurons.

54) Cerebrospinal fluid can be described as all of the
following except
C) formed from layers of connective tissue.

55) The divisions of the nervous system that have
antagonistic actions, or opposing actions are
B) sympathetic and parasympathetic.

56) Which part of the vertebrate nervous system is
most involved in preparation for the fight-or-flight
response?
A) sympathetic

57) Which of the following activities would be
associated with the parasympathetic division of the
nervous system?
A) rest and digestion

58) Which of the following is correct about the
telencephalon region of the brain?
D) It gives rise to the cerebrum.

59) What controls the heart rate?
B) medulla

60) Which area of the brain is most intimately
associated with the unconscious control of respiration
and circulation?
C) medulla

61) Which selection is incorrectly paired?
D) midbrain-cerebellum

62) What would be most affected if an accident caused
trauma to the hypothalamus?
D) regulation of body temperature

63) produces hormones that are secreted by the
pituitary gland
D. hypothalamus

64) coordinates muscle actions
B. cerebellum

65) regulates body temperature
D. hypothalamus

66) contains regulatory centers for the respiratory and
circulatory systems
E. medulla oblongata

67) contains regions that help regulate hunger and
thirst
D. hypothalamus

68) Which processes in animals are regulated by
circadian rhythms?
A) sleep cycles
B) hormone release
C) sex drive
E) A, B, and C

69) By comparing the size and degree of convolution of
various vertebrate cerebral cortices, biologists would
gain insight into the relative
D) sophistication of behaviors.

70) Which of the following statements about the
nervous system is incorrect?
A) The three evolutionary changes in the vertebrate
brain include increases in relative size, increases in
compartmentalization of function, and decreases in
cephalization.

71) The motor cortex is part of which part of the
nervous system?
A) cerebrum

72) What do Wernicke's and Broca's regions of the brain
affect?
C) speech

73) If you were writing an essay, which part of the brain
would be most active?
A) temporal and frontal lobes

74) The establishment and expression of emotions
involves the
A) frontal lobes and limbic system.

75) Our understanding of mental illness has been most
advanced by discoveries involving
D) chemicals involved in brain communications.


The following questions refer to Figure 48.2.
Figure 48.2
76) Axons are pushed away from the spinal cord by
being repelled by Netrin-1 and Slit from the floor plate.
Answer: D

77) Axons are pulled toward the midline by binding to
molecules on the floor plate.
Answer: B

78) Axons are pulled toward the floor plate by the
presence of Netrin-1 molecules.
Answer: A

Media Activity Questions
79) An impulse relayed along a myelinated axon
"jumps" from ________ to ________.
C) node of Ranvier; node of Ranvier

80) What type of cell makes up the myelin sheath of a
motor neuron?
E) Schwann cells

81) What part of a neuron relays signals from one
neuron to another neuron or to an effector?
C) synaptic terminal

82) A stimulus has opened the voltage-gated sodium
channels in an area of a neuron's plasma membrane. As
a result, ________ rushes into the neuron and diffuses
to adjacent areas; this in turn results in the ________ in
the adjacent areas.
C) sodium; opening of voltage-gated sodium channels

83) Which of these causes the release of
neurotransmitter molecules?
D) an action potential reaching the end of the axon

Self-Quiz Questions
84) What happens when a neuron's membrane
depolarizes?
C) The magnitude of the membrane voltage is reduced.

85) Why are action potentials usually conducted in only
one direction along an axon?
B) The brief refractory period prevents reopening of
voltage-gated Na+ channels.

86) Which of the following is a direct result of
depolarizing the presynaptic membrane of an axon
terminal?
A) Voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in the membrane
open.

87) What is the neocortex?
D) an additional outer layer of neurons in the cerebral
cortex that is unique to mammals

88) Which of the following provides evidence that brain
circuits involved in emotion form early during human
development?
D) Young infants can bond to a caregiver and express
fear, distress, and anger.

89) Which of the following structures or regions is
incorrectly paired with its function?
A) limbic system-motor control of speech

90) Where are neurotransmitter receptors located?
C) on the postsynaptic membrane

91) A common feature of action potentials is that they
C) are triggered by a depolarization that reaches the
threshold.

92) Which disease or disorder is caused by the death of
brain neurons that release dopamine?
D) Alzheimer's disease

93) Which of the following best describes how an axon
grows toward its target cell?
B) Cells along the growth path release signal molecules
that either attract or repel the axon, and the
interaction of CAMs on the growth cone and
neighboring cells may provide tracks that guide axon
growth.