AP Biology

Nervous/Muscular Systems Take-Home Test

1. At resting potential the neuron is

A. polarized B. depolarized C. hyperpolarized D. none of the above

2. Which one of the following statements concerning the sodium-potassium pump is false?
A.The protein complex has a binding site for sodium and a separate binding site for potassium.
B.Sodium is transported out of the cell and potassium is transported into the cell.
C.The energy for the pump is provided by the hydrolysis of ATP.
D.The pump transports sodium either into or out of the cell.
E.The protein complex has two different possible conformations.

3. Of the following activities, which is the second event to occur in the depolarization and
repolarization of a nerve cell.
A.Na+ channels open and Na+ rushes inside
B.K+ channels open and K+ rushes inside
C.K+ channels open and K+ rushes outside
D.negatively charged ions rush outside

The following diagram illustrates the effect of a transmitter substance on the membrane potential of a neuron.

4. In the diagram, what is the threshold potential?

A. +50 mV B. 0 mV C. –50 mV D. –70 mV

5. During which intervals (a, b, c, d, or e in the diagram) would sodium ions be entering the neuron?
(Fill in TWO correct answers)

6. During which interval (a, b, c, d, or e in the diagram) would potassium ions be leaving the neuron?

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 1

7. Information enters a neuron mainly through the (Choose 2 answers)
A. dendrites B. axon C. myelin sheath D. cell body

8. The motor pathways that carry information to glands, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle are part of
the __________________ nervous system.
A. central B. autonomic C. somatic D. sensory

9. All sensory and motor neurons that lie outside the central nervous system (CNS), but carry
information to and from the CNS, are classified in the ________________ nervous system.
A. sympathetic B. autonomic C. automatic D. somatic E. peripheral

10. Suppose you administer a drug that efficiently removes calcium. The effect of this drug on the
nervous system would be to
A. prevent action potentials from traveling along axons
B. prevent transmitter substance in the synaptic cleft from depolarizing the post–synaptic
membrane
C. inhibit the sodium–potassium pump
D. prevent synaptic vesicles from discharging their contents into the synaptic cleft
E. prevent transmitter substance from causing the depolarization of the presynaptic membrane

11. Which of the following is false about an action potential?

A. it is an electrochemical change across the membrane
B. it is propagated only when a threshold level of depolarization is reached
C. is always the same strength, regardless of the strength of the stimulus
D. will travel slower if the neuron is myelinated

12. Which of the following neurotransmitters is a natural analgesic (pain killer) and mood elevator?
A. acetylcholine B. endorphin C. serotonin D. GABA E. epinephrine

13. A certain neuron is encountered during dissection of the muscles in the leg of a pig. It is part of the
somatic (voluntary) nervous system. Which one of the following observations indicates that it is a
motor neuron, not a sensory neuron?
A. its cell body is located inside the spinal cord
B. it exhibits an all–or–none response to stimuli
C. the end of its axon secretes a neurotransmitter
D. its axon is myelinated

14. After an action potential, how is the resting potential restored?

A. the opening of sodium activation gates
B. the opening of voltage–sensitive potassium channels and the closing of sodium activation gates
C. an increase in the membrane’s permeability to potassium and chloride ions
D. the refractory period in which the membrane is hyperpolarized

15. The threshold potential of a membrane

A. is the depolarization that is needed to generate an action potential
B. is equal to about 35 mV
C. is equal to about 70 mV
D. voltage–sensitive gates that result in the rapid outflow of sodium ions

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 2

16. A change at a synapse that increases the magnitude of the potential of the postsynaptic membrane
by making the inside of the cell more negative is termed
A.an IPSP.
B.an EPSP.
C.an action potential
D.a threshold potential.
E.a depolarized potential.

17. Which of the following statements is true regarding temporal summation?

A. the summation of simultaneously arriving neurotransmitters from different presynaptic nerve
cells determines whether the postsynaptic cell fires
B. several action potentials from the same neuron arrive in fast succession without allowing the
postsynaptic cell to return to its resting potential
C. several IPSPs arrive concurrently, bringing the presynaptic cell closer to its threshold
D. several postsynaptic cells fire at the same time when neurotransmitters are released from
several synaptic terminals simultaneously
E. the voltage spike of the action potential that is initiated is higher than normal

18. Which of the following offers the best description of neural transmission across a mammalian
synaptic gap?
A. neural impulses involve the flow of K+ and Na+ across the gap
B. neural impulses travel across the gap as electrical currents
C. neural impulses cause the release of chemicals that diffuse across the gap
D. neural impulses travel across the gap in both directions
E. the calcium within the axons and dendrites of nerves adjacent to a synapse acts as the
neurotransmitter

19. Which of the following is a correct statement about a resting neuron?

A. it is releasing lots of acetylcholine
B. the membrane is very leaky to sodium
C. the membrane is equally permeable to sodium and potassium
D. the membrane potential is more negative than the threshold potential
E. the concentration of sodium is greater inside the cell than outside

20. Repolarization of the membrane of a neuron after an action potential is a consequence of which of
the following?
I. Ca++ gates opening
II. Na+ gates inactivating
III. K+ gates opening

A. I only B. II only C. III only D. II and III only E. I and II only

21. A drug might act as a stimulant of the somatic nervous system if it

A. makes the membrane permanently impermeable to sodium
B. stimulates the activity of acetylcholinesterase in the synaptic cleft
C. increases the release of substances that increase the hyperpolarization of the neurons
D. increases the sensitivity of the postsynaptic membrane to acetylcholine
E. increases the sensitivity of the presynaptic membrane to acetylcholine
Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 3
22. During an IPSP, the postsynaptic membrane becomes more permeable to
A. Na+ B. K+ C. Ca+ + D. GABA E. serotonin.

23. The movement of ions into a neuron, thereby destroying the resting potential, is known as
A. Resting Potential B. Repolarization C. Depolarization D. Refractory period

24. ______________________ is a term used to describe a bundle of axons.

A. nerve B. ganglia C. neurofibril D. Schwann bundle E. internode

25. Which of the following is false about myelin sheaths?

A.they store calcium
B.they are formed from the membrane of Schwann cells
C. they insulate neurons
D. they cover some neurons but not others
E. they are present in the internodes

26. Which of the following is true?

A. a presynaptic membrane = dendrite membrane C. a postsynaptic membrane = axon membrane
B. a presynaptic membrane = axon membrane D. a postsynaptic membrane = synaptic cleft

27. An action potential at the synaptic knob causes _________________ to enter the cell. Vesicles can
then fuse with the membrane and release __________________________.
A. sodium…calcium C. sodium…neutrotransmitters
B. calcium…sodium D. calcium…neurotransmitters
E. sodium…potassium
28. The inside of a resting neuron is
A. more negative inside C. neutral because it is resting
B. more negative outside D. highly concentrated with Na+

29. Identify the correct sequence of events in the stimulation of an action potential in an axon:
A.decreased permeability to sodium ions…polarity reversal…increased permeability to sodium
ions…increased permeability to potassium ions
B.increased permeability to sodium ions…decreased permeability to sodium ions…polarity
reversal…increased permeability to potassium ions
C.increased permeability to sodium ions…polarity reversal…decreased permeability to sodium
ions…decreased permeability to potassium ions
D.increased permeability to sodium ions…polarity reversal…decreased permeability to sodium
ions…increased permeability to potassium ions
E.decreased permeability to sodium ions…polarity reversal…increased permeability to potassium
ions…decreased permeability to sodium ions

30. The effectors of the somatic nervous system are

A. skeletal muscles only C. smooth muscles only
B. cardiac muscles only D. skeletal and cardiac muscles only
E. skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 4

31. What structure carries impulses from a receptor to the central nervous system?
A. motor neuron B. sensory neuron C. interneuron D. relay neuron E. Schwann neuron

32. The threshold value for a given cell represents the amount of stimulation required to
A.break down the neuron cell membrane
B.neutralize the negative charge on the cellular proteins
C.open channels for passive diffusion of K+ ions
D.open enough sodium ion channels
E.turn off the sodium-potassium pumps

33. The longest axons may be as long as

A. a nanometer B. a micrometer C. a millimeter D. a meter E. a kilometer

34. Acetylcholinesterase prevents the

A.ability of neurotransmitter to cross the synaptic cleft
B.binding of acetylcholine to receptors
C.loss of acetylcholine and allows continued stimulation
D.repeated stimulation of the target cell
E.response of the target cell to the stimulus

35. Outside the central nervous system, clusters of nerve cell bodies are known as:
A. neuroglia B. ganglia C. Schwann clusters D. nuclei E. tracts

36. The refractory period of a neuron imposes limits on

A. how fast the impulse can travel along the axon
B. the size of the threshold stimulus for that cell
C. whether the cell responds to a certain size of stimulus or not
D. which direction the impulse travels along the axon

True or False (True = A, False = B). Questions 37 to 47.

37. A sensory neuron is an afferent neuron.

38. Nerve cells are the only cells that can become depolarized.

39. Neurotransmitters remain for only short periods of time in a synapse.

40. After the passage of an action potential, restoration of the resting potential is aided by the activity
of the sodium-potassium pump.

41. The parasympathic nervous system prepares the body to ―fight or flee‖ when faced with a stressful
situation.

42. A postsynaptic membrane may respond differently to different transmitters.

43. A motor neuron is part of the peripheral nervous system.

44. Barbiturates are depressants often used to induce sleep.

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 5

45. Both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves originate in the spinal cord only.

46. A transmitter can only cause a postsynaptic fiber to become more permeable to sodium.

47. For a neurotransmitter to be excitatory, it must increase the degree of polarization of the
postsynaptic membrane. (This means the membrane would become more negative.)

48. If both excitatory and inhibitory transmitters converge on a cell at the same time, their effects are
combined in the process called
A. summation B. saltatory conduction C. repolarization D. refraction E. confusion

49. Myelin sheaths

A. are found on all axons C. are made of protein
B. are found on all dendrites D. speed up transmission
E. wrap around all sensory neurons

50. Which of the following structures in nerve cells is specialized for receiving information from a
large number of nerve cells? (fill in TWO correct answers)
A. the axon B. myelin sheath C. nodes of Ranvier D. cell body E. dendrites

51. Which of the following statements is false concerning the axon in a resting (nonconducting) stage?
A.The membrane is relatively impermeable to sodium ions.
B.The membrane is highly permeable to negatively charged ions and allows them to leak out.
C.The membrane has a positive charge on the outside and a negative charge on the inside.
D.Potassium ions are in higher concentration inside the axon than outside.
E.Sodium ions are in higher concentration outside the axon than inside.

52. Upon stimulation of a neuron, the influx of sodium ions is the result of
A. active transport B. diffusion

53. You have set up two electrical recording instruments that will record any electrical changes that
occur. One is placed at each end of a single neuron 10 cm long. If at the first pair of electrodes the
magnitude of the action potential is recorded at 100 mV, what will be the magnitude of the action
potential when it reaches the second pair of electrodes, at the other end? Choose C because the
action potential will have the same magnitude at any point along the axon.
A.10 mV
B.less than 100 mV but cannot be more exact
C.100 mV
D.more than 100 mV but cannot be more exact
E.1000 mV

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 6

54. Summation in the nervous system depends upon the addition of _______________________ from
different sources.
A. action potentials C. excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials
B. specific ions D. synaptic vesicles
E. resting potentials

55. Suppose an intracellular electrode records a resting potential for a given neuron of –70 mV. Which
one of the recordings below best portrays what will happen if the membrane becomes
hyperpolarized?

56. What is meant by a reflex arc in the nervous system?

A.an inherited behavior pattern that functions through a certain neural pathway
B.peripheral nerves, spinal cord, and brain
C.a functional unit consisting of a receptor, neural pathways, and an effector
D. a response of the somatic nervous system

57. One of the major function of the autonomic nervous system is to

A.transmit impulses from the brain to the central nervous system
B.regulate and control the peripheral nervous system
C.control the contraction of skeletal muscles
D.innervate the internal organs
E.coordinate nerve impulses

58. A true difference between the somatic and the autonomic nervous systems is that
A. acetylcholine is found as a neurotransmitter only in the somatic system
B. only the somatic system has motor neurons
C.only the autonomic system connects to the central nervous system
D.only the somatic system can cause muscle contraction
E. the somatic system innervates skeletal muscle, whereas the autonomic system innervates smooth
muscle

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 7

59. Responses to stimuli are made by
A. conductors B. receptors C. effectors D. neurons

60. An impulse can be transmitted from one neuron to another neuron by

A. a neurotransmitter C. direct physical contact between two neurons
B. an enzyme D. a stimulant
E. ions moving across the membrane

Use the following diagram to answer the next several questions (61 to 65). Indicate whether each of
the following statements is true or false (true = A, false = B).

61. The nerve impulse is at point Y on the axon.

62. At point X, immediately after the action potential passed, the axon has more K+ inside than
outside.

63. At point Z, the axon membrane is permeable to Na+

64. The Na+/K+ pump caused the charge difference at point Y.

65. At point Z the axon has more K+ inside than outside.

Question 66 refers to the following information:

1. Neurotransmitter binds with receptor.
2. Calcium ions rush into neuron's cytoplasm.
3. Action potential depolarizes the presynaptic membrane.
4. Ion gate opens to allow particular ion to enter cell.
5. Synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitter into the
synaptic cleft.

66. Given the steps shown above, which of the following is the correct sequence for transmission at a
chemical synapse?
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
Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 8
67. All of the following statements about transmission along neurons are correct EXCEPT
A. The rate of transmission of a nerve impulse is directly related to the diameter of the axon.
B. The intensity of a nerve impulse is directly related to the size of the voltage change.
C. The resting potential is maintained by differential ion permeabilities and the sodium-potassium
pump
D. Once initiated, local depolarizations stimulate a propagation of serial action potentials down
the axon.
E. A stimulus that affects the membrane's permeability to ions can either depolarize or
hyperpolarize the membrane.

68. Which of the following is responsible for setting up the resting potential? (Choose 2 correct
answers)
A.The membrane is slightly leaky to K+.
B. The membrane is slightly leaky to Na+.
C. The opening of Na+ gates.
D. The Na+/K+ pump.
E. The opening of K+ gates.

Use the diagram below of a reflex arc to answer the following 4 questions. Match the letter or letters
on the diagram to the structure or function described in each question.

69. Axon of the motor neuron. 71. Effector cell.

70. Dendrite of the interneuron. 72. Synaptic knob of the sensory neuron.
Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 9
73. Usually the site of the initial action potential in neurons and the place where the IPSP’s and
EPSP’s
are integrated.
A. synaptic knobs B. axon hillock C. dendrites D. middle of the axon

LOOK UP THE NEXT 5 QUESTIONS IF YOU DON‖T KNOW THE ANSWERS

74. Interneurons transmit impulses

A. between receptors C. toward receptors
B. in the brain and spinal cord D. between motor neurons

75. Which of the following is not part of the human forebrain? s

A. cerebellum B. cerebrum C. hypothalamus D. both A and C

76. Involuntary responses in humans are controlled by the

A. cerebrum B. midbrain C. forebrain D. medulla oblongata

77. Meninges protect

A. the spinal cord B. the brain C. all nerves D. both A and B

78. In humans, most reflexes are controlled by the

A. cerebellum B. spinal cord C. cerebrum D. medulla oblongata

Nerve/Muscle TakeHome Test 10