Deck 43: Sensory Systems

Question 1

Which is NOT a stimulus that the simplest sensory receptors,free nerve endings,will respond to?

A)bending of the sensory neuron membrane
B)changes in temperature
C)changes in the oxygen content of the extracellular fluid
D)release of odorants from freshly baked bread
E)stretching of the sensory neuron membrane

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following stimuli do vertebrates NOT have a specialized receptor for?

A)hearing
B)taste
C)smell
D)humidity
E)vision

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When membrane proteins on an olfactory neuron are stimulated by the binding of a specific chemical,what is the immediate result?

A)membrane depolarization
B)membrane repolarization
C)active ion transport
D)membrane hyperpolarization
E)neurotransmitter release

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Pit vipers are the only known vertebrates with an ability to detect a certain type of stimulus.What can these snakes sense?

A)infrared radiation
B)ultraviolet radiation
C)microwave radiation
D)visible light radiation
E)none of these

Question 5

Which of the following do humans NOT have taste buds specialized to sense?

A)salty
B)sour
C)sweet
D)vitamins
E)bitter

Question 6

What are the receptors of sharks that can detect disturbances in electrical fields called?

A)Organs of Corti
B)pacinian corpuscles
C)lateral line canals
D)nodes of Ranvier
E)ampullae of Lorenzini

Question 7

The simplest sensory receptors are ________ that respond to mechanical distortion,changes in temperature,or specific chemicals.

A)nociceptors
B)free nerve endings
C)gated channels
D)photoreceptors
E)ganglia

Question 8

Which includes all of the components that make up the Organ of Corti?

A)the basilar membrane only
B)the tectorial and basilar membranes
C)hair cells and associated neurons only
D)hair cells and the tectorial membrane
E)hair cells and the basilar and tectorial membranes

Question 9

Which correctly represents the sequence of steps involved to convey sensory information to the CNS?

A)stimulation and ion flow through the synaptic cleft
B)neurotransmitter release and interpretation
C)neurotransmitter release and ion flow through the synaptic cleft
D)stimulation,transduction,transmission,and interpretation
E)stimulation,transmission,and neurotransmitter release

Question 10

What sensory receptors sense stimuli that arise from within the body?

A)gustatory receptors
B)photoreceptors
C)interoreceptors
D)ampullae of Lorenzini
E)exteroreceptors

Question 11

All sensory input arrives at the central nervous system in the same form,as ________ propagated by afferent neurons.Perception of the type and intensity of a stimulus depends on which part of the brain the impulse projects to and the firing frequency of the sensory neuron.

A)action potentials
B)receptor potentials
C)reflexes
D)frequency localizations
E)thresholds

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT an example of a mechanoreceptor?

A)Meissner's corpuscles
B)Ruffini endings
C)Merkel cells
D)red corpuscles
E)Pacinian corpuscles

Question 13

Which of the following stimuli will NOT activate a nociceptor?

A)extremes in temperature
B)very intense mechanical stimulation
C)specific chemicals in the extracellular fluid
D)chemicals released by injured cells
E)external odorant molecules

Question 14

Cutaneous receptors are classified as interoceptors.These specialized skin receptors can respond to which of the following stimuli?

A)heat,cold,and light
B)pain,pressure,and sound
C)chemicals,light,and sound
D)heat,cold,pain,touch,and pressure
E)heat,cold,pain,pressure,light,and sound

Question 15

What are the sensory structures that enable invertebrates to determine the orientation of the body with respect to gravity called?

A)carotid bodies
B)statocysts
C)Ruffini endings
D)baroreceptors
E)interoceptors

Question 16

Which is NOT a stimulus that exteroceptors can sense?

A)gravity
B)smell
C)light
D)muscle tension
E)sound

Question 17

Which is NOT a stimulus that interoceptors can sense?

A)limb position
B)pain
C)gravity
D)body temperature
E)muscle length

Question 18

The lateral line system provides ________ with a sense of "distant touch," enabling these animals to sense objects that reflect pressure waves and low-frequency vibrations.

A)adult amphibians
B)reptiles
C)birds
D)mammals
E)fish

Question 19

Which of the following receptors does not trigger depolarization of a sensory neuron?

A)mechanoreceptors
B)G-protein receptors
C)chemoreceptors
D)photoreceptors
E)exteroceptors and interoceptors

Question 20

What are the receptors called that transmit impulses that are perceived by the brain as pain?

A)baroreceptors
B)chemoreceptors
C)nociceptors
D)thermoreceptors
E)propioceptors

Question 21

Color blindness is caused by heritable mutations in cone photoreceptors.How many cone types does the retina of a colorblind individual typically contain?

A)only one
B)two
C)three
D)four
E)five

Question 22

Which sequence of events is required for the brain to interpret sound? I.Vibration of the basilar membrane relative to the tectorial membrane causes cilia on hair cells to bend and triggers depolarization.
II)Hair cells stimulate the production of action potentials in sensory neurons that project to the brain.
III)Ganglion cell axons transmit action potentials to the occipital lobe.

A)II then I
B)III then I then II
C)III then I
D)I then II
E)I then II then III

Question 23

What does the middle ear consist of?

A)three ossicle bones
B)the ear canal
C)the ear drum
D)the vestibular canal
E)the tympanic canal

Question 24

In what order will you encounter the following structures if you examine the human ear from the outside inward?

A)tympanic membrane → malleus →incus → stapes → oval window → cochlea
B)tympanic membrane → incus →malleus → stapes → oval window → cochlea
C)tympanic membrane → stapes →malleus → incus → oval window → cochlea
D)tympanic membrane → malleus →incus → stapes → cochlea →oval window
E)tympanic membrane → oval window → malleus →incus → stapes → cochlea

Question 25

Which animal became numerous and widespread by using sonar to enable a high level of activity in the dark?

A)bats
B)whales
C)owls
D)dolphins
E)shrews

Question 26

What sensory equipment is required for an animal to have binocular vision?

A)eyes located to the sides of the head
B)forward-facing eyes
C)a camera-type eye with multiple lenses
D)infrared vision
E)ultraviolet vision

Question 27

Rank the sensory receptors in order,from the ability to detect the widest variety of molecules,to the least variety of molecules (or none).
1.gustatory receptors
2.photoreceptors
3.olfactory receptors
4.TRP channel temperature receptors

Question 28

What sequence of events leads to the perception of a visual scene? I.In response to light,retinal dissociates from rod and cone photopigments,hyperpolarizing the photoreceptor cells and leading to activation of bipolar neurons.
II)Action potentials are propagated through ganglion cells,whose axons project to the occipital lobe of the brain.
III)In response to light,rod and cone photoreceptors depolarize,causing increased release of neurotransmitter and activation of bipolar neurons.

A)I then III
B)III then II
C)III then I then II
D)I then II then III
E)I then II

Question 29

In the vertebrate eye,what structure is light focused onto?

A)pupil
B)lens
C)retina
D)sclera
E)iris

Question 30

Which of the following cells are NOT found in the retina?

A)rods
B)cones
C)bipolar cells
D)hair cells
E)ganglion cells

Question 31

Which is NOT an example of a stimulus sensed by an interoceptor?

A)temperature
B)vibration
C)pain
D)magnetism
E)touch

Question 32

Which of the following are components of vertebrate gravity receptors? I-Utricle and saccule chambers of a membranous labyrinth.
II-Hair cells with stereocilia and kinocilium.
III-Hairlike processes embedded with otolith membrane,a gelatinous membrane containing calcium carbonate crystals.
IV-Peripheral chemoreceptors.

A)I and II only
B)II,III,and IV
C)I and IV only
D)I,II,and IV
E)I,II,and III

Question 33

In the vertebrate eye,what structure controls the amount of light that reaches the retina?

A)fovea
B)cornea
C)iris
D)lens
E)sclera

Question 34

What are the short retinal photoreceptors responsible for color vision called?

A)rods
B)cones
C)bipolar cells
D)glial cells
E)ganglion cells

Question 35

Which is NOT a part of the vertebrate eye?

A)cornea
B)retina
C)iris
D)cochlea
E)pupil

Question 36

Choose the receptor that is NOT correctly matched with its function.

A)proprioceptor - monitors stretch of muscle fibers
B)baroreceptor - monitors hydrostatic pressure in blood vessels
C)nociceptor - transmits signals that the brain interprets as pain
D)chemoreceptor - perceives taste and smell stimuli
E)peripheral chemoreceptor - monitors the pH of the cerebrospinal fluid

Question 37

Which of the vertebrates senses is the least well understood?

A)electroreception
B)magnetoreception
C)vision
D)hearing
E)touch

Question 38

What is the photopigment in rod cells called?

A)photopsin
B)rhodopsin
C)opsin
D)carotene
E)melanin

Question 39

Which of the following statements about the lateral line system is NOT correct?

A)allows fish to sense objects based on the pressure waves they produce
B)allows fish to sense objects based on the low-frequency vibrations they produce
C)allows fish to swim in synchrony with a school of other members of its species
D)provides the fish with the ability to see images
E)allows a blind cave fish to sense the water patterns flowing past its body

Question 40

Which of the following constitute the vestibular apparatus?

A)saccule and utricle only
B)semicircular canals,saccule,and utricle
C)ampullae of Lorenzini
D)saccule,utricle,and Organ of Corti
E)saccule,utricle,and ventricle

Question 41

The statoliths of a lobster are replaced with iron filings,and a strong magnetic field is produced at the top of its tank.How will the lobster respond?

A)Its dorsal surface will stick to the top of the tank and it will be unable to move.
B)It will turn upside down and grip the underside of the tank lid.
C)It will turn upside down and remain at the bottom of the tank.
D)It will not respond in any way.
E)It will continuously spin in circles.

Question 42

Since the optic nerve must pass through the retinal layer,we all have a blind spot devoid of light receptors.This normally goes unnoticed,since the brain attempts to compensate for missing sensory information by filling it in based on surrounding patterns.Which step of the sensory pathway is represented by perceptual filling-in of the physiological blind spot?

A)interpretation
B)stimulus
C)transduction into receptor potential
D)action potential transmission

Question 43

Honeybees can detect a variety of odorants through olfactory receptors on their antennae.You genetically engineer a receptor to be gated by the explosive chemical TNT,and use a transgene to express the receptor in honeybee olfactory neurons.What would this provide to the bee?

A)the ability to taste TNT
B)it would have no effect
C)the ability to smell TNT
D)the ability to collect TNT molecules
E)the ability to see TNT

Question 44

Which of the following statements regarding vision is NOT true?

A)Vertebrate rods and cones hyperpolarize in response to light.
B)Insects and birds can often see into the ultraviolet range.
C)Bright light will often produce action potentials in both rods and cones.
D)Rhodopsin is found in the membrane of rods.

Question 45

What difference in axonal signaling determines whether we experience a mild or a strong sensation?

A)amplitude of action potentials
B)frequency of action potentials
C)action potential threshold
D)conduction speed
E)amount of neurotransmitter released per vesicle

Question 46

Which of the following structures is found in a human eye,but NOT in an octopus eye?

A)retina
B)lens
C)optic nerve
D)blind spot
E)cones

Question 47

What happens to a retinal photopigment when it captures a photon?

A)It releases an electron.
B)It fluoresces.
C)It changes shape.
D)It begins to vibrate.
E)It does nothing.

Question 48

Each type of cone cell is stimulated by a different color of light.In humans,a colorful scene is perceived as a combination of signals from three cone types.Which colors correspond to these three cones? I-Red
II-Yellow
III-Orange
IV-Blue
V-Green
VI-Purple

A)I,II,and III
B)I,III,and IV
C)I,IV,and V
D)I,V,and VI
E)II,IV,and VI

Question 49

Visual acuity is highest when an image is focused on what part of the retina?

A)rods outside the fovea
B)cones outside the fovea
C)rods within the fovea
D)cones within the fovea
E)anywhere,as long as there is ample light

Question 50

Which of the following animals does NOT have electroreceptors?

A)bony fish
B)sharks
C)duck-bill platypus
D)skates
E)pit viper snakes

Question 51

What is the primary difference in how touch sensation and hearing sensation are conveyed?

A)the neurotransmitters secreted by the sensory neurons
B)the way that the axons physically connect to the brain stem
C)the shape of the sensory axons
D)the proteins that transduce the chemical signal in the brain
E)the part of the brain that receives the signal

Question 52

Where is the visual image in focus for a nearsighted individual?

A)behind the retina
B)in front of the retina
C)on the retina,but it appears blurred
D)at the lens,forming a shadow on the retina
E)on the retina,but it is upside down

Question 53

Which of type of information is NOT communicated by proprioceptors?

A)muscle temperature
B)limb movement
C)muscle position
D)muscle contraction
E)muscle stretch

Question 54

The human retina is composed of three cell layers.Which represents the correct order of these layers,starting with the layer that is closest to the iris?

A)ganglion cells → bipolar cells → rods and cones
B)optic nerve cells → rods and cones → bipolar cells
C)rods and cones → bipolar cells → ganglion cells
D)bipolar cells → ganglion cells → rods and cones
E)rods and cones → optic nerve cells → bipolar cells

Question 55

What effect do high frequency sounds tend to have on the ear?

A)displace the whole length of the basilar membrane with a maximum near the apex
B)move only the basal portion of the basilar membrane
C)move only the apex portion of the basilar membrane
D)move only the portion of the basilar membrane between the basal portion and the apex
E)only move the tectorial membrane

Question 56

Humans are unique among animals due to our highly-evolved repertoire of sensory receptors.

Question 57

Which of the following statements about hair cells is NOT true?

A)They are found in the mammalian ear.
B)They are found in the fish lateral line system.
C)They can be repaired if they rupture.
D)Bending of the cells triggers ion flow across the cell membrane.
E)Their structure includes stereocilia and a kinocilium.

Question 58

Which taste modality does not involve activation of a G-protein coupled receptor?

A)bitter
B)sweet
C)umami
D)sour
E)all taste sensations involve GPCRs

Question 59

Which animal is NOT able to use sonar as a form of "lightless vision" to navigate in dark environments?

A)shrews
B)owls
C)bats
D)whales
E)dolphins

Question 60

What information would best help you distinguish what type of sensation a sensory neuron transmits?

A)the rate of action potential firing
B)the proteins it expresses most abundantly
C)the part of the brain it transmits signals to
D)the amplitude of action potentials
E)the diameter of the axon

Question 61

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons,what type of receptor would the TNT receptor be?

A)chemoreceptor
B)mechanoreceptor
C)electromagnetic receptor
D)it is a novel type of receptor

Question 62

There is only a single type of pain receptor.

Question 63

As CO₂ builds up in the atmosphere it also accumulates in the oceans,causing acidification.This poses a challenge to marine creatures that rely on calcium carbonate deposition such as corals,mollusks,and even fish,which use it to form otoliths.Researchers investigated whether otolith deposition was impaired at low pH,and were surprised to find that otoliths were actually larger in this condition.This means that,while coping with global climate change,at least fish will still be able to maintain which sense(s)?

A)feeling pain
B)vision
C)taste
D)olfaction
E)hearing and balance

Question 64

Nociceptors can respond to nearby tissue damage by sensing cytosolic factors released by damaged cells.Such "algogenic agents" can cause pain sensation even in the absence of tissue damage.What might be a practical use for such an agent?

A)a nonlethal riot control measure
B)an anesthetic drug
C)a treatment for damaged tissue
D)a tasty food additive

Question 65

You decide to perform an experiment to test this why plants possess TRP channel agonists.You first set up batches of plants in the field WITH or WITHOUT applied capsaicin or menthol.What parameter do you then measure?

A)photosynthetic rate
B)amount of leaf or fruit damage
C)metabolic rate
D)palatability to humans

Question 66

Beta-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine,or BMAA,is a glutamate receptor agonist produced by cyanobacteria.Since Glu is an excitatory neurotransmitter,it is not surprising that BMAA is associated with neurological damage.Buildup of BMAA in fruit bats was hypothesized to cause neurodegenerative disease in islanders that fed on the bats.A recent study found high levels of BMAA in sharks,suggesting that consumption of shark fin soup is also dangerous.The researchers suggested that a secondary effect of BMAA may actually make these hazardous foods surprisingly desirable.What might this be?

A)Since BMAA is a Glu receptor agonist,it promotes incorporation of Glu into proteins,and has health-promoting effects.
B)Since BMAA is derived from cyanobacteria,it provides unique nutrients not found in the animal or plant kingdom.
C)Since BMAA is a Glu receptor agonist,it imparts a strong umami flavor that makes food more delicious.
D)Since BMAA contains alanine,it improves protein synthesis by providing this rare nutrient.

Question 67

Mutations in the DFNA20/26 locus,which codes for the actin gamma 1 protein,are associated with congenital deafness.An irate senator complains that government money is being wasted on studies of this mutant gene -- in yeast! "I am no biologist," says the senator,"but I am pretty sure yeast don't have ears." How do you respond?

A)"You are right,Senator -- yeast do not have ears.We should revoke the funding immediately."
B)"We can learn valuable information about the structure of the mutant protein by expressing it in yeast.It is difficult to collect large amounts of actin from tiny hair cells,and unethical to collect it from human patients."
C)"We can learn valuable information about the transcription of the mutant gene in yeast.It is much more difficult to study transcription in human cells."
D)"We can learn valuable information about sound transmission through the mutant yeast.By placing a speaker against a yeast vial and recording sound from the other side,we can infer how the mutant actin affects sound waves."

Question 68

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons,how could the transgenic bees be useful for detecting explosives?

A)Watch for death of the bee when the neuron absorbs TNT.
B)Use MRI to monitor the brain activity of the bee.
C)Train bees to respond in a predictable way when the TNT neuron is activated by conditioning them to expect an associated food reward.
D)Grind up the bee's antennae for use in a TNT ELISA assay.

Question 69

One patient at your audiology clinic has an actin defect,and another patient has a microtubule defect.What sense other than hearing may be affected in these patients?

A)smell
B)taste
C)balance
D)touch
E)proprioception

Question 70

Pain receptors are activated by tissue damage,but pain perception requires intact,functional neurons.How does this work?

A)Nociceptor neurons have special membrane repair mechanisms.
B)The nociceptor neuron only sends action potentials as it is dying.
C)The axon continues to fire action potentials despite damage to the cell body.
D)The neuron itself does not need to be damaged; it responds to signals released by nearby damaged cells.

Question 71

You make a knockout of a gene involved in neurological development,and find that the mice have malformed semicircular canals.Instead of being orthogonal (at right angles)to each other,they are parallel.What aberrant behavior might you see in these mice?

A)overeating
B)falling over
C)not startling to sudden noise
D)unable to respond to a call to locate another mouse
E)low muscle tone

Question 72

What is the molecular basis of touch sensation?

A)Pressure on the skin squeezes out chemical signals from epidermal glands.
B)Cell membrane distortion opens touch receptors,creating a receptor potential.
C)Pressure damages the delicate strands of skin cell DNA,activating a complex signalling cascade.
D)Pressure on sensory axons bursts vesicles and causes neurotransmitter release.

Question 73

What is the most likely hypothesis for the presence of TRP channel agonists in plants?

A)to speed up or slow down chemical reactions in the plant
B)to warm or cool the plant,depending on the season
C)to discourage feeding by herbivorous insects or mammals
D)to encourage human cultivation

Question 74

What are the categories of taste sensation?

A)sweet,salty,sour,creamy,umami
B)sweet,sour,salty,bitter,umami
C)sweet,salty,bitter,chocolate,coffee
D)sweet,sour,salty,creamy,savory

Question 75

In "The Disembodied Lady," neurologist Oliver Sacks tells the story of a patient who suffered a catastrophic loss of sensory function.She said,"I feel my body is blind and deaf to itself....It has no sense of itself." The patient's nerve damage was strikingly specific.What single type of neuron most likely suffered damage?

A)gustatory receptors
B)proprioceptors
C)olfactory receptors
D)Meissner corpuscles
E)rods and cones

Question 76

In 1908,chemist Kikunae Ikeda identified a new taste modality he called "umami",or "delicious" in Japanese.It gives a savory flavor to meat,seaweed,and tomatoes.What molecule is responsible for umami?

A)Na⁺ ions
B)H⁺ ions
C)glutamate
D)Mg⁺² ions
E)Fe⁺² ions

Question 77

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons,how would the bees respond to the presence of TNT?

A)It would ignore the stimulus.
B)It would be attracted.
C)It would be repelled.
D)It would depend on which olfactory neuron expresses the transgene.

Question 78

Unlike sweet,salty,sour,or umami,the "bitter" category of tastants includes wide structural variety of detected molecules.Multiple receptors are required to sense the different bitter tastants.What do they have in common? Bitter taste is thought to have evolved as a warning system for toxic compounds.
The bitter receptor hTAS2R38 is activated by glucosinolates found in plants such as turnips and broccoli.The gene variant a person has determines how sensitive their neurons are to these compounds.What would you predict for people who have the high-sensitivity variant of hTAS2R38?

A)They will not easily digest turnips and broccoli.
B)They will have to eat more turnips and broccoli to get the same flavor.
C)They will dislike turnips and broccoli.
D)They will become allergic to turnips and broccoli.

Question 79

A single type of receptor is responsible for detecting all tactile pressure in humans.

Question 80

The discovery that ATP is a pain-signaling factor immediately suggested what possible therapeutic approach to alleviate chronic pain?

A)create large intracellular aggregates of ATP
B)treat with an ATP receptor antagonist
C)block the synthesis of ATP inside cells
D)use electric stimulation on pain centers of the brain