Deck 14: Sensory Systems

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT an example of sensory adaptation?

A) a loss of the sense of pressure of clothes against the skin
B) adjustment to repeated jumping into a body of cold water
C) response to lack of oxygen at high altitudes
D) eventual loss of awareness of a constant noise
E) the loss of the ability to smell a person's perfume or cologne after being in that person's presence for some time

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A sensory system includes

A) a sensory receptor.
B) nerve pathways from the receptor to the brain.
C) brain regions where the sensory information is processed.
D) a sensory receptor and nerve pathways from the receptor to the brain, only.
E) a sensory receptor, nerve pathways from the receptor to the brain, and brain regions where the sensory information is processed.

Answer 2

E

Question 3

Nociceptors are involved with the detection of

A) heat energy.
B) changes in body position.
C) chemicals in the air or water.
D) pain.
E) visible light.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The extent to which a particular sensation can be experienced is mainly due to the

A) sensitivity of its receptors.
B) speed of nerve transmission.
C) brain area devoted to interpretation.
D) transmitter substances in the synapses.
E) amount of stimulus.

Question 5

The major function of a receptor is to

A) control the autonomic functions of the body.
B) stabilize the internal environment to achieve homeostasis.
C) produce responses to the various stimuli the body receives.
D) give organisms awareness and sensitivity to their environment by converting a stimulus to an action potential (nerve impulse).
E) interpret the sensations it receives from the environment.

Question 6

Baroreceptors detect

A) chemical substances.
B) pressure changes.
C) vibrational changes.
D) light wavelengths.
E) changes in solute concentration.

Question 7

Thermoreceptors detect

A) chemical substances.
B) pressure changes.
C) temperature changes.
D) light wavelengths.
E) changes in solute concentration.

Question 8

A new security technique is the use of

A) fingerprinting.
B) iris scanning.
C) retinal scanning.
D) tooth identification.
E) skin pigment scanning.

Question 9

The carotid bodies detect carbon dioxide in the blood and is, therefore, a

A) chemoreceptor.
B) photoreceptor.
C) thermoreceptor.
D) mechanoreceptor.
E) movement receiver.

Question 10

Olfactory centers are responsive to

A) touch.
B) smell.
C) taste.
D) sound.
E) sight.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Sensory receptors are able to detect specific stimuli only.
B) Sensation is an awareness of a change in external or internal conditions.
C) A stimulus will generate impulses that are different depending on where the signals are sent in the brain.
D) Information about a stimulus is coded in the quantity and frequency of action potentials sent to the brain.
E) Specific regions of the brain translate the information about the signal and convert it into a sensation.

Question 12

Osmoreceptors detect

A) chemical substances.
B) pressure changes.
C) vibrational changes.
D) light wavelengths.
E) changes in solute concentration.

Question 13

Which of the following BEST defines a sensory receptor?

A) an organ, such as the human eye
B) endings of sensory neurons
C) highly branched endings of axons
D) any form of energy
E) an action potential

Question 14

The unique characteristics of an individual's iris pattern may be compared to the unique characteristics of a person's

A) facial features.
B) height and weight combination.
C) fingerprints.
D) hair color.
E) hair pattern.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Neurons in the brain can interpret incoming action potentials only in certain ways.
B) Optic nerve impulses can only be interpreted as light.
C) Some sensory receptors do not convert a stimulus to nerve impulses.
D) The stronger the stimulus, the more action potentials are generated.
E) A strong stimulus activates many adjacent receptors, thereby increasing the number of action potentials and the level of awareness for the stimulus.

Question 16

The difference in "sensation" and "perception" when referring to a stimulus lies in

A) the type of receptor stimulated.
B) understanding the significance of the stimulus.
C) the number of receptors that depolarize.
D) feeling exactly what is happening at the site.
E) responding to the stimulus.

Question 17

Which sense utilizes mechanical energy?

A) sense of temperature
B) muscle pressure
C) sense of vision
D) sense of taste
E) sense of smell

Question 18

Which of the following BEST defines a stimulus?

A) an action potential in a neuron
B) depolarization of a nerve cell
C) energy that activates receptor endings of a sensory neuron
D) the recording of an event in the brain
E) response to a environmental event

Question 19

Differences in intensity of a stimulus

A) do not affect the impulse transmitted.
B) are indicated by the number of nerves activated.
C) control the part of the brain that receives the stimulus.
D) are encoded in the frequency of action potentials on a single axon.
E) are indicated by the number of nerves activated and are encoded in the frequency of action potentials on a single axon.

Question 20

A loud sound can be distinguished from a soft whisper due to

A) more neurons depolarize.
B) each receptor depolarizes more fully.
C) the frequency of depolarizing neurons increases.
D) variations in the signals each sound produces.
E) more neurons depolarize, each receptor depolarizes more fully, and the frequency of depolarizing neurons increases.

Question 21

Pain is

A) one of the special senses.
B) the perception of injury.
C) dependent on interpretation by the brain.
D) the perception of injury and dependent on interpretation by the brain.
E) one of the special senses, the perception of injury, and dependent on interpretation by the brain.

Question 22

Somatic pain is sensed in all of the following EXCEPT

A) skin.
B) skeletal muscles.
C) joints.
D) tendons.
E) visceral organs.

Question 23

The most potent chemicals for activating pain receptors are

A) bradykinins.
B) histamines.
C) prostaglandins.
D) cytokines.
E) leukotrienes.

Question 24

Vibrations are detected by

A) Pacinian corpuscles.
B) Meissner's corpuscles.
C) Merkel's discs.
D) Ruffini endings.
E) free nerve endings.

Question 25

According to the classification given by the authors, somatic senses

A) are distributed in several locations over the body.
B) reside in certain receptor organs located at a few specific locations.
C) are exemplified by ears and eyes.
D) include sight and sound.
E) are perceived by photoreceptors.

Question 26

The most important receptors for steady touch are

A) Pacinian corpuscles.
B) Meissner's corpuscles.
C) Merkel's discs.
D) Ruffini endings.
E) free nerve ending.

Question 27

Sensations of visceral pain are related to all of the following EXCEPT

A) muscle spasms.
B) muscle fatigue.
C) reduced blood flow to organs.
D) damage to organs.
E) tendon tear.

Question 28

The pain produced in an internal organ may be perceived as occurring somewhere else. This is called

A) mixed nerve messages.
B) referred pain.
C) phantom pain.
D) psychosomatic pain.
E) hypochondria.

Question 29

The Pacinian corpuscle is used in detecting

A) sound.
B) pressure.
C) chemicals.
D) sight.
E) chemical differences.

Question 30

Which of the following statements is true relating to sensory receptors in highly sensitive areas of the body?

A) there are more receptors
B) there are fewer receptors
C) the receptors are larger
D) the receptors are totally different from those in less sensitive areas
E) the receptors are further away from one another.

Question 31

Interneurons in the spinal cord release ____ when signals from pain receptors reach them.

A) bradykinins.
B) histamines.
C) prostaglandins.
D) substance P.
E) leukotrienes.

Question 32

The somatic senses include all of the following sensations EXCEPT

A) balance
B) pain near the body surface
C) temperature
D) touch
E) pressure

Question 33

Receptor signals for somatic sensations are received by the

A) motor cortex.
B) olfactory bulb.
C) calcarine fissure.
D) somatosensory cortex.
E) precentral cortex.

Question 34

The most important pain receptors are

A) chemoreceptors.
B) baroreceptors.
C) stretch receptors.
D) nociceptors.
E) osmoreceptors.

Question 35

A stretch receptor is classified as a

A) chemoreceptor.
B) mechanoreceptor.
C) photoreceptor.
D) thermoreceptor.
E) all of these

Question 36

When the frequency of nerve impulses slows or stops even when the stimulus continues at constant strength, the individual has undergone

A) sensory adaptation.
B) tolerance.
C) perceptive degradation.
D) nerve damage.
E) tachyphylaxis.

Question 37

Pain projected by the brain back to a missing body part is called

A) phantom pain.
B) referred pain.
C) projected pain.
D) erroneous pain.
E) perceived pain.

Question 38

Light touch is detected by

A) Pacinian corpuscles.
B) Meissner's corpuscles.
C) Merkel's discs.
D) Ruffini endings.
E) free nerve endings.

Question 39

Free nerve endings detect all of the following EXCEPT

A) touch.
B) pressure.
C) heat.
D) pain.
E) light.

Question 40

Somatic sensations include all of the following EXCEPT

A) heat and cold
B) pressure and touch
C) pain
D) limb movements and the position of the body in space
E) sound

Question 41

Interpretation of smell is accomplished

A) by the nasal epithelium.
B) in the olfactory receptors.
C) by centers in the brainstem.
D) by the cerebral cortex.
E) independently of olfactory receptors.

Question 42

Sense receptors for "taste" are located in all of the following EXCEPT

A) on the tongue.
B) on the roof of the mouth.
C) in the throat.
D) on the palate.
E) on the tonsils.

Question 43

Approximately how many olfactory receptors do humans have in their olfactory epithelium?

A) 10 million
B) 100,000
C) 200 million
D) 50 million
E) 500,000

Question 44

Which characteristic of sound waves relates to loudness?

A) amplitude
B) frequency
C) modulation
D) wavelength
E) pitch

Question 45

The sense based on air vibrations is

A) taste.
B) smell.
C) touch.
D) sight.
E) hearing.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a basic taste category identified in humans?

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

Question 47

Olfactory receptors detect

A) water-soluble substances.
B) volatile substances.
C) fat-soluble substances.
D) alcohol-soluble substances.
E) both a and b.

Question 48

Olfactory bulbs are located in which portion of the brain?

A) occipital lobe
B) frontal lobe
C) parietal lobe
D) occipital lobe
E) thalamus

Question 49

From an evolutionary standpoint, why is it important to have more bitter-sensing taste buds than any other type?

A) there are more bitter-tasting foods than any other in nature
B) more people prefer bitter-tasting foods
C) many poisons have a bitter taste so only tiny amounts are needed to allow sensing to take place
D) bitter taste is associated with mating selection
E) to prevent over-consumption of sugary foods

Question 50

The vomeronasal organ is used to detect

A) foods.
B) dangerous chemicals.
C) volatile liquids.
D) pheromones.
E) aftershave lotion.

Question 51

In the case of taste and smell, through which structure must sensory information pass before arriving at the cerebral cortex?

A) hypothalamus
B) hippocampus
C) amygdala
D) thalamus
E) pineal gland

Question 52

Receptors in the human nose are

A) chemoreceptors.
B) mechanoreceptors.
C) photoreceptors.
D) nociceptors.
E) osmoreceptors.

Question 53

Why is olfaction an ancient sense?

A) it was the first sense to develop in humans
B) it was used solely to find potential mates
C) it was used to detect predators
D) it was used to find shelter
E) it was the first sense to develop in amphibians

Question 54

Functionally, the two most closely associated senses are

A) sight and hearing.
B) touch and sight.
C) taste and smell.
D) temperature and pain.
E) touch and balance.

Question 55

The body's "natural opiates" used to reduce the ability to perceive pain are

A) glucocorticoids.
B) mineralocorticoids.
C) endorphins and enkephalins.
D) endorphins only.
E) enkephalins only.

Question 56

Which taste buds are the most sensitive?

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

Question 57

The taste of meat, triggered by amino acids, is called

A) origami.
B) umami
C) carnami.
D) tsunami.
E) miami.

Question 58

Which of the following refers to the brothy or savory taste associated with aged cheese and meats?

A) bignami
B) swami
C) alumi
D) umami
E) miasma

Question 59

Which of the following may NOT be considered a tastant?

A) salt
B) acids
C) plant alkaloids
D) sugars
E) umami

Question 60

Which area of the brain will integrate taste and smell signals with emotional states and stored memories?

A) the thalamus
B) the hypothalamus
C) the limbic system
D) the pineal gland
E) the corpus callosum

Question 61

Movable bones are features of the sense organs associated with

A) sight.
B) hearing.
C) taste.
D) smell.
E) touch.

Question 62

The principal place in the human ear where sound waves are amplified by means of the vibrations of tiny bones is the

A) pinna.
B) ear canal.
C) middle ear.
D) organ of Corti.
E) Tympanic Membrane.

Question 63

Hair cells are important in the sense of

A) equilibrium.
B) hearing.
C) taste.
D) smell.
E) both equilibrium and hearing.

Question 64

The organ of Corti

A) functions in the awareness of motion and the sense of equilibrium.
B) controls the sense of depth perception.
C) converts sound vibrations into impulses that enable hearing.
D) secretes cerebrospinal fluid.
E) detects light energy.

Question 65

The tectorial membrane is

A) connective tissue.
B) epithelial tissue.
C) muscle tissue.
D) nervous tissue.
E) a jellylike substance.

Question 66

The organ of Corti is a

A) chemoreceptor.
B) mechanoreceptor.
C) photoreceptor.
D) nociceptor.
E) osmoreceptor.

Question 67

The organ of Corti rests on the

A) round window.
B) oval window.
C) Eustachian tube.
D) auditory nerve.
E) basilar membrane.

Question 68

The sense of hearing in vertebrates is dependent on al of the following EXCEPT

A) fluid displacement.
B) hair bending.
C) bone movement.
D) membrane vibration.
E) chemical reception.

Question 69

Which structure acts as a "release valve" for the force of the pressure waves entering the cochlea?

A) the round window
B) the oval window
C) the Eustachian tube
D) the organ of Corti
E) the tectorial membrane

Question 70

The sense in which amplitude and frequency can be detected with some accuracy is

A) sight.
B) hearing.
C) balance.
D) taste.
E) smell.

Question 71

One's equilibrium is sensed by a

A) chemoreceptor.
B) mechanoreceptor.
C) photoreceptor.
D) thermoreceptor.
E) osmoreceptor.

Question 72

The organ of Corti is located in the

A) thoracic cavity.
B) inner ear.
C) abdominal cavity.
D) brain stem.
E) semicircular canals.

Question 73

The force of the original vibrations entering the ear is amplified by the

A) organ of Corti.
B) oval window.
C) round window.
D) Eustachian tube.
E) semicircular canals.

Question 74

In hearing, the last place that pressure or sound waves pass through is the

A) bones of the middle ear.
B) tympanic membrane.
C) oval window.
D) round window.
E) tectorial membrane.

Question 75

The Eustachian tube carries air from the middle ear to the

A) larynx.
B) inner ear.
C) pharynx.
D) oval window.
E) round window.

Question 76

The place where vibrations are translated into patterns of nerve impulses is the

A) pinna.
B) ear canal.
C) middle ear.
D) organ of Corti.
E) tympanum.

Question 77

The semicircular canals are

A) empty.
B) filled with gas.
C) filled with a liquid.
D) filled with bones or stones.
E) filled with sand grains.

Question 78

Movable bones are found in the

A) cochlea.
B) external ear.
C) middle ear.
D) inner ear.
E) organ of Corti.

Question 79

The equalization of pressures between the ear and throat is made possible by the

A) pharynx.
B) Eustachian tube.
C) cupula.
D) semicircular canals.
E) round window.

Question 80

The technical name for the eardrum is the

A) tympanic membrane.
B) round window.
C) oval window.
D) cochlear duct.
E) organ of Corti