Question 1

Which of the following are tiny sacs in a synaptic knob that release chemicals into the synapse?&#10;A)synaptic vesicles&#10;B)synaptic nodes&#10;C)terminal buttons&#10;D)synaptic gaps

Accepted Answer

Synaptic vesicles are tiny sacs present in a synaptic knob (also called terminal button) that contain neurotransmitters. When an action potential reaches the synaptic knob, these vesicles release neurotransmitters into the synapse, which bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron and transmit the signal. Synaptic nodes and synaptic gaps are not structures that release chemicals in the synapse, and while terminal buttons can release neurotransmitters, they do so via synaptic vesicles. Therefore, A is the best choice.

Question 2

The area of the frontal lobe that is devoted to the production of fluent speech is ______ area.&#10;A)Broca's&#10;B)Gall's&#10;C)Wernicke's&#10;D)Korsakoff's

Accepted Answer

Broca's area, located in the left frontal lobe, is responsible for the production of fluent speech. It is named after French physician Paul Broca, who discovered its importance in language production through studying patients with speech impairments. Gall's area and Korsakoff's area are not related to language production, and while Wernicke's area is involved in understanding language, it is not responsible for the production of speech.

Question 3

Which endocrine gland controls all of the other endocrine glands?&#10;A)thyroid&#10;B)adrenal&#10;C)thymus&#10;D)pituitary

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland secretes many hormones that regulate the activity of other endocrine glands throughout the body, such as the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, and gonads (ovaries and testes). It is often referred to as the "master gland" because it controls the function of these other glands.

Question 4

Which of the following is the section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere and contains the visual centers of the brain?&#10;A)occipital lobe&#10;B)parietal lobe&#10;C)temporal lobe&#10;D)frontal lobe

Accepted Answer

The occipital lobe is the section of the brain located at the rear and bottom of each cerebral hemisphere and contains the visual centers of the brain. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer. The parietal lobe is responsible for processing sensory information from the body, the temporal lobe is involved in processing auditory information and memory, and the frontal lobe is responsible for higher cognitive functions such as decision making, planning, and problem solving.

Question 5

The branchlike structures that receive messages from other neurons are called ______.&#10;A)axons&#10;B)nerve bundles&#10;C)dendrites&#10;D)synapses

Accepted Answer

Dendrites are the branchlike structures of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons. Axons are responsible for transmitting messages away from the neuron, nerve bundles refer to the grouping of axons, and synapses are the junctions between neurons where information is transmitted.

Question 6

Signals from the neurons of which sense are NOT sent to the cortex by the thalamus?&#10;A)hearing&#10;B)smell&#10;C)taste&#10;D)vision

Accepted Answer

Smell is the only sense whose signals do not pass through the thalamus before reaching the cortex. Instead, they go directly from the olfactory bulb to the olfactory cortex. Signals from hearing, taste, and vision all pass through the thalamus before reaching their respective cortical areas.

Question 7

The point at which the nerves from the left side of the body cross over into the right side of the brain,and vice versa,is the ______.&#10;A)reticular activating system&#10;B)pons&#10;C)medulla&#10;D)cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The medulla is the part of the brainstem where the nerves from the left side of the body cross over into the right side of the brain, and vice versa. This process is known as decussation. The other structures listed (reticular activating system, pons, cerebellum) do not play a direct role in this process.

Question 8

Which of the following is the upper part of the brain consisting of two cerebral hemispheres and the structures that connect them?&#10;A)occipital lobe&#10;B)cerebrum&#10;C)corpus callosum&#10;D)cerebellum

Accepted Answer

The cerebrum is the upper part of the brain consisting of two cerebral hemispheres and the structures that connect them. The occipital lobe is a specific region within the cerebrum responsible for processing visual information, and the corpus callosum is a structure within the cerebrum that connects the two hemispheres. The cerebellum is a separate part of the brain located under the cerebrum and is responsible for coordinating movement and balance.

Question 9

Every deliberate action you make,such as pedaling a bike,walking,scratching,or smelling a flower,involves neurons in the ______ nervous system.&#10;A)sympathetic&#10;B)somatic&#10;C)parasympathetic&#10;D)autonomic

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements such as pedaling a bike, walking, scratching, or smelling a flower. The other options, sympathetic, parasympathetic, and autonomic, are involved in regulating automatic bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and sweating.

Question 10

Which of the following are responsible for acting as a facilitator of communication between neurons?&#10;A)motor neurons&#10;B)interneurons&#10;C)sensory neurons&#10;D)reflexes

Accepted Answer

Interneurons are responsible for facilitating communication between neurons. Motor neurons transmit impulses from the brain or spinal cord to muscles and glands, while sensory neurons send impulses from sensory receptors to the brain or spinal cord. Reflexes are involuntary responses to certain stimuli that are mediated by neurons, but they do not necessarily involve communication between neurons in the same way that interneurons do.

Deck 2: B: Biological Perspective