Question 1

The somatic nervous system is a component of the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system is a part of the peripheral nervous system that is responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movements and receives sensory information from our external environment. The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord, while the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are components of the autonomic nervous system that control involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion.

Question 2

In a tragic diving accident,Andrew damaged his spinal cord.As a result,his legs were paralyzed.Andrew's injury was located in his

Accepted Answer

The injury to Andrew's spinal cord affected his ability to move his legs, indicating damage to the central nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movement and sensation, the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions like heart rate and digestion, and the sympathetic nervous system is a part of the autonomic system that prepares the body for fight or flight responses. Therefore, the best choice is D, central nervous system.

Question 3

Messages are transmitted from your spinal cord to muscles in your hands by the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary motor movement, such as the movement of the hands. The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion.

Question 4

Messages are transmitted from your spinal cord to your heart muscles by the

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, and is responsible for transmitting messages from the spinal cord to the heart muscles.

Question 5

Which division of the autonomic nervous system arouses the body and mobilizes its energy in stressful situations?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response which occurs in stressful situations. It activates the body's responses to threat or danger, including increasing heart rate, dilating pupils, and releasing adrenaline.

Question 6

The strengthening of the brain's synaptic connections facilitates the formation of

Accepted Answer

Synaptic connections involve the communication between neurons, which can lead to the formation of neural networks. Interneurons and glial cells are types of cells within the nervous system, but they are not directly related to the strengthening of synaptic connections. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that can affect mood and pain, but they are not directly related to synaptic connections either.

Question 7

The knee-jerk reflex is controlled by interneurons in the

Accepted Answer

The knee-jerk reflex involves a sensory neuron detecting a stretch in the quadriceps muscle, which then sends a signal to the spinal cord. In the spinal cord, interneurons process the signal and send a motor output to the muscle to cause contraction and the knee-jerk response. Therefore, the knee-jerk reflex is controlled by interneurons in the spinal cord.

Question 8

You come home one night to find a burglar in your house.Your heart starts racing and you begin to perspire.These physical reactions are triggered by the

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response, which triggers physical reactions such as increased heart rate and sweating when faced with a perceived threat or danger, such as a burglar in one's house. The other options are not as directly related to this response.

Question 9

Central nervous system neurons that process information between sensory inputs and motor outputs are called

Accepted Answer

Interneurons are responsible for processing information between sensory inputs and motor outputs within the central nervous system. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that transmit signals between neurons. Synapses are the tiny gaps between neurons where neurotransmitters are released. Dendrites are the branch-like extensions of neurons that receive signals from other neurons.

Question 10

An accelerated heartbeat is to a slowed heartbeat as the ________ nervous system is to the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which includes an accelerated heartbeat. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response, which includes a slowed heartbeat. Therefore, the correct answer is C - sympathetic nervous system is to a sped up heartbeat as the parasympathetic nervous system is to a slowed heartbeat.

Question 11

The two parts of the peripheral nervous system are the

Accepted Answer

The peripheral nervous system consists of two parts: the somatic nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, while the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 12

A simple,automatic,inborn response to a sensory stimulus is called a(n)

Accepted Answer

A simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus is called a reflex. This response does not involve conscious thought or decision making and is instead generated by spinal cord pathways called reflex arcs. Examples of reflexes include the knee-jerk reflex and the withdrawal reflex when touching a hot surface.

Question 13

The part of the central nervous system that carries information from your senses to your brain and motor-control information to your body parts is the

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord is the part of the central nervous system that carries sensory information from the body to the brain and motor control information from the brain to the body parts. The pituitary gland and pancreas are endocrine glands that secrete hormones, and the myelin sheath is a fatty substance that covers and protects some nerve fibers.

Question 14

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs is called the

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system controls the involuntary muscles (such as the heart and stomach) and the glands that help regulate bodily functions. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements and sensory information, while the endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. The sensory nervous system is responsible for receiving sensory information from the environment and transmitting it to the brain for processing.

Question 15

Neural networks refer to

Accepted Answer

Neural networks refer to clusters of interconnected neurons in the central nervous system. They work together to process and transmit information throughout the body.

Question 16

After discovering that the shadows outside his window were only the trees in the yard,Ralph's blood pressure decreased and his heartbeat slowed.These physical reactions were most directly regulated by his

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for regulating the body's "rest and digest" response, which includes slowing down the heart rate and decreasing blood pressure. In this situation, Ralph's brain would have activated the parasympathetic nervous system once he realized that the perceived threat (the shadows) was not actually dangerous.

Question 17

Football quarterbacks can simultaneously make calculations of receiver distances,player movements,and the force of their own arm movements needed to effectively throw a pass.This best illustrates the activity of multiple

Accepted Answer

The simultaneous calculations involved in football quarterbacks' decision-making processes involve complex neural networks within the brain. These networks integrate sensory information and coordinate motor actions in order to generate an efficient and effective pass.

Question 18

The part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the movements of your mouth and jaws as you eat is called the

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, such as the movements of our mouth and jaws while eating. The sympathetic nervous system controls our fight-or-flight response, while the endocrine system regulates hormones, and the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary processes like heart rate and digestion.

Question 19

Aaron consistently exhibits a knee-jerk response without having any sensations of the taps on his knees.Aaron's experience is most indicative of

Accepted Answer

Aaron's lack of sensation in response to the taps on his knees suggests a possible severing of his spinal cord. Knee-jerk reflexes are controlled by the spinal cord, and if it is not functioning correctly, it may result in a lack of sensory input from the affected area. Other options such as neural plasticity, sympathetic nervous system injury, or refractory period would not account for such a phenomenon.

Question 20

The parasympathetic nervous system

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for promoting a "rest and digest" response in the body. This means that it stimulates digestion and decreases heart rate, among other functions. Therefore, choice A is the correct answer.

Quiz 2: The Biology of Mind and Consciousness