Question 1

After Salah's near-fatal accident,her physician noticed that the pupillary reflex of her eyes was abnormal,possibly indicating that Salah's _____ was damaged in the accident.

Accepted Answer

The pupillary reflex is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, specifically the parasympathetic and sympathetic pathways, not the somatic nervous system. However, the question implies a nervous system component, and the somatic nervous system is the closest option related to nervous system pathways.

Question 2

Which is the correct sequence in the transmission of a neural impulse?

Accepted Answer

The correct sequence in the transmission of a neural impulse starts with the dendrite, which receives the signal, then it moves to the cell body (soma), from there it travels down the axon, and finally, it reaches the synapse, where it can be transmitted to the next neuron.

Question 3

A main difference between eukaryotic cells and prokaryotic cells is that:

Accepted Answer

Eukaryotic cells contain membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi apparatus, endoplasmic reticulum, nucleus, etc., while prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles and their DNA is not enclosed within a nucleus.

Question 4

Damaging a person's reticular formation may cause the person to:

Accepted Answer

The reticular formation is responsible for regulating consciousness and arousal. Damage to this area of the brain can result in a coma. Violence, fear, and seizures are not associated with damage to the reticular formation.

Question 5

A group of similar cells that perform the same function is called a:

Accepted Answer

A group of similar cells that perform the same function is called a tissue. Glands, ligaments, and tendons are all composed of different types of tissues.

Question 6

As the oldest part of the brain,the brainstem evolved in order to:

Accepted Answer

The brainstem is responsible for regulating basic life-support functions, such as respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure. It also controls essential activities like digestion, sleeping, and waking.

Question 7

A group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function is a(n):

Accepted Answer

A group of tissues that work together to perform a specific function is an organ. A gland is a single tissue or group of cells that produce and secrete substances. Cartilage is a type of connective tissue. A system is a group of organs working together to perform a function.

Question 8

A living thing with a nucleus,Golgi apparatus,and other organelles is a(n):

Accepted Answer

Prokaryotic cells do not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles, whereas eukaryotic cells do. Therefore, a living thing with a nucleus, Golgi apparatus, and other organelles is a eukaryotic cell.

Question 9

Neurons communicate by sending and receiving signals across:

Accepted Answer

Neurons communicate by sending and receiving signals across synapses, which are the small gaps between neurons where neurotransmitters are released and received. Nuclei are clusters of cell bodies within the central nervous system, myelin sheaths are the fatty layers that insulate axons, and axon sacs do not exist as a specialized structure in neurons.

Question 10

The part of the human brain that is most like that of a fish brain is the:

Accepted Answer

The brainstem is the oldest and most primitive part of the human brain, and it is structurally similar to the brain of a fish. It controls the basic functions necessary for survival, such as breathing, heart rate, and digestion.

Question 11

_____ play a crucial role in the body,as they are the basic unit of structure and function in living things.

Accepted Answer

Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things. Tissues are made up of cells and nuclei are found within cells. Organelles are sub-cellular structures within cells.

Question 12

Because raccoons have much greater control of their paws than dogs,you would expect raccoons to have more cortical tissue dedicated to paw control in the motor cortex,which is located at the back of the _____ lobes of their brains.

Accepted Answer

The motor cortex, responsible for controlling voluntary movements, is located in the frontal lobes of the brain. This area is larger or more developed in animals that require fine motor skills, such as raccoons with their dexterous paws.

Question 13

To demonstrate that brain stimulation can transform a violently aggressive animal into a docile one,a neuroscientist should lesion the animal's:

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is known to be involved in aggressive behavior. Lesioning or stimulating the amygdala has been shown to have an impact on aggression levels in animals. In this case, stimulating the amygdala through brain stimulation could transform a violently aggressive animal into a docile one. Lesioning the other brain areas mentioned (reticular formation, cerebellum, medulla) may have other effects on behavior but are not specifically linked to aggression.

Question 14

Your neurons are constantly communicating.As you read this question,what chemical messengers are your neurons releasing?

Accepted Answer

Neurons communicate via releasing chemicals called neurotransmitters, which bind to receptors on other neurons to transmit signals. Chromosomes are not involved in neurotransmission. Hormones may affect the brain and behavior, but they are not the primary messengers between neurons. Enzymes are involved in chemical reactions, but they do not transmit signals between neurons. Therefore, the best choice is B) neurotransmitters.

Question 15

After Darren's serious motorcycle accident,doctors detected damage to his cerebellum.Darren is most likely to have difficulty:

Accepted Answer

The cerebellum is involved in motor coordination and balance, so damage to this area can result in difficulty with movement and coordination of body parts. Playing a guitar requires precise and coordinated movements of the fingers and hands, which can be affected by cerebellar damage.

Question 16

The part of the brainstem that controls breathing,heart rate,salivation,coughing,and sneezing is called the:

Accepted Answer

The medulla is located at the base of the brainstem and is responsible for controlling vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and reflexes like coughing and sneezing. The thalamus is involved in sensory processing and relay, while the reticular formation is responsible for sleep and arousal. The pons helps to regulate breathing and sleep.

Question 17

A friend has been taking a particular prescription drug and is experiencing a number of unpleasant side effects,including unusually rapid heartbeat and excessive perspiration.It is likely that the medication is stimulating increased activity in your friend's:

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of unusually rapid heartbeat and excessive perspiration suggest that the medication is stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the body's "fight or flight" response. This response involves increased heart rate and sweating, among other physical changes.

Question 18

Sheila hears her stomach growl.She hasn't eaten for four hours and she's starting to feel hungry.The region of the brain responsible for making Sheila feel hungry is the:

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for regulating hunger and satiety signals in the body. It receives signals from the digestive system and hormones like ghrelin, which stimulate hunger, and leptin, which signals satiety. Therefore, Sheila's feeling of hunger is generated in her hypothalamus. The other options, such as the cerebrum, frontal lobe, and medulla, are not primarily responsible for regulating hunger signals in the body.

Question 19

Activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system produces a reaction often described as the:

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is the body's physiological reaction to stress, which is activated by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. This response prepares the body to either fight or flee from a perceived threat.

Question 20

Of these systems,which one enables the brain to communicate with the stomach?

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions, including digestion. It is through the autonomic nervous system that the brain is able to communicate with the stomach. The other systems listed (limbic, somatic, and central nervous systems) do not have direct control over digestion.

Quiz 3: Biological Foundations of Health and Illness