Question 1

Neurons responsible for converting environmental stimuli into neural signals are known as
A) sensory neurons.
B) interneurons.
C) motor neurons.
D) pyramidal cells.

Accepted Answer

Sensory neurons, also known as afferent neurons, are responsible for converting environmental stimuli into neural signals.

Question 2

Neurons can be categorized by all of the following except by
A) which neurotransmitters they release.
B) their function (e.g., sensory versus motor).
C) the size of the action potentials they generate.
D) their morphology.

Accepted Answer

Neurons can be categorized by which neurotransmitters they release, their function, and their morphology. However, the size of the action potentials they generate is not a characteristic used to categorize neurons.

Question 3

Neurons rely on _______ for protection, metabolic support, and insulation.
A) mitochondria
B) glial cells
C) axoplasm
D) dendritic spines

Accepted Answer

Glial cells, also known as neuroglia, are non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection for neurons in the central and peripheral nervous systems. They provide metabolic support, insulation, and help repair damage to neurons. Mitochondria are organelles within neurons that produce energy, but they do not provide protection, metabolic support, or insulation. Axoplasm is the cytoplasm within an axon, and dendritic spines are small protrusions on dendrites that receive inputs from other neurons, but they also do not provide protection, metabolic support, or insulation.

Question 4

The _______ of the neuronal cell is/are found in the soma, while the _______ may be found throughout the cell.
A) mitochondria; dendrites
B) dendrites; axon
C) nucleus; mitochondria
D) nucleus; dendrites

Accepted Answer

The nucleus of the neuronal cell is found in the soma, while mitochondria may be found throughout the cell. Dendrites and axons are both part of the neuronal processes and are located outside of the soma. Therefore, option A and B are incorrect.

Question 5

Neurons exchange information primarily via
A) somas.
B) dendrites.
C) axons.
D) axon collaterals.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Neurons exchange information primarily via
A) somas.
B) dendrites.
C)...

Question 6

Dendritic spines serve to
A) increase the surface area of the dendrite.
B) insulate the axons.
C) insulate the dendrites.
D) protect the dendrites from degrading enzymes in the extracellular fluid.

Accepted Answer

Dendritic spines are small protrusions on the dendrites of neurons that serve to increase the surface area of the dendrite. This allows for more connections to be made with other neurons, increasing their ability to communicate and process information.

Question 7

The function of the axon is to transmit the _______, generated at the _______, to the terminals.
A) axoplasm; soma
B) action potential; axon hillock
C) action potential; dendrites
D) synaptic vesicles; axon hillock

Accepted Answer

The axon is responsible for transmitting the action potential generated at the axon hillock to the terminals. Option A is incorrect as axoplasm refers to the cytoplasm inside the axon and not necessarily its function. Option C is incorrect as dendrites receive signals from other neurons, they do not generate the action potential. Option D is incorrect as synaptic vesicles are stored in the terminals and are not part of the axon's function.

Question 8

In a myelinated axon, action potentials are regenerated
A) at the terminal buttons.
B) all along the axon.
C) at gaps in the myelin known as nodes of Ranvier.
D) at the axon hillock.

Accepted Answer

In a myelinated axon, action potentials are regenerated only at gaps in the myelin known as nodes of Ranvier. The myelin sheath acts as an insulator, preventing ion flow across the axonal membrane. However, at these nodes of Ranvier, ion channels are present and allow for the regeneration of the action potential.

Question 9

Which statement about the myelin sheath is false?
A) It is produced by glial cells.
B) It increases the speed of signal conduction along the axon.
C) It saves energy.
D) It is found on all neurons.

Accepted Answer

The myelin sheath is not found on all neurons, only on certain types such as those in the peripheral nervous system and the CNS.

Question 10

With regard to glial cells, _______ form the myelin sheath in the CNS, while _______ help maintain the ionic and chemical environment.
A) Schwann cells; astrocytes
B) oligodendroglia; astrocytes
C) oligodendroglia; microglia
D) Schwann cells; microglia

Accepted Answer

Oligodendroglia form the myelin sheath in the CNS, while astrocytes help maintain the ionic and chemical environment. Schwann cells and microglia are not typically found in the CNS, and are instead associated with the PNS and immune responses, respectively.

Question 11

Epigenetic changes affect gene expression by _______ and by _______.
A) blocking translation; DNA methylation
B) breaking down chromatin; blocking transcription
C) DNA methylation; chromatin remodeling
D) remodeling transcription factors; blocking translation

Accepted Answer

Epigenetic changes can affect gene expression through DNA methylation, which involves the addition of a methyl group to cytosine bases, resulting in the repression of gene transcription. Additionally, epigenetic changes can occur through chromatin remodeling, which alters the physical structure of DNA and can either promote or inhibit gene expression.

Question 12

Axonal transport of proteins occurs along a track formed by
A) microtubules.
B) neurofilaments.
C) anterograde cytoskeleton.
D) retrograde cytoskeleton.

Accepted Answer

Axonal transport occurs along microtubules, which form a track for protein transport.

Question 13

Neuronal cell membranes are associated with all of the following proteins except
A) transporters.
B) ion channels.
C) microtubules.
D) enzymes.

Accepted Answer

Microtubules are not associated with the neuronal cell membrane, whereas transporters, ion channels, and enzymes are all proteins that can be found in or associated with the membrane.

Question 14

Many ion channels are not normally open but must be gated or opened by some event. Which of the following is not a typical means by which ion channels open?
A) Binding of neurotransmitter to external binding site
B) Change in voltage across the membrane
C) Phosphorylation by an intracellular second messenger
D) Enzymatic reactions

Accepted Answer

Enzymatic reactions are not a typical means by which ion channels open. Binding of neurotransmitter to external binding site, change in voltage across the membrane, and phosphorylation by an intracellular second messenger are all common mechanisms for ion channel gating.

Question 15

The primary immune response in the CNS comes from the action of
A) microglia.
B) astrocytes.
C) white blood cells.
D) oligodendroglia.

Accepted Answer

The primary immune response in the CNS comes from the action of microglia, which are specialized immune cells that survey the brain for any foreign invaders or damaged cells.

Question 16

Mitochondria are responsible for generating _______ for the cell in the form of _______.
A) energy; ATP
B) energy; glucose
C) cytoplasm; ATP
D) cytoplasm; glucose

Accepted Answer

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of the cell and responsible for producing energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) through processes such as cellular respiration.

Question 17

_______ are long strands of DNA divided into smaller portions called _______, which code for specific proteins.
A) Chromosomes; genes
B) Genes; chromosomes
C) Transcription factors; genes
D) Genes; ribosomes

Accepted Answer

Chromosomes are long strands of DNA that are divided into smaller portions called genes. These genes are responsible for coding for specific proteins.

Question 18

Which statement about the process of transcription is true?
A) It is driven by ribosomes.
B) It occurs in the cytoplasm.
C) The nucleotide sequence of DNA is replicated by mRNA.
D) It results in the production of proteins.

Accepted Answer

Transcription involves the synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template, where the nucleotide sequence of the DNA is used to create a complementary mRNA sequence. This process does not directly produce proteins; that occurs during translation. Ribosomes drive the process of translation, not transcription, and transcription typically occurs in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells, not the cytoplasm.

Question 19

Proteins, such as receptors and enzymes, are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the soma in a process called
A) translation.
B) regulation.
C) transcription.
D) transport.

Accepted Answer

Proteins are synthesized through the process of translation, where ribosomes in the cytoplasm or on the rough endoplasmic reticulum translate mRNA into a polypeptide chain, which then folds into a functional protein.

Question 20

Which of the following most accurately describes the steps involved in protein synthesis?
A) Transcription factors activate promoter region → translation by ribosomes → transcription by mRNA
B) Transcription factors activate promoter region → transcription by mRNA → translation by ribosomes
C) Translation by ribosomes → transcription factors activate promoter region → transcription by mRNA
D) Transcription by mRNA → transcription factors activate promoter region → translation by ribosomes

Accepted Answer

The steps involved in protein synthesis are transcription and translation. Transcription involves the synthesis of messenger RNA (mRNA) from a DNA template. Transcription factors bind to specific DNA sequences called promoter regions to initiate transcription. The mRNA molecule then undergoes translation, which involves the synthesis of a protein from the mRNA template. Ribosomes are responsible for the translation process. Therefore, the correct sequence of events is transcription by mRNA followed by translation by ribosomes. Choice B accurately describes this sequence of events.

Quiz 2: Structure and Function of the Nervous System

Neurons responsible for converting environmental stimuli into neural signals are known as

Neurons can be categorized by all of the following except by

Neurons rely on _______ for protection, metabolic support, and insulation.

The _ of the neuronal cell is/are found in the soma, while the _ may be found throughout the cell.

Neurons exchange information primarily via

Dendritic spines serve to

The function of the axon is to transmit the _, generated at the _, to the terminals.

In a myelinated axon, action potentials are regenerated

Which statement about the myelin sheath is false?

With regard to glial cells, _ form the myelin sheath in the CNS, while _ help maintain the ionic and chemical environment.

Epigenetic changes affect gene expression by _ and by _.

Axonal transport of proteins occurs along a track formed by

Neuronal cell membranes are associated with all of the following proteins except

Many ion channels are not normally open but must be gated or opened by some event. Which of the following is not a typical means by which ion channels open?

The primary immune response in the CNS comes from the action of

Mitochondria are responsible for generating _ for the cell in the form of _.

_ are long strands of DNA divided into smaller portions called _, which code for specific proteins.

Which statement about the process of transcription is true?

Proteins, such as receptors and enzymes, are synthesized in the cytoplasm of the soma in a process called

Which of the following most accurately describes the steps involved in protein synthesis?