Which of the following statements concerning receptors is correct?
A) the larger the receptor potential, the greater the frequency of action potentials initiated in the afferent neuron.
B) tonic receptors often exhibit an "off-response."
C) phasic receptors are important in situations where maintained information about a stimulus is valuable.
D) receptor adaptation results from nerve fatigue.
E) receptors are part of efferent neurons.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The larger the receptor potential (the initial depolarization caused by a stimulus), the greater the likelihood of triggering an action potential in the afferent neuron.

Answer: B
 Tonic receptors maintain a steady level of firing in response to a stimulus, whereas phasic receptors adapt rapidly to a stimulus and exhibit an "off-response" when the stimulus is removed.

Answer: C
 Phasic receptors are important in detecting changes in a stimulus, while tonic receptors tend to be more useful for providing continuous information about a stimulus.

Answer: D
 Receptor adaptation occurs when the receptor's response to a stimulus decreases over time, but it is not due to nerve fatigue.

Answer: E
 Receptors are part of the afferent nervous system, which carries sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system. They are not part of the efferent nervous system, which carries motor commands from the central nervous system to the periphery.

Which of the Following Statements Concerning Receptors Is Correct