Question 1

Which of the following help(s) regulate blood pressure, metabolism, and reproduction?

Accepted Answer

Hormones are the chemical messengers secreted by various endocrine glands in the body to help regulate numerous physiological processes, including blood pressure, metabolism, and reproductive functions. Myelin is a fatty substance that insulates nerve fibers, while endorphins are natural pain-relieving substances. Glial cells are non-neuronal cells that provide support and protection to neurons.

Question 2

The _____ is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles, and the _____ is involved in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels and hunger.

Accepted Answer

The pineal gland is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles by producing the hormone melatonin, while the pancreas is involved in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels and hunger by producing insulin and glucagon.

Question 3

As you are walking on a beach, you pick up an odd-looking seashell that has a very rough texture. As you rub your fingers over the shell, sensory messages are communicated via the _____ nervous system to the central nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system is responsible for transmitting sensory information from the skin, muscles, and joints to the central nervous system. In this scenario, the sensory messages from rubbing the rough seashell are being transmitted via the somatic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system, on the other hand, is responsible for controlling involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate and digestion, and is not directly involved in transmitting sensory information from the environment. The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems are two branches of the autonomic nervous system and are involved in regulating different bodily functions in response to stress and relaxation, respectively.

Question 4

In general, the sympathetic nervous system _____, while the parasympathetic nervous system _____.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response, arousing and mobilizing energy, while the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for 'rest and digest' activities, maintaining and conserving energy.

Question 5

While taking this test, you have probably paid little attention to ongoing body functions, such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion. Such involuntary bodily functions are governed by the:

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for controlling involuntary bodily functions such as breathing, heartbeat, and digestion. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements and sensations, while cerebrospinal fluid is a fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and spinal cord. Spinal reflexes are automatic responses to certain stimuli that bypass the brain.

Question 6

Maria heard a strange banging noise just outside her bedroom window in the middle of the night. She froze in fear, and her heart began to pound. Maria's heightened physical arousal involved the activation of which subdivision of the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for activating the body's fight-or-flight response during times of stress or danger. It causes an increased heart rate and heightened physical arousal, which is what Maria is experiencing when she hears the strange banging noise outside her window. The other options (endocrine system, parasympathetic nervous system, and reticular system) are not directly responsible for this type of physical response.

Question 7

Which gland produces melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle?

Accepted Answer

The pineal gland, located in the brain, produces melatonin which helps to regulate our sleep-wake cycle.

Question 8

The adrenal glands produce hormones that are involved in:

Accepted Answer

The adrenal glands are a part of the body's stress response system and produce hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline that are involved in the body's physiological response to stress. While the other options may involve hormones produced by other glands such as the pituitary and pancreas, they are not primarily produced by the adrenal glands.

Question 9

As you are taking a test, you inadvertently drop your pencil, reach down, pick it up, and put it back on the desk. This voluntary action involves motor signals that are communicated to your muscles via the _____ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements of skeletal muscles, which is what is needed to pick up the pencil and put it back on the desk. The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions such as the beating of the heart, while the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems control involuntary actions related to the fight or flight response and rest and digest functions respectively.

Question 10

Which gland directly regulates the production of hormones in other endocrine glands?

Accepted Answer

The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master gland" because it produces and releases hormones that directly regulate the function of other endocrine glands in the body, including the adrenal gland, thyroid gland, and others.

Question 11

How does communication in the endocrine system differ from communication in the nervous system?

Accepted Answer

Communication in the nervous system is electrically based and uses neurons to transmit electrical impulses, while communication in the endocrine system is chemically based and uses hormones to transmit messages through the bloodstream. Therefore, communication in the nervous system is faster than the endocrine system.

Question 12

The two main subdivisions of the peripheral nervous system are the _____ nervous system and the _____ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements and sensory information to and from the body, while the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions such as heartbeat, digestion, and glandular secretion. The autonomic nervous system is further divided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, which have opposing functions in regulating bodily responses.

Question 13

The heightened physical arousal that characterizes the fight-or-flight response involves the _____ branch of the nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response involves the activation of the sympathetic branch of the nervous system, which prepares the body for intense physical activity. The parasympathetic branch, on the other hand, is responsible for calming the body down and restoring it to a state of rest and relaxation.

Question 14

Paul was awakened by a thumping noise in the middle of the night. Frightened, he jumped out of bed to investigate. Hearing a muffled meow, Paul realized that his cat was shut in the closet and was pushing against the door. Breathing a sigh of relief, Paul let the cat out of the closet and went back to bed. Which subdivision of the nervous system helped calm down and restore Paul's body functioning back to normal?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for restoring the body's normal functioning after a threat has passed. In this case, after realizing that the thumping noise was just his cat, Paul's body would have relaxed and returned to a normal state due to the actions of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 15

In the endocrine system, chemical messengers called _____, which circulate through the _____, communicate information from one part of the body to another.

Accepted Answer

Hormones are the chemical messengers that circulate through the bloodstream and communicate information from one part of the body to another in the endocrine system. Neurotransmitters are used by the nervous system to communicate between nerves, and endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter involved in pain regulation. Cerebrospinal fluid is a fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord but does not directly facilitate communication between different parts of the body.

Question 16

Growth hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin are all secreted by:

Accepted Answer

Growth hormone, prolactin, and oxytocin are all hormones that are secreted by the pituitary gland. The pineal gland secretes melatonin, the adrenal medulla secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline, and the hypothalamus secretes releasing and inhibiting hormones that regulate the secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland.

Question 17

The autonomic nervous system is comprised of two different branches called the _____ and _____ nervous systems.

Accepted Answer

The autonomic nervous system consists of two branches - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. These two branches have opposing effects on bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and pupil dilation. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, while the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response. Therefore, the correct answer is B - sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

Question 18

Prolactin and oxytocin are _____ produced by the _____.

Accepted Answer

Prolactin and oxytocin are hormones produced by the pituitary gland. Prolactin stimulates milk production in lactating females, while oxytocin stimulates contraction of the uterus during labor and release of milk during breastfeeding.

Question 19

The adrenal glands consist of:

Accepted Answer

The adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys and consist of the outer layer, called the adrenal cortex, and the inner layer, called the adrenal medulla. The pancreas and pineal gland are separate organs not part of the adrenal glands. The thyroid gland and pituitary gland are also separate glands.

Question 20

In the _____, information is communicated along nerves.

Accepted Answer

The peripheral nervous system is responsible for transmitting information between the central nervous system and the rest of the body through nerves.

Quiz 2: Neuroscience and Behavior

Which of the following help(s) regulate blood pressure, metabolism, and reproduction?

The _ is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles, and the _ is involved in regulating blood sugar and insulin levels and hunger.