Electrophysiology APPLIED questions

Question 1

What increases the speed and efficiency of axonal conduction?

Answer 1

myelin

Question 2

If Sam and Annie are like neurons, what would the space between their desks, across which they pass notes, be analogous to in the structure of a neuron?

Answer 2

synapse

Question 3

When a neuron is not strongly driven by excitatory or inhibitory inputs, what is the voltage across its membrane referred to as?

Answer 3

resting potential

Question 4

John is suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and so has difficulty moving his muscles. What kind of cell, which normally controls muscle activity, has become degenerated in John?

Answer 4

neuron

Question 5

Sheila has been diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis and has been experiencing neurological numbness in her hands. This is being caused by the degeneration of what protective substance that normally surrounds her axons?

Answer 5

myelin

Question 6

What cell in the nervous system acts like a foster mother who feeds and defends her adopted children?

Answer 6

glial cell

Question 7

What are like the eyes and ears of neurons?

Answer 7

dendrite

Question 8

The auditory sensory neurons in the inner ear can only match their firing rates with sound waves that have frequencies of less than 1000 waves per second. What stage of neuronal activity is responsible for this inability of the sensory neurons to keep up with sound waves of frequencies greater than 1000 waves per second, even if they are loud sounds?

Answer 8

absolute refractory period

Question 9

Janice is monitoring the membrane potential of a neuron when she sees, after it is exposed to a stimulus, its membrane potential shift negatively 3 mV from its resting potential. What is this shift called?

Answer 9

hyperpolarization

Question 10

What type of integration of signals is analogous to the sinking of a battleship by cannon fire from multiple attacking ships that surround the battleship?

Answer 10

spatial summation

Question 11

John has just ran a marathon and collapses once he crosses the finish line. Before he is able to run again he will need to rest. If John was a neuron, what would this time of rest when he is completely unable to run be called?

Answer 11

absolute refractory period

Question 12

What is an all-or-none response; that is, it either occurs to its full extent or does not occur at all?

Answer 12

action potential

Question 13

Mila is monitoring the membrane potential of a neuron when she sees, after it is exposed to a stimulus, its membrane potential shift positively 3 mV from its resting potential. What is this shift called?

Answer 13

depolarization

Question 14

Dwayne was shot in the brain during a failed bank robbery attempt. What type of cell was most likely damaged in the greatest numbers in his brain?

Answer 14

glial cell

Question 15

Sergio has a fiery temper and can only take so much aggravation before he reaches his limit and blows his top. What is this limit analogous to for a neuron?

Answer 15

threshold of excitation

Question 16

What is the nerve impulse that travels down the axon of a motor neuron in Jesse’s leg in order to kick a soccer ball?

Answer 16

action potential

Question 17

Glial cells absorb excessive excitatory neurotransmitters released into what space between neurons?

Answer 17

synapse

Question 18

A syringe has a barrel at one end and an extended needle attached at the other end. When pressure is applied to the barrel by a plunger, substances in the barrel travel through the needle and are released onto the desired site. What part of the neuron is the needle analogous to?

Answer 18

axon

Question 19

As George walked down the road that lead to the bridge, he imagined he was a neurotransmitter coming from the cell body and making his way to the synapse. Which part of the neuron was the road analogous to?

Answer 19

axon

Question 20

A neuron releases neurotransmitters which bind with postsynaptic receptors on another neuron. An increase in the positivity of the postsynaptic neuron occurs that temporarily increases the probability of action potentials occurring from its resting membrane potential. What type of shift has occurred in the postsynaptic neuron?

Answer 20

depolarization

Question 21

After falling down a flight of stairs, Gavin complains of having pain in his lower back. What part of the neuron is responsible for transmitting information from the sensory neurons in his back to neurons in his spinal cord?

Answer 21

axon

Question 22

After Bill orgasms he is unable to have sex again immediately after unless he receives greater than normal enticement. What stage of neuronal activity is this analogous to?

Answer 22

relative refractory period

Question 23

A neuron releases neurotransmitters which bind with postsynaptic receptors on another neuron. An increase in the negativity of the postsynaptic neuron occurs that temporarily decreases the probability of action potentials occurring from its resting membrane potential. What type of shift has occurred in the postsynaptic neuron?

Answer 23

hyperpolarization

Question 24

Sergio has a fiery temper and can only take so much aggravation before he reaches his limit and blows his top. What is this limit analogous to for a neuron?

Answer 24

threshold of excitation

Question 25

Bob has been poisoned with a drug that slows down his heart and breathing rate. What effect has this drug most likely had on the motor neurons which control Bob’s heart and diaphram?

Answer 25

hyperpolarization

Question 26

If Sam and Annie are like neurons, what would the space between their desks, across which they pass notes, be analogous to in the structure of a neuron?

Answer 26

synapse

Question 27

After Bill orgasms he is unable to have sex again immediately after unless he receives greater than normal enticement. What stage of neuronal activity is this analogous to?

Answer 27

relative refractory period

Question 28

What type of integration of signals is analogous to the sinking of a battleship by cannon fire from multiple attacking ships that surround the battleship?

Answer 28

spatial summation

Question 29

When a neuron is not strongly driven by excitatory or inhibitory inputs, what is the voltage across its membrane referred to as?

Answer 29

resting potential

Question 30

Sheila has been diagnosed with progressive multiple sclerosis and has been experiencing neurological numbness in her hands. This is being caused by the degeneration of what protective substance that normally surrounds her axons?

Answer 30

myelin

Question 31

What is the nerve impulse that travels down the axon of a motor neuron in Jesse’s leg in order to kick a soccer ball?

Answer 31

action potential

Question 32

A syringe has a barrel at one end and an extended needle attached at the other end. When pressure is applied to the barrel by a plunger, substances in the barrel travel through the needle and are released onto the desired site. What part of the neuron is the needle analogous to?

Answer 32

axon

Question 33

What type of cell is most numerous in the nervous system?

Answer 33

glial cell

Question 34

The auditory sensory neurons in the inner ear can only match their firing rates with sound waves that have frequencies of less than 1000 waves per second. What stage of neuronal activity is responsible for this inability of the sensory neurons to keep up with sound waves of frequencies greater than 1000 waves per second, even if they are loud sounds?

Answer 34

absolute refractory period

Question 35

John is suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and so has difficulty moving his muscles. What kind of cell, which normally controls muscle activity, has become degenerated in John?

Answer 35

neuron

Question 36

After falling down a flight of stairs, Gavin complains of having pain in his lower back. What part of the neuron is responsible for transmitting information from the sensory neurons in his back to neurons in his spinal cord?

Answer 36

axon

Question 37

Janice is monitoring the membrane potential of a neuron when she sees, after it is exposed to a stimulus, its membrane potential shift negatively 3 mV from its resting potential. What is this shift called?

Answer 37

hyperpolarization

Question 38

What cell in the nervous system acts like a foster mother who feeds and defends her adopted children?

Answer 38

glial cell

Question 39

John has just ran a marathon and collapses once he crosses the finish line. Before he is able to run again he will need to rest. If John was a neuron, what would this time of rest when he is completely unable to run be called?

Answer 39

absolute refractory period

Question 40

Glial cells absorb excessive excitatory neurotransmitters released into what space between neurons?

Answer 40

synapse

Question 41

What type of integration of signals is analogous to the sinking of a battleship by repeated cannon fire from a single ship that is aiming at the battleship’s port-side?

Answer 41

temporal summation

Question 42

What are like the eyes and ears of neurons?

Answer 42

dendrite