SAMPLE TEST questions Unit 1

Question 1

The process by which an organism maintains itself in a relatively stable or constant condition and within certain physiological limits is called:

metabolism.

positive feedback

homeostasis

growth

Answer 1

homeostasis

Question 2

Negative feedback results when a/an _______ in the output of a system causes a/an _______in the input of the system.

increase; increase

increase; decrease

decrease; decrease

All of the above can be true under differing circumstances.

Answer 2

increase; decrease

Question 3

________ neurons carry information toward the Central Nervous System, and ________ neurons carry information away from the Central Nervous System.

Autonomic; somatic

Somatic; autonomic

Afferent; efferent

Efferent; afferent

Answer 3

Afferent; efferent

Question 4

According to Fick’s Law of Diffusion, the rate of diffusion is directly related to:

the concentration gradient

molecular weight

temperature

both the concentration gradient and temperature

Answer 4

both the concentration gradient and temperature

Question 5

The two major subdivisions of the Efferent branch of the Peripheral Nervous System are:

the Autonomic and Somatic

the Sensory and Motor

the Central and Autonomic

the Parasympathetic and Sympathetic

Answer 5

the Autonomic and Somatic

Question 6

Read the following two statements and determine the most appropriate assessment.

A: Rate of diffusion at a temperature of 37o C.

B: Rate of diffusion at room temperature (20o C).

options:
A is approximately equal to B

B is greater than A.

A is greater than B

Answer 6

A is greater than B

Question 7

In the resting cell membrane potential, ________ opposes the outward movement of potassium ions.

an electrical gradient

a concentration gradient

both a and c are corrent

an active transport mechanism

Answer 7

an electrical gradient

Question 8

How is the resting membrane potential of -70 mV (millivolts) best interpreted?

options:
The potential outside of the membrane is -70 mV.

The potential outside of the membrane is 70 mV more negative than the inside.

The potential inside of the membrane is 70 mV more negative than the outside.

The potential inside of the membrane is -70 mV.

Answer 8

The potential inside of the membrane is 70 mV more negative than the outside.

Question 9

A stimulator is used to apply a stimulus to a single neuron. The threshold stimulus is determined to be 3 volts. If a stimulus of 4 volts is applied, the resulting action potential will be ________ the action potential observed on the same neuron given a stimulus of 3 volts.

No action potential will occur under these circumstances.

the same as

less than

greater than

Answer 9

the same as

Question 10

Which of the following cell types can conduct action potentials?

1. smooth muscle cells
2. cardiac muscle cells
3. neurons
4. skeletal muscle cells

3 and 4

1, 2, 3, and 4

3 only

2, 3 and 4

Answer 10

All the above

Question 11

During repolarization of the neuronal membrane:

potassium ions rapidly move to the outside of the cell

sodium ions rapidly move to the inside of the cell.

potassium ions rapidly move to the inside of the cell.

sodium ions rapidly move to the outside of the cell from the inside.

Answer 11

potassium ions rapidly move to the outside of the cell

Question 12

Read the the following two statements and detemine the most appropriate assessment.

A. Concentration of Na+ in cytoplasm.
B. Concentration of Na+ in extracellular fluid.

options:
A is greater than B

B is greater than A

A is approximately equal to B

Answer 12

B is greater than A

Question 13

A single muscle fiber:

options:
does not require external nervous stimulation to initiate its contractile activity.

will not contract when stimulated by a subthreshold stimulus.

always contracts independently of other fibers.

shows an increasing force of contraction with increasing stimulus strength.

Answer 13

will not contract when stimulated by a subthreshold stimulus.

Question 14

Skeletal muscles are innervated by:

autonomic motor neurons.

somatic motor neurons.

sympathetic pre-ganglionic neurons.

both somatic and autonomic motor neurons.

Answer 14

somatic motor neurons.

Question 15

What is the appropriate order for the following events that occur during excitation-contraction coupling?

1 - Calcium is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
2 - Acetylcholine binds to receptors.
3 - Myosin binds to actin.
4 - Action potentials travel along the sarcolemma.
5 - Myosin head flexes.

options:
2, 4, 1, 3, 5

1, 4, 5, 3, 2

4, 2, 3, 5, 1

2, 1, 4, 5, 3

Answer 15

2, 4, 1, 3, 5

Question 16

Multiple motor unit summation occurs as a result of increasing the _____ of stimuli applied to a skeletal muscle, while wave summation is the result of increasing the _____ of stimuli.

option:
duration; frequency

voltage; frequency

frequency; voltage

voltage; duration

Answer 16

voltage; frequency

Question 17

Which of the following is most important in allowing muscle tone to be maintained for long periods of time (such as in holding the head erect)?

options:
the latent period

asynchronous firing of motor units

multiple motor unit summation

wave summation

Answer 17

asynchronous firing of motor units

Question 18

Read the the following two statements and detemine the most appropriate assessment.

A. The number of skeletal muscle fibers contracting in a motor unit when its motor neuron receives a supra-maximal stimulus.
B. The number of skeletal muscle fibers contracting in a motor unit when its motor neuron receives a threshold stimulus.

options:
A is greater than B

A is approximately equal to B

B is greater than A

Answer 18

A is approximately equal to B

Question 19

the Enteric Nervous System

the Sympathetic Nervous System

the Somatic Nervous System

the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Answer 19

the Parasympathetic Nervous System

Question 20

The neurotransmitter released from pre-synaptic neurons in the sympathetic ganglia is ________, while the neurotransmitter released from sympathetic post-ganglionic neurons is ________.

options:
norepinephrine; epinephrine

acetylcholine; epinephrine

acetylcholine; acetylcholine

acetylcholine; norepinephrine

Answer 20

acetylcholine; norepinephrine

Question 21

Adding ______, a cholinergic antagonist, to an isolated section of visceral smooth muscle results in ______ force of contraction.

options:
pilocarpine, an increased

pilocarpine, no change in the

atropine, no change in the

atropine, a decreased

Answer 21

atropine, no change in the

Question 22

Knowing that epinephrine is released during exercise, you would expect the intestinal smooth muscle to:

options:
increase inherent rhythmicity.

have no effect on the smooth muscle, but increase the absorption of nutrients.

decrease activity to redistribute blood flow to exercising muscles.

increase activity to supply needed energy to the exercising muscles.

Answer 22

decrease activity to redistribute blood flow to exercising muscles.

Question 23

Single unit smooth muscle will contract in response to:

options:
action potentials passed from adjacent smooth muscle cells through gap junctions.

action potentials from neurons innervating the muscle.

all of the above

stretch of the muscle fibers.

Answer 23

all of the above

Question 24

Read the the following two statements and detemine the most appropriate assessment.

A. The force of contraction of an intestinal smooth muscle segment when atropine is added to the surrounding bath.
B. The force of contraction of an intestinal smooth muscle segment when epinephrine is added to the surrounding bath.

options:
A is approximately equal to B

B is greater than A

A is greater than B

Answer 24

A is greater than B