Nervous System

Question 1

What is the function of a sensory neuron?

Answer 1

Carries impulses from sensory receptors to the CNS.

Question 2

What is the function of an interneuron?

Answer 2

Found in the CNS; connects sensory and motor neurons for integration.

Question 3

What is the function of a motor neuron?

Answer 3

Sends impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles/glands).

Question 4

What is the role of the cell body (soma)?

Answer 4

Contains the nucleus and organelles; integrates incoming signals.

Question 5

What are dendrites?

Answer 5

Branch-like extensions that receive signals from other neurons.

Question 6

What is the function of an axon?

Answer 6

Long fiber that transmits signals away from the cell body.

Question 7

What happens at the synaptic terminal?

Answer 7

Releases neurotransmitters into the synapse to communicate with the next cell.

Question 8

What is the myelin sheath?

Answer 8

Fatty insulation covering axons; increases signal speed.

Question 9

What does the sodium/potassium pump do?

Answer 9

Pumps 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in; maintains resting potential using active transport.

Question 10

What do sodium and potassium ion channels do?

Answer 10

Allow Na+ or K+ to flow through the membrane based on concentration gradient.

Question 11

What is a gated ion channel?

Answer 11

Opens in response to chemical or electrical stimuli.

Question 12

What is a voltage-gated ion channel?

Answer 12

Opens when membrane potential changes, such as during an action potential.

Question 13

What is a ligand-gated ion channel?

Answer 13

Opens when a neurotransmitter like ACh binds to it.

Question 14

What is a neurotransmitter?

Answer 14

Chemical messenger (e.g., ACh, dopamine) that transmits signals across synapses.

Question 15

What is temporal summation?

Answer 15

Multiple signals from one neuron over time.

Question 16

What is spatial summation?

Answer 16

Multiple signals from different neurons at the same time.

Question 17

What does a mechanoreceptor detect?

Answer 17

Detects pressure, stretch, or vibration.

Question 18

What does a chemoreceptor detect?

Answer 18

Detects chemicals such as smell or taste.

Question 19

What does an electromagnetic receptor detect?

Answer 19

Detects light (e.g., photoreceptors in eyes).

Question 20

What does a thermoreceptor detect?

Answer 20

Detects temperature changes.

Question 21

What does a pain receptor (nociceptor) detect?

Answer 21

Detects harmful or damaging stimuli.

Question 22

What is reception in sensory processing?

Answer 22

Detecting a stimulus.

Question 23

What is transduction in sensory processing?

Answer 23

Converting a stimulus into an electrical signal.

Question 24

What is transmission in sensory processing?

Answer 24

Sending the signal to the CNS.

Question 25

What is integration in sensory processing?

Answer 25

Interpreting the signal in the CNS.

Question 26

What is a statocyst?

Answer 26

Gravity sensor in invertebrates that uses statoliths.

Question 27

What is the tympanic membrane?

Answer 27

The eardrum that vibrates in response to sound.

Question 28

What do the malleus, incus, and stapes do?

Answer 28

Amplify vibrations from the tympanic membrane.

Question 29

What is the function of the cochlea?

Answer 29

Detects sound via hair cells in the inner ear spiral.

Question 30

What do the utricle and saccule detect?

Answer 30

Detect head position and linear acceleration.

Question 31

What are otoliths?

Answer 31

Small crystals in the inner ear that aid in balance.

Question 32

What is a sarcomere?

Answer 32

The basic unit of muscle contraction.

Question 33

What is actin?

Answer 33

A thin filament pulled during muscle contraction.

Question 34

What is myosin?

Answer 34

A thick filament that pulls on actin using ATP.

Question 35

What does acetylcholine (ACh) do in muscle contraction?

Answer 35

Triggers contraction by binding to receptors.

Question 36

What is the role of Ca²⁺ ions in muscle contraction?

Answer 36

Initiate contraction by binding to troponin and exposing actin binding sites.

Question 37

What is a T-tubule?

Answer 37

Carries the action potential into the muscle fiber.

Question 38

What is the sarcoplasmic reticulum?

Answer 38

Stores and releases calcium ions.

Question 39

What does tropomyosin do?

Answer 39

Blocks actin binding sites until moved by troponin.

Question 40

What is the troponin complex?

Answer 40

Binds calcium and moves tropomyosin to expose actin binding sites.