BIOL 235 Midterm 2 Exam Study Guide
,create the 100 questions and answers well structured and well used right tick to mark correct
answer BIOL 235 Midterm 2 Exam Study Guide (2026/2027) – Verified Questions with Detailed
Explanations
Here is a well-structured 100-question midterm exam study guide with correct answers marked
(✓), formatted for clarity and effective review.
BIOL 235 MIDTERM 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE (2026/2027)
Anatomy & Physiology - Verified Questions & Detailed Explanations
Chapter 12: Nervous Tissue
1. What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?
A) Somatic and Autonomic
B) Brain and Spinal Cord
C) Central and Peripheral ✓
D) Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Explanation: The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The PNS includes all nervous tissue
outside the CNS.
2. Which neuroglial cell forms the myelin sheath in the CNS?
A) Schwann Cells
B) Astrocytes
C) Oligodendrocytes ✓
D) Microglia
Explanation: Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple CNS axons. Schwann cells perform this
function in the PNS.
3. The resting membrane potential of a neuron is primarily maintained by:
A) The sodium-potassium pump ✓
B) Voltage-gated channels
C) Ligand-gated channels
D) Leakage of Cl- ions
*Explanation: The Na+/K+ ATPase actively transports 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, crucial for
maintaining the -70mV RMP.*
Chapter 13: Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
4. How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
A) 12
B) 31 ✓
C) 24
,D) 33
Explanation: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal pair.
5. A reflex where the sensory input and motor output occur on the same side is:
A) Contralateral
B) Ipsilateral ✓
C) Polysynaptic
D) Monosynaptic
Explanation: Ipsilateral means "same side." An example is the patellar reflex.
6. The dorsal root of a spinal nerve contains:
A) Somatic motor axons
B) Autonomic motor axons
C) Sensory axons ✓
D) Mixed sensory and motor axons
Explanation: Dorsal roots are sensory (afferent). Ventral roots are motor (efferent).
Chapter 14: Brain and Cranial Nerves
7. Which brain structure is the major regulator of homeostasis?
A) Cerebellum
B) Thalamus
C) Hypothalamus ✓
D) Pons
Explanation: The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, and autonomic
functions.
8. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced primarily by:
A) Arachnoid villi
B) Dural sinuses
C) Choroid plexuses ✓
D) Ependymal cells directly
Explanation: Choroid plexuses, networks of capillaries in the ventricles, filter blood plasma to
produce CSF.
9. Cranial Nerve V is the:
A) Facial Nerve
B) Vagus Nerve
C) Trigeminal Nerve ✓
D) Vestibulocochlear Nerve
, Explanation: CN V (Trigeminal) is the major sensory nerve for the face and muscles of
mastication.
Chapter 15: Autonomic Nervous System
10. The "rest and digest" division of the ANS is the:
A) Somatic
B) Sympathetic
C) Parasympathetic ✓
D) Enteric
Explanation: The parasympathetic division conserves energy, lowers heart rate, and stimulates
digestion.
11. Preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic division originate in the:
A) Brainstem and sacral spinal cord
B) Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord ✓
C) Cervical spinal cord
D) Dorsal root ganglia
*Explanation: Sympathetic preganglionic cell bodies are in the lateral gray horns of T1-L2
segments.*
12. The neurotransmitter released by all autonomic preganglionic neurons is:
A) Norepinephrine
B) Epinephrine
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine ✓
Explanation: All ANS preganglionic neurons (sympathetic and parasympathetic) release ACh
onto nicotinic receptors.
Chapter 16: Sensory, Motor, and Integrative Systems
13. The process by which a sensory receptor converts a stimulus into an electrical signal is:
A) Propagation
B) Transduction ✓
C) Perception
D) Modulation
Explanation: Sensory transduction is the conversion of stimulus energy into a graded receptor
potential.
14. Which tract carries sensory information for touch, pressure, and proprioception to the
cortex?
,create the 100 questions and answers well structured and well used right tick to mark correct
answer BIOL 235 Midterm 2 Exam Study Guide (2026/2027) – Verified Questions with Detailed
Explanations
Here is a well-structured 100-question midterm exam study guide with correct answers marked
(✓), formatted for clarity and effective review.
BIOL 235 MIDTERM 2 EXAM STUDY GUIDE (2026/2027)
Anatomy & Physiology - Verified Questions & Detailed Explanations
Chapter 12: Nervous Tissue
1. What are the two main divisions of the nervous system?
A) Somatic and Autonomic
B) Brain and Spinal Cord
C) Central and Peripheral ✓
D) Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
Explanation: The CNS includes the brain and spinal cord. The PNS includes all nervous tissue
outside the CNS.
2. Which neuroglial cell forms the myelin sheath in the CNS?
A) Schwann Cells
B) Astrocytes
C) Oligodendrocytes ✓
D) Microglia
Explanation: Oligodendrocytes myelinate multiple CNS axons. Schwann cells perform this
function in the PNS.
3. The resting membrane potential of a neuron is primarily maintained by:
A) The sodium-potassium pump ✓
B) Voltage-gated channels
C) Ligand-gated channels
D) Leakage of Cl- ions
*Explanation: The Na+/K+ ATPase actively transports 3 Na+ out and 2 K+ in, crucial for
maintaining the -70mV RMP.*
Chapter 13: Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
4. How many pairs of spinal nerves are there?
A) 12
B) 31 ✓
C) 24
,D) 33
Explanation: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, 1 coccygeal pair.
5. A reflex where the sensory input and motor output occur on the same side is:
A) Contralateral
B) Ipsilateral ✓
C) Polysynaptic
D) Monosynaptic
Explanation: Ipsilateral means "same side." An example is the patellar reflex.
6. The dorsal root of a spinal nerve contains:
A) Somatic motor axons
B) Autonomic motor axons
C) Sensory axons ✓
D) Mixed sensory and motor axons
Explanation: Dorsal roots are sensory (afferent). Ventral roots are motor (efferent).
Chapter 14: Brain and Cranial Nerves
7. Which brain structure is the major regulator of homeostasis?
A) Cerebellum
B) Thalamus
C) Hypothalamus ✓
D) Pons
Explanation: The hypothalamus controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, and autonomic
functions.
8. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is produced primarily by:
A) Arachnoid villi
B) Dural sinuses
C) Choroid plexuses ✓
D) Ependymal cells directly
Explanation: Choroid plexuses, networks of capillaries in the ventricles, filter blood plasma to
produce CSF.
9. Cranial Nerve V is the:
A) Facial Nerve
B) Vagus Nerve
C) Trigeminal Nerve ✓
D) Vestibulocochlear Nerve
, Explanation: CN V (Trigeminal) is the major sensory nerve for the face and muscles of
mastication.
Chapter 15: Autonomic Nervous System
10. The "rest and digest" division of the ANS is the:
A) Somatic
B) Sympathetic
C) Parasympathetic ✓
D) Enteric
Explanation: The parasympathetic division conserves energy, lowers heart rate, and stimulates
digestion.
11. Preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic division originate in the:
A) Brainstem and sacral spinal cord
B) Thoracic and lumbar spinal cord ✓
C) Cervical spinal cord
D) Dorsal root ganglia
*Explanation: Sympathetic preganglionic cell bodies are in the lateral gray horns of T1-L2
segments.*
12. The neurotransmitter released by all autonomic preganglionic neurons is:
A) Norepinephrine
B) Epinephrine
C) Dopamine
D) Acetylcholine ✓
Explanation: All ANS preganglionic neurons (sympathetic and parasympathetic) release ACh
onto nicotinic receptors.
Chapter 16: Sensory, Motor, and Integrative Systems
13. The process by which a sensory receptor converts a stimulus into an electrical signal is:
A) Propagation
B) Transduction ✓
C) Perception
D) Modulation
Explanation: Sensory transduction is the conversion of stimulus energy into a graded receptor
potential.
14. Which tract carries sensory information for touch, pressure, and proprioception to the
cortex?
