Physiology II | Portage Learning | Q & A | 2026 Edition
1. Which of the following best describes the five special senses?
A) Vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell
B) Vision, hearing, equilibrium, taste, and smell
C) Vision, hearing, pain, taste, and smell
D) Vision, equilibrium, temperature, taste, and smell
Correct Answer: Vision, hearing, equilibrium, taste, and smell
Rationale: The five special senses are vision, hearing, equilibrium (balance), taste, and smell. These
senses have specialized organs containing specialized receptor cells, which carry impulses by way of
specialized somatic and visceral afferents. Touch, pain, and temperature are general senses, not special
senses.
2. What sense does NOT have specialized sense organs?
A) Smell
B) Equilibrium
C) Touch
D) Vision
Correct Answer: Touch
Rationale: Touch is a general sense that uses receptors distributed throughout the skin and body, rather
than a specialized organ like the eye or ear. Smell, equilibrium, and vision all rely on specialized organs
or structures with dedicated receptor cells.
3. Which structure is the transparent anterior portion of the outer fibrous layer of the eye?
A) Sclera
B) Choroid
,C) Cornea
D) Retina
Correct Answer: Cornea
Rationale: The cornea is the transparent, avascular structure at the very front of the eye that allows light
to enter. The sclera is the white, opaque part of the outer layer. The choroid and retina are part of the
middle and inner layers, respectively.
4. What is the name of the white, opaque portion of the outer fibrous layer of the eye?
A) Cornea
B) Iris
C) Sclera
D) Conjunctiva
Correct Answer: Sclera
Rationale: The sclera is the tough, white, fibrous outer layer that provides shape and protection to the
eye. It is continuous with the cornea at the front of the eye.
5. The middle layer of the eye includes which of the following structures?
A) Choroid, ciliary body, and iris
B) Cornea and sclera
C) Retina and optic nerve
D) Aqueous humor and vitreous humor
Correct Answer: Choroid, ciliary body, and iris
Rationale: The middle (vascular) layer of the eye, also called the uvea, consists of the choroid, ciliary
body, and iris. The choroid provides blood supply to the retina.
, 6. What is the primary function of the choroid?
A) To refract light entering the eye
B) To supply blood to other areas of the eye
C) To produce aqueous humor
D) To detect color vision
Correct Answer: To supply blood to other areas of the eye
Rationale: The choroid is a highly vascular layer containing blood vessels that nourish the retina and
other eye structures. It is part of the middle layer of the eye.
7. The pupil is best described as a hole in the:
A) Cornea
B) Lens
C) Iris
D) Retina
Correct Answer: Iris
Rationale: The pupil is the central opening in the iris that allows light to enter the eye. The iris is a
pigmented, muscular structure that controls the size of the pupil to regulate the amount of light
entering the eye.
8. Which structure is the inner sensory layer of the eye?
A) Sclera
B) Choroid
C) Retina
D) Cornea