1 | Page
BIOL 252 FINAL PRACTICE EXAM 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS |TOP RATED VERSION FOR 2026 |RATED A+
|NEW AND REVISED
1. what is the definition of homeostasis?: the maintenance of a relatively stable and constant internal
environment
2. Why is there a limit to how large a cell can be?: as the size of the cell increase, the distance between the
core of the cell and the surface of the cell increases, making it more diflcult to transport materials between those two areas
3. Which type of lipid is most abundant in plasma membranes?: phospholipids
4. If a membrane-bound protein is an integral protein, how might we best describe this
protein?: this is a protein that spans the entire width of the plasma membrane, such that is has surfaces that project into
both the extracellular fluid and the intracellular fluid.
5. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins that function to catalyze specific
chemical reactions are called: enzymes
6. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins to which chemical sig-
nals/messengers bind are known as: receptors
7. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins that enable the body to distinguish
its own cells from foreign cells are known as: cell-identity markers
8. Let's assume that the concentration of glucose inside a cell is 0.50osm and that we
have immersed that cell in a solution of glucose that has a concentra-tion of 0.25osm.
Glucose requires a carrier protein to move across the plasma membrane. If we want
to move glucose from the outside of the cell to the inside of the cell, would the
carrier protein be carrying out facilitated diffusion or active transport?: active transport
9. If the osmolarity inside a cell is 0.3osm, and we place that cell in a beaker of sodium
chloride that has a concentration of 0.3osm, how do we best describe that solution of
sodium chloride?: isotonic
10. If the osmolarity inside a cell is 0.3osm, and we place that cell in a beaker of sodium
chloride that has a concentration of 0.1osm, how do we best describe that solution of
sodium chloride?: hypotonic
,2 | Page
11. if a red blood cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, what will happen to the cell
with regards to osmosis?: osmosis will occur such that water moves from the inside to the outside of the cell,
causing the cell to shrink in volume
12. The release of materials from cells via vesicles that fuse with the plasma
membrane is called:: exocytosis
13. The nervous system carries out its functions by performing three broad categories
of duties. First, it receives information about the internal and external environments
and relay that information. Second, it processes the information to determine if a
response is necessary. Third, it sends commands out to carry out responses. Which
part of the nervous system is responsible for the first duty, which is to receive
information about the internal and external environments and relay that information?: the
atterent division of the peripheral nervous system
14. On a neuron, what do we call the area that forma the very first part of the axon?:
axon hillock
15. On a neuron what do we call an area on the axon that is surrounded by myelin?:
internode
16. What is the resting membrane potential?: the ditterence in charge across the plasma membrane of
a cell at rest
17. What do we call change in polarization that makes the resting membrane
potential more positive than -70 mv?: depolarization
18. What do we call a change in polarization that makes that resting membrane
potential more negative than -70mv?: hyperpolarization
19. Sodium channels that open in response to a local change in electrical potential
are called: voltage-gated sodium channels
20. Sodium channels that open in response to chemical messenger binding to them are
called: ligand-gated sodium channels
21. Where on a neuron might we find a high concentration of voltage-gated ion
channels?: the axon hillock
22. Where on neurons are local potentials typically generated?: the cell body.
23. Which part of this diagram indicates a rapid flow of potassium out of the cell
though voltage-gated potassium channels?: d
,3 | Page
24. which part of this diagram indicates a rapid flow of sodium into the cell
through voltage-gated sodium channels?: b
25. Which part of the diagram indicates that the cell is at the resting membrane
potential?: a
26. During an action, and for a short time afterward, it is impossible to stimulate
another action potential at the same spot one the membrane. What do we call this?: the
refractory period
27. The area where two neurons come together is called a: synapse
28. As long as they are present in the synaptic cleft, neurotransmitters will continues
to bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron. Which of the following is not a
method by which neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft?: inactivation by
binding of antibodies to the neuro transmitter
29. How does an inhibitory gaba-ergic synapse differ from an excitatory cholin-ergic
synapse?: at a gaba-ergic synapse, ligand-gated cl- channels open; the influx of cl- into the post-synaptic neuron cause the
membrane potential to because hyperpolarized, thus making it more likely that the threshold potential will be reached.
30. An excitatory post-synaptic potential is a local potential in the post-synaptic
neuron that involves depolarization of the membrane. The strength of the
depolarization, perhaps to eventually reach the threshold potential of -55 mv, can be
increased through processes of summation. The type of summation that occurs a
single axon rapidly and repeatedly releases neurotransmitter to produce a greater
overall influx of sodium into the post-synaptic neuron is called:: temporal summation
31. What is the definition of a reflex?: an involuntary, stereotyped reaction of a gland or muscle to stimulation
32. What is the name for a reflex that involves skeletal muscle?: somatic reflex
33. Which of the following is true about muscle spindles?: they monitor the positions and movements
(stretch) of our muscles.
34. Which division of the peripheral nervous system is the autonomic nervous system a part
of?: etterent (motor) division
BIOL 252 FINAL PRACTICE EXAM 2026 ALL QUESTIONS AND
VERIFIED ANSWERS |TOP RATED VERSION FOR 2026 |RATED A+
|NEW AND REVISED
1. what is the definition of homeostasis?: the maintenance of a relatively stable and constant internal
environment
2. Why is there a limit to how large a cell can be?: as the size of the cell increase, the distance between the
core of the cell and the surface of the cell increases, making it more diflcult to transport materials between those two areas
3. Which type of lipid is most abundant in plasma membranes?: phospholipids
4. If a membrane-bound protein is an integral protein, how might we best describe this
protein?: this is a protein that spans the entire width of the plasma membrane, such that is has surfaces that project into
both the extracellular fluid and the intracellular fluid.
5. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins that function to catalyze specific
chemical reactions are called: enzymes
6. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins to which chemical sig-
nals/messengers bind are known as: receptors
7. There are several types of membrane-bound proteins that can be found in
plasma membranes. Membrane-bound proteins that enable the body to distinguish
its own cells from foreign cells are known as: cell-identity markers
8. Let's assume that the concentration of glucose inside a cell is 0.50osm and that we
have immersed that cell in a solution of glucose that has a concentra-tion of 0.25osm.
Glucose requires a carrier protein to move across the plasma membrane. If we want
to move glucose from the outside of the cell to the inside of the cell, would the
carrier protein be carrying out facilitated diffusion or active transport?: active transport
9. If the osmolarity inside a cell is 0.3osm, and we place that cell in a beaker of sodium
chloride that has a concentration of 0.3osm, how do we best describe that solution of
sodium chloride?: isotonic
10. If the osmolarity inside a cell is 0.3osm, and we place that cell in a beaker of sodium
chloride that has a concentration of 0.1osm, how do we best describe that solution of
sodium chloride?: hypotonic
,2 | Page
11. if a red blood cell is placed into a hypertonic solution, what will happen to the cell
with regards to osmosis?: osmosis will occur such that water moves from the inside to the outside of the cell,
causing the cell to shrink in volume
12. The release of materials from cells via vesicles that fuse with the plasma
membrane is called:: exocytosis
13. The nervous system carries out its functions by performing three broad categories
of duties. First, it receives information about the internal and external environments
and relay that information. Second, it processes the information to determine if a
response is necessary. Third, it sends commands out to carry out responses. Which
part of the nervous system is responsible for the first duty, which is to receive
information about the internal and external environments and relay that information?: the
atterent division of the peripheral nervous system
14. On a neuron, what do we call the area that forma the very first part of the axon?:
axon hillock
15. On a neuron what do we call an area on the axon that is surrounded by myelin?:
internode
16. What is the resting membrane potential?: the ditterence in charge across the plasma membrane of
a cell at rest
17. What do we call change in polarization that makes the resting membrane
potential more positive than -70 mv?: depolarization
18. What do we call a change in polarization that makes that resting membrane
potential more negative than -70mv?: hyperpolarization
19. Sodium channels that open in response to a local change in electrical potential
are called: voltage-gated sodium channels
20. Sodium channels that open in response to chemical messenger binding to them are
called: ligand-gated sodium channels
21. Where on a neuron might we find a high concentration of voltage-gated ion
channels?: the axon hillock
22. Where on neurons are local potentials typically generated?: the cell body.
23. Which part of this diagram indicates a rapid flow of potassium out of the cell
though voltage-gated potassium channels?: d
,3 | Page
24. which part of this diagram indicates a rapid flow of sodium into the cell
through voltage-gated sodium channels?: b
25. Which part of the diagram indicates that the cell is at the resting membrane
potential?: a
26. During an action, and for a short time afterward, it is impossible to stimulate
another action potential at the same spot one the membrane. What do we call this?: the
refractory period
27. The area where two neurons come together is called a: synapse
28. As long as they are present in the synaptic cleft, neurotransmitters will continues
to bind to receptors on the post-synaptic neuron. Which of the following is not a
method by which neurotransmitters are removed from the synaptic cleft?: inactivation by
binding of antibodies to the neuro transmitter
29. How does an inhibitory gaba-ergic synapse differ from an excitatory cholin-ergic
synapse?: at a gaba-ergic synapse, ligand-gated cl- channels open; the influx of cl- into the post-synaptic neuron cause the
membrane potential to because hyperpolarized, thus making it more likely that the threshold potential will be reached.
30. An excitatory post-synaptic potential is a local potential in the post-synaptic
neuron that involves depolarization of the membrane. The strength of the
depolarization, perhaps to eventually reach the threshold potential of -55 mv, can be
increased through processes of summation. The type of summation that occurs a
single axon rapidly and repeatedly releases neurotransmitter to produce a greater
overall influx of sodium into the post-synaptic neuron is called:: temporal summation
31. What is the definition of a reflex?: an involuntary, stereotyped reaction of a gland or muscle to stimulation
32. What is the name for a reflex that involves skeletal muscle?: somatic reflex
33. Which of the following is true about muscle spindles?: they monitor the positions and movements
(stretch) of our muscles.
34. Which division of the peripheral nervous system is the autonomic nervous system a part
of?: etterent (motor) division
