Updates
1. Which of the following best describes the focus of anatomy in contrast to physiology?
A) The study of how body parts function together
B) The study of the chemical processes within cells
C) The study of the structure of the body
D) The study of disease and its effects on the body
Correct Answer: The study of the structure of the body
Rationale: Anatomy is the study of the physical structure and organization of the body,
examining components and their arrangement . Physiology, in contrast, explores how these
body parts function together. Understanding this distinction is foundational for the course.
2. How does the nervous system integrate and control other body systems?
A) By releasing hormones into the bloodstream
B) By receiving and processing information and sending signals to muscles and glands
C) By directly filtering toxins from the blood
D) By producing digestive enzymes
Correct Answer: By receiving and processing information and sending signals to muscles and
glands
Rationale: The nervous system integrates and controls other body systems by receiving and
processing information and sending out signals to muscles and glands to elicit appropriate
responses . This allows for rapid communication and coordination.
,3. Which two parts make up the nervous system?
A) The brain and spinal cord
B) The afferent and efferent divisions
C) The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
D) The somatic and autonomic systems
Correct Answer: The central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Rationale: The nervous system is divided into two main parts: the central nervous system (CNS),
consisting of the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), which includes
all the nerves that branch out from the CNS .
4. How are the parts of the central nervous system protected?
A) By cerebrospinal fluid only
B) By the skull and vertebrae
C) By the meninges only
D) By the blood-brain barrier
Correct Answer: By the skull and vertebrae
Rationale: The brain is protected by the bony skull, and the spinal cord is protected by the
vertebrae . These structures provide critical physical protection for the CNS.
5. What is the technical term for a collection of nerve cell bodies in the central nervous system?
A) Ganglia
B) Tracts
C) Nuclei
, D) Nerves
Correct Answer: Nuclei
Rationale: In the central nervous system, a collection of cell bodies is called a nucleus . This is
distinct from a ganglion, which is a collection of cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system .
6. What is the technical term for a bundle of nerve axons in the central nervous system?
A) Nerve
B) Ganglion
C) Tract
D) Nucleus
Correct Answer: Tract
Rationale: A bundle of nerve axons in the central nervous system is called a tract . Tracts serve
as pathways that transmit signals within the CNS .
7. What is a collection of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system called?
A) Nucleus
B) Ganglion
C) Tract
D) Nerve
Correct Answer: Ganglion