6th Edition By Dale Purves & 7 Others
Questions with Correct Answers All 34 Chapters Inclusive
, Chapter : Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Multiple Choice
1. Which type(s) of electrical signals occur(s) within the neural circuit for a spinal reflex?
a. Receptor potential only
b. Action potential only
c. Synaptic potential only
d. Receptor potential and action potential only
e. Receptor potential, synaptic potential, and action potential
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
2. The resting membrane potential typically ranges from to .
a. –90 mV; 90 mV
b. 40 mV; 90 mV
c. 40 V; 90 V
d. –40 mV; –90 mV
e. 0 mV; 90 mV
Answer: d
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering
3. An action potential occurs if current injected into a neuron the neuron to
reach potential.
a. depolarizes; synaptic
b. hyperpolarizes; synaptic
c. depolarizes; threshold
d. hyperpolarizes; threshold
e. hyperpolarizes; resting
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
4. How will a neuron respond to an injection of negative current?
a. It will become hyperpolarized.
b. It will have a positive electrical response.
c. It will generate a single action potential.
d. It will generate multiple action potentials.
,e. It will reach the threshold potential.
Answer: a
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
5. The amplitude of the action potential of a given neuron is
a. larger in response to depolarizing currents of greater magnitude.
b. dependent on the magnitude of the sensory stimulus.
c. related to the number of synapses on the neuron.
d. smaller if the resting potential of the neuron is lower.
e. always the same.
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
6. Which stimulus is most likely to evoke an action potential?
a. Small hyperpolarizing current pulse
b. Large hyperpolarizing current pulse
c. Small depolarizing current pulse
d. Large depolarizing current pulse
e. Microelectrode insertion
Answer: d
Textbook Reference: Electrical Signals of Nerve Cells
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering
7. Subthreshold current injected into an axon flows along the axon and
with distance from the site of injection.
a. actively; remains constant
b. actively; decays
c. actively; grows
d. passively; remains constant
e. passively; decays
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: Long-Distance Transmission of Electrical Signals
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
8. What is the mechanism of action of most local anesthetics?
a. Hyperpolarize resting membrane potential of neurons
b. Block glutamate receptors in excitatory synapses
c. Enhance the activity of inhibitory synapses by acting on postsynaptic GABA receptors
d. Block Na+ channels involved in the generation of action potentials
e. Bind opiate receptors
Answer: d
Textbook Reference: Clinical Applications: Anesthesia and Neuronal Electrical Signaling
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
, 9. Which statement about active ion transporters is true?
a. They are selectively permeable to certain ions.
b. They are functionally similar to ion channels.
c. They allow ion movement down the concentration gradient.
d. They move all ions against the concentration gradient.
e. They move certain ions against the concentration gradient.
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: How Ion Movements Produce Electrical Signals
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
10. Which statement best describes the Nernst equation?
a. It relates the equilibrium potential of an ion to its intracellular concentration.
b. It relates the equilibrium potential of an ion to its extracellular concentration.
c. It relates the equilibrium potential of an ion to its intra- and extracellular
concentrations.
d. It relates the equilibrium potentials of multiple ions to their intracellular
concentrations.
e. It relates the equilibrium potentials of multiple ions to their intra- and extracellular
concentrations.
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Forces That Create Membrane Potentials
Bloom’s Level: 1. Remembering
11. In a two-compartment model of a cell with a K+-permeable membrane, at K+
equilibrium potential, there is flux of K+ ions.
a. a large inward
b. a large outward
c. no net
d. a small inward
e. a small outward
Answer: c
Textbook Reference: Forces That Create Membrane Potentials
Bloom’s Level: 2. Understanding
12. In a two-compartment model of a cell with a K+-permeable membrane and a 10-fold
excess of K+ in the inside compartment, how would the membrane potential change if all
K+ ions were replaced by Na+ ions?
a. It would double.
b. It would be reduced by half.
c. It would not change.
d. It would become positive.
e. No potential would be generated.
Answer: e
Textbook Reference: Forces That Create Membrane Potentials
Bloom’s Level: 3. Applying