BIO 168 Detailed Questions and Correct Answers Exam 2026

BIO 168 BIO 168 Detailed Questions and Correct Answers Exam 2026 List the functions of the Nervous System Receptors detect changes in the internal or external environment. Information is sent to the CNS by the sensory division of the PNS. Information processing Motor commands are carried by the motor division of the PNS. Effectors respond to those commands and change their activities. What makes up the Central Nervous System? Brain & Spinal cord What makes up the Peripheral Nervous System? What does the somatic nervous system control? What does the Automatic nervous system control? Smooth muscle Cardiac muscle Glands Adipose tissue Define neuron? All neural tissue outside the CNS Skeletal Muscles Basic functional unit of nervous system. Nerve cells specialized for intercellular communication. Define Synapse? Specialized site of communication between neuron & another cell. What are neurons unable to do due to their lack of centrioles? So, if lost to injury or disease, seldom replaced. What are the functions of the following receptors? Interoreceptors Special sense receptors proprioceptors somatic sensory receptors exteroreceptors They Cannot Divide Somatic sensory receptors- position, touch, pressure pain and temperature Special sensory receptors- smell, taste, vision, balance, hearing Interoceptors (inside)-Monitor various body systems Proprioceptors- Monitors body position and movement of joints and muscles BIO 168 BIO 168 Exteroceptors (outside)- Monitors sensations from the external environment. What class of neuron is the most common class found in the CNS? Multipolar What are the function of Neuroglia? Maintenance of blood-brain Secretion of cerebral spinal fluid Phagocytosis What is the functions of Microglia? Support & Protect neurons Persist as mobile phagocytic cells Remove cellular debris, waste products, and pathogens. What blocks many medications from making direct contact with neurons of the CNS? what type of Neuroglia cells provide this barrier? Astrocytes Maintain the blood-brain barrier Isolates CNS from chemicals and hormones in the blood. What would be the result of extensive damage to oligodendrocytes in the CNS? Loss of sensation and motor control. How do Schwann cells participate in the regeneration of the PNS nerves? Participate in Axon repair What is meant by Membrane Potential? Unequal charge distribution across a cell membrane. What are leaky channels? what substances can pass through these leaky channels? Major reason Membrane Potential Exists. Potassium ions diffuse out of the cell k+ channels. Sodium ions diffuse in cell through Na+ channels. What would result if the sodium-potassium ATPase failed to function? maintain stable resting potential. It wouldn't What type of gated channels responds to changes in the transmembrane potential? Voltage-gated Channels What occurs as a result of the opening of sodium channels in the membrane? Depolarization How do muscle tissue action potentials compare with neuronal tissue action potentials? Action potentials: Nuerons v. Muscle tissue Action potentials: last longer in muscle fib Muscle fibers conduct action potentials only by continuous propagtion. Muscle fibers conduct and action potential at slower speeds. BIO 168 BIO 168 What is meant by the absolute refractory period? Time during which the membrane cannot respond to any further stimulation, no matter how strong. What ions triggers the release of Ach in the synaptic cleft? Calcium ions rush into axon terminal. Triggers exocytosis of synaptic vesicles and release of Ach into synaptic cleft. Are spinal nerves sensory or motor? Both sensory and motor What two spinal segments make up a spinal nerve? Ventral root dorsal root At what age does the verebral column continue to elongate but the spinal cord does not? Age 4 What are the spinal meninges and what is their function? membranes surrounding the spinal cord. Provide physical stability and shock absorption. Meninges is a specialized Blood vessels within levels deliver oxygen and nutrients to the spinal cord. Dura meter, Arachnoid mater, Pia mater Where is the subdoral space located? Dura Mater During a spinal tap; into what space is the needle inserted and inferior to what region? Subarachnoid Space What affect would a vival disease that destroys the cells of the anterior gray horn have on the body? Muscle weakness or paralysis Pia Mater Grey Mater Information Processing White Mater Information Transfer Grey Mater of CNS? Grey Mater of PNS? White Mater CNS? Tract White Mater PNS? Nerve Nuclei Ganglion What disease is caused by the virus of Chickenpox? What part of the nervous system does this virus infect? Shingles Dorsal root ganglia BIO 168 BIO 168 What is a Nerve Plexus? Complex, interwoven network of nerves What nerve is cruical for breathing? where does it orginate? Phrenic nerve C3-C5 Provides entire nerve supply to the diaphragm Damage to the spinal cord in the region could result in the person not being able to breathe on their own. What would be the outcome for a person who has a crush injury to the C3-C5 spinal segments? Inability to breathe What are the main division of the adult human brain? Cerebrum Diencephalon Brain stem cerebellum Where are the ventricles located and what do they contain? Central nervous system filled with cerebrospinal fluid What are the functions of the medulla oblongata? blood pressure digestion Heart rate What two brain regions are connected by the pons? cerebellum brain stem What results from stimulation of the reticular formation? Increases alertness and attentiveness Damage to RAS procedures unconsciousness Reticular activating system What brain structure relays sensory information the cerebral Cortex? Thalamus What structure provides the principal link between the nervous and the endocrine systems? Hypothalamus What are the functions of the hypothalamus? what symptoms could indicate a brain tumor is located in the hypothalamus? Controls autonomic centers secretes hormones Link nervous and endocrine Body temperature, Day to night cycles of activity Symptoms: Mood swings, thirst, hunger What are the functions of the cerebellum? Maintain proper posture and equilibrium Receives input from the motor cortex and basal nuclei. Compares intended movement with to actual movement. BIO 168 BIO 168 If damage leads to uncoordinated List the protective structures of the brain? Meninges cerebrospinal fluid blood-brain barrier What is the importance of the basal nuclei? Cranial bones Provide general pattern and rhythm What brain structure is important in storage and recall of new longterm memories? Hippocampus What are the functions of the limbic sytem? what symptoms would indicate damage to the limbic system? Where is the visual cortex located? Functions? Primary visual Cortex Receives visual information from lateral geniculate nucleus. Where is the auditory cortex located? Functions? Responsible for monitoring auditory information sound Primary Auditory Cortex What cortical regions are responsible for interpreting sensory information and coordinating motor responses? Association Area What area of the brain would be damaged by a stroke that causes loss of movement in right arm? Left Cerebral hemisphere Where is general interpretive center and speech center located? hemisphere Left Cerebral What area of the brain performs spatial visualization and analysis? Right Cerebral hemisphere What results when the corpus callosum is surgically cut? why is this performed? Allows communication and coordication between the left and right side. If cut the brain could not communicate between hemispheres. Describe Thermoreceptors: where are they found? Free nerve endings Located in the dermis Skeletal muscles liver hypothalamus Temperature receptors What is Alzheimer disease: how is it characterized? Progressive disorder characterized by loss of higher order cerebral functions. BIO 168 BIO 168 Most common cause of senile dementia Memory loss What do autonomic conduct impulses to? Brain Spinal cord What division of the ANS is known as the rest and digest division? Parasympathetic What division of the ANS as known as the fight and flight division? Sympathetic Division Almost 75 % of all parasympathetic outflow travels through which cranial nerve? Vagus Nerve Beta blocker are used for treating what symptoms? Hypertension High blood pressure What occurs to the following during sympathetic division activation? BIO 168