PORTAGE LEARNING ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY II
FINAL EXAM – COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027 –
STUDY GUIDE (GRADED A+)
This is a collection of cell bodies found in the peripheral nervous system.
- ANSWER: Ganglia
This part of the autonomic system increases digestion.
- ANSWER: Parasympathetic
The ventral root of a nerve contains what type of neurons?
- ANSWER: Motor (Efferent)
This part of a neuron conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
- ANSWER: Axon
An interneuron inside the spinal cord is part of the:
- ANSWER: Central nervous system
Describe the synthesis and storage of neurotransmitters.
- ANSWER: The neuron cell body manufactures neurotransmitters, which are stored in
secretory vesicles at the end of axon terminals.
An afferent neuron carries information:
- ANSWER: From the peripheral to the central nervous system
What is the location and function of Astrocytes?
- ANSWER: Astrocytes form the blood/brain barrier, are found in the brain, and are part
of the CNS
A patient's left thumb was severed in a cooking accident and then reattached during
surgery. Would the patient be expected to regrow axons in their thumb? Why or why not?
- ANSWER: Yes; Peripheral nerves can regenerate the length of the axon through axonal
regeneration because of the growth of Schwann cells ahead of the axon.
,Name and describe what is occurring in the neuron cell membrane in section 2 of the
diagram. Include the charge of the membrane during this phase.
- ANSWER: Depolarization: The sodium gates open and sodium rushes into the axon
during the depolarization phase of the action potential.
Voltage travels past zero and then on up to +40 mV.
At rest, a neuron plasma membrane is:
- ANSWER: -70mV
Which of the following is false concerning the sodium-potassium pump?
- ANSWER: The overall effect is a negative charge on the outside of the membrane.
True or false: A sensory neuron is signaling the body of a light touch. This means that the
strength of the action potential is weaker than usual. Explain your reasoning.
- ANSWER: False. The action potential is always the same. The frequency and number
of nuerons activated change the increase in intensity.
Which of the following statements is false concerning the neuromuscular junction?
- ANSWER: Ach is released from the presynaptic motor neuron to cause an action
potential in the muscle fiber.
How is a message sent from one neuron to another?
- ANSWER: A signal travels from the cell body through the axon and releases
neurotransmitters into the synapse. These nuerotransmitters bind with receptor that carry
the message to the dendrite of the next neuron, and the process begins again.
What neurotransmitter helps regulate emotional responses and muscle tone?
- ANSWER: Dopamine
In a reflex, the ____________ neuron conducts nerve impulses along a pathway towards
the central nervous system.
- ANSWER: Sensory (afferent)
This part of a reflex is inside the CNS, made up of one or more synapses.
- ANSWER: The integration center
, What is true about the stretch reflex?
- ANSWER: The muscle spindle detects stretch within the muscle.
What is true about the flexor withdrawal reflex?
- ANSWER: It involves excitatory interneurons.
It involves inhibitory interneurons.
Your doctor taps on your patellar tendon. List out the steps, in detail, of the nervous
pathway of the reflex he is testing. Include any sensory organs involved and the action of
the reflex.
- ANSWER: Stretch on patellar tendon (tapping patellar tendon)
Muscle spindle detects stretch
Afferent (sensory) neuron through DRG
Spinal cord
Synapses directly on a motor neuron (efferent)
Action: To muscle fiber to contract quadriceps (kicking foot)
Botulism is a disease caused by a neurotoxin that interferes with the release of
Acetylcholine. Patients with this disease experience flaccid paralysis, or the inability to
contract their muscles. Explain why this would occur.
- ANSWER: Acetylcholine triggers the release of sodium ions. The sodium ions reach
the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which in turn release calcium ions that begin muscle
contraction. If acetylcholine is not able to be released, the muscle contraction would not
be possible.
This layer of the meninges is tightly attached to the brain.
- ANSWER: Pia Mater
The _______ fissure separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres.
- ANSWER: transverse median
Describe the function of the brain ventricles.
- ANSWER: The brain ventricles are located inside the brain and produce and store
cerebral spinal fluid
ll the following are functions of the hypothalamus except:
- ANSWER: Filters out unimportant sensory information
FINAL EXAM – COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW AND
PRACTICE QUESTIONS, ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027 –
STUDY GUIDE (GRADED A+)
This is a collection of cell bodies found in the peripheral nervous system.
- ANSWER: Ganglia
This part of the autonomic system increases digestion.
- ANSWER: Parasympathetic
The ventral root of a nerve contains what type of neurons?
- ANSWER: Motor (Efferent)
This part of a neuron conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
- ANSWER: Axon
An interneuron inside the spinal cord is part of the:
- ANSWER: Central nervous system
Describe the synthesis and storage of neurotransmitters.
- ANSWER: The neuron cell body manufactures neurotransmitters, which are stored in
secretory vesicles at the end of axon terminals.
An afferent neuron carries information:
- ANSWER: From the peripheral to the central nervous system
What is the location and function of Astrocytes?
- ANSWER: Astrocytes form the blood/brain barrier, are found in the brain, and are part
of the CNS
A patient's left thumb was severed in a cooking accident and then reattached during
surgery. Would the patient be expected to regrow axons in their thumb? Why or why not?
- ANSWER: Yes; Peripheral nerves can regenerate the length of the axon through axonal
regeneration because of the growth of Schwann cells ahead of the axon.
,Name and describe what is occurring in the neuron cell membrane in section 2 of the
diagram. Include the charge of the membrane during this phase.
- ANSWER: Depolarization: The sodium gates open and sodium rushes into the axon
during the depolarization phase of the action potential.
Voltage travels past zero and then on up to +40 mV.
At rest, a neuron plasma membrane is:
- ANSWER: -70mV
Which of the following is false concerning the sodium-potassium pump?
- ANSWER: The overall effect is a negative charge on the outside of the membrane.
True or false: A sensory neuron is signaling the body of a light touch. This means that the
strength of the action potential is weaker than usual. Explain your reasoning.
- ANSWER: False. The action potential is always the same. The frequency and number
of nuerons activated change the increase in intensity.
Which of the following statements is false concerning the neuromuscular junction?
- ANSWER: Ach is released from the presynaptic motor neuron to cause an action
potential in the muscle fiber.
How is a message sent from one neuron to another?
- ANSWER: A signal travels from the cell body through the axon and releases
neurotransmitters into the synapse. These nuerotransmitters bind with receptor that carry
the message to the dendrite of the next neuron, and the process begins again.
What neurotransmitter helps regulate emotional responses and muscle tone?
- ANSWER: Dopamine
In a reflex, the ____________ neuron conducts nerve impulses along a pathway towards
the central nervous system.
- ANSWER: Sensory (afferent)
This part of a reflex is inside the CNS, made up of one or more synapses.
- ANSWER: The integration center
, What is true about the stretch reflex?
- ANSWER: The muscle spindle detects stretch within the muscle.
What is true about the flexor withdrawal reflex?
- ANSWER: It involves excitatory interneurons.
It involves inhibitory interneurons.
Your doctor taps on your patellar tendon. List out the steps, in detail, of the nervous
pathway of the reflex he is testing. Include any sensory organs involved and the action of
the reflex.
- ANSWER: Stretch on patellar tendon (tapping patellar tendon)
Muscle spindle detects stretch
Afferent (sensory) neuron through DRG
Spinal cord
Synapses directly on a motor neuron (efferent)
Action: To muscle fiber to contract quadriceps (kicking foot)
Botulism is a disease caused by a neurotoxin that interferes with the release of
Acetylcholine. Patients with this disease experience flaccid paralysis, or the inability to
contract their muscles. Explain why this would occur.
- ANSWER: Acetylcholine triggers the release of sodium ions. The sodium ions reach
the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which in turn release calcium ions that begin muscle
contraction. If acetylcholine is not able to be released, the muscle contraction would not
be possible.
This layer of the meninges is tightly attached to the brain.
- ANSWER: Pia Mater
The _______ fissure separates the right and left cerebral hemispheres.
- ANSWER: transverse median
Describe the function of the brain ventricles.
- ANSWER: The brain ventricles are located inside the brain and produce and store
cerebral spinal fluid
ll the following are functions of the hypothalamus except:
- ANSWER: Filters out unimportant sensory information
