BIOD 322 Neuroscience Module 4: Sensory & Motor
Systems Exam 2026/2027 UPDATE UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Which type of sensory receptor is specifically sensitive to mechanical pressure
or distortion?
A. Mechanoreceptors
B. Photoreceptors
C. Chemoreceptors
D. Thermoreceptors
Answer: A
Rationale: Mechanoreceptors respond to physical deformation of the plasma membrane
caused by touch, pressure, stretch, or vibration.
2. The Golgi tendon organ is primarily responsible for detecting which of the
following?
A. Muscle length
B. Joint angle
C. Muscle tension
D. Skin temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Golgi tendon organs are located in tendons and sense the force of muscle
contraction, providing feedback on muscle tension.
,3. Where do the cell bodies of upper motor neurons primarily reside?
A. Ventral horn of the spinal cord
B. Dorsal root ganglion
C. Cerebellar cortex
D. Primary motor cortex
Answer: D
Rationale: Upper motor neurons originate in the cerebral cortex (specifically the primary
motor cortex) or brainstem and carry motor information down to lower motor neurons.
4. Which area of the retina contains the highest concentration of cones and
provides the highest visual acuity?
A. Fovea centralis
B. Optic disc
C. Peripheral retina
D. Ora serrata
Answer: A
Rationale: The fovea is a small pit in the macula of the retina that provides the clearest
vision because it is packed with cone photoreceptors.
5. The primary auditory cortex is located within which lobe of the brain?
A. Frontal lobe
B. Occipital lobe
C. Temporal lobe
D. Parietal lobe
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyri) is located in the superior temporal
gyrus of the temporal lobe.
, 6. Which vestibular structure is responsible for detecting linear acceleration in
the horizontal plane?
A. Semicircular canals
B. Utricle
C. Saccule
D. Cochlea
Answer: B
Rationale: The utricle detects horizontal linear acceleration, while the saccule detects
vertical linear acceleration.
7. Which ascending tract carries information regarding fine touch, vibration, and
proprioception to the brain?
A. Spinothalamic tract
B. Corticospinal tract
C. Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway
D. Spinocerebellar tract
Answer: C
Rationale: The DCML pathway is responsible for transmitting fine touch, vibration, and
conscious proprioception.
8. Complex motor planning and the preparation of voluntary movements are
primarily functions of which area?
A. Primary motor cortex
B. Occipital cortex
C. Primary somatosensory cortex
D. Premotor cortex
Answer: D
Rationale: The premotor cortex is involved in the selection and planning of movements,
often in response to external cues.
Systems Exam 2026/2027 UPDATE UPDATED ACTUAL
Questions and CORRECT Answers
1. Which type of sensory receptor is specifically sensitive to mechanical pressure
or distortion?
A. Mechanoreceptors
B. Photoreceptors
C. Chemoreceptors
D. Thermoreceptors
Answer: A
Rationale: Mechanoreceptors respond to physical deformation of the plasma membrane
caused by touch, pressure, stretch, or vibration.
2. The Golgi tendon organ is primarily responsible for detecting which of the
following?
A. Muscle length
B. Joint angle
C. Muscle tension
D. Skin temperature
Answer: C
Rationale: Golgi tendon organs are located in tendons and sense the force of muscle
contraction, providing feedback on muscle tension.
,3. Where do the cell bodies of upper motor neurons primarily reside?
A. Ventral horn of the spinal cord
B. Dorsal root ganglion
C. Cerebellar cortex
D. Primary motor cortex
Answer: D
Rationale: Upper motor neurons originate in the cerebral cortex (specifically the primary
motor cortex) or brainstem and carry motor information down to lower motor neurons.
4. Which area of the retina contains the highest concentration of cones and
provides the highest visual acuity?
A. Fovea centralis
B. Optic disc
C. Peripheral retina
D. Ora serrata
Answer: A
Rationale: The fovea is a small pit in the macula of the retina that provides the clearest
vision because it is packed with cone photoreceptors.
5. The primary auditory cortex is located within which lobe of the brain?
A. Frontal lobe
B. Occipital lobe
C. Temporal lobe
D. Parietal lobe
Answer: C
Rationale: The primary auditory cortex (Heschl’s gyri) is located in the superior temporal
gyrus of the temporal lobe.
, 6. Which vestibular structure is responsible for detecting linear acceleration in
the horizontal plane?
A. Semicircular canals
B. Utricle
C. Saccule
D. Cochlea
Answer: B
Rationale: The utricle detects horizontal linear acceleration, while the saccule detects
vertical linear acceleration.
7. Which ascending tract carries information regarding fine touch, vibration, and
proprioception to the brain?
A. Spinothalamic tract
B. Corticospinal tract
C. Dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway
D. Spinocerebellar tract
Answer: C
Rationale: The DCML pathway is responsible for transmitting fine touch, vibration, and
conscious proprioception.
8. Complex motor planning and the preparation of voluntary movements are
primarily functions of which area?
A. Primary motor cortex
B. Occipital cortex
C. Primary somatosensory cortex
D. Premotor cortex
Answer: D
Rationale: The premotor cortex is involved in the selection and planning of movements,
often in response to external cues.
