PHS3341: Physiology of Sensation, Regulation, Movement and Reproduction
Midterm 1 — 500 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
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Table of Contents
1. Exam Overview
2. Domain 1: Homeostasis & Body Fluids (70 Questions)
3. Domain 2: Cell Membrane Transport (80 Questions)
4. Domain 3: Membrane Potentials & Excitable Tissues (80 Questions)
5. Domain 4: Action Potentials & Synaptic Transmission (90 Questions)
6. Domain 5: Neural Tissue & Glial Cells (60 Questions)
7. Domain 6: Muscle Physiology (70 Questions)
8. Domain 7: Autonomic Nervous System (50 Questions)
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Exam Overview
PHS3341: Physiology of Sensation, Regulation, Movement and Reproduction is a 3-unit
course offered at the University of Ottawa. It is Part I of a comprehensive study of human
physiology with an emphasis on regulatory mechanisms. The course includes the biophysical
basis of excitable tissues and the physiology of the nervous, muscular, endocrine, and
reproductive systems .
Midterm 1 Format:
- Worth: 24% of final grade
- Format: Multiple choice and short essay-style questions
,- Duration: Typically 75-90 minutes
- Covers: Lectures 1–5 (Homeostasis, Body Fluids, Transport Mechanisms, Membrane
Potentials, Action Potentials, Synaptic Transmission, Neural Tissue, Muscle Physiology)
Core Domains Covered (Midterm 1):
- Homeostasis & Body Fluids: Regulated variables, feedback systems (negative, positive,
feedforward), body fluid compartments (ICF, ECF, plasma, ISF), osmolarity, tonicity
- Cell Membrane Transport: Diffusion, simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, ion
channels, primary and secondary active transport, endocytosis
- Membrane Potentials: Resting membrane potential, Nernst equation, Goldman-Hodgkin-
Katz equation, equilibrium potential, Ohm's Law
- Action Potentials & Synaptic Transmission: Graded potentials, action potential phases,
saltatory conduction, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters, postsynaptic receptors
- Neural Tissue & Glial Cells: Neurons, dendrites, axons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes,
Schwann cells, microglia, ependymal cells
- Muscle Physiology: Skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle, excitation-contraction coupling,
troponin/tropomyosin, cross-bridge cycling
- Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions,
neurotransmitters, receptors
Each question includes four answer options, the verified correct answer, and a detailed
rationale.
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Domain 1: Homeostasis & Body Fluids
(70 Questions)
Question 1
What is the primary concept of homeostasis?
,A) The body maintains a completely constant internal environment at all times
B) The body maintains relatively stable internal conditions despite external changes
C) The body allows internal conditions to fluctuate freely with the environment
D) The body only regulates temperature and pH
Correct Answer: B) The body maintains relatively stable internal conditions despite external
changes
Rationale: Homeostasis is the maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions even
though the external environment changes continuously. It does not mean the internal
environment is completely constant; rather, variables fluctuate within a predictable range .
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Question 2
Which of the following is a regulated (sensed) variable?
A) Heart rate
B) Blood hematocrit
C) Blood pressure
D) Testosterone levels
Correct Answer: C) Blood pressure
Rationale: Regulated (sensed) variables, such as blood pressure and body temperature, are
maintained within a predictable range by homeostatic mechanisms. Heart rate, blood
hematocrit, and testosterone levels are examples of non-regulated variables that remain
within a normal range over time but are not homeostatically regulated .
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, Question 3
Which of the following is a non-regulated variable?
A) Body temperature
B) Blood pressure
C) Blood hematocrit
D) pH
Correct Answer: C) Blood hematocrit
Rationale: Blood hematocrit is a non-regulated variable. While it remains within a normal
range over time, it is not homeostatically regulated. Regulated variables include blood
pressure, body temperature, and pH .
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Question 4
What is the set point in a homeostatic control system?
A) The sensor that detects changes
B) The target value around which a regulated variable is maintained
C) The effector that produces a response
D) The error detector that compares values
Correct Answer: B) The target value around which a regulated variable is maintained
Rationale: The set point is the target value or range around which a regulated variable is
maintained. It can change over time (e.g., fever raises the set point for body temperature) .
Midterm 1 — 500 Practice Questions with Verified Answers & Detailed Rationales
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Table of Contents
1. Exam Overview
2. Domain 1: Homeostasis & Body Fluids (70 Questions)
3. Domain 2: Cell Membrane Transport (80 Questions)
4. Domain 3: Membrane Potentials & Excitable Tissues (80 Questions)
5. Domain 4: Action Potentials & Synaptic Transmission (90 Questions)
6. Domain 5: Neural Tissue & Glial Cells (60 Questions)
7. Domain 6: Muscle Physiology (70 Questions)
8. Domain 7: Autonomic Nervous System (50 Questions)
---
Exam Overview
PHS3341: Physiology of Sensation, Regulation, Movement and Reproduction is a 3-unit
course offered at the University of Ottawa. It is Part I of a comprehensive study of human
physiology with an emphasis on regulatory mechanisms. The course includes the biophysical
basis of excitable tissues and the physiology of the nervous, muscular, endocrine, and
reproductive systems .
Midterm 1 Format:
- Worth: 24% of final grade
- Format: Multiple choice and short essay-style questions
,- Duration: Typically 75-90 minutes
- Covers: Lectures 1–5 (Homeostasis, Body Fluids, Transport Mechanisms, Membrane
Potentials, Action Potentials, Synaptic Transmission, Neural Tissue, Muscle Physiology)
Core Domains Covered (Midterm 1):
- Homeostasis & Body Fluids: Regulated variables, feedback systems (negative, positive,
feedforward), body fluid compartments (ICF, ECF, plasma, ISF), osmolarity, tonicity
- Cell Membrane Transport: Diffusion, simple diffusion, facilitated diffusion, osmosis, ion
channels, primary and secondary active transport, endocytosis
- Membrane Potentials: Resting membrane potential, Nernst equation, Goldman-Hodgkin-
Katz equation, equilibrium potential, Ohm's Law
- Action Potentials & Synaptic Transmission: Graded potentials, action potential phases,
saltatory conduction, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters, postsynaptic receptors
- Neural Tissue & Glial Cells: Neurons, dendrites, axons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes,
Schwann cells, microglia, ependymal cells
- Muscle Physiology: Skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle, excitation-contraction coupling,
troponin/tropomyosin, cross-bridge cycling
- Autonomic Nervous System: Sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions,
neurotransmitters, receptors
Each question includes four answer options, the verified correct answer, and a detailed
rationale.
---
Domain 1: Homeostasis & Body Fluids
(70 Questions)
Question 1
What is the primary concept of homeostasis?
,A) The body maintains a completely constant internal environment at all times
B) The body maintains relatively stable internal conditions despite external changes
C) The body allows internal conditions to fluctuate freely with the environment
D) The body only regulates temperature and pH
Correct Answer: B) The body maintains relatively stable internal conditions despite external
changes
Rationale: Homeostasis is the maintenance of relatively stable internal conditions even
though the external environment changes continuously. It does not mean the internal
environment is completely constant; rather, variables fluctuate within a predictable range .
---
Question 2
Which of the following is a regulated (sensed) variable?
A) Heart rate
B) Blood hematocrit
C) Blood pressure
D) Testosterone levels
Correct Answer: C) Blood pressure
Rationale: Regulated (sensed) variables, such as blood pressure and body temperature, are
maintained within a predictable range by homeostatic mechanisms. Heart rate, blood
hematocrit, and testosterone levels are examples of non-regulated variables that remain
within a normal range over time but are not homeostatically regulated .
---
, Question 3
Which of the following is a non-regulated variable?
A) Body temperature
B) Blood pressure
C) Blood hematocrit
D) pH
Correct Answer: C) Blood hematocrit
Rationale: Blood hematocrit is a non-regulated variable. While it remains within a normal
range over time, it is not homeostatically regulated. Regulated variables include blood
pressure, body temperature, and pH .
---
Question 4
What is the set point in a homeostatic control system?
A) The sensor that detects changes
B) The target value around which a regulated variable is maintained
C) The effector that produces a response
D) The error detector that compares values
Correct Answer: B) The target value around which a regulated variable is maintained
Rationale: The set point is the target value or range around which a regulated variable is
maintained. It can change over time (e.g., fever raises the set point for body temperature) .
