PHYL 141 - final exam Questions and Answers Already Passed Latest Update 2025-2026
The four types of tissue: - Answersepithelial, connective, muscle, nervous
Neurons - AnswersBasic functional unit of the nervous system; Main cells of the nervous
system
The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of... - Answersbrain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consists of... - Answerscranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia,
and sensory receptors (basically everything else)
Branches off the CNS to the rest of the body
The Anatomy of a Typical Neuron consists of... - Answersdendrites, nucleus, cell body, axon
Dendrites - Answersreceive signals from other neurons, found multiple, connected to cell body
cell body - Answersthe neuron's central part, containing the nucleus; also has other organelles
like mitochondria for energy and ribosomes for protein production
axon - Answerslong, slender projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body
toawrd other neurons, muscles, or glands
stimulus - Answersevent in the external or internal environment that triggers a reaction in a
neuron
nervous system functions - Answers1.Sensation (input)
2.Integration (processing)
3.Response (output)
Sensation & Receptors - AnswersDetects stimuli - changes/events in the internal or external
environment
Receptors detect stimuli
- Organ & tissue receptors
- Cell receptors
- Receptor sites on cells
- Protein receptors
,Integration - AnswersInterneurons receive sensory signals
Interprets and compares stimuli with current and past situations
May send signals (if needed) to cause a response/effect
Response (Motor Activity) - AnswersSensory or integrative signals can activate effectors (e.g.,
muscles, glands)
Produce a response that has an effect on the internal or external environment
Afferent - AnswersSensory signals toward the CNS
Afferent is toward the Axial skeleton
Efferent - AnswersMotor signals Exit the CNS and carry towards effectors (e.g. muscles &
glands)
Efferent causes Effects
Multipolar Neuron - AnswersMultiple dendrites
Single axon
Branches into telodendria, End in axon terminals
motor neurons
Bipolar neuron - AnswersOne dendrite
One axon
,Cell body between dendrite & axon
found in sensory structures
(Pseudo)unipolar neuron - AnswersCell body offset
Axon directly receives and transmits
sensory neurons
*Debate whether receiving end has dendrites
Anaxonic Neuron - AnswersAxon difficult to discern to tell apart from dendrites
Rare in humans
*Functions and purpose not well understood*
most likely will not be on exam
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons - AnswersTransmit impulses toward the CNS
Usually (pseudo)unipolar
Motor (Efferent) Neurons - AnswersTransmit impulses from CNS to the rest of the body
Usually multipolar
Neuroglia - Answersare supporter cells and serves as protectors of the nervous system
, Do not send action potentials*
Cells with specialized support roles
~50% of your brain mass is _______
Describe the general functions of the nervous system: - Answers1. Sensation (input)
2. Integration (processing)
3. Response (output)
Compare and contrast the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system
(PNS) with respect to structure and function: - AnswersCNS: encompasses the brain and spinal
cord; the body's processing center, managing everything from thoughts and feelings to
movement
PNS: cranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia, and sensory receptors; feeds information into your
brain from most of your senses
Nervous system as a control system: - Answers- sensory receptors: detect stimuli (temperature,
pressure, pain); acts as systems "sensors"
- afferent pathways: consist of sensory neurons that transmit signals from sensory receptors to
the CNS; act as the communication highways
control (integrating) center: processes incoming sensory information; acts as the decision-
maker, analyzing data and forming a response
efferent pathways: motor neurons; deliver instructions from the control center to the effectors
effector (target) organs: effectors include muscles, glands, or other organs; an action or
response
major components of a typical neuron - Answerscell body, nucleus, axon hillock, dendrites, axon
The four types of tissue: - Answersepithelial, connective, muscle, nervous
Neurons - AnswersBasic functional unit of the nervous system; Main cells of the nervous
system
The Central Nervous System (CNS) consists of... - Answersbrain and spinal cord
Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) consists of... - Answerscranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia,
and sensory receptors (basically everything else)
Branches off the CNS to the rest of the body
The Anatomy of a Typical Neuron consists of... - Answersdendrites, nucleus, cell body, axon
Dendrites - Answersreceive signals from other neurons, found multiple, connected to cell body
cell body - Answersthe neuron's central part, containing the nucleus; also has other organelles
like mitochondria for energy and ribosomes for protein production
axon - Answerslong, slender projection that carries electrical impulses away from the cell body
toawrd other neurons, muscles, or glands
stimulus - Answersevent in the external or internal environment that triggers a reaction in a
neuron
nervous system functions - Answers1.Sensation (input)
2.Integration (processing)
3.Response (output)
Sensation & Receptors - AnswersDetects stimuli - changes/events in the internal or external
environment
Receptors detect stimuli
- Organ & tissue receptors
- Cell receptors
- Receptor sites on cells
- Protein receptors
,Integration - AnswersInterneurons receive sensory signals
Interprets and compares stimuli with current and past situations
May send signals (if needed) to cause a response/effect
Response (Motor Activity) - AnswersSensory or integrative signals can activate effectors (e.g.,
muscles, glands)
Produce a response that has an effect on the internal or external environment
Afferent - AnswersSensory signals toward the CNS
Afferent is toward the Axial skeleton
Efferent - AnswersMotor signals Exit the CNS and carry towards effectors (e.g. muscles &
glands)
Efferent causes Effects
Multipolar Neuron - AnswersMultiple dendrites
Single axon
Branches into telodendria, End in axon terminals
motor neurons
Bipolar neuron - AnswersOne dendrite
One axon
,Cell body between dendrite & axon
found in sensory structures
(Pseudo)unipolar neuron - AnswersCell body offset
Axon directly receives and transmits
sensory neurons
*Debate whether receiving end has dendrites
Anaxonic Neuron - AnswersAxon difficult to discern to tell apart from dendrites
Rare in humans
*Functions and purpose not well understood*
most likely will not be on exam
Sensory (Afferent) Neurons - AnswersTransmit impulses toward the CNS
Usually (pseudo)unipolar
Motor (Efferent) Neurons - AnswersTransmit impulses from CNS to the rest of the body
Usually multipolar
Neuroglia - Answersare supporter cells and serves as protectors of the nervous system
, Do not send action potentials*
Cells with specialized support roles
~50% of your brain mass is _______
Describe the general functions of the nervous system: - Answers1. Sensation (input)
2. Integration (processing)
3. Response (output)
Compare and contrast the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system
(PNS) with respect to structure and function: - AnswersCNS: encompasses the brain and spinal
cord; the body's processing center, managing everything from thoughts and feelings to
movement
PNS: cranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia, and sensory receptors; feeds information into your
brain from most of your senses
Nervous system as a control system: - Answers- sensory receptors: detect stimuli (temperature,
pressure, pain); acts as systems "sensors"
- afferent pathways: consist of sensory neurons that transmit signals from sensory receptors to
the CNS; act as the communication highways
control (integrating) center: processes incoming sensory information; acts as the decision-
maker, analyzing data and forming a response
efferent pathways: motor neurons; deliver instructions from the control center to the effectors
effector (target) organs: effectors include muscles, glands, or other organs; an action or
response
major components of a typical neuron - Answerscell body, nucleus, axon hillock, dendrites, axon
