BIOL251 Human Anatomy & Physiology I
w/Lab 2025 through Portage Learning.
Module 9 Exam Review: Questions & Answers
Section 1: The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
1. What are the two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
Answer: Sympathetic ("fight or flight") and Parasympathetic ("rest and digest")
2. Where are the cell bodies of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons located?
Answer: Brainstem (cranial nerves III, VII, IX, X) and sacral spinal cord (S2S4)
3. What neurotransmitter is released by ALL preganglionic autonomic neurons?
Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
4. What type of receptor do postganglionic sympathetic neurons typically have?
Answer: Nicotinic receptors (preganglionic ACh binds here), then postganglionic releases
norepinephrine
5. Which division has longer preganglionic fibers?
Answer: Parasympathetic (ganglia are near or within the target organ)
6. What is a sympathetic chain ganglion?
Answer: Paired ganglia running along the vertebral column that house sympathetic
postganglionic neuron cell bodies
7. What is the "thoracolumbar outflow"?
Answer: Sympathetic preganglionic neurons originate from T1L2 spinal cord segments
8. What is the "craniosacral outflow"?
Answer: Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons originate from brainstem and sacral spinal
cord
9. What neurotransmitter is released by most postganglionic parasympathetic neurons?
Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
10. What type of receptor do parasympathetic effectors have?
Answer: Muscarinic receptors (ACh binds here)
11. What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on heart rate?
Answer: Increases heart rate (beta1 adrenergic receptors)
, 12. What effect does parasympathetic (vagus) stimulation have on heart rate?
Answer: Decreases heart rate
13. Which division causes bronchodilation?
Answer: Sympathetic (beta2 receptors)
14. Which division causes bronchoconstriction?
Answer: Parasympathetic
15. What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on the pupil?
Answer: Pupil dilation (mydriasis) via alpha1 receptors on radial muscle
16. What effect does parasympathetic stimulation have on the pupil?
Answer: Pupil constriction (miosis) via muscarinic receptors on sphincter pupillae
17. Which division promotes digestion and GI motility?
Answer: Parasympathetic
18. Which division inhibits digestion and GI motility?
Answer: Sympathetic
19. What is the "fight or flight" response?
Answer: Sympathetic activation preparing the body for stress (increased HR, BP, glucose,
decreased nonessential functions)
20. What is vasomotor tone?
Answer: Baseline sympathetic stimulation maintaining partial constriction of blood vessels
Section 2: Special Senses – Vision
21. What are the three layers (tunics) of the eyeball?
Answer: Fibrous layer (sclera/cornea), Vascular layer (choroid/ciliary body/iris), Neural layer
(retina)
22. What is the function of the cornea?
Answer: Refracts (bends) light entering the eye; transparent, avascular
23. What is the function of the lens?
Answer: Accommodation (changes shape to focus light on retina)
24. What is accommodation?
w/Lab 2025 through Portage Learning.
Module 9 Exam Review: Questions & Answers
Section 1: The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
1. What are the two divisions of the Autonomic Nervous System?
Answer: Sympathetic ("fight or flight") and Parasympathetic ("rest and digest")
2. Where are the cell bodies of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons located?
Answer: Brainstem (cranial nerves III, VII, IX, X) and sacral spinal cord (S2S4)
3. What neurotransmitter is released by ALL preganglionic autonomic neurons?
Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
4. What type of receptor do postganglionic sympathetic neurons typically have?
Answer: Nicotinic receptors (preganglionic ACh binds here), then postganglionic releases
norepinephrine
5. Which division has longer preganglionic fibers?
Answer: Parasympathetic (ganglia are near or within the target organ)
6. What is a sympathetic chain ganglion?
Answer: Paired ganglia running along the vertebral column that house sympathetic
postganglionic neuron cell bodies
7. What is the "thoracolumbar outflow"?
Answer: Sympathetic preganglionic neurons originate from T1L2 spinal cord segments
8. What is the "craniosacral outflow"?
Answer: Parasympathetic preganglionic neurons originate from brainstem and sacral spinal
cord
9. What neurotransmitter is released by most postganglionic parasympathetic neurons?
Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
10. What type of receptor do parasympathetic effectors have?
Answer: Muscarinic receptors (ACh binds here)
11. What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on heart rate?
Answer: Increases heart rate (beta1 adrenergic receptors)
, 12. What effect does parasympathetic (vagus) stimulation have on heart rate?
Answer: Decreases heart rate
13. Which division causes bronchodilation?
Answer: Sympathetic (beta2 receptors)
14. Which division causes bronchoconstriction?
Answer: Parasympathetic
15. What effect does sympathetic stimulation have on the pupil?
Answer: Pupil dilation (mydriasis) via alpha1 receptors on radial muscle
16. What effect does parasympathetic stimulation have on the pupil?
Answer: Pupil constriction (miosis) via muscarinic receptors on sphincter pupillae
17. Which division promotes digestion and GI motility?
Answer: Parasympathetic
18. Which division inhibits digestion and GI motility?
Answer: Sympathetic
19. What is the "fight or flight" response?
Answer: Sympathetic activation preparing the body for stress (increased HR, BP, glucose,
decreased nonessential functions)
20. What is vasomotor tone?
Answer: Baseline sympathetic stimulation maintaining partial constriction of blood vessels
Section 2: Special Senses – Vision
21. What are the three layers (tunics) of the eyeball?
Answer: Fibrous layer (sclera/cornea), Vascular layer (choroid/ciliary body/iris), Neural layer
(retina)
22. What is the function of the cornea?
Answer: Refracts (bends) light entering the eye; transparent, avascular
23. What is the function of the lens?
Answer: Accommodation (changes shape to focus light on retina)
24. What is accommodation?
