MTSA Advanced Physiology: Test 2
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
2 major divisions of the nervous system - anscentral and peripheral
components of the central nervous system - ansbrain and spinal cord
components of peripheral nervous system - anscranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia
number of cranial nerves - ans12 pairs
number of spinal nerves - ans31 pairs
afferent - ansconveying toward a center
afferent neurons - anssensory neurons
efferent - ansconveying away from the center
efferent neurons - ansmotor neurons
divisions of the efferent nervous system - anssomatic and autonomic
divisions of autonomic nervous system - anssympathetic and parasympathetic
enclosed and protected by boney structures - ansCNS (brain and spinal cord)
somatic nervous system - ansthe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the
body's skeletal muscles
pathway that has preganglionic and post ganglionic neurons - ansefferent autonomic
Basic structural unit of the nervous system - ansneuron
Dendrites - ansa neuron's branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses
TOWARD the cell body
how many dendrites - ans0, 1, or many
interesting fact about dendrites and conduction - ansthey have very few voltage gated Na+
channels and, thus, are poor conductors of action potentials
how dendrites conduct impulses - anselectrotonic conduction
electrotonic conduction is.. - ansconduction directly through the cytoplasm.
-allowed by cytoplasm highly concentrated with electrolytes
-conducts toward the axon hillock
-FAST d/t increase electrolytes and increased size = less resistance to flow.
where voltage gated Na+ channels open in a neuron - ansin the axon hillock (if the receiving
impulses are enough to raise RMP to threshold)
features of the soma of a neuron - ans-large diameter
-large nucleus
-large nucleolus
-nisal bodies (modified ER)
-large golgi apparatus
-LOTs of ribosomes
-LOTs of mitochondria
major function of a neuron (based on organelles) - ansprotein synthesis (making
neurotransmitters)
How many axons does a neuron have? - ansonly one (but may have collaterals)
Schwann cells - ansproduce myelin sheath in PNS
The gaps between Schwann cells found at regular intervals in peripheral system neurons are
called ________. - ansNodes of Ranvier
,MTSA Advanced Physiology: Test 2
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
favors one way transmission of impulses in neurons - ansfew VG Na+ channels in the soma
with many in the axon.
three types of neurons - ansmultipolar, bipolar, unipolar/pseudounipolar
Multipolar neurons have - ansmultiple dendrites and one axon
where multipolar neurons are found - ansbrain, spinal cord, and somatic motor fibers
Bipolar neurons have - ansone axon and one dendrite
bipolar neurons are found - anssensory afferent neurons in the:
-rods and cones of the retina
-olfactory neurons
unipolar neurons have - ansno true dendrites
unipolar neurons are found - ansalmost all sensory afferent neurons!!! (except olfactory and
rods and cones)
reason sentry receptors aren't dendrites - ansthey bypass the cell body
"glia" literally means - ans"glue"
Astrocytes - ans-cells shaped like stars
-in the BRAIN
-foot process wrap around capillaries and are one part of blood/brain barrier
2 types of ependymal cells - ansciliated and non-ciliated
where ependymal cells are found - anslining the ventricles of the brain and the passages that
connect them
what do ependymal cells form - anschoroid plexus
the choroid plexus does this.. - ansproduces CSF (most developed in the 2 lateral ventricles)
purpose of ciliated ependymal cells - anscirculate CSF through ventricles
factors that can affect blood/brain barrier - ans-systemic inflammatory response = increased
capillary permeability
-increased ICP
2nd part of the blood/brain barrier - anstight junctions between capillary endothelial cells
resident macrophage in the brain - ansmicroglial cells
Oligodendrocytes - ansType of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath. (the
Schwann Cells of the CNS)
division of nervous system where ALL the cells are myelinated - ansthe CNS
purpose of myelination - ansincreases speed of transmission
2 factors in speed of conduction - ansdiameter of axon
myelination
only place action potentials occur in a myelinated axon - ansat the nodes of ranvier
do non-myelinated neurons in the PNS have Schwann cells? - ansyes but they are shaped
differently and don't wrap around the axon.
saltatory conduction - ansthe propagation of action potentials along myelinated axons from
one node of Ranvier to the next node, increasing the conduction velocity of action potentials.
literal meaning of "saltatory" - ans"jump", "dance", "leap"
3 classifications of nerve fibers - anstype A, type B, type C
sub-types of Type A nerve fibers - ansalpha, beta, gamma, delta
, MTSA Advanced Physiology: Test 2
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
characteristics of type A nerve fibers - ans-ALL myelinated
-1-20 µm diam = faster
-6-120 m/s conduction velocity
characteristics of type B nerve fibers - ans-myelinated and pre-ganglionic autonomic fibers
ONLY (often not included in classification)
characteristics of type C nerve fibers - ans-ALL UN-myelinated
-0.5-2µm in diam
-0.5-2m/s conduction velocity
Main idea for signals conducted by type C fibers - anschanges that WON'T be detrimental to
physiologic existence
main idea of signals conducted by type A fibers - anschanges that would be detrimental to
physiologic existence or functions that require very fast response/action
type of sensations transmitted by type C fibers - ans-aching, chronic, dull, throbbing, slow
pain
-tickle
-crude touch/pressure (dull)
-SYMPATHETIC autonomic post-ganglionic fibers
type of nerve fibers that transmit hair receptors - ansall type A subtypes (alpha, ß, gamma, ∂)
nerve fibers that transmit physiologically damaging changes in temp and sharp, acute, "fast"
pain - ansType A ∂
nerve fibers that transmit vibrations - ansType A ß
nerve fibers that transmit information from muscle spindles and golgi tendons
(proprioception) and motor signals to muscles - ansType A alpha
nerve fibers that transmit highly discriminatory touch - ansType A alpha, ß, and gamma
(mostly alpha and ß)
nerve fibers that transmit deep pressure and touch - ansType A ß, gamma, ∂
definition of a nerve - ansbundle of axons in PNS that provide pathway for electrical
impulses (both away from and toward CNS)
most nerves are... - ansmixed nerves
fasciculous - ans-bundle of axons
-each can transmit different types of information
tract - ans-found in CNS
-bundle of axons and their myelin sheaths in the CNS
-connect brain to spinal cord and visa versa
-connects one part of the brain to another
types of tracts - ansascending and descending
what "color" are tracts in the CNS - answhite matter
grey matter - ans-cluster of nerve cell bodies and their dendrites.
-central compartment of the spinal cord
-outer part of brain
nucleus (neurologically) - ans-located in CNS
-cluster of grey matter in white matter
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
2 major divisions of the nervous system - anscentral and peripheral
components of the central nervous system - ansbrain and spinal cord
components of peripheral nervous system - anscranial nerves, spinal nerves, ganglia
number of cranial nerves - ans12 pairs
number of spinal nerves - ans31 pairs
afferent - ansconveying toward a center
afferent neurons - anssensory neurons
efferent - ansconveying away from the center
efferent neurons - ansmotor neurons
divisions of the efferent nervous system - anssomatic and autonomic
divisions of autonomic nervous system - anssympathetic and parasympathetic
enclosed and protected by boney structures - ansCNS (brain and spinal cord)
somatic nervous system - ansthe division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the
body's skeletal muscles
pathway that has preganglionic and post ganglionic neurons - ansefferent autonomic
Basic structural unit of the nervous system - ansneuron
Dendrites - ansa neuron's branching extensions that receive messages and conduct impulses
TOWARD the cell body
how many dendrites - ans0, 1, or many
interesting fact about dendrites and conduction - ansthey have very few voltage gated Na+
channels and, thus, are poor conductors of action potentials
how dendrites conduct impulses - anselectrotonic conduction
electrotonic conduction is.. - ansconduction directly through the cytoplasm.
-allowed by cytoplasm highly concentrated with electrolytes
-conducts toward the axon hillock
-FAST d/t increase electrolytes and increased size = less resistance to flow.
where voltage gated Na+ channels open in a neuron - ansin the axon hillock (if the receiving
impulses are enough to raise RMP to threshold)
features of the soma of a neuron - ans-large diameter
-large nucleus
-large nucleolus
-nisal bodies (modified ER)
-large golgi apparatus
-LOTs of ribosomes
-LOTs of mitochondria
major function of a neuron (based on organelles) - ansprotein synthesis (making
neurotransmitters)
How many axons does a neuron have? - ansonly one (but may have collaterals)
Schwann cells - ansproduce myelin sheath in PNS
The gaps between Schwann cells found at regular intervals in peripheral system neurons are
called ________. - ansNodes of Ranvier
,MTSA Advanced Physiology: Test 2
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
favors one way transmission of impulses in neurons - ansfew VG Na+ channels in the soma
with many in the axon.
three types of neurons - ansmultipolar, bipolar, unipolar/pseudounipolar
Multipolar neurons have - ansmultiple dendrites and one axon
where multipolar neurons are found - ansbrain, spinal cord, and somatic motor fibers
Bipolar neurons have - ansone axon and one dendrite
bipolar neurons are found - anssensory afferent neurons in the:
-rods and cones of the retina
-olfactory neurons
unipolar neurons have - ansno true dendrites
unipolar neurons are found - ansalmost all sensory afferent neurons!!! (except olfactory and
rods and cones)
reason sentry receptors aren't dendrites - ansthey bypass the cell body
"glia" literally means - ans"glue"
Astrocytes - ans-cells shaped like stars
-in the BRAIN
-foot process wrap around capillaries and are one part of blood/brain barrier
2 types of ependymal cells - ansciliated and non-ciliated
where ependymal cells are found - anslining the ventricles of the brain and the passages that
connect them
what do ependymal cells form - anschoroid plexus
the choroid plexus does this.. - ansproduces CSF (most developed in the 2 lateral ventricles)
purpose of ciliated ependymal cells - anscirculate CSF through ventricles
factors that can affect blood/brain barrier - ans-systemic inflammatory response = increased
capillary permeability
-increased ICP
2nd part of the blood/brain barrier - anstight junctions between capillary endothelial cells
resident macrophage in the brain - ansmicroglial cells
Oligodendrocytes - ansType of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath. (the
Schwann Cells of the CNS)
division of nervous system where ALL the cells are myelinated - ansthe CNS
purpose of myelination - ansincreases speed of transmission
2 factors in speed of conduction - ansdiameter of axon
myelination
only place action potentials occur in a myelinated axon - ansat the nodes of ranvier
do non-myelinated neurons in the PNS have Schwann cells? - ansyes but they are shaped
differently and don't wrap around the axon.
saltatory conduction - ansthe propagation of action potentials along myelinated axons from
one node of Ranvier to the next node, increasing the conduction velocity of action potentials.
literal meaning of "saltatory" - ans"jump", "dance", "leap"
3 classifications of nerve fibers - anstype A, type B, type C
sub-types of Type A nerve fibers - ansalpha, beta, gamma, delta
, MTSA Advanced Physiology: Test 2
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS (DETAILED & ELABORATED)
ACTUAL EXAM 2025 TEST 100% SOLVED
2025!
characteristics of type A nerve fibers - ans-ALL myelinated
-1-20 µm diam = faster
-6-120 m/s conduction velocity
characteristics of type B nerve fibers - ans-myelinated and pre-ganglionic autonomic fibers
ONLY (often not included in classification)
characteristics of type C nerve fibers - ans-ALL UN-myelinated
-0.5-2µm in diam
-0.5-2m/s conduction velocity
Main idea for signals conducted by type C fibers - anschanges that WON'T be detrimental to
physiologic existence
main idea of signals conducted by type A fibers - anschanges that would be detrimental to
physiologic existence or functions that require very fast response/action
type of sensations transmitted by type C fibers - ans-aching, chronic, dull, throbbing, slow
pain
-tickle
-crude touch/pressure (dull)
-SYMPATHETIC autonomic post-ganglionic fibers
type of nerve fibers that transmit hair receptors - ansall type A subtypes (alpha, ß, gamma, ∂)
nerve fibers that transmit physiologically damaging changes in temp and sharp, acute, "fast"
pain - ansType A ∂
nerve fibers that transmit vibrations - ansType A ß
nerve fibers that transmit information from muscle spindles and golgi tendons
(proprioception) and motor signals to muscles - ansType A alpha
nerve fibers that transmit highly discriminatory touch - ansType A alpha, ß, and gamma
(mostly alpha and ß)
nerve fibers that transmit deep pressure and touch - ansType A ß, gamma, ∂
definition of a nerve - ansbundle of axons in PNS that provide pathway for electrical
impulses (both away from and toward CNS)
most nerves are... - ansmixed nerves
fasciculous - ans-bundle of axons
-each can transmit different types of information
tract - ans-found in CNS
-bundle of axons and their myelin sheaths in the CNS
-connect brain to spinal cord and visa versa
-connects one part of the brain to another
types of tracts - ansascending and descending
what "color" are tracts in the CNS - answhite matter
grey matter - ans-cluster of nerve cell bodies and their dendrites.
-central compartment of the spinal cord
-outer part of brain
nucleus (neurologically) - ans-located in CNS
-cluster of grey matter in white matter
