2. General Physiology of the Nervous System

1. Reflexes are defined as motor, vasomotor and secretory according to:

a) the location of the receptors
b) the type of the effector
c) the mechanism of their formation
d) the type of reflex arc
e) the complexity of the reflex arc

b) the type of the effector

2. Irradiation of the excitation in the nervous system is achieved by:

a) release of co-mediators
b) increased velocity of conduction in neurons
c) inhibition
d) divergence
e) convergence

d) divergence

3. Conditioned reflexes are:

a) inborn
b) permanent
c) individual
d) the same in every human
e) have constant reflex arch

c) individual

4. What is the interaction between two inhibitory neurons known as?

a) recurrent inhibition
b) disinhibition
c) presynaptic inhibition
d) lateral inhibition
e) reciprocal inhibition

b) disinhibition

5. In which sensory system is lateral inhibition used?

a) auditory system
b) tactile system
c) olfactory system
d) gustatory system
e) visual system

e) visual system

6. Abdominal wall rigidity reflex is:

a) baroreceptive reflex
b) somato-somatic
c) viscero-somatic
d) viscero-visceral
e) somato-visceral

c) viscero-somatic

7. Which glial cells help regulate extracellular K+ levels in the CNS?

a) microcytes
b) astrocytes
c) oligodendrocytes
d) Schwann cells
e) ependymal cells

b) astrocytes

8. a-adrenoreceptors:

a) are located in the bronchi and bronchioles
b) are distinguishable from ß (beta) receptors using electron microscopy
c) are involved in the vasodilation responses to adrenaline in skin
d) can be stimulated by both adrenaline and noradrenaline
e) are involved in heart rate responses to noradrenaline

d) can be stimulated by both adrenaline and noradrenaline

9. Which one of the following is characteristic of type A nerve fibers:

a) nociception only
b) slower conduction than C fibers
c) motor only
d) myelinated
e) sensory only

d) myelinated

10. The unique property of the neuron is:

a) communication
b) contraction
c) secretion
d) energy production
e) excitation

a) communication

11. The electroencephalogram (EEG) registers the activity of the:

a) reticular activating system
b) cortex
c) limbic system
d) thalamus
e) brainstem

b) cortex

12. The medulla oblongata does not regulate which of the following:

a) breathing
b) heart function
c) body temperature
d) vomiting
e) sneezing

c) body temperature

13. What anatomical region of a multipolar neuron has the lowest threshold for generating an action potential?

a) soma
b) distal axon
c) dendrites
d) axon hillock
e) proximal axon

d) axon hillock

14. The action potential of a nerve cell:

a) results from a large increase in membrane permeability to Na+ ions
b) can summate with one another
c) may vary considerably in amplitude
d) become larger as stimulus strength increases
e) follows from a decrease in membrane permeability for K+ ions

a) results from a large increase in membrane permeability to Na+ ions

15. Prevertebral sympathetic ganglia are involved with the innervation of the:

a) abdominal organs
b) thoracic organs
c) head
d) hair erector muscles
e) skeletal muscles

a) abdominal organs

16. Excitation in the nervous system is summed up by:

a) release of co-mediators
b) increased velocity of conduction in neurons
c) inhibition
d) divergence
e) convergence

e) convergence

17. A reflex action:

a) is initiated by sensory receptors
b) always results in endocrine secretion
c) involves transmission across at least two central nervous synapses series
d) is always inhibitory
e) is independent of higher centres in the brain

a) is initiated by sensory receptors

18. At the neuromuscular junction:

a) the muscle membrane possesses muscarinic receptors
b) the motor nerve endings secrete norepinephrine (noradrenalin)
c) curare leads to prolongation of neuromuscular transmission
d) the motor nerve endings secrete acetylcholine
e) none of the answers are correct

d) the motor nerve endings secrete acetylcholine

19. The cerebrospinal fluid:

a) protects the brain from injury when the head is moved
b) is formed in the arachnoid granulations
c) provides the brain with most of its nutrition
d) has a lower pressure than that in the cerebral venous sinuses
e) flows around the adult brain and is around 5 litres per day

a) protects the brain from injury when the head is moved

20. An excitatory post-synaptic potential:

a) is the depolarization of a post-synaptic nerve cell membrane that occurs when a presynaptic neurone is stimulated
b) involves reversal of polarity across the post-synaptic nerve cell membrane
c) may be recorded from a posterior root ganglion cell
d) is propagated at the same rate as an action potential
e) is caused by the electrical field induced by activity in the pre-synaptic nerve terminals

a) is the depolarization of a post-synaptic nerve cell membrane that occurs when a presynaptic neurone is stimulated

21. Where is the receptor located in exteroreceptive reflexes?

a) tendons and muscles
b) joints
c) blood vessels
d) skin and mucosa
e) visceral organs

d) skin and mucosa

22. During deep sleep there is a fall in:

a) skin temperature of the hand
b) metabolic rate
c) arterial pCO2
d) blood growth hormone/cortisol ratio
e) pH

b) metabolic rate

23. Sympathetic:

a) ganglionic transmission mediated by acetylcholine
b) neuromuscular transmission in is in the heart is mediated by acetylcholine
c) neuromuscular transmission in the arterioles of the hand is mediated by acetylcholine
d) neuroglandular transmission in sweat glands is mediated by noradrenaline
e) neuromuscular transmission in the iris is mediated by acetylcholine

a) ganglionic transmission mediated by acetylcholine

24. Select the excitatory neurotransmitter:

a) GABA
b) glutamate
c) glycine
d) serotonin
e) dopamine

b) glutamate

25. The blood-brain barrier:

a) slows equilibration of solutes between blood and brain tissue fluids
b) is a more effective barrier for fat-soluble substances than water-soluble substances
c) is a more effective barrier in infants than in adult
d) is a more effective barrier for CO2 than for O2
e) permits hydrogen ions to pass freely

a) slows equilibration of solutes between blood and brain tissue fluids

26. Most axons are covered by a fatty sheath called:

a) myelin
b) neurilema
c) the nodes of Ranvier
d) neural adipose
e) sarcolema

a) myelin

27. The electroencephalogram normally shows voltage wave:

a) whose amplitude is related to intelligence
b) of lower frequency during deep sleep than during alert wakefulness
c) of smaller amplitude during deep sleep than during alert wakefulness
d) of greater amplitude than those of the electrocardiogram
e) which are bi-laterally unsymmetrical

b) of lower frequency during deep sleep than during alert wakefulness

28. Which are the most important EEG waves during wakefulness with opened eyes:

a) gamma (y)
b) alpha (a)
c) beta (ß)
d) delta (S)
e) alpha (a) and delta (S)

c) beta (ß)

29. Parasympathetic nerves:

a) have no effect on lacrimation
b) cause vasodilatation in skeletal muscle during prolonged exercise
c) have effects on intestinal smooth muscles opposite to sympathetic nerves
d) cause sweat secretion in skin when body temperature rises
e) have longer postganglionic than preganglionic fibres

c) have effects on intestinal smooth muscles opposite to sympathetic nerves

30. The a (alpha) rhythm of the electroencephalogram:

a) disappears when the eyes are closed
b) is an electrical potential with an amplitude around one millivolt
c) has a frequency of 8-12 Hz
d) has a lower frequency than the S (delta) rhythm
e) indicates that the subject is sleeping

c) has a frequency of 8-12 Hz

31. Laws of transmission in chemical synapses do not include:

a) one-way conduction
b) amplitude coding in the postsynaptic membrane
c) delayed transmission
d) two-way conduction
e) summation

d) two-way conduction

32. Generalized parasympathetic activity is characterized by:

a) contraction of the radial muscle in the iris
b) increased secretion of catecholamines
c) increased activity of digestive system
d) lipolysis in adipose tissue
e) increased conduction rate in the atrio-ventricular bundle

c) increased activity of digestive system

33. Acetylcholine:

a) acts on the same type of receptor on postganglionic fibres in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia
b) acts on the different type of receptor on target organs at cholinergic sympathetic and parasympathetic nerve terminals
c) acts on the same type of receptor at autonomic ganglia and at somatic neuromuscular junctions
d) acts on alpha and beta receptors
e) in blood is hydrolyzed by the same cholinesterase as is found at neuromuscular junctions

a) acts on the same type of receptor on postganglionic fibres in sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia

34. Sensory neurons have:

a) a short dendrite and a long axon
b) a short dendrite and a short axon
c) a long dendrite and a short axon
d) a long dendrite and a long axon
e) their axons and dendrites may be either long or short

c) a long dendrite and a short axon

35. An inhibitory postsynaptic potential:

a) may be recorded in a postganglionic sympathetic neurone
b) maybe recorded in an axon
c) does not exceed one millivolt in amplitude
d) moves membrane potential towards the equilibrium potential for sodium
e) may summate in space and time with other excitatory and inhibitory potentials in the same neurone

e) may summate in space and time with other excitatory and inhibitory potentials in the same neurone

36. A volley of impulses travelling in a presynaptic neurone causes:

a) an identical volley in the postsynaptic neurone
b) summation of action potentials
c) an increase in the permeability of the presynaptic nerve terminals to calcium
d) the generation of at least one action potential in the postsynaptic neurone
e) endocytosis of neurotransmitter

c) an increase in the permeability of the presynaptic nerve terminals to calcium

37. Pain receptors are:

a) similar in structure to Pacinian corpuscles
b) stimulated by a rise in the local K+ concentration
c) quick to adapt to a constant stimulus
d) more easily stimulated in intact than in injured tissue
e) stimulated in the wall of the gut by agents which damage the tissues

b) stimulated by a rise in the local K+ concentration

38. Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep differs from non-REM sleepin that:

a) the EEG shows waves of higher frequency
b) muscle tone is higher
c) heart rate and respiration are more regular
d) secretion of growth hormone is increased
e) blood pressure is decreased

a) the EEG shows waves of higher frequency

39. Where is the receptor located in proprioreceptive reflexes?

a) joints, tendons and muscles
b) serous cavities
c) blood vessels
d) skin and mucosa
e) visceral organs

a) joints, tendons and muscles

40. Excessive formation of a substance/secretion in the body is controlled in order to maintain homeostasis by:

a) positive feedback mechanism
b) negative feedback mechanism
c) osmosis
d) haemodynamics
e) up-regulation

b) negative feedback mechanism

41. Delta (S) wave activity in the electroencephalogram:

a) is low in frequency and amplitude
b) suggests that the patient is alert and concentrating
c) suggests that the patient is with opened eyes
d) is a feature of petit mal epilepsy
e) is more common in children than in adults while they are awake

e) is more common in children than in adults while they are awake

42. In which glial cells is the enzyme carbonic anhydrase found?

a) microcytes
b) oligodendrocytes
c) Schwann cells
d) astrocytes
e) ependymal cells

d) astrocytes

43. The sympathetic response to stress includes:

a) increased blood pressure and increased glycogen breakdown in liver and muscles
b) decreased glycogen breakdown in liver and muscles
c) increased glycogen synthesis in liver and muscles
d) decreased blood clotting
e) decrease of the respiratory rate

a) increased blood pressure and increased glycogen breakdown in liver and muscles

44. Atropine causes:

a) paralysis of accommodation for near vision in the eye
b) constriction of the pupil
c) constriction of the bronchi
d) diarrhoea
e) bradycardia

a) paralysis of accommodation for near vision in the eye

45. Blockade of parasympathetic activity causes a reduction in:

a) sweat production
b) resting heart rate
c) blood pressure
d) the strength of skeletal muscle contraction
e) salivation

e) salivation

46. Blockade of ß-adrenoceptors is not likely to cause:

a) disturbance in renal-angiotensin-aldosteronesystem
b) impaired relaxation of the smooth muscles in the digestive system
c) worsening of the condition in patients with bronchial asthma
d) worsening of the condition in patients in cardiac failure
e) inability to increase heart rate during exercise in patients with transplanted hearts.

b) impaired relaxation of the smooth muscles in the digestive system

47. What is transported by retrograde axonal transport?

a) products of the mediators degradation
b) mediators
c) structural proteins
d) modulators
e) nucleic acids

a) products of the mediators degradation

48. All of these characteristics belong to postsynaptic potentials, except for:

a) there are no refractory periods
b) they have constant magnitude
c) summation is possible
d) typically occur at the cell body of a neuron
e) they are decremental

b) they have constant magnitude

49. Compared with the endocrine system, regulation of the body by the nervous system provides:

a) relatively slow butlong-lasting responses to stimuli
b) swift but brief responses to stimuli
c) swift, long-lasting responses to stimuli
d) antagonist hormone interactions
e) relatively slow, short-lived responses to stimuli

b) swift but brief responses to stimuli

50. Which of these characteristics is not relatedtothe parasympathetic division of the ANS?

a) urination
b) defecation
c) sweating
d) salivation
e) lacrimation

c) sweating

51. Which of the following has slowest conduction:

a) A (alpha) fibers
b) A (beta) fibers
c) A (gamma) fibers
d) B fibres
e) C fibres

e) C fibres

52. Saltatory conduction:

a) is seen only in myelinated nerve fibres
b) is slower that non saltatory conduction
c) is not affected if a local anesthetic is applied to the nodes of Ranvier
d) is seen only in sensory fibers
e) is seen only in the cortex

a) is seen only in myelinated nerve fibres

53. Myelin sheath is produced by:

a) axoplasm
b) mitochondria
c) Schwann cell
d) muscle cell
e) endocrine cell

c) Schwann cell

54. The morphological substarte of the fast anterograde axonal transport is:

a) myofilaments
b) microtubules
c) ribosomes
d) sarcoplasmic reticulum
e) ion channels

b) microtubules

55.Sleep is associated with:

a) an alpha rhythm in the electroencephalogram
b) increased activity in the reticular activating system
c) a beta rhythm in the EEG
d) a high level of vagal tone to the heart and grinding movements of the teeth
e) a rise in central body temperature

d) a high level of vagal tone to the heart and grinding movements of the teeth

56. From childhood to old age:

a) there is a steady increase into total sleeping time per day
b) deep (stage4) sleep increases as a percentage of total daily sleep
c) body water as a percentage of body mass increases
d) sleep becomes less aggregated into as single sleeping period
e) basal metabolic rate increases

d) sleep becomes less aggregated into as single sleeping period

57. The sympathetic preganglionic neurons of the ANS secrete:

a) dopamine
b) acetylcholine
c) adrenaline
d) serotonin
e) histamine

b) acetylcholine

58. The adrenergic effect on the motor activity of the digestive system is:

a) to cause mixing movements
b) to cause peristalsis
c) to inhibit the motor activity
d) to cause mass movements
e) is dose dependent

c) to inhibit the motor activity

59. Reflexes are defined as somatic, visceral and mixed:

a) according to the location of the receptors
b) according to the type of the reflex arc
c) according to the effectors
d) according to the location of the interneurons
e) according to formation

b) according to the type of the reflex arc

60. The adrenal medulla is innervated by:

a) preganglionic cholinergic neurons
b) postganglionic cholinergic neurons
c) preganglionic adrenergic neurons
d) postganglionic adrenergic neurons
e) preganglionic dopaminergic neurons

a) preganglionic cholinergic neurons

61. The increased tone of the parasympathetic division leads to:

a) contraction of the pupils and bronchial smooth muscle fibers
b) dilation of the pupils and relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle
c) contraction of the pupils and relaxation of the bronchial smooth muscle
d) dilation of the pupils and contraction of the bronchial smooth muscle fibers
e) dilation of the pupils and no effect on the bronchial smooth muscle fibers

a) contraction of the pupils and bronchial smooth muscle fibers

62. The main structural and functional unit in the nervous system system is:

a) axon
b) dendrites
c) neuron
d) brain nucleus
e) neural network

c) neuron

63. The bodies of sensory neurons are located:

a) in the anterior horns of the spinal cord
b) in the anterior horns of the spinal cord and the nuclei of cranial nerves
c) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord
d) in the cerebral cortex
e) outside the CNS

c) in the dorsal root ganglia of the spinal cord

64. Glial tissue:

a) participates in the processing of information
b) participates in the transmission of information
c) participates in the storage of information
d) participates in the reception of information
e) has a metabolic and supporting function

e) has a metabolic and supporting function

65. What is the name of the set of neurons in the CNS required for the occurance of a certain reflex:

a) reflex arc
b) motor unit
c) receptive field
d) nerve center
e) effectors

d) nerve center

66. Reflexes are devided into mono- and polysynaptic according to:

a) the location of the receptors
b) the type of effector
c) the mechanism of their formation
d) the type of reflex arc
e) the complexity of the reflex arc

e) the complexity of the reflex arc

67. Reflexes are classified as conditioned and unconditioned according to:

a) the location of the receptors
b) the type of effector
c) the mechanism of their formation
d) the location of the nerve center
e) the complexity of the reflex arc

c) the mechanism of their formation

68. Which of the following glial cells are related to the formation of the blood-brain barrier?

a) microcytes
b) oligodendrocytes
c) Schwanncells
d) astrocytes
e) ependymal cells

d) astrocytes

69. Which of the glial cells perform phagocytosis?

a) microcytes and oligodendrocytes
b) oligodendrocytes and protoplasmic astrocytes
c) reactive astrocytes and fibrous astrocytes
d) microcytes and reactive astrocytes
e) microcytes and fibrous astrocytes

d) microcytes and reactive astrocytes