Deck 44: Sensory Systems

Question 1

What does the middle ear consist of?

A)three ossicle bones
B)the ear canal
C)the ear drum
D)the vestibular canal

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The simplest sensory receptors are __________ that respond to mechanical distortion, changes in temperature, or specific chemicals.

A)nociceptors
B)free nerve endings
C)gated channels
D)photoreceptors

Answer 2

B

Question 3

What are the receptors called that transmit impulses that are perceived by the brain as pain?

A)baroreceptors
B)chemoreceptors
C)nociceptors
D)thermoreceptors

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Which of the following stimuli do vertebrates NOT have a specialized receptor for?

A)hearing
B)taste
C)smell
D)humidity

Question 5

Which of the following do humans NOT have taste buds specialized to sense?

A)salty
B)sour
C)sweet
D)vitamins

Question 6

Which of the following receptors does not trigger depolarization of a sensory neuron?

A)mechanoreceptors
B)G-protein receptors
C)chemoreceptors
D)photoreceptors

Question 7

Which is NOT a stimulus that interoceptors can sense?

A)limb position
B)pain
C)gravity
D)body temperature

Question 8

Which sequence of events is required for the brain to interpret sound? I.Vibration of the basilar membrane relative to the tectorial membrane causes cilia on hair cells to bend and triggers depolarization.II.Hair cells stimulate the production of action potentials in sensory neurons that project to the brain.III.Ganglion cell axons transmit action potentials to the occipital lobe.

A)II then I
B)III then I then II
C)III then I
D)I then II

Question 9

All sensory input arrives at the central nervous system in the same form, as ____________ propagated by afferent neurons.Perception of the type and intensity of a stimulus depends on which part of the brain the impulse projects to and the firing frequency of the sensory neuron.

A)action potentials
B)receptor potentials
C)reflexes
D)frequency localizations

Question 10

When membrane proteins on an olfactory neuron are stimulated by the binding of a specific chemical, what is the immediate result?

A)membrane depolarization
B)membrane repolarization
C)active ion transport
D)membrane hyperpolarization

Question 11

What are the sensory structures that enable invertebrates to determine the orientation of the body with respect to gravity called?

A)carotid bodies
B)statocysts
C)Ruffini endings
D)baroreceptors

Question 12

What sensory receptors sense stimuli that arise from within the body?

A)gustatory receptors
B)photoreceptors
C)interoreceptors
D)ampullae of Lorenzini

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT an example of a mechanoreceptor?

A)Meissner's corpuscles
B)Ruffini endings
C)Merkel cells
D)red corpuscles

Question 14

Which of the following constitute the vestibular apparatus?

A)saccule and utricle only
B)semicircular canals, saccule, and utricle
C)ampullae of Lorenzini
D)saccule, utricle, and Organ of Corti

Question 15

Pit vipers are the only known vertebrates with an ability to detect a certain type of stimulus.What can these snakes sense?

A)infrared radiation
B)ultraviolet radiation
C)microwave radiation
D)visible light radiation

Question 16

Cutaneous receptors are classified as interoceptors.These specialized skin receptors can respond to which of the following stimuli?

A)heat, cold, and light
B)pain, pressure, and sound
C)chemicals, light, and sound
D)heat, cold, pain, touch, and pressure

Question 17

Which correctly represents the sequence of steps involved to convey sensory information to the CNS?

A)stimulation and ion flow through the synaptic cleft
B)neurotransmitter release and interpretation
C)neurotransmitter release and ion flow through the synaptic cleft
D)stimulation, transduction, transmission, and interpretation

Question 18

Which is NOT a stimulus that exteroceptors can sense?

A)gravity
B)smell
C)light
D)muscle tension

Question 19

Which is NOT a stimulus that the simplest sensory receptors, free nerve endings, will respond to?

A)bending of the sensory neuron membrane
B)changes in temperature
C)changes in the oxygen content of the extracellular fluid
D)release of odorants from freshly baked bread

Question 20

Which animal became numerous and widespread by using sonar to enable a high level of activity in the dark?

A)bats
B)whales
C)owls
D)dolphins

Question 21

In what order will you encounter the following structures if you examine the human ear from the outside inward?

A)tympanic membrane $\rightarrow$ malleus $\rightarrow$ incus $\rightarrow$ stapes $\rightarrow$ oval window $\rightarrow$ cochlea
B)tympanic membrane $\rightarrow$ incus $\rightarrow$ malleus $\rightarrow$ stapes $\rightarrow$ oval window $\rightarrow$ cochlea
C)tympanic membrane $\rightarrow$ stapes $\rightarrow$ malleus $\rightarrow$ incus $\rightarrow$ oval window $\rightarrow$ cochlea
D)tympanic membrane $\rightarrow$ malleus $\rightarrow$ incus $\rightarrow$ stapes $\rightarrow$ cochlea $\rightarrow$ oval window

Question 22

Which of the vertebrates senses is the least well understood?

A)electroreception
B)magnetoreception
C)vision
D)hearing

Question 23

What effect do high frequency sounds tend to have on the ear?

A)displace the whole length of the basilar membrane with a maximum near the apex
B)move only the basal portion of the basilar membrane
C)move only the apex portion of the basilar membrane
D)move only the portion of the basilar membrane between the basal portion and the apex

Question 24

Which is NOT a part of the vertebrate eye?

A)cornea
B)retina
C)iris
D)cochlea

Question 25

What are the short retinal photoreceptors responsible for color vision called?

A)rods
B)cones
C)bipolar cells
D)glial cells

Question 26

In the vertebrate eye, what structure is light focused onto?

A)pupil
B)lens
C)retina
D)sclera

Question 27

Which taste modality does not involve activation of a G-protein coupled receptor?

A)bitter
B)sweet
C)umami
D)sour

Question 28

What sensory equipment is required for an animal to have binocular vision?

A)eyes located to the sides of the head
B)forward-facing eyes
C)a camera-type eye with multiple lenses
D)infrared vision

Question 29

Which of the following cells are NOT found in the retina?

A)rods
B)cones
C)bipolar cells
D)hair cells

Question 30

The human retina is composed of three cell layers.Which represents the correct order of these layers, starting with the layer that is closest to the iris?

A)ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones
B)optic nerve cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones $\rightarrow$ bipolar cells
C)rods and cones $\rightarrow$ bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells
D)bipolar cells $\rightarrow$ ganglion cells $\rightarrow$ rods and cones

Question 31

Which of the following statements about the lateral line system is NOT correct?

A)allows fish to sense objects based on the pressure waves they produce
B)allows fish to sense objects based on the low-frequency vibrations they produce
C)allows fish to swim in synchrony with a school of other members of its species
D)provides the fish with the ability to see images

Question 32

Which is NOT an example of a stimulus sensed by an interoceptor?

A)temperature
B)vibration
C)pain
D)magnetism

Question 33

In the vertebrate eye, what structure controls the amount of light that reaches the retina?

A)fovea
B)cornea
C)iris
D)lens

Question 34

What is the photopigment in rod cells called?

A)photopsin
B)rhodopsin
C)opsin
D)carotene

Question 35

Which of the following statements about hair cells is NOT true?

A)They are found in the mammalian ear.
B)They are found in the fish lateral line system.
C)They can be repaired if they rupture.
D)Bending of the cells triggers ion flow across the cell membrane.

Question 36

Color blindness is caused by heritable mutations in cone photoreceptors.How many cone types does the retina of a colorblind individual typically contain?

A)only one
B)two
C)three
D)four

Question 37

Each type of cone cell is stimulated by a different color of light.In humans, a colorful scene is perceived as a combination of signals from three cone types.Which colors correspond to these three cones? I-Red
II-Yellow
III-Orange
IV-Blue
V-Green
VI-Purple

A)I, II, and III
B)I, III, and IV
C)I, IV, and V
D)I, V, and VI

Question 38

Where is the visual image in focus for a nearsighted individual?

A)behind the retina
B)in front of the retina
C)on the retina, but it appears blurred
D)at the lens, forming a shadow on the retina

Question 39

Which of the following structures is found in a human eye, but NOT in an octopus eye?

A)retina
B)lens
C)optic nerve
D)blind spot

Question 40

Which animal is NOT able to use sonar as a form of "lightless vision" to navigate in dark environments?

A)shrews
B)owls
C)bats
D)whales

Question 41

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons, how could the transgenic bees be useful for detecting explosives?

A)Watch for death of the bee when the neuron absorbs TNT.
B)Use MRI to monitor the brain activity of the bee.
C)Train bees to respond in a predictable way when the TNT neuron is activated by conditioning them to expect an associated food reward.
D)Grind up the bee's antennae for use in a TNT ELISA assay.

Question 42

The statoliths of a lobster are replaced with iron filings, and a strong magnetic field is produced at the top of its tank.How will the lobster respond?

A)Its dorsal surface will stick to the top of the tank and it will be unable to move.
B)It will turn upside down and grip the underside of the tank lid.
C)It will turn upside down and remain at the bottom of the tank.
D)It will not respond in any way.

Question 43

Which letter indicates the direction of incoming light in a typical vertebrate?

A)A
B)B
C)C
D)D

Question 44

Since the optic nerve must pass through the retinal layer, we all have a blind spot devoid of light receptors.This normally goes unnoticed, since the brain attempts to compensate for missing sensory information by filling it in based on surrounding patterns.Which step of the sensory pathway is represented by perceptual filling-in of the physiological blind spot?

A)interpretation
B)stimulus
C)transduction into receptor potential
D)action potential transmission

Question 45

True or false: Humans are unique among animals due to our highly-evolved repertoire of sensory receptors.Although humans have large and highly-developed brains, our sensory receptors are typical of many vertebrates.

Question 46

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons, what type of receptor would the TNT receptor be?

A)chemoreceptor
B)mechanoreceptor
C)electromagnetic receptor
D)it is a novel type of receptor

Question 47

When a cone cell is stimulated by light, what will occur at the cell membrane?

A)excitation
B)inhibition
C)an action potential
D)hyperpolarization

Question 48

True or False: A single type of receptor is responsible for detecting all tactile pressure in humans.A variety of specialized receptors detect different degrees of pressure at different levels in the skin.

Question 49

Which of the following statements regarding vision is NOT true?

A)Vertebrate rods and cones hyperpolarize in response to light.
B)Insects and birds can often see into the ultraviolet range.
C)Bright light will often produce action potentials in both rods and cones.
D)Rhodopsin is found in the membrane of rods.

Question 50

Honeybees can detect a variety of odorants through olfactory receptors on their antennae.You genetically engineer a receptor to be gated by the explosive chemical TNT, and use a transgene to express the receptor in honeybee olfactory neurons.What would this provide to the bee?

A)the ability to taste TNT
B)it would have no effect
C)the ability to smell TNT
D)the ability to collect TNT molecules

Question 51

Visual acuity is highest when an image is focused on what part of the retina?

A)rods outside the fovea
B)cones outside the fovea
C)rods within the fovea
D)cones within the fovea

Question 52

What difference in axonal signaling determines whether we experience a mild or a strong sensation?

A)amplitude of action potentials
B)frequency of action potentials
C)action potential threshold
D)conduction speed

Question 53

Which of type of information is NOT communicated by proprioceptors?

A)muscle temperature
B)limb movement
C)muscle position
D)muscle contraction

Question 54

True or False: There is only a single type of pain receptor.Activation of multiple types of receptors can be interpreted as "pain" especially with unusually high degrees of activation.

Question 55

Because small quantities of powerful explosives can be hidden easily, a sensor that could detect trace amounts of illicit chemicals would be a useful tool.What animal sensory modality is exquisitely sensitive to minute quantities of airborne chemicals?

A)olfaction
B)taste
C)vision
D)hearing

Question 56

What information would best help you distinguish what type of sensation a sensory neuron transmits?

A)the rate of action potential firing
B)the proteins it expresses most abundantly
C)the part of the brain it transmits signals to
D)the amplitude of action potentials

Question 57

If genetically engineered bees could express a receptor for TNT in their olfactory neurons, how would the bees respond to the presence of TNT?

A)It would ignore the stimulus.
B)It would be attracted.
C)It would be repelled.
D)It would depend on which olfactory neuron expresses the transgene.

Question 58

What happens to a retinal photopigment when it captures a photon?

A)It releases an electron.
B)It fluoresces.
C)It changes shape.
D)It begins to vibrate.

Question 59

All of the varied sensations we experience are due to which three categories of sensory receptors?

A)visioceptor, audioceptor, olfactoceptor
B)exteroceptor, interoceptor, proprioceptor
C)mechanoreceptor, chemoreceptor, electromagnetic receptor
D)mechanoreceptor, olfactory receptor, photoreceptor

Question 60

What is the molecular basis of touch sensation?

A)Pressure on the skin squeezes out chemical signals from epidermal glands.
B)Cell membrane distortion opens touch receptors, creating a receptor potential.
C)Pressure damages the delicate strands of skin cell DNA, activating a complex signalling cascade.
D)Pressure on sensory axons bursts vesicles and causes neurotransmitter release.

Question 61

The bitter receptor hTAS2R38 is activated by glucosinolates found in plants such as turnips and broccoli.The gene variant a person has determines how sensitive their neurons are to these compounds.What would you predict for people who have the high-sensitivity variant of hTAS2R38?

A)They will not easily digest turnips and broccoli.
B)They will have to eat more turnips and broccoli to get the same flavor.
C)They will dislike turnips and broccoli.
D)They will become allergic to turnips and broccoli.

Question 62

Which sensory modality responds to the broadest range of molecules?

A)TRP channels
B)Taste
C)Smell
D)Vision

Question 63

Researchers studying olfactory and taste receptors have stumbled upon an unusual phenomenon.These receptor proteins are sometimes expressed in other animal tissues in addition to the nose or tongue.For example, the sweet taste receptor T1R2 is expressed in the pancreas.Suggest the best possible explanation for these findings.

A)Damaged receptors are recycled by the body and end up in waste-disposal organs.
B)Control of protein expression is imperfect.As long as a receptor doesn't interfere with organ function, expression will not be selected against.
C)Chemoreceptors bind molecules that help the body sense and respond to internal phenomena, such as sugar levels in the blood.
D)Techniques used to visualize protein expression are imperfect and may lead to false positive results.

Question 64

If the cilia on Bob's inner ear hair cells are damaged, what can be done to improve Bob's hearing, other than a hearing aid?

A)transgenic expression of a cilia protein
B)minoxidil treatment
C)injection of microtubules into the cochlea
D)not much - there is currently no drug that can regenerate hair cells

Question 65

After years of listening to loud music on headphones, the cilia on Bob's hair cells are damaged.What is the result?

A)vestibular problems
B)hearing loss
C)vision problems
D)taste hallucinations

Question 66

Nociceptors can respond to nearby tissue damage by sensing cytosolic factors released by damaged cells.Such "algogenic agents" can cause pain sensation even in the absence of tissue damage.What might be a practical use for such an agent?

A)a nonlethal riot control measure
B)an anesthetic drug
C)a treatment for damaged tissue
D)a tasty food additive

Question 67

What is the most likely hypothesis for the presence of TRP channel agonists in plants?

A)to speed up or slow down chemical reactions in the plant
B)to warm or cool the plant, depending on the season
C)to discourage feeding by herbivorous insects or mammals
D)to encourage human cultivation

Question 68

The bitter receptor hTAS2R38 is activated by glucosinolates found in plants such as turnips and broccoli.Glucosinolates can block synthesis and transport of iodine.Before the advent of iodized salt, this was a particular problem in areas of the world that are naturally low in iodine.Why might the human population include different variants of the hTAS2R38 gene?

A)Areas of high iodine are generally coastal, and turnips and broccoli are not easily grown there.
B)Iodine created mutations in the hTAS2R38 gene.
C)Where iodine was low, eating plants rich in glucosinolates helped people metabolize iodine, but where iodine was high they avoided such foods.
D)Where iodine was low, it was important to avoid foods with glucosinolates, but where iodine was plentiful, palatability of a wider range of plants was beneficial.

Question 69

In 1908, chemist Kikunae Ikeda identified a new taste modality he called "umami", or "delicious" in Japanese.It gives a savory flavor to meat, seaweed, and tomatoes.What molecule is responsible for umami?

A)Na⁺ ions
B)H⁺ ions
C)glutamate
D)Mg⁺² ions

Question 70

In "The Disembodied Lady", neurologist Oliver Sacks tells the story of a patient who suffered a catastrophic loss of sensory function.She said, "I feel my body is blind and deaf to itself...It has no sense of itself." The patient's nerve damage was strikingly specific.What single type of neuron most likely suffered damage?

A)gustatory receptors
B)proprioceptors
C)olfactory receptors
D)Meissner corpuscles

Question 71

The discovery that ATP is a pain-signaling factor immediately suggested what possible therapeutic approach to alleviate chronic pain?

A)create large intracellular aggregates of ATP
B)treat with an ATP receptor antagonist
C)block the synthesis of ATP inside cells
D)use electric stimulation on pain centers of the brain

Question 72

What are the categories of taste sensation?

A)sweet, salty, sour, creamy, umami
B)sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami
C)sweet, salty, bitter, chocolate, coffee
D)sweet, sour, salty, creamy, savory

Question 73

Why do we perceive chili peppers as "hot" and peppermint as "cold"?

A)It is a cultural convention to speak of chili peppers as hot and peppermint as cold.
B)Capsaicin and menthol act as agonists of TRP channels normally activated by temperature changes.
C)We are conditioned to think so because chili-containing foods are served hot, while mint-containing foods are served cold.
D)Neurons sensitive to heat or capsaicin project to nearby regions of the brain, while neurons sensitive to cold or menthol project to other adjacent regions.

Question 74

Pain receptors are activated by tissue damage, but pain perception requires intact, functional neurons.How does this work?

A)Nociceptor neurons have special membrane repair mechanisms.
B)The nociceptor neuron only sends action potentials as it is dying.
C)The axon continues to fire action potentials despite damage to the cell body.
D)The neuron itself does not need to be damaged; it responds to signals released by nearby damaged cells.

Question 75

You decide to perform an experiment to test this why plants possess TRP channel agonists.You first set up batches of plants in the field WITH or WITHOUT applied capsaicin or menthol.What parameter do you then measure?

A)photosynthetic rate
B)amount of leaf or fruit damage
C)metabolic rate
D)palatability to humans

Question 76

Mutations in the DFNA20/26 locus, which codes for the actin gamma 1 protein, are associated with congenital deafness.An irate senator complains that government money is being wasted on studies of this mutant gene -- in yeast! "I am no biologist," says the senator, "but I am pretty sure yeast don't have ears." How do you respond?

A)"You are right, Senator -- yeast do not have ears.We should revoke the funding immediately."
B)"We can learn valuable information about the structure of the mutant protein by expressing it in yeast.It is difficult to collect large amounts of actin from tiny hair cells, and unethical to collect it from human patients."
C)"We can learn valuable information about the transcription of the mutant gene in yeast.It is much more difficult to study transcription in human cells."
D)"We can learn valuable information about sound transmission through the mutant yeast.By placing a speaker against a yeast vial and recording sound from the other side, we can infer how the mutant actin affects sound waves."

Question 77

One patient at your audiology clinic has an actin defect, and another patient has a microtubule defect.What sense other than hearing may be affected in these patients?

A)smell
B)taste
C)balance
D)touch

Question 78

One patient at your audiology clinic has an actin defect, and another patient has a microtubule defect.How might these defects affect the function of their hair cells in hearing?

A)Neither actin nor microtubule mutations will disrupt hair cell cilia function.
B)Only the actin mutation will affect hair cell cilia function.
C)Only the microtubule mutation will affect hair cell cilia function.
D)Both can create problems in hair cell cilia function.

Question 79

Beta-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine, or BMAA, is a glutamate receptor agonist produced by cyanobacteria.Since Glu is an excitatory neurotransmitter, it is not surprising that BMAA is associated with neurological damage.Buildup of BMAA in fruit bats was hypothesized to cause neurodegenerative disease in islanders that fed on the bats.A recent study found high levels of BMAA in sharks, suggesting that consumption of shark fin soup is also dangerous.The researchers suggested that a secondary effect of BMAA may actually make these hazardous foods surprisingly desirable.What might this be?

A)Since BMAA is a Glu receptor agonist, it promotes incorporation of Glu into proteins, and has health-promoting effects.
B)Since BMAA is derived from cyanobacteria, it provides unique nutrients not found in the animal or plant kingdom.
C)Since BMAA is a Glu receptor agonist, it imparts a strong umami flavor that makes food more delicious.
D)Since BMAA contains alanine, it improves protein synthesis by providing this rare nutrient.

Question 80

You make a knockout of a gene involved in neurological development, and find that the mice have malformed semicircular canals.Instead of being orthogonal (at right angles) to each other, they are parallel.What aberrant behavior might you see in these mice?

A)overeating
B)falling over
C)not startling to sudden noise
D)unable to respond to a call to locate another mouse