Deck 48: Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Question 1

The operation of the sodium-potassium "pump" moves

A)sodium and potassium ions into the cell.
B)sodium and potassium ions out of the cell.
C)sodium ions into the cell and potassium ions out of the cell.
D)sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions into the cell.
E)sodium and potassium ions into the mitochondria.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

After the depolarization phase of an action potential, the resting potential is restored by

A)the opening of sodium activation gates.
B)the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels and the closing of sodium activation gates.
C)a decrease in the membrane's permeability to potassium and chloride ions.
D)a brief inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump.
E)the opening of more voltage-gated sodium channels.

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Though the membrane of a "resting" neuron is highly permeable to potassium ions, its membrane potential does not exactly match the equilibrium potential for potassium because the neuronal membrane is

A)fully permeable to sodium ions.
B)slightly permeable to sodium ions.
C)fully permeable to calcium ions.
D)impermeable to sodium ions.
E)highly permeable to chloride ions.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

A "resting" motor neuron is expected to

A)releases lots of acetylcholine.
B)to have high permeability to sodium ions.
C)to be equally permeable to sodium and potassium ions.
D)exhibit a resting potential that is more negative than the "threshold" potential.
E)have a higher concentration of sodium ions on the inside the cell than on the outside.

Question 5

A toxin that binds specifically to voltage-gated sodium channels in axons would be expected to

A)prevent the hyperpolarization phase of the action potential.
B)prevent the depolarization phase of the action potential.
C)prevent graded potentials.
D)increase the release of neurotransmitter molecules.
E) have most of its effects on the dendritic region of a neuron.

Question 6

Most of the organelles in a neuron are located in the

A)dendritic region.
B)axon hillock.
C)axon.
D)cell body.
E)axon terminals.

Question 7

For a neuron with an initial membrane potential at -70 mV, an increase in the movement of potassium ions out of that neuron's cytoplasm would result in

A)depolarization of the neuron.
B)hyperpolarization of the neuron.
C)the replacement of potassium ions with sodium ions.
D)the replacement of potassium ions with calcium ions.
E)the neuron switching on its sodium-potassium pump to restore the initial conditions.

Question 8

For the following questions, refer to the graph of an action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to indicate your answer.

Figure 48.1
The membrane potential is closest to the equilibrium potential for potassium at label

Question 9

In the communication link between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle,

A)the motor neuron is considered the presynaptic cell and the skeletal muscle is the postsynaptic cell.
B)the motor neuron is considered the postsynaptic cell and the skeletal muscle is the presynaptic cell.
C)action potentials are possible on the motor neuron but not the skeletal muscle.
D)action potentials are possible on the skeletal muscle but not the motor neuron.
E)the motor neuron fires action potentials but the skeletal muscle is not electrochemically excitable.

Question 10

For the following questions, refer to the graph of an action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to indicate your answer.

Figure 48.1
The cell is not hyperpolarized, but repolarization is in progress, as the sodium channels are closing or closed, and many potassium channels have opened, at label

Question 11

Most of the neurons in the human brain are

A)sensory neurons.
B)motor neurons.
C)interneurons.
D)auditory neurons.
E)olfactory neurons.

Question 12

A nervous system can alter activities in its target cells in muscles and glands because

A)they are electrically coupled by gap junctions.
B)the target cells have receptor proteins for the signals released by the nervous system.
C)the nervous system releases signals into the blood to control the target cells.
D)the target cells that become disconnected from the nervous system rapidly die.
E)the target cells each have an internal neural network connected to the nervous system.

Question 13

For the following questions, refer to the graph of an action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to indicate your answer.

Figure 48.1
The neuronal membrane is at its resting potential at label

Question 14

Action potentials move along axons

A)more slowly in axons of large than in small diameter.
B)by the direct action of acetylcholine on the axonal membrane.
C)by activating the sodium-potassium "pump" at each point along the axonal membrane.
D)more rapidly in myelinated than in non-myelinated axons.
E) by reversing the concentration gradients for sodium and potassium ions.

Question 15

The "threshold" potential of a membrane

A)is the point of separation from a living from a dead neuron.
B)is the lowest frequency of action potentials a neuron can produce.
C)is the minimum hyperpolarization needed to prevent the occurrence of action potentials.
D)is the minimum depolarization needed to operate the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels.
E)is the peak amount of depolarization seen in an action potential.

Question 16

A simple nervous system

A)must include chemical senses, mechanoreception, and vision.
B)includes a minimum of 12 ganglia.
C)has information flow in only one direction: toward an integrating center.
D)has information flow in only one direction: away from an integrating center.
E)has information flow both toward and away from an integrating center.

Question 17

The "selectivity" of a particular ion channel refers to its

A)permitting passage by positive but not negative ions.
B)permitting passage by negative but not positive ions.
C)ability to change its size depending on the ion needing transport.
D)binding with only one type of neurotransmitter.
E)permitting passage only to a specific ion.

Question 18

For the following questions, refer to the graph of an action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to indicate your answer.

Figure 48.1
The minimum graded depolarization needed to operate the voltage-gated sodium and potassium channels is indicated by the label

Question 19

For the following questions, refer to the graph of an action potential in Figure 48.1 and use the letters to indicate your answer.

Figure 48.1
The membrane's permeability to sodium ions is at its maximum at label

Question 20

In certain large animals, this type of neuron can extend beyond one meter in length

A)glial cell in the brain.
B)a sensory neuron.
C)an interneuron.
D)a glial cell at a ganglion.
E)a neuron that controls eye movements.

Question 21

The surface on a neuron that discharges synaptic vesicles is the

A)dendrite.
B)axon hillock.
C)node of Ranvier.
D)postsynaptic membrane.
E)presynaptic membrane.

Question 22

Neurotransmitters are released from axon terminals via

A)osmosis.
B)active transport.
C)diffusion.
D)transcytosis.
E)exocytosis.

Question 23

Neural transmission across a mammalian synaptic gap is accomplished by

A)the movement of sodium and potassium ions from the presynaptic into the postsynaptic neuron.
B)impulses traveling as electrical currents across the gap.
C)impulses causing the release of a chemical signal and its diffusion across the gap.
D)impulses ricocheting back and forth across the gap.
E)the movement of calcium ions from the presynaptic into the postsynaptic neuron.

Question 24

Assume that a single IPSP has a negative magnitude of - 0.5 mV at the axon hillock, and that a single EPSP has a positive magnitude of + 0.5 mV. For a neuron with initial membrane potential is -70 mV, the net effect of the simultaneous arrival of 6 IPSPs and 2 EPSPs would be to move the membrane potential to

A)-72 mV.
B)-71 mV.
C)-70 mV.
D)-69 mV.
E)-68 mV.

Question 25

Action potentials are normally carried in only one direction: from the axon hillock toward the axon terminals. If you experimentally depolarize the middle of the axon to threshold, using an electronic probe, then

A)no action potential will be initiated.
B)an action potential will be initiated and proceed only in the normal direction toward the axon terminal.
C)an action potential will be initiated and proceed only back toward the axon hillock.
D)two action potentials will be initiated, one going toward the axon terminal and one going back toward the hillock.
E)an action potential will be initiated, but it will die out before it reaches the axon terminal.

Question 26

Neurotransmitters categorized as inhibitory would are expected to

A)act independently of their receptor proteins.
B)close potassium channels.
C)open sodium channels.
D)close chloride channels.
E)hyperpolarize the membrane.

Question 27

In the sequence of permeability changes for a complete action potential, the first of these events that occurs is

A)the activation of the sodium-potassium "pump."
B)the inhibition of the sodium-potassium "pump."
C)the opening of voltage-gated sodium channels.
D)the closing of voltage-gated potassium channels.
E)the opening of voltage-gated potassium channels.

Question 28

Saltatory conduction is a term applied to conduction of impulses

A)across electrical synapses.
B)an action potential that skips the axon hillock in moving from the dendritic region to the axon terminal.
C)rapid movement of an action potential reverberating back and forth along a neuron.
D)jumping from one neuron to an adjacent neuron.
E)jumping from one node of Ranvier to the next in a myelinated neuron.

Question 29

Functionally, this cellular location is the neuron's "decision-making site" as to whether or not an action potential will be initiated:

A)axonal membranes
B)axon hillocks
C)dendritic membranes
D)mitochondrial membranes
E)presynaptic membranes

Question 30

When several EPSPs arrive at the axon hillock from different dendritic locations, depolarizing the postsynaptic cell to threshold for an action potential, this is an example of

A)temporal summation.
B)spatial summation.
C)tetanus.
D)the refractory state.
E)an action potential with an abnormally high peak of depolarization.

Question 31

The primary neurotransmitter from the parasympathetic system that influences its autonomic targets is

A)acetylcholine.
B)adenosine.
C)norepinephrine.
D)adrenaline.
E)dopamine.

Question 32

The steps below refer to various stages in transmission at a chemical synapse: 1. Neurotransmitter binds with receptors associated with the postsynaptic membrane.
2) Calcium ions rush into neuron's cytoplasm.
3) An action potential depolarizes the membrane of the axon terminal.
4) The ligand-gated ion channels open.
5) The synaptic vesicles release neurotransmitter into the synaptic cleft.
Which sequence of events is correct?

A)1 → 2 → 3 → 4 → 5
B)2 → 3 → 5 → 4 → 1
C)3 → 2 → 5 → 1 → 4
D)4 → 3 → 1 → 2 → 5
E)5 → 1 → 2 → 4 → 3

Question 33

Neurotransmitters affect postsynaptic cells by

A)initiating signal transduction pathways in the cells.
B)causing molecular changes in the cells.
C)affecting ion-channel proteins.
D)altering the permeability of the cells.
E)Choices A, B, C, and D are all correct.

Question 34

One disadvantage to a nerve net is that it can conduct impulses in two directions from the point of the stimulus. Most of the synapses in vertebrates conduct information in only one direction

A)as a result of the nodes of Ranvier.
B)as a result of voltage-gated sodium channels found only in the vertebrate system.
C)because vertebrate nerve cells have dendrites.
D)because only the postsynaptic cells can bind and respond to neurotransmitters.
E)because the sodium-potassium pump moves ions in one direction.

Question 35

An inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP)occurs in a membrane made more permeable to

A)potassium ions.
B)sodium ions.
C)calcium ions.
D)ATP.
E)all neurotransmitter molecules.

Question 36

The activity of acetylcholine in a synapse is terminated by

A)its active transport across the presynaptic membrane.
B)its diffusion across the presynaptic membrane.
C)its active transport across the postsynaptic membrane.
D)its diffusion across the postsynaptic membrane.
E)its degradation by a hydrolytic enzyme on the postsynaptic membrane.

Question 37

Receptors for neurotransmitters are of primary functional importance in assuring one-way synaptic transmission because they are mostly found on the

A)axonal membrane.
B)axon hillock.
C)dendritic membrane.
D)mitochondrial membrane.
E)presynaptic membrane.

Question 38

Assume that excessive consumption of ethanol increases the influx of negative chloride ions into "common sense" neurons whose action potentials are needed for you to act appropriately and not harm yourself or others. Thus, any resulting poor decisions associated with ethanol ingestion are likely due to

A)increased membrane depolarization of "common sense" neurons.
B)decreased membrane depolarization of "common sense" neurons.
C)more action potentials in your "common sense" neurons.
D)more EPSPs in your "common sense" neurons.
E)fewer IPSPs in your "common sense" neurons.

Question 39

When several IPSPs arrive at the axon hillock rapidly in sequence from a single dendritic location, hyperpolarizing the postsynaptic cell more and more and thus preventing an action potential, this is an example of

A)temporal summation.
B)spatial summation.
C)tetanus.
D)the refractory state.
E)an action potential with an abnormally high peak of depolarization.

Question 40

The observation that the acetylcholine released into the junction between a motor neuron and a skeletal muscle binds to a sodium channel and opens it is an example of

A)a voltage-gated sodium channel.
B)a voltage-gated potassium channel.
C)a ligand-gated sodium channel.
D)a second-messenger-gated sodium channel.
E)a chemical that inhibits action potentials.

Question 41

Which of the following is a direct result of depolarizing the presynaptic membrane of an axon terminal?

A)Voltage-gated calcium channels in the membrane open.
B)Synaptic vesicles fuse with the membrane.
C)The postsynaptic cell produces an action potential.
D)Ligand-gated channels open, allowing neurotransmitters to enter the synaptic cleft.
E)An EPSP or IPSP is generated in the postsynaptic cell.

Question 42

The heart naturally slows when responding to

A)acetylcholine.
B)epinephrine.
C)endorphin.
D)nitric oxide.
E)GABA.

Question 43

Why are action potentials usually conducted in only one direction along an axon?

A)The nodes of Ranvier can conduct potentials in only one direction.
B)The brief refractory period prevents reopening of voltage-gated Na+ channels.
C)The axon hillock has a higher membrane potential than the terminals of the axon.
D)Ions can flow along the axon in only one direction.
E)Voltage-gated channels for both Na+ and K+ open in only one direction.

Question 44

The major inhibitory neurotransmitter of the human brain is

A)acetylcholine.
B)epinephrine.
C)endorphin.
D)nitric oxide.
E)GABA.

Question 45

Where are neurotransmitter receptors located?

A)on the nuclear membrane
B)at nodes of Ranvier
C)on the postsynaptic membrane
D)on the membranes of synaptic vesicles
E)in the myelin sheath

Question 46

A common feature of action potentials is that they

A)cause the membrane to hyperpolarize and then depolarize.
B)can undergo temporal and spatial summation.
C)are triggered by a depolarization that reaches the threshold.
D)move at the same speed along all axons.
E)result from the diffusion of Na+ and K+ through ligand-gated channels.

Question 47

This neuro-active compound is not stored in presynaptic vesicles:

A)acetylcholine
B)epinephrine
C)endorphin
D)nitric oxide
E)GABA

Question 48

A neuropeptide that might function as a natural analgesic is

A)acetylcholine.
B)epinephrine.
C)endorphin.
D)nitric oxide.
E)GABA.

Question 49

An amino acid that operates at inhibitory synapses in the brain

A)acetylcholine
B)epinephrine
C)endorphin
D)nitric oxide
E)GABA

Question 50

What happens when a neuron's membrane depolarizes?

A)There is a net diffusion of Na+ out of the cell.
B)The equilibrium potential for K+ (EK)becomes more positive.
C)The neuron's membrane voltage becomes more positive.
D)The neuron becomes less likely to generate an action potential.
E)The inside of the cell becomes more negative relative to the outside.

Question 51

The botulinum toxin reduces the synaptic release of

A)acetylcholine.
B)epinephrine.
C)endorphin.
D)nitric oxide.
E)GABA.

Question 52

Temporal summation always involves

A)both inhibitory and excitatory inputs.
B)synapses at more than one site.
C)inputs that are not simultaneous.
D)electrical synapses.
E)myelinated axons.