Name

__________________________________________________

Biology
Nervous System Test

Substandard LS19a: Nerve Cell Structure and Function

1. Label the parts of a neuron:



Word Bank:
Myelin sheath
Soma/cell body
Dendrites
Axon
Nodes of Ranvier
Nucleus
Axon terminals

















2. Which of the following are true about a neuron that has received a nerve impulse? Circle all that apply.
a. Chemical signals are received in the axon terminals
b. An action potential travels down the axon
c. The impulse signals gather in the soma until there are enough to break the threshold

3. Which of the following is true about the myelin sheath? Circle all that apply.
a. It acts as an insulator for the axon
b. It increases the rate of the action potential
c. It is what determines if the threshold has been reached

4. The place on the neuron where chemical signals are received is called _____________________________________.

5. An action potential travels down the axon using (circle all that apply):
a. Axon terminals
b. Sodium-potassium pumps
c. Sodium ion channels

6. The place on the neuron where the action potential ends is called __________________________________________________.

7.

Match the following:

a. Central Nervous System

_____ Causes sweating and increased heart rate

b.

Sympathetic Nervous System

_____ Causes relaxation and increased blood flow to nonvital organs

c.

Peripheral Nervous System

_____ Consists of the brain and spinal cord

d. Parasympathetic Nervous System
_____ Consists of all the nerves outside the central nervous system

Substandard LS19b: Nerve Cell Communication

1. _____________________________________________________ travel from one neuron to another neuron in order to pass on the
nerve impulse.
a. Ions
b. Neurotransmitters
c. Action potentials

2. Chemical signals from one neuron are passed to the next neuron at the ______________________________________.
a. Synapse
b. Axon
c. Soma

3. Describe the path a nerve impulse takes from neuron to neuron. You may create a diagram or a flow chart, or write
a paragraph. Be specific.

Word Bank:
Threshold
Synapse
Axon
Axon terminal
Myelin sheath
Dendrite
Nodes of Ranvier
Soma/cell body
Action potential
Neurotransmitters



4. Explain what would happen to nerve impulse if a drug blocked a neurotransmitter such as glutamate, which is
responsible for memory. What symptoms would this cause to the person who takes the drug?








Substandard LS19c: Sensor Organs

1. Animals sense the environment around them using receptor cells that can detect which of the following? Circle all
that apply.
a. Photons/visible light waves
b. Chemicals
c. Vibrations
d. UV rays
e. Heat


2.

Match the following sensor organs to their functions:

a. Ears

_____ Detects thousands of chemicals
b.

Eyes

_____ Detects cold and light touch

c.

Skin

_____ Detects visible light waves

d.

Nose

_____ Detects 4 specific chemicals

3.

4.

5.

e. Taste buds
_____ Detects vibrations

Light waves travel through the eye and hit the _____________________________, where specialized neurons (rods and
cones) receive the light waves and send impulses to the optic nerve.
a. Lens
b. Cornea
c. Retina
When vibrations are transferred from the tympanic membrane to the oval window (using 3 tiny bones), the sound:
a. decreases
b. increases
c. changes pitch
Pick a sensor organ. Describe the process of how the sense gets transferred or communicated.