1.

Which structure is responsible for passing messages directly to effector organs?

(Total 1 mark)

2.

The movement of which ion initiates an action potential?

A.

Calcium

B.

Magnesium

C.

Sodium

D.

Potassium
(Total 1 mark)

3.

What is the role of active transport in the transmission of nerve impulses by neurones?
A.

Propagates an action potential by pumping sodium ions across the membrane out of the
neurone.

B.

Propagates an action potential by pumping sodium ions across the membrane into the
neurone.

C.

Initiates the action potential needed for the transmission of an impulse by pumping
calcium ions out of the endoplasmic reticulum.

D.

Establishes the resting potential needed for the transmission of an impulse by pumping
sodium and potassium ions across the membrane.
(Total 1 mark)

4.

Explain the principles of synaptic transmission.

(Total 8 marks)

5.

In a nerve impulse, what happens at the site following the highest point of the action potential?
A.

Voltage-gated sodium ion channels open and Na+ is pumped in.

B.

Voltage-gated sodium ion channels open and Na+ diffuses out.

C.

Voltage-gated potassium ion channels open and K+ is pumped out.

D.

Voltage-gated potassium ion channels open and K+ diffuses out.

(1)

Rats were bred for several generations to prefer alcohol (ethanol) consumption. When tested, it
was discovered that the brains of these rats possessed lower quantities of the chemical
neuropeptide Y (NPY).
To test the hypothesis that lower quantities of NPY leads to a preference for alcohol, rats were
genetically engineered to be NPY deficient (genotype NPY /), or to produce an excess of
NPY (NPY-EX). In separate experiments, the two groups were compared to normal rats (in
terms of their alcohol preference) possessing the genotype NPY +/+. The groups were offered
solutions of increasing alcohol concentration. The quantity of each solution consumed per day
was measured.
Figure 1
1

Figure 2

P Y/
P + Y/ +

N
N

C o n s u m p tio n / g k g 1 d a y 1

C o n s u m p tio n / g k g 1 d a y 1

6.

9
6
3
0

5
C

1 0
1 5
2 0
c e n t r a t i o n

2 5
o f

N
N

P Y - E
P + Y/ +

9
6
3
0

1 0
1 5
2 0
a l c o C h o o n l c s e o n l tu r t a i to i no n /

2 5
%o f

a l c o

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

(a)

Calculate the difference in consumption of the 6% alcohol solution between the

(i)

NPY / and NPY +/+ rats (figure 1);

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

NPY-EX and NPY+/+ rats (figure 2).

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(b)

Compare the alcohol consumption of the NPY / rats with the NPY-EX rats.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

(c)

Identify the relationship between NPY levels and alcohol consumption.

.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(1)

An experiment was carried out to test the hypothesis that an increase in preference for alcohol
might be related to a decrease in sensitivity to its effects.
Rats were injected with a sample of alcohol and then assessed for the length of time it took for
them to regain the righting reflex. (The righting reflex refers to the ability of the rat to return to
its feet after being placed on its back.)
Figure 3
7
T

i m
e
r i g h t
r e f l e x

t 5o 0 r e g a i n
i n g
2/ 5 m
i n s
0

Y N

P / Y N

+ P / Y+

- E

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

(d)

Deduce the relationship between NPY levels and the time required to regain the righting
reflex.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(3)

An additional experiment was carried out to determine whether differences in sensitivity to the
effects of alcohol might be related to differences in the rats ability to remove alcohol from their
blood. Rats were injected with alcohol and blood samples were taken one hour and three hours
later to determine alcohol levels. The results are shown below.
Figure 4
K
3

C o n c e n t r a1 t i o n
o f
i n
t h e
p l a s m 2 0a 0 / m
1

a l c o
g
d L

e y :
P Y

/ +

0
T

1
i m

3
a f t e r

i n

j e c t i o

[Source: adapted from Thiele et al, Nature, (1998), 396 pages 366369]

r s

(e)

Evaluate the hypothesis that differences in sensitivity to the effects of alcohol might be
related to differences in the ability of the rats to remove alcohol from their blood.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(f)

Using all the data, outline the relationship between preference for alcohol and sensitivity
to the effects of alcohol.
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)

(g)

(i)

Define the term homozygous.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(ii)

State the phenotype of a rat with the genotype NPY +/+.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(1)

(iii)

Using a Punnett grid, predict the fraction of offspring that would have the genotype
NPY +/ if two rats were crossed, one homozygous for the NPY+ allele and one
homozygous for the NPY allele.

...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 17 marks)

7.

What substance enters the presynaptic neuron during synaptic transmission and what substance
leaves it?
Substance entering presynaptic neuron

Substance leaving presynaptic neuron

A.

Neurotransmitter

Calcium ions (Ca )

B.

Neurotransmitter

Sodium ions (Na )

C.

Sodium ions (Na )

Neurotransmitter

D.

Calcium ions (Ca )

2+

Neurotransmitter

2+
+

(Total 1 mark)

8.

Membrane proteins are critical components of nerve function.

Which process in nerves does not require a membrane protein?
A.

Diffusion of neurotransmitter

B.

Active transport of sodium

C.

Propagation of an action potential

D.

Binding of neurotransmitter
(Total 1 mark)

9.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Outline the regulation of pregnancy by two named hormones.

(4)

(b)

Describe the principles of synaptic transmission in the nervous system.

(6)

(c)

Explain homeostasis giving two specific examples that show the role of the endocrine or
the nervous system.
(8)
(Total 20 marks)

10.

Outline the organization of the human nervous system.

...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
...............................................................................................................................................
(Total 2 marks)

11.

Which division describes the central nervous system?

A.

Peripheral and central

B.

Voluntary and involuntary nerves

C.

Brain and spinal cord

D.

Sensory and motor nerves

(Total 1 mark)

12.

After depolorization what happens to restore the resting potential?

A.

Sodium channels open and sodium ions diffuse out of the neuron

B.

Potassium channels open and potassium ions diffuse into the neuron

C.

Potassium channels open and potassium ions diffuse out of the neuron

D.

Sodium channels open and sodium ions diffuse into the neuron
(Total 1 mark)

13.

Which ion is pumped into the axon of a neuron to help maintain the resting potential?
2+

A.

Calcium (Ca )

B.

Hydrogen (H )

C.

Potassium (K )

D.

Sodium (Na )

(Total 1 mark)

14.

(a)

Identify the labelled parts in the following diagram of two neurons.

X
X

I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

X
X

X
I I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(2)

(b)

Explain the roles of calcium ions in the following activities:

(i)

in the transmission of nerve impulses;

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)

(ii)

in skeletal muscle contraction.

...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

10

15.

What causes a resting potential to develop in a neuron?

A.

Diffusion of sodium and potassium ions

B.

Active transport of sodium and potassium ions

C.

Active transport of sodium and diffusion of chloride ions

D.

Active transport of potassium and diffusion of chloride ions

(Total 1 mark)

16.

Up to two additional marks are available for the construction of your answers.
(2)

(a)

Draw a labelled diagram showing the structure of a motor neurone.

(4)

(b)

Outline how heartbeat is controlled as the body goes from rest to hard exercise.
(6)

(c)

Explain how skeletal muscle contracts.

(8)
(Total 20 marks)

11