BSC2011. Review Ch.

48-50

 Sense and sensation

Martijn Slot, 12 June 2009

Temporal summation always involves

A both inhibitory and excitatory inputs.

B inputs that are not simultaneous.
C synapses at more than one site.
D myelinated axons.
E electrical synapses.

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How Neurons Work (3 of 3): Conduction of an Action Potential

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 Which statement correctly describes what causes the
second voltage-gated Na+ channel to open?

A) As Na+ ions enter the cell through the 1st channel, they spread out. When
these Na+ ions reach the 2nd channel, it opens.
B) As Na+ ions enter the cell through the 1st channel, Na+ ions outside the cell
move toward the open Na+ channel. When the [Na+ ions] near the 2nd
channel becomes low enough, the 2nd channel opens.
C) After the 1st channel opens, the movement of Na+ ions (both inside and
outside the cell) alters the Na+ ion distribution across the membrane near the
2nd channel, causing it to open.
D) After the 1st channel opens, the movement of many types of ions (both
inside & outside the cell) alters the distribution of charges near the 2nd
channel, causing it to open.

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Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
+ ions are attracted to the region near the channel due to the lower [Na+ ion]
­ ions are repelled from the region near the channel due to the lower [Na+ ion]
Na+ ions diffuse toward the channel down their concentration gradient. 

­ ions near the channel are attracted to the Na+ ions that have entered
+ ions near the channel are repelled by the Na+ ions that have entered
Na+ ions diffuse away from the channel down their concentration gradient. 

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.
Action potential

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A poison that specifically disables the Na+/K+
pumps is added to a culture of neurons. What effect
does this eventually have on the neurons?

a) The resting membrane potential goes to zero.

b) The inside of the neuron would become more
negative relative to the outside.
c) The inside of the neuron would become positively
charged relative to the outside.
d) Sodium would diffuse out of the cell and potassium
would diffuse into the cell.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 7-16-7
EXTRACELLULAR
[Na+] high Na+
FLUID [K+] low Na+

Na+ Na+ Na+

Na+ Na+

Na+

[Na+] low ATP

P
Na+ [K+] high P
CYTOPLASM ADP
1 2 3

K+

K+

+
K+
K
K+

P
K+ P
6 5 4
For a nerve cell at its resting potential, what are the
forces controlling the movement of potassium ions
and their direction?

a) None: K+ ions do not move across the membrane at

the resting potential.
b) Electrical gradient, inward; chemical gradient, inward
c) Electrical gradient, outward; chemical gradient, inward
d) Electrical gradient, inward; chemical gradient, outward
e) Electrical gradient, outward; chemical gradient,
outward

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A(n) _______ in Na+ permeability and/or a(n)
_______ in K+ permeability across a neuron’s plasma
membrane would cause a shift in the membrane

a) increase; increase
b) increase; decrease
c) decrease; increase
d) decrease; decrease

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What is the correct pathway of information flow
through neurons while taking a test, starting with
reading a question and ending with marking the correct

a) sensor, interneurons, motor neurons, sensory

neurons, effector
b) effector, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor
neurons, sensor
c) sensor, sensory neurons, interneurons, motor
neurons, effector
d) sensor, interneurons, sensory neurons, motor
neurons, effector

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Which of the following would best describe how
Adderall, an amphetamine stimulant, works on the
CNS?

a) increases the release of GABA and decreases its

reuptake
b) increases the release of serotonin and decreases its
reuptake
c) increases the release of endorphins and decreases
their reuptake
d) increases the release of dopamine and
norepinephrine and decreases their reuptake

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The following graph shows a change in the
membrane potential of a neuron as stimuli are
applied. What changes have the stimuli caused?

a) a localized opening of
some K channels
b) a localized opening of
some Na channels
c) a rapid opening of
most K channels
d) a rapid opening of
most Na channels

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Which of the following choices best
describes what is happening at step four in
the graph below?

a) Some Na channels close.

b) Most Na channels open.
c) Some K channels close.
d) Most K channels open.
e) Na/K pumps are
inactivated.

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Which of the following will be the slowest at
conducting an action potential?

a) Large diameter, unmyelinated axon

b) Small diameter, unmyelinated axon
c) Myelinated axon
d) Options a and c above
e) No difference among these

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Ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) is a chelating
agent that binds to Ca2+. What effect would injecting
EGTA at a synaptic terminal have on the transmission of

a) The release of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic

neuron would increase.
b) The release of neurotransmitters by the presynaptic
neuron would decrease.
c) EGTA would block the binding of neurotransmitters
in the post-synaptic neuron.
d) The lack of Ca2+ would keep the ligand-gated ion
channels open on the post-synaptic neurons.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Organophosphate pesticides work by inhibiting
acetylcholine esterase, an enzyme that breaks down the
neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Which of the following

a) EPSPs would increase because acetylcholine would

remain in the synaptic cleft longer.
b) IPSPs would decrease because acetylcholine would
remain in the synaptic cleft longer.
c) EPSPs would decrease because acetylcholine
would prevent ligand-gated ion channels from
opening.
d) IPSPs would increase because excess acetylcholine
would cause Cl- channels to open.
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The vertebrate nervous system is grouped into two
sections, the central nervous system and the
peripheral nervous system. The central nervous

a) the brain.
b) the brain and spinal cord.
c) the brain, spinal cord, and spinal nerves.
d) the brain, spinal cord, sensory neurons, and motor
neurons.

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Reflexes such as the knee-jerk reflex shown below
result in a very rapid involuntary response to a
stimulus. This is because _______________ is/are

a) motor neurons
b) sensory neurons
c) the spinal cord
d) the brain

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The parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions of
the autonomic nervous system control many organ
functions through

a) positive feedback.
b) negative feedback.
c) acting in opposition.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 49-7-2

PNS
From sensors
to nervous
system
Voluntary Effere Afferent
nt (sensory)
NS
Mostly
consciou Involunta
Motor Autonomic
syste nervous ry NS Hearing

‘Rest &
‘Fight & digest’
flight’
Sympathetic Parasympathe Enteric
Locomotio division tic division

Hormon
Gas Circulatio e Digestio
If increased stimulation of the parasympathetic
division results in decreasing heart rate, what will
happen if the sympathetic division is stimulated?

a) no impact on heart rate

b) cause the heart to stop beating
c) increase the heart rate
d) change blood pressure but not heart rate

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

An individual has a stroke that damages the left
side of their cerebrum. Which of the following will
most likely be impacted by this?

a) control of their right leg

b) control of their left leg
c) balance
d) breathing rate

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Fig. 49-15

Frontal
Parietal

ry
so
en
Somatosenso

cor tor
tex
Speec

rte os
Frontal ry

Mo

co mat
associati association

x
on Taste

So
Readin
Speec
Hearin
Visual
Smel associati
Auditory
associatio on
n
Visio

Temporal
Occipital
An individual has a stroke that damages the left side
of their brainstem. Which of the following will
most likely be impacted by this?

a) control of their right leg

b) control of their left leg
c) balance
d) breathing rate

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

 Cerebru Diencephalon:
Hypothalamus
Thalamus
The midbrain contains centers
for receipt and integration of
sensory information
Brainste
The pons regulates breathing
Midbrai
Pituitar P centers in the medulla
y Medulla
gland
Spinal Cerebellu
oblongata The medulla oblongata controls
Central
e.g. breathing, cardiovascular
) Adult
activity, swallowing,
vomiting, and digestion

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

Sensory Pathways

 Functions of sensory pathways:

a) sensory reception
b) transduction
c) transmission
d) Integration
Types of Sensory Receptors

 Based on energy transduced, sensory

receptors fall into five categories:
a) Mechanoreceptors
b) Chemoreceptors
c) Electromagnetic receptors
d) Thermoreceptors
e) Pain receptors
Fig. 50-3
H Gentl P C H
e

Epiderm

Dermis

Hypoder

Nerv Connecti Hair Strong

ve movem pressur
Fig. 50-8a

M
Outer iddl Inner

Skul Stap
Semicircu
l
Incu lar
Malle
Auditory
nerve

C
O
val Eustachi
P Audit an
ory Tympan R
ic oun
 Fig. 50-8b

Cochl B Audito
ear ry

Vestibu
lar

Tymp Tectorial
anic
Hair

Organ of

Basilar Axons of To
membra sensory auditory
 Fig. 50-9

“ Hairs” of
hair cell

Neuro-
trans-
mitter at
synapse

Sensory
–50 –5
Receptor

m
neuron
m

M
M

m
m

–70 –7

n
b
n
b

V
a
e
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a
e

n
o
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)
(
t
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(
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0
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–70 –7
0 1 2 3 4 05 1
6 2
7 3 4
T ime (sec) T ime

ng
n other
(a)
of No
hairs
direction
bending
in one of
dire
ha
Fig. 50-10

500 Hz
Axons of (low 1
sensory Apex
Flexible end of
basilar
Oval
windo Vestibul Apex
ar 2
Basilar

Stap
{ Vibrati
4
{
Basilar
B Tympa 8
nic Fluid Base
Round (perilymp 16 kHz
(stiff
windo (high
Fig. 50-23

Retin Choroi
Photorecept
Neuro
Retina C Ro

Ligh To
brai
Optic

Ligh

Gangli
on

Amacri
ne Horizo
ntal
Optic
nerv Bipolar Pigment
e cell ed
Sensory receptors

a) produce different types of action potentials based on

the stimulus.
b) respond to a single type of stimulus (heat, pressure,
light, etc.).
c) increase the frequency of action potentials when
stimulated.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.

When a odorant molecule binds to an olfactory
receptor,

a) the odorant molecule is transported into the sensory

cell.
b) the odorant molecule serves as a neurotransmitter.
c) the odorant molecule results in a change in the
membrane potential of the sensory cell.
d) the odorant molecule destroys the
neurotransmitters.

Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Pearson Benjamin Cummings.