SCI 221 PHYSIOLOGY 2026 CORE EXAM TEST
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A fast excitatory synapses follows this order: - ✔✔(1) neurotransmitter released (2)
diffused across the synaptic cleft to a receptor protein (3) binding of the transmitter
opens pores in the ion channels and positive ions move in.
✔✔What is the approximate resting membrane potential of neurons? - ✔✔-70 mV
✔✔If we apply an electrical stimulus to a muscle cell to cause it to contract, the
magnitude of that stimulus must be strong enough to reach a critical value that is
essential to initiate contraction. This critical value is known as __________. -
✔✔Threshold
✔✔Transmission across a synapse is dependent on the release of _______? -
✔✔Neurotransmitters
✔✔Motor neurons take messages: - ✔✔Away from the central nervous system to
muscle fiber.
✔✔A large, rapid change in membrane potential produced by depolarization of an
excitable cell's plasma membrane to threshold is known as a(n) __________. -
✔✔Action Potential
✔✔Which of the following is true for graded potentials? - ✔✔They can be either
inhibitory or excitatory.
✔✔A large, rapid change in membrane potential produced by depolarization of an
excitable cell's plasma membrane to threshold is known as a(n) __________. -
✔✔Action Potential
✔✔Which of the following ion channels located in the plasma membrane of the neuron
are always open and are largely responsible for the resting membrane potential? -
✔✔Leak channels
✔✔What is the name of the process through which one neuron receives communication
from several other "upstream" neurons? - ✔✔Convergence
✔✔Choose the option that correctly finishes the sentence. Ligand-gated ion channels,
such as the nicotinic cholinergic receptor activated by acetycholine, __________. -
✔✔Allow the influx of sodium ions, which facilitates fast responses at synapses
✔✔Which of the following synapses function as modulatory synapses? - ✔✔Axoaxonic
, ✔✔Enkephalin is a neuropeptide that initiates a "slow" response in the postsynaptic cell;
to which type of receptor does enkephalin bind? - ✔✔Metabotropic receptors
✔✔Which of the following neurotransmitters does NOT belong to the biogenic amines? -
✔✔1) Oxytocin - NO
2) Dopamine - YES
3) Epinephrine - YES
4) Serotonin - YES
✔✔The activation of beta2 receptors in the bronchi causes bronchodilation (an increase
in diameter of the bronchi), making it easier to breathe. Which of the following
neurotransmitters would be useful for a person suffering from an episode of
bronchoconstriction (a reduction in the diameter of the bronchi)? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔Which of the following enzymes catalyzes the synthesis of acetylcholine from acetyl
CoA and choline? - ✔✔choline acetyl transferase (CAT)
✔✔Which of the following neurotransmitters can bind to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors
(NMDA)? - ✔✔Glutamate
✔✔Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)? -
✔✔CSF is important in the synthesis of T-lymphocytes.
✔✔Which of the following statements about electrical synapses is NOT correct? -
✔✔Electrical synapses are somewhat slower than chemical synapses.
✔✔Prior to being released by the neuron in response to an action potential,
neurotransmitters are stored in the __________. - ✔✔Synaptic Vesicles
✔✔Which of the glial cells in the CNS is associated with the blood-brain barrier? -
✔✔Astrocytes
✔✔Which of the following contributes to the structure/function of the blood-brain
barrier? - ✔✔Tight Junctions
✔✔How many pairs of spinal nerves are there in the cervical section of the spinal cord?
- ✔✔8
✔✔Which of the following structures of the brain functions in motor coordination and
balance, providing feedback to motor systems to ensure smooth movements? -
✔✔Cerebellum
QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS RATED A+
✔✔A fast excitatory synapses follows this order: - ✔✔(1) neurotransmitter released (2)
diffused across the synaptic cleft to a receptor protein (3) binding of the transmitter
opens pores in the ion channels and positive ions move in.
✔✔What is the approximate resting membrane potential of neurons? - ✔✔-70 mV
✔✔If we apply an electrical stimulus to a muscle cell to cause it to contract, the
magnitude of that stimulus must be strong enough to reach a critical value that is
essential to initiate contraction. This critical value is known as __________. -
✔✔Threshold
✔✔Transmission across a synapse is dependent on the release of _______? -
✔✔Neurotransmitters
✔✔Motor neurons take messages: - ✔✔Away from the central nervous system to
muscle fiber.
✔✔A large, rapid change in membrane potential produced by depolarization of an
excitable cell's plasma membrane to threshold is known as a(n) __________. -
✔✔Action Potential
✔✔Which of the following is true for graded potentials? - ✔✔They can be either
inhibitory or excitatory.
✔✔A large, rapid change in membrane potential produced by depolarization of an
excitable cell's plasma membrane to threshold is known as a(n) __________. -
✔✔Action Potential
✔✔Which of the following ion channels located in the plasma membrane of the neuron
are always open and are largely responsible for the resting membrane potential? -
✔✔Leak channels
✔✔What is the name of the process through which one neuron receives communication
from several other "upstream" neurons? - ✔✔Convergence
✔✔Choose the option that correctly finishes the sentence. Ligand-gated ion channels,
such as the nicotinic cholinergic receptor activated by acetycholine, __________. -
✔✔Allow the influx of sodium ions, which facilitates fast responses at synapses
✔✔Which of the following synapses function as modulatory synapses? - ✔✔Axoaxonic
, ✔✔Enkephalin is a neuropeptide that initiates a "slow" response in the postsynaptic cell;
to which type of receptor does enkephalin bind? - ✔✔Metabotropic receptors
✔✔Which of the following neurotransmitters does NOT belong to the biogenic amines? -
✔✔1) Oxytocin - NO
2) Dopamine - YES
3) Epinephrine - YES
4) Serotonin - YES
✔✔The activation of beta2 receptors in the bronchi causes bronchodilation (an increase
in diameter of the bronchi), making it easier to breathe. Which of the following
neurotransmitters would be useful for a person suffering from an episode of
bronchoconstriction (a reduction in the diameter of the bronchi)? - ✔✔Epinephrine
✔✔Which of the following enzymes catalyzes the synthesis of acetylcholine from acetyl
CoA and choline? - ✔✔choline acetyl transferase (CAT)
✔✔Which of the following neurotransmitters can bind to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors
(NMDA)? - ✔✔Glutamate
✔✔Which of the following is NOT one of the functions of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)? -
✔✔CSF is important in the synthesis of T-lymphocytes.
✔✔Which of the following statements about electrical synapses is NOT correct? -
✔✔Electrical synapses are somewhat slower than chemical synapses.
✔✔Prior to being released by the neuron in response to an action potential,
neurotransmitters are stored in the __________. - ✔✔Synaptic Vesicles
✔✔Which of the glial cells in the CNS is associated with the blood-brain barrier? -
✔✔Astrocytes
✔✔Which of the following contributes to the structure/function of the blood-brain
barrier? - ✔✔Tight Junctions
✔✔How many pairs of spinal nerves are there in the cervical section of the spinal cord?
- ✔✔8
✔✔Which of the following structures of the brain functions in motor coordination and
balance, providing feedback to motor systems to ensure smooth movements? -
✔✔Cerebellum
