BIOL 1108
BIOL 1108 Exam 5 Study Questions
with Correct Answers 2026 Update
Explain the ways that information is transmitted in neurons based on the type of
stimulus (light, chemical, mechanical) -Correct Answer ✔-Sound is mechanically gated
Light is light gated
Gustation is voltage-gated
Smell is chemically gated
Touch is mechanically gated
Sensory neurons -Correct Answer ✔-get information about what's going on inside and
outside of the body and bring that information into the CNS so it can be processed. For
instance, if you picked up a hot coal, sensory neurons with endings in your fingertips
would convey the information to your CNS that it was really hot.
Motor neurons -Correct Answer ✔-get information from other neurons and convey
commands to your muscles, organs and glands. For instance, if you picked up a hot
coal, it motor neurons innervating the muscles in your fingers would cause your hand to
let go.
Interneurons -Correct Answer ✔-which are found only in the CNS, connect one neuron
to another. They receive information from other neurons (either sensory neurons or
interneurons) and transmit information to other neurons (either motor neurons or
interneurons).
Describe how signals are transduced to result in depolarization of different types of
sensory neurons -Correct Answer ✔-The most fundamental function of a sensory
system is the translation of a sensory signal to an electrical signal in the nervous
system. This takes place at the sensory receptor. The change in electrical potential that
is produced is called the receptor potential. Sensory receptors for the various senses
work differently from each other. They are specialized according to the type of stimulus
they sense; thus, they have receptor specificity. Four aspects of sensory information are
encoded by sensory systems: the type of stimulus, the location of the stimulus in the
receptive field, the duration of the stimulus, and the relative intensity of the stimulus.
The brain distinguishes sensory stimuli through a sensory pathway: action potentials
from sensory receptors travel along neurons that are dedicated to a particular stimulus.
Explain how the opening of ion channels results in depolarization of neurons -Correct
Answer ✔-When neurotransmitter molecules bind to receptors located on a neuron's
dendrites, ion channels open. At excitatory synapses, this opening allows positive ions
to enter the neuron and results in depolarization of the membrane—a decrease in the
difference in voltage between the inside and outside of the neuron.
BIOL 1108
, BIOL 1108
List and describe the ways ion channels are regulated -Correct Answer ✔-regulated by
neurotransmitters and hormone
toxins enter the food chain where? -Correct Answer ✔-at the lowest level then work their
way up the food chain as each prey gets eaten
Define bioaccumulation -Correct Answer ✔-the accumulation of substances, such as
pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism. enters at the lowest level and
builds/works it way up the food chain as each prey gets eaten
at each trophic level what happens with the accumulation of toxins? -Correct Answer ✔-
it increases exponentially
what materials bioaccumulate for a compound to be bio accumulative? -Correct Answer
✔-1. must be long lasting so it can stick around in the food chain for many years
2. must be soluble in lipids (non polar) so it can be stored in fat deposits
3. must be biologically active so it can be harmful (can be heavy metal like mercury)
How do toxins enter a food chain? -Correct Answer ✔-ingested, absorbed through skin,
inhaled, and plants can take them in directly from the soil
when herbivores eat contaminated plants the toxins accumulate in their -Correct Answer
✔-fatty tissues
when are toxins released into the bloodstream? -Correct Answer ✔-when an animal
uses body fat for energy. it harms vital organs and systems.
can also be released from breast tissue in milk production and consumed by nursing
offspring
Define biomagnification -Correct Answer ✔-process in which chemical substances
become more concentrated at each trophic level
occurs when pollutants taken up by organisms at the base of the food chain reach high
concentrations in the bodies of animals at the top of the food chain.
Organisms at the top of the food chain are at -Correct Answer ✔-a greater risk of
damage due to biomagnification
rods -Correct Answer ✔-detect light and dark
cones -Correct Answer ✔-detect different wave lengths of light
BIOL 1108
BIOL 1108 Exam 5 Study Questions
with Correct Answers 2026 Update
Explain the ways that information is transmitted in neurons based on the type of
stimulus (light, chemical, mechanical) -Correct Answer ✔-Sound is mechanically gated
Light is light gated
Gustation is voltage-gated
Smell is chemically gated
Touch is mechanically gated
Sensory neurons -Correct Answer ✔-get information about what's going on inside and
outside of the body and bring that information into the CNS so it can be processed. For
instance, if you picked up a hot coal, sensory neurons with endings in your fingertips
would convey the information to your CNS that it was really hot.
Motor neurons -Correct Answer ✔-get information from other neurons and convey
commands to your muscles, organs and glands. For instance, if you picked up a hot
coal, it motor neurons innervating the muscles in your fingers would cause your hand to
let go.
Interneurons -Correct Answer ✔-which are found only in the CNS, connect one neuron
to another. They receive information from other neurons (either sensory neurons or
interneurons) and transmit information to other neurons (either motor neurons or
interneurons).
Describe how signals are transduced to result in depolarization of different types of
sensory neurons -Correct Answer ✔-The most fundamental function of a sensory
system is the translation of a sensory signal to an electrical signal in the nervous
system. This takes place at the sensory receptor. The change in electrical potential that
is produced is called the receptor potential. Sensory receptors for the various senses
work differently from each other. They are specialized according to the type of stimulus
they sense; thus, they have receptor specificity. Four aspects of sensory information are
encoded by sensory systems: the type of stimulus, the location of the stimulus in the
receptive field, the duration of the stimulus, and the relative intensity of the stimulus.
The brain distinguishes sensory stimuli through a sensory pathway: action potentials
from sensory receptors travel along neurons that are dedicated to a particular stimulus.
Explain how the opening of ion channels results in depolarization of neurons -Correct
Answer ✔-When neurotransmitter molecules bind to receptors located on a neuron's
dendrites, ion channels open. At excitatory synapses, this opening allows positive ions
to enter the neuron and results in depolarization of the membrane—a decrease in the
difference in voltage between the inside and outside of the neuron.
BIOL 1108
, BIOL 1108
List and describe the ways ion channels are regulated -Correct Answer ✔-regulated by
neurotransmitters and hormone
toxins enter the food chain where? -Correct Answer ✔-at the lowest level then work their
way up the food chain as each prey gets eaten
Define bioaccumulation -Correct Answer ✔-the accumulation of substances, such as
pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism. enters at the lowest level and
builds/works it way up the food chain as each prey gets eaten
at each trophic level what happens with the accumulation of toxins? -Correct Answer ✔-
it increases exponentially
what materials bioaccumulate for a compound to be bio accumulative? -Correct Answer
✔-1. must be long lasting so it can stick around in the food chain for many years
2. must be soluble in lipids (non polar) so it can be stored in fat deposits
3. must be biologically active so it can be harmful (can be heavy metal like mercury)
How do toxins enter a food chain? -Correct Answer ✔-ingested, absorbed through skin,
inhaled, and plants can take them in directly from the soil
when herbivores eat contaminated plants the toxins accumulate in their -Correct Answer
✔-fatty tissues
when are toxins released into the bloodstream? -Correct Answer ✔-when an animal
uses body fat for energy. it harms vital organs and systems.
can also be released from breast tissue in milk production and consumed by nursing
offspring
Define biomagnification -Correct Answer ✔-process in which chemical substances
become more concentrated at each trophic level
occurs when pollutants taken up by organisms at the base of the food chain reach high
concentrations in the bodies of animals at the top of the food chain.
Organisms at the top of the food chain are at -Correct Answer ✔-a greater risk of
damage due to biomagnification
rods -Correct Answer ✔-detect light and dark
cones -Correct Answer ✔-detect different wave lengths of light
BIOL 1108
