BIO 210 FINAL EXAM| QUESTION AND
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED| UPDATED 2026
Anatomy - ANSWER✔️the study of structure
Physiology - ANSWER✔️the study of function
Metabolism - ANSWER✔️all the chemical reactions that happen in our body cells
Catabolism - ANSWER✔️the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones. Catabolic
reaction
Anabolism - ANSWER✔️The building up of complex molecules from simpler ones
Levels of Structural Organization - ANSWER✔️Atom (chemical), Molecule (chemical), Cell
tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism
cranial nerves - ANSWER✔️12 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain
,spinal nerves - ANSWER✔️31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
sensory nerves - ANSWER✔️contain only sensory neurons
motor nerves - ANSWER✔️contain only motor neurons
mixed nerves - ANSWER✔️contain both sensory and motor neurons
synpase - ANSWER✔️place where a neuron connects to another neuron or an effector
electrical synapse - ANSWER✔️a type of synapse in which the cells are connected by gap
junctions, allowing ions (and therefore the action potential) to spread easily from cell to cell
chemical synapse - ANSWER✔️a type of synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is
released from the axon of a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it binds to receptors on the next
structure (either another neuron or an organ)
presynaptic neuron - ANSWER✔️conducts impulses toward the synapse
postsynaptic neuron - ANSWER✔️transmits impulses away from the synapse
synaptic cleft - ANSWER✔️The narrow gap that separates the presynaptic neuron from the
postsynaptic cell.
glial cells - ANSWER✔️cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
oligodendrocytes - ANSWER✔️Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
astrocytes - ANSWER✔️type of glial cell in the CNS that forms the blood brain barrier
ependymal cell - ANSWER✔️type of glial cell in the CNS that secretes cerebrospinal fluid
microglial cell - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the CNS that is phagocytic and removes
infectious agents or harmful substances
satellite cell - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the PNS that electrically insulates the cell body
and regulates nutrient and waste exchange
neurolemmocyte - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the PNS that myelinates PNS axons
myelination - ANSWER✔️the formation of a fatty sheath around the axons of a neuron; helps
conduct nerve impulses faster
,neurilemma - ANSWER✔️the periphery of a neurolemmocyte that contains the cytoplasm and
nucleus
neurofibril nodes (nodes of Ranvier) - ANSWER✔️gaps between neurolemmocytes or adjuacent
myelin sheaths
Homeostasis - ANSWER✔️The maintenance of the internal environment regardless of external
conditions
Negative feedback mechanism - ANSWER✔️Most feedback mechanisms are this type -
regulating body temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose
Cranial Cavity - ANSWER✔️Brain and spinal cord
vertebral cavity - ANSWER✔️spinal cord
thoracic cavity - ANSWER✔️heart and lungs
abdominopelvic cavity - ANSWER✔️stoach digestive organs
parietal membrane - ANSWER✔️lines cavity wall
protein pump - ANSWER✔️membrane proteins that maintain a concentration gradient by moving
substances against their concentration gradient; requires energy
protein channel - ANSWER✔️membrane proteins that allow ions to move down their
concentration gradients
leak channels - ANSWER✔️always open for continuous diffusion
chemically gated channels - ANSWER✔️normally closed; open in reponse to neurotransmitter
binding
voltage gated channels - ANSWER✔️normally closed; open in response to membrane charge
change
modality gated channels - ANSWER✔️open in response to mechanical forces, temperature
changes, or other sensory information such as pressure or light
the entire neuron contains - ANSWER✔️sodium/potassium pumps and leak channels
receptive segment - ANSWER✔️the area of a neuron with dendrites; contains chemically gated
sodium, potassium, and chloride channels
, initial segement - ANSWER✔️the axon hillock region of a neuron; contains voltage gates sodium
and potassium channels
conductive segement - ANSWER✔️the axon region of a neuron; contains voltage gated sodium
and potassium channels
transmissive segment - ANSWER✔️the axon terminal region of a neuron; contains calcium
pumps and voltage gated calcium channels
resting membrane potential - ANSWER✔️the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active
(typically -70mV)
graded potential - ANSWER✔️occur in a neuron's receptive region due to ion flow through
chemically gated channels; can be positive or negative; are local and only travel a short distance
depolarization - ANSWER✔️The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into
the cell causing the interior to become more positive.
hyperpolarization - ANSWER✔️The process during the action potential when chloride diffuses in
and potassium diffuses out causing the interior to become more negative.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) - ANSWER✔️a slight depolarization of a postsynaptic
cell, bringing the membrane potential of that cell closer to the threshold for an action potential
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) - ANSWER✔️a slight hyperpolarization of a postsynaptic
cell, bringing the membrane potential of that cell farther away from the threshold for an action
potential
threshold membrane potential - ANSWER✔️minimum voltage change required for an action
potential to be generated (about -55mV)
action potential - ANSWER✔️occur on a neuron's conductive region (the axon) due to ion flow;
are all or none based on threshold being met; propagate down the entire axon to the synaptic
knob
absolute refractory period - ANSWER✔️time during which another action potential is impossible
due to sodium channels being inactivated immediately after opening; this ensures propagation
goes towards the synaptic knob and doesn't reverse direction
relative refractory period - ANSWER✔️the time during which another action potential is possible
but the minimum stimulus strength is now greater because some potassium channels are still
open causes slight hyperpolarization
ANSWERS 100% VERIFIED| UPDATED 2026
Anatomy - ANSWER✔️the study of structure
Physiology - ANSWER✔️the study of function
Metabolism - ANSWER✔️all the chemical reactions that happen in our body cells
Catabolism - ANSWER✔️the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones. Catabolic
reaction
Anabolism - ANSWER✔️The building up of complex molecules from simpler ones
Levels of Structural Organization - ANSWER✔️Atom (chemical), Molecule (chemical), Cell
tissue, Organ, Organ System, Organism
cranial nerves - ANSWER✔️12 pairs of nerves that carry messages to and from the brain
,spinal nerves - ANSWER✔️31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord
sensory nerves - ANSWER✔️contain only sensory neurons
motor nerves - ANSWER✔️contain only motor neurons
mixed nerves - ANSWER✔️contain both sensory and motor neurons
synpase - ANSWER✔️place where a neuron connects to another neuron or an effector
electrical synapse - ANSWER✔️a type of synapse in which the cells are connected by gap
junctions, allowing ions (and therefore the action potential) to spread easily from cell to cell
chemical synapse - ANSWER✔️a type of synapse at which a chemical (a neurotransmitter) is
released from the axon of a neuron into the synaptic cleft, where it binds to receptors on the next
structure (either another neuron or an organ)
presynaptic neuron - ANSWER✔️conducts impulses toward the synapse
postsynaptic neuron - ANSWER✔️transmits impulses away from the synapse
synaptic cleft - ANSWER✔️The narrow gap that separates the presynaptic neuron from the
postsynaptic cell.
glial cells - ANSWER✔️cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons
oligodendrocytes - ANSWER✔️Type of glial cell in the CNS that wrap axons in a myelin sheath.
astrocytes - ANSWER✔️type of glial cell in the CNS that forms the blood brain barrier
ependymal cell - ANSWER✔️type of glial cell in the CNS that secretes cerebrospinal fluid
microglial cell - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the CNS that is phagocytic and removes
infectious agents or harmful substances
satellite cell - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the PNS that electrically insulates the cell body
and regulates nutrient and waste exchange
neurolemmocyte - ANSWER✔️a type of glial cell in the PNS that myelinates PNS axons
myelination - ANSWER✔️the formation of a fatty sheath around the axons of a neuron; helps
conduct nerve impulses faster
,neurilemma - ANSWER✔️the periphery of a neurolemmocyte that contains the cytoplasm and
nucleus
neurofibril nodes (nodes of Ranvier) - ANSWER✔️gaps between neurolemmocytes or adjuacent
myelin sheaths
Homeostasis - ANSWER✔️The maintenance of the internal environment regardless of external
conditions
Negative feedback mechanism - ANSWER✔️Most feedback mechanisms are this type -
regulating body temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose
Cranial Cavity - ANSWER✔️Brain and spinal cord
vertebral cavity - ANSWER✔️spinal cord
thoracic cavity - ANSWER✔️heart and lungs
abdominopelvic cavity - ANSWER✔️stoach digestive organs
parietal membrane - ANSWER✔️lines cavity wall
protein pump - ANSWER✔️membrane proteins that maintain a concentration gradient by moving
substances against their concentration gradient; requires energy
protein channel - ANSWER✔️membrane proteins that allow ions to move down their
concentration gradients
leak channels - ANSWER✔️always open for continuous diffusion
chemically gated channels - ANSWER✔️normally closed; open in reponse to neurotransmitter
binding
voltage gated channels - ANSWER✔️normally closed; open in response to membrane charge
change
modality gated channels - ANSWER✔️open in response to mechanical forces, temperature
changes, or other sensory information such as pressure or light
the entire neuron contains - ANSWER✔️sodium/potassium pumps and leak channels
receptive segment - ANSWER✔️the area of a neuron with dendrites; contains chemically gated
sodium, potassium, and chloride channels
, initial segement - ANSWER✔️the axon hillock region of a neuron; contains voltage gates sodium
and potassium channels
conductive segement - ANSWER✔️the axon region of a neuron; contains voltage gated sodium
and potassium channels
transmissive segment - ANSWER✔️the axon terminal region of a neuron; contains calcium
pumps and voltage gated calcium channels
resting membrane potential - ANSWER✔️the electrical charge of a neuron when it is not active
(typically -70mV)
graded potential - ANSWER✔️occur in a neuron's receptive region due to ion flow through
chemically gated channels; can be positive or negative; are local and only travel a short distance
depolarization - ANSWER✔️The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into
the cell causing the interior to become more positive.
hyperpolarization - ANSWER✔️The process during the action potential when chloride diffuses in
and potassium diffuses out causing the interior to become more negative.
excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP) - ANSWER✔️a slight depolarization of a postsynaptic
cell, bringing the membrane potential of that cell closer to the threshold for an action potential
inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) - ANSWER✔️a slight hyperpolarization of a postsynaptic
cell, bringing the membrane potential of that cell farther away from the threshold for an action
potential
threshold membrane potential - ANSWER✔️minimum voltage change required for an action
potential to be generated (about -55mV)
action potential - ANSWER✔️occur on a neuron's conductive region (the axon) due to ion flow;
are all or none based on threshold being met; propagate down the entire axon to the synaptic
knob
absolute refractory period - ANSWER✔️time during which another action potential is impossible
due to sodium channels being inactivated immediately after opening; this ensures propagation
goes towards the synaptic knob and doesn't reverse direction
relative refractory period - ANSWER✔️the time during which another action potential is possible
but the minimum stimulus strength is now greater because some potassium channels are still
open causes slight hyperpolarization
