BIOS 252 Final Exam
Final Essay Questions
1. Define spinal reflex and use an example from the body to illustrate a spinal reflex.
(Page 446)
Spinal Reflex – when integration takes place in the spinal cord gray matter
If you pick up something hot, the grasping muscles may relax and you may drop the hot
object even before you are consciously aware of the extreme heat or pain. This is an
example of a spinal cord reflex—a quick, automatic response to certain kinds of stimuli
that involves neurons only in the spinal nerves and spinal cord.
2. Describe sleep and its major stages and then contrast sleep to coma - how are they
similar and how do they differ. (Page 570)
Sleep is a state of altered consciousness or partial unconsciousness from which a person
can be aroused
Coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person has little or no response to stimuli
Alpha waves- stage 1 (drowsy)
Sleep Spindles – Stage 2 light sleep
Theta and delta waves – stags 3-4 deep sleep
Beta waves- fully awake eyes open
Brain Waves:
Alpha waves – awake and resting
Beta Waves – mental and sensory activity
Theta Waves – emotional distress
Delta Waves – Deep sleep in adults
2. Explain language usage and comprehension including a description of the two major
language areas of the brain, where they are located and what they are specialized to
accomplish, including what happens when damage occurs to either area.
Broca’s Area:
Located in the frontal lobe left hemisphere, deals with speaking and understanding
language that involve sensory association and motor areas at the cortex
Final Essay Questions
1. Define spinal reflex and use an example from the body to illustrate a spinal reflex.
(Page 446)
Spinal Reflex – when integration takes place in the spinal cord gray matter
If you pick up something hot, the grasping muscles may relax and you may drop the hot
object even before you are consciously aware of the extreme heat or pain. This is an
example of a spinal cord reflex—a quick, automatic response to certain kinds of stimuli
that involves neurons only in the spinal nerves and spinal cord.
2. Describe sleep and its major stages and then contrast sleep to coma - how are they
similar and how do they differ. (Page 570)
Sleep is a state of altered consciousness or partial unconsciousness from which a person
can be aroused
Coma is a state of unconsciousness in which a person has little or no response to stimuli
Alpha waves- stage 1 (drowsy)
Sleep Spindles – Stage 2 light sleep
Theta and delta waves – stags 3-4 deep sleep
Beta waves- fully awake eyes open
Brain Waves:
Alpha waves – awake and resting
Beta Waves – mental and sensory activity
Theta Waves – emotional distress
Delta Waves – Deep sleep in adults
2. Explain language usage and comprehension including a description of the two major
language areas of the brain, where they are located and what they are specialized to
accomplish, including what happens when damage occurs to either area.
Broca’s Area:
Located in the frontal lobe left hemisphere, deals with speaking and understanding
language that involve sensory association and motor areas at the cortex
