Neurons and Action Potential

Practice Questions

MCAT Biology › Neurons and Action Potential

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1

Sarin gas is a potent nerve agent that quickly causes serious physiological effects if ingested, even in very small quantities. It inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that degrades acetylcholine. Acetylcholinesterase generally acts at the neuromuscular junction.

Sarin gas may cause which of the following?

2

Sarin gas is a potent nerve agent that quickly causes serious physiological effects if ingested, even in very small quantities. It inhibits acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that degrades acetylcholine. Acetylcholinesterase generally acts at the neuromuscular junction.

Sarin gas may cause which of the following?

3

The optic nerve is formed from the axons of all retinal ganglion cells. The optic nerves from each eye join at the optic chiasm and eventually enter either the left or right optic tract. The optic tract projects to three subcortical areas. One is the lateral geniculate nucleus, which is responsible for processing visual information. One is the pretectal area, which produces pupillary reflexes based on information from the retina. Finally, the superior colliculus uses the information from the retina to generate eye movement.

When light is shone upon one eye, it causes constriction of the pupil in both eyes. Constriction of the eye in which the light is shone is the direct response while constriction of the other is known as the consensual response. The pupillary reflexes are mediated through retinal ganglion neurons that project to the pretectal area which lies anterior to the superior colliculus. The cells in the pretectal area project bilaterally to preganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. This is also known as the accessory oculomotor nucleus. The preganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus send axons through the oculomotor nerve to innervate the ciliary ganglion. The ciliary ganglion's postganglionic neuron innervates the smooth muscle of the pupillary sphincter.

The neurotransmitter released by the axons in the Edinger-Westphal neurons is most likely __________.

4

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. In general, tracts allow for the brain to communicate up and down with the spinal cord. The commissures allow for the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other. One of the most important commissures is the corpus callosum. The association fibers allow for the anterior regions of the brain to communicate with the posterior regions. One of the evolved routes from the spinal cord to the brain is via the dorsal column pathway. This route allows for fine touch, vibration, proprioception and 2 points discrimination. This pathway is much faster than the pain route. From the lower limbs, the signal ascends to the brain via a region called the gracile fasciculus. From the upper limbs, the signal ascends via the cuneate fasciculus region in the spinal cord.

What allows for the dorsal column pathway to be faster than the pain pathway?

5

The heart contains autorhythmic cells, which can generate an action potential on their own. These cells then spread the action potential throughout the heart, resulting in a contraction. Which of the following mechanisms is an explanation for why these cells can spontaneously generate action potentials?

6

What side effect may occur after exposure to a chemical that inhibits the release of acetylcholinesterase?

7

The optic nerve is formed from the axons of all retinal ganglion cells. The optic nerves from each eye join at the optic chiasm and eventually enter either the left or right optic tract. The optic tract projects to three subcortical areas. One is the lateral geniculate nucleus, which is responsible for processing visual information. One is the pretectal area, which produces pupillary reflexes based on information from the retina. Finally, the superior colliculus uses the information from the retina to generate eye movement.

When light is shone upon one eye, it causes constriction of the pupil in both eyes. Constriction of the eye in which the light is shone is the direct response while constriction of the other is known as the consensual response. The pupillary reflexes are mediated through retinal ganglion neurons that project to the pretectal area which lies anterior to the superior colliculus. The cells in the pretectal area project bilaterally to preganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus. This is also known as the accessory oculomotor nucleus. The preganglionic parasympathetic neurons in the Edinger-Westphal nucleus send axons through the oculomotor nerve to innervate the ciliary ganglion. The ciliary ganglion's postganglionic neuron innervates the smooth muscle of the pupillary sphincter.

The neurotransmitter released by the axons in the Edinger-Westphal neurons is most likely __________.

8

The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord. In general, tracts allow for the brain to communicate up and down with the spinal cord. The commissures allow for the two hemispheres of the brain to communicate with each other. One of the most important commissures is the corpus callosum. The association fibers allow for the anterior regions of the brain to communicate with the posterior regions. One of the evolved routes from the spinal cord to the brain is via the dorsal column pathway. This route allows for fine touch, vibration, proprioception and 2 points discrimination. This pathway is much faster than the pain route. From the lower limbs, the signal ascends to the brain via a region called the gracile fasciculus. From the upper limbs, the signal ascends via the cuneate fasciculus region in the spinal cord.

What allows for the dorsal column pathway to be faster than the pain pathway?

9

The heart contains autorhythmic cells, which can generate an action potential on their own. These cells then spread the action potential throughout the heart, resulting in a contraction. Which of the following mechanisms is an explanation for why these cells can spontaneously generate action potentials?

10

What side effect may occur after exposure to a chemical that inhibits the release of acetylcholinesterase?

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