Question 1

What is so special about 'Schwann cells' that gives us the hope that they may be able to help us repair spinal cord injuries one day?

Accepted Answer

Schwann cells play a crucial role in nerve regeneration in the peripheral nervous system (PNS). They release growth factors and create a favorable environment for the regrowth of injured nerve fibers, which makes them a promising candidate for the treatment of spinal cord injuries. While Schwann cells do form a myelin sheath around nerve fibers, this is not what makes them unique in terms of their potential therapeutic value. The other options listed (C and D) are not accurate statements about Schwann cells.

Question 2

Excitation is to rest as ___ is to ___.

Accepted Answer

Excitation is related to activation or arousal, which is a function of the sympathetic nervous system. Rest is associated with relaxation or a return to baseline, which is a function of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 3

Which of the following statements about signals travelling to the brain is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A signal produced by an afferent neuron is first sent to one or more interneurons in the spinal cord before reaching the brain. This is because the interneurons are responsible for processing and interpreting the incoming signal before transmitting it further to the brain.

Option B is incorrect as information from the peripheral nervous system (including sensory information) reaches the central nervous system via afferent neurons and not efferent neurons.
Option C is incorrect as interneurons are found not only in the spinal cord but also in other parts of the nervous system, including the brain.
Option D is incorrect as afferent fibres (also known as sensory fibers) typically conduct signals slower than efferent fibers (also known as motor fibers) due to the nature of their function.

Question 4

Eli was sewing on a button and accidentally stabbed himself with the needle.He noticed that he was pulling his finger away from the needle even before he had a chance to say 'ouch',and secretly,he believes that it is because he has superior reaction times.Is Eli's reaction so unusual?

Accepted Answer

Eli's reaction is not unusual. When a person experiences sudden pain, the reflex action of pulling away from the source of pain is taken care of by the spinal cord, not the brain. This is a natural protective mechanism that helps prevent further injury. Therefore, it is likely that Eli's spinal cord responded quickly to the pain, causing him to pull his finger away before his brain had a chance to register the pain.

Question 5

Izzy's pupils are dilated,and her heart is pounding; her breathing is shallow and rapid.Her ___ nervous system is active.

Accepted Answer

The symptoms described indicate the fight or flight response, which is activated by the sympathetic nervous system. The other options are not involved in this physiological response.

Question 6

Crystal is playing 'bear on the loose',a scary version of hide and seek that is played in the dark.Crystal is supposed to be looking for her friend the 'bear',but she is too afraid to venture more than 20 feet from the safety of home base.Suddenly,she hears a twig break right behind her,followed by a big roar.Crystal screams in fear,but as soon as she realizes that this was just her friend,her ___ would help her to calm down.

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for bringing the body back to a state of calm after experiencing a fight-or-flight response. In this scenario, once Crystal realizes that her friend is the source of the noise and not a real bear, her parasympathetic nervous system would help her to calm down from the initial fear response.

Question 7

Gabriella was sitting around the campfire with her friends when suddenly a big log started sparking and cracking.A spark landed on Gabriella's bare leg,and she jumped out of her chair before she even felt the pain.Everyone around the fire was so impressed with the incredible quickness of her reaction.Is Gabriella's reaction so unusual?

Accepted Answer

Gabriella's quick reaction indicates that her spinal cord quickly sent a message to her muscles to move her leg before her brain registered any sensation of pain. This is a normal reaction that helps protect the body from harm. It does not necessarily indicate athletic ability or sensory sensitivity.

Question 8

The CNS operates in concert with the ___ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The CNS operates in concert with the...

Question 9

Valdez just made a toast at his brother's wedding in front of 400 people and has now returned to his seat.The next toast is taking place,and although Valdez is looking like he is paying attention,he is,in fact,calming down from the incredible stress he just went through,and the words of the next speech float right over him.Instead,he feels his heart rate return to normal,the saliva returns to his mouth,and his stomach feels much better.What part of his nervous system is responsible for the reaction he is having after the speech?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" response, which calms the body after stressful situations. The symptoms Valdez is experiencing, such as a normal heart rate and returning saliva to his mouth, suggest that his parasympathetic nervous system is engaged.

Question 10

Why does it take longer for the brain to respond to a painful stimulus than it does for the spinal cord to respond?

Accepted Answer

The signal for a painful stimulus must travel up the spinal cord to the brain, crossing many synapses along the way. Each synapse introduces a delay, making the overall response time longer compared to the spinal cord's more direct and localized reflex actions.

Question 11

Which of the following situations is most likely to involve the action of the parasympathetic nervous system?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming and relaxing the body after a stressful or stimulating event. After a satisfying meal, Callum relaxing in front of the television is an example of this parasympathetic response.

Question 12

What type of cell holds the promise that one day,we may be able to repair spinal cord injuries?

Accepted Answer

Schwann cells are a type of glial cell that can form myelin sheaths around axons. In addition, they play a role in nerve regeneration by promoting the growth of axons. This makes them a promising candidate for repairing spinal cord injuries, as they could potentially promote the regeneration of damaged axons in the spinal cord.

Question 13

Driving home one night,Lawrence hits a patch of ice and his car begins to spin out of control.Which nervous system is likely to be activated?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for activating the "fight or flight" response in response to perceived danger or stress, such as when a car is spinning out of control on ice. This response includes increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and other physiological changes to prepare for potential danger.

Question 14

Janelle is experiencing an increased heart rate,increased respiration,and her pupils are dilated.Her blood pressure is also rising,and blood is being sent to her brain and muscles.What part of her nervous system is responsible for this reaction?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which includes increased heart rate, respiration, and dilation of pupils, as well as increased blood pressure and blood flow to the brain and muscles.

Question 15

The fact that a signal travelling to the brain must cross many more synapses than a signal travelling to the spinal cord means that

Accepted Answer

The answer of The fact that a signal travelling to...

Question 16

What part of the nervous system would be activated to arouse the body when faced with a threat?

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's "fight or flight" response in the face of a threat or stressor. It activates the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones, increases heart rate and blood pressure, and directs blood flow to the muscles and away from non-essential organs.

Question 17

What part of the nervous system would be activated to calm the body down after it was faced with a threat,but the threat is no longer present?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for bringing the body back to its resting state after a stressful or threatening situation. It slows down heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and promotes digestion and relaxation.

Question 18

Which of the following statements about signals travelling to the brain is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Afferent fibres convey signal information much slower than efferent fibres, therefore the statement is false.

Question 19

Regarding the spinal cord's control of behaviour,which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

The spinal cord has the ability to control some simple reflexes without the involvement of the brain. However, it cannot control more complex behaviours without the brain's input. Therefore, option C is the correct choice. Option A is incorrect because the spinal cord can control some behaviours independently. Option B is incorrect because the spinal cord is involved in several reflexes. Option D is incorrect because the spinal cord cannot control complex behaviours independently.

Question 20

Nathan's roommate just startled him by jumping out from behind a chair and yelling 'boo'.As soon as Nathan realized that this was just a gag,what part of his nervous system would help him calm down?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system activates the body's "rest and digest" response, which helps to calm down after a stressor. In contrast, the sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which is activated during a stressor. The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements, while the central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord.

Quiz 3: Neuroscience