Physiology Practice Test: The Nervous System - Sensory Systems | Practice Test / Quiz / MCQs

2. The gate-control theory of pain modulation states that ________.

non-painful somatic signals can inhibit signals of painC fibers themselves can act to modify their own pain signalpain sensation must be modified within the sensory receptorspainful somatic signals can inhibit signals of painthe signal that modifies pain sensation in the spinal cord must originate from the nucleus raphe magnus

3. The saccule detects what type of motion?

angular acceleration as when nodding the head yeslinear acceleration up or downangular acceleration as when tilting the head so that the ear approaches the shoulderangular acceleration as when shaking the head nolinear acceleration forward and backward

4. When we enter a dark room, the retinal and opsin molecules within the ________ must first ________ before low light levels can be detected.

rods : bleachcones : associatecones : dissociaterods : dissociaterods : associate

5. How is the intensity of a stimulus encoded during information transmittal to the central nervous system?

Different second-order neurons transmit information about stimuli of varying intensities.The amplitude of action potentials transmitted to the central nervous system is greater for a stronger stimulus.Different afferent neurons transmit information about stimuli of varying intensities.The neurotransmitter released from an afferent neuron differs based on the intensity of the stimulus.The frequency of action potentials transmitted to the central nervous system is greater for a stronger stimulus.

7. Which of the following best describes the response of thermoreceptor afferents when temperature decreases from 35°C to 25°C?

Warm-receptor afferents show a decrease in the frequency of action potentials, whereas cold-receptor afferents show an increase in the frequency of action potentials.Warm-receptor afferents show a decrease in the frequency of action potentials, whereas cold-receptor afferents fire at the same frequency.Warm-receptor afferents show an increase in the frequency of action potentials, whereas cold-receptor afferents show a decrease in the frequency of action potentials.Afferents associated with both warm and cold receptors show a decrease in the frequency of action potentials.Afferents associated with both warm and cold receptors show an increase in the frequency of action potentials.

8. In comparison to low pitch sound, high pitch sound will cause vibrations of the basilar membrane ________.

of greater amplitudecloser to the oval windowcloser to the tympanic membraneof lesser amplitudecloser to the helicotrema

9. What is a region of skin that, when activated, will result in the change of activity within a particular afferent neuron?

receptive fieldsmotor unitslabeled linessecond-order neuronsneuronal fields

10. How are pain signals from visceral receptors ʺreferredʺ to the body surface?

the convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same first-order neuronsthe divergence of visceral and somatic afferents onto different second-order neuronsthe convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same third-order neuronssignals from visceral receptors that travel to skin receptors to activate themthe convergence of visceral and somatic afferents on the same second-order neurons

11. Which of the following components of the visual pathway is 100% ipsilateral to the visual field?

optic tractnoneoptic nervelateral geniculate nucleusvisual cortex

12. The ganglion cells of the retina synapse with neurons in the ________ that ascend to the ________.

lateral geniculate body : cerebellumhypothalamus : primary visual cortexthalamus : primary somatosensory cortexthalamus : primary motor cortexlateral geniculate body : primary visual cortex

13. The primary afferent neurons from taste receptor cells terminate within what structure of the central nervous system?

gustatory cortexolfactory tuberculemedulla oblongatathalamuscerebellum

15. Afferent neurons from the semicircular canal, the utricle, and the saccule enter the brainstem where most terminate within the ________.

medial geniculate bodylateral geniculate bodylateral reticular formationnucleus raphe magnusvestibular nuclei

16. When the doctor shines a penlight into the patient’s eye, which of the following occurs?

The parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes contraction of the inner circular muscle of the iris and pupillary constriction.The parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes contraction of the outer radial muscle of the iris and pupillary constriction.The sympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes contraction of the outer radial muscle of the iris and pupillary constriction.The parasympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes contraction of the outer radial muscle of the iris and pupillary dilation.The sympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes contraction of the outer radial muscle of the iris and pupillary dilation.

18. The detection of odorants occurs via the binding of organic molecules to receptors on the cell membrane, activating ________ that ultimately causes the ________.

Golf : cation channel to openGolf : potassium channel to opengustducin : potassium channel to closegustducin : sodium channel to closetransducin : potassium channel to open

19. Which sensory system does not need to transmit information through the thalamus to get to the cortex?

hearingtastesomatosensory systemsolfactionvestibular/equilibrium

21. The ability to detect the direction from which a sound originates is determined by ________.

mapping of sound location on the cerebral cortexlateral excitation occurring between the right and left cochleadifferences in sound intensity as it reaches the right and left cochleathe time delay between that sound reaching the right and left cochlealateral inhibition that occurs between the right and left cochlea

22. The anterior portion of the semicircular canal detects acceleration in which direction?

linear acceleration in the forward and backward directionslinear acceleration in the up and down directionsthe rotation of the head from side to side, as in moving the ear toward the shouldermoving the head up and down as in saying ʺyesʺrotating the head as in saying ʺnoʺ

24. What are sensory receptors that respond to tissue-damaging stimuli or stimuli that have the potential to damage tissue called?

Merkelʹs diskMeissnerʹs corpusclethermoreceptorsproprioceptorsnociceptors

25 Questions

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25 Questions

❤ If you liked Fatskills, consider supporting us by checking out The Life Manuals You Never Got.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know? Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson© 2026 Fatskills.com

All trademarks, logos and brand names are the property of their respective owners. All company, product and service names used in this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, trademarks and brands does not imply endorsement.

About | Explore | User Guide | Topics | Subjects | Doubt Solver | Career Aptitude Test | Answers | Free Tools | OSHA Basics Quiz | What Should We Know?
Privacy | Terms |

Without work one finishes nothing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson
© 2026 Fatskills.com