AP Biology : AP Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Understanding The Spinal Cord

What is the correct order of the spinal meninges from superficial to deep?

Possible Answers:

Dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater

Arachnoid mater, dura mater, pia mater

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater

Pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater

Correct answer:

Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater

Explanation:

The correct answer is dura mater, arachnoid and lastly the pia mater. The meninges surround the brain and spinal cord in the central nervous system and are made up of three layers. The outermost layer is the dura mater, beneath it lies the arachnoid and below that is the pia mater.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Afferent And Efferent Neurons

Which of the following correctly pairs the signal to the type of nervous pathway?

Possible Answers:

Cold water on your hand follows an efferent pathway

Walking follows an afferent pathway

Breathing follows an afferent pathway

A bug walking on your leg follows an efferent pathway

Blinking follows an efferent pathway

Correct answer:

Blinking follows an efferent pathway

Explanation:

Efferent pathways carry signals away from the central nervous system. Essentially, they are signals that your brain sends to tell your body to do something, like blinking. Afferent signals come from outside stimuli and tell your brain what they are sensing, such as temperature. Afferent neurons bring stimuli to the brain, where the signal is integrated and processed. The brain then coordinates a response via efferent signals back to the rest of the body.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Afferent And Efferent Neurons

Where do motor outputs from the brain exit the spinal cord?

Possible Answers:

Dorsal root

Intervertebral foramen

Ventral root

Anterior root

Posterior root

Correct answer:

Ventral root

Explanation:

The ventral root of the spinal cord is located anteriorly, while the dorsal root is located posteriorly. Afferent neurons enter the spinal cord through the dorsal root, carrying signals from the body to the brain. Efferent neurons exit the spinal cord from the ventral root before interfacing with their target muscles.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Afferent And Efferent Neurons

Which of the following answers explains the typical succession of neuronal communication from receiving sensory input to generating a muscle response?

Possible Answers:

Interneuron, efferent neuron, afferent neuron

Afferent neuron, efferent neuron, interneuron

Afferent neuron, interneuron, efferent neuron

Efferent neuron, interneuron, afferent neuron

Correct answer:

Afferent neuron, interneuron, efferent neuron

Explanation:

The typical response pattern is that a sensory afferent neuron receives the external stimulus and communicates with an interneuron. The information is then interpreted, and a response is sent through efferent motor neurons to the appropriate portion of the body. Afferent neurons communicate information from the stimulus to the brain/spinal cord. Efferent neurons communicate information from the brain/spinal cord to the appropriate portion of the body.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Afferent And Efferent Neurons

If you touch a hot pan, __________ neurons tell your brain "it's hot!" and __________ neurons are used to quickly move your hand away

Possible Answers:

afferent . . . efferent

efferent . . . afferent

sympathetic . . . parasympathetic

peripheral nervous system . . . central nervous system

parasympathetic . . . sympathetic

Correct answer:

afferent . . . efferent

Explanation:

Afferent neurons are sensory neurons that carry nerve impulses from sensory stimuli towards the central nervous system and brain, while efferent neurons are motor neurons that carry neural impulses away from the central nervous systme and towards muscles to cause movement.

In this case, the afferent neuron would carry sensory information from your hand to your brain, letting it know your body is touching something hot. Your brain would then process this information and use efferent neurons to tell the arm muscle to contract and move your hand away.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Afferent And Efferent Neurons

Afferent neurons are often associated with __________ function, while efferent neurons are often associated with __________ function.

Possible Answers:

motor or effector . . . sensory or input

sensory or input . . . motor or effector 

motor or input . . . sensory or effector

sensory or effector . . . motor or input

Correct answer:

sensory or input . . . motor or effector 

Explanation:

A good way to remember afferent vs. efferent neurons is: Afferent Arrives, Efferent Exits.

Afferent neurons are neurons whose axons travel towards (or bringing information to) a central point, while an efferent neuron is a cell that sends an axon (or carries information) away from a central point. For example, if the central point in question is the brain, sensory neurons are afferent because they send information to the brain, while motor neurons are efferent because they carry information from the brain to effector organs like muscles or glands. It is crucial to keep in mind exactly which structure is the current focus of the discussion, since the terms "afferent" and "efferent" are relative to the direction of information transmission.

Example Question #1 : Neural Physiology

What kind of reflex does not require processing by the brain?

Possible Answers:

Suckling reflex

Somatic reflex

Accomodation reflex

Monosynaptic reflex

Acoustic reflex

Correct answer:

Monosynaptic reflex

Explanation:

Monosynaptic reflexes do not require a neuron between the pre-synaptic and post-synaptic neuron, and do not require input from the brain. These reflexes can be triggered even in brain-dead individuals. The knee-jerk reflex is an example of a monosynaptic reflex.

The accommodation reflex is used to adjust the focus of the eye. The acoustic reflex reduces sound intensity by adjusting the bones of the middle ear. The suckling reflex is the complicated reflex of an infant mammal being able to breast feed. Somatic reflexes are a broad category simply involving muscle reflexes. Some of these reflexes involve input from the brain, while others (like the knee-jerk reflex) do not.

Example Question #1 : Neural Physiology

Which of these physiological changes occurs when the sympathetic nervous system is activated?

Possible Answers:

Glucose is converted to glycogen

Pupils constrict

Rate of digestion increases

Heart rate increases

Reproductive processes are heightened

Correct answer:

Heart rate increases

Explanation:

The sympathetic nervous system is activated during times of stress, and is responsible for initiating the "fight or flight" response. Part of this response in an increase in heart rate, allowing better conduction of blood and delivery of oxygen throughout the body.

The other answer options are effects of parasympathetic stimulation, which allows for rest. During this time, the body stores energy from glucose into glycogen, and allows for digestion and reproduction.

Example Question #1 : Neural Physiology

Which of the following is true about cells at resting potential?

Possible Answers:

They have a resting potential of –30mV relative to the outside of the cell

There is a higher concentration of sodium inside of the cell

A sodium-potassium pump keeps the membrane polarized

There is a higher concentration of potassium outside of the cell

Correct answer:

A sodium-potassium pump keeps the membrane polarized

Explanation:

By pumping two positively-charged potassium molecules in for every three positively-charged sodium molecules that are pumped out of the cell, the sodium-potassium pump maintains a resting potential of –70mV relative to outside of the cell. This function is important for creating an electrochemical gradient along the neuron.

Remember that sodium flows down its gradient to enter the cell during depolarization, while potassium flows down its gradient to exit a cell after an action potential, causing hyperpolarization during the refractory period.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Action Potentials

The opening of a neuron's voltage-gated sodium channels is followed by all except which of the following actions?

Possible Answers:

Depolarization, as the membrane potential climbs to +35mV

Opening of the potassium channel to allow for repolarization of the membrane

Sodium continues to flood in due to a lower concentration of the molecule inside of the membrane

Action potential is propagated in both directions of the axon

Correct answer:

Action potential is propagated in both directions of the axon

Explanation:

After the sodium channel is opened, sodium rushes into the cell down its concentration gradient (as previously created by the sodium-potassium pump). This causes depolarization of the membrane as its potential reaches a value of +35mV, which is eventually lowered by the opening of the potassium channels. This leads to hyperpolarization, which prevents the signal from traveling backwards.

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