All AP Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #11 : Nervous System
Which of the following is not part of the peripheral nervous system?
Prefrontal cortex
Tibial nerve
Lumbar Plexus
Intercostal nerves
Radial nerve
Prefrontal cortex
The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord. The peripheral nervous system consists of any nerves or ganglia, not including the brain and spinal cord. The prefrontal cortex is a structure in the cerebrum of the brain, and is thus part of the central nervous system.
General nerves throughout the body are part of the peripheral nervous system.
Example Question #12 : Nervous System
What are the vertebral classifications, from superior to inferior?
Lumbar, thoracic, cervical, sacral
Cervical, sacral, thoracic, lumbar
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral
Thoracic, lumbar, sacral, cervical
Cervical, lumbar, thoracic, sacral
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral
The spinal cord and vertebrae is broken down into four regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral. There are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae, and five sacral vertebrae. Cervical vertebrae are located in the neck, thoracic vertebrae in the trunk or upper back, lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, and sacral vertebrae in the gluteal region. The sacral vertebrae are fused into a single unit known as the sacrum.
Example Question #11 : Nervous System
Which portion of the spinal cord sends sensory information to the brain?
Central canal
Dorsal horn
Lateral horn
Ventral horn
Dorsal horn
The spinal cord consists of functional horns that help send information to the brain, as well as to the parts of the body. The dorsal horns send sensory information to the brain, while the ventral horns contain motor neurons.
Example Question #13 : Nervous System
What is the correct order of the spinal meninges starting from the outside going inwards towards the spinal cord (superficial to deep)?
Dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater
Pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater
Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater
Pia mater, arachnoid mater, dura mater
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
The correct order of the spinal meninges from superficial to deep (outside to inside) is dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. The dura mater is the most outer layer that is closely associated with the skill and vertebral column. Deep to the dura mater is the arachnoid mater, which contains the cerebrospinal found in the subarachnoid space. Underneath the subarachnoid space lies the pia mater, which is very closely associated with the brain and spinal cord.
Example Question #14 : Nervous System
What is the correct order of the spinal meninges from superficial to deep?
Dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid mater
Arachnoid mater, pia mater, dura mater
Arachnoid mater, dura mater, pia mater
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
Pia mater, dura mater, arachnoid mater
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
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 The Brain And Brain Structures
Which of the following is a not a function of the medulla oblongata?
Control breathing rate
Control speech patterns
Control cardiac rate
Control blood pressure
Control vomiting reflexes
Control speech patterns
The medulla oblongata is in the lower half of the brainstem. It controls a variety of functions, mostly involuntary and essential. Heart beat, breathing, and blood pressure are controlled in the medulla oblongata, as is the vomiting reflex.
Speech is controlled by Broca's area, which is located in the frontal lobe of the cerebrum.
Example Question #2 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
What is the primary function of the occipital lobe?
Integrating visual input
Conscious thought
Integrating tactile input
Integrating auditory input
Integrating visual input
Each answer corresponds to one lobe of the cerebrum. The frontal lobe is responsible for conscious thought, as well as many other functions. The parietal lobe is responsible for integrating tactile information. The temporal lobe has the functions of interpreting smell and sound. The occipital lobe is associated with processing visual information.
Example Question #3 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
What is the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye called?
Hippocratic humor
Aqueous humor
Vitreous humor
All of these refer to the same structure
Galen humor
Aqueous humor
The eye is divided into two chambers by the lens: the anterior and posterior chambers. The anterior chamber is filled with aqueous humor, while the posterior chamber is filled with vitreous humor. Aqueous humor nourishes the eye and maintains intraocular pressure. Aqueous humor is also important in the refraction of light, which allows humans to distinguish clear images and colors.
Hippocratic and Galen humor do not exist. Hippocrates and Galen were two ancient physicians who would use the four humors (yellow bile, black bile, phlegm, and blood) to diagnose and treat patients.
Example Question #4 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
A patient is taken to the hospital after suffering severe head trauma. He is unconscious for two days before waking up. Upon standing, the patient finds he has moderate trouble walking straight and has difficulty maintaining his balance.
Based on these symptoms, what part of the patient's brain do you suspect was damaged in the accident?
The medulla oblongata
The amygdala
The cerebrum
The hypothalamus
The cerebellum
The cerebellum
The cerebellum is mainly responsible for fine tuning the motions of the body, including balance and coordination. As a result, damage to this region would cause difficulty walking straight and maintaining balance.
Example Question #5 : Understanding The Brain And Brain Structures
Unlike the spinal cord, the brain mainly has grey matter on the __________ and white matter on the __________.
inner layer . . . outermost layer
left half . . . right half
outermost layer . . . inner layer
right half . . . left half
outermost layer . . . inner layer
Unmyelinated nervous system components make up grey matter, while myelinated axons make up white matter. The cerebral cortex on the surface of the brain contains unmyelinated neural tissue, namely the cell bodies of neurons in the central nervous system. This region is rich in connections. Below its surface lie many myelinated axon tracts to inner nuclei, the cerebellum, other areas of the cortex, and the spinal cord.
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