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Example Questions
Example Question #97 : Biology
In humans, nerve impulses are transmitted with the coordinated action of sodium and potassium ion channels. These channels open in a specific sequence, to allow for membrane potential changes to take place in a directional manner along the length of an axon.
Figure 1 depicts a single phospholipid layer of a cell membrane, and three transmembrane channels important to action potential propagation.
Before any of the voltage-sensitive channels in a neuron open in response to adjacent depolarization, what is true of the the resting membrane potential?
It is exactly midway between the sodium and potassium equilibrium potentials.
It is closest to the sodium equilibrium potential, because of the presence of sodium leak channels.
It is closest to the potassium equillibrium potential, because of the presence of potassium leak channels.
It is closest to the potassium equilibrium potential, because of the presence of sodium leak channels.
It is closest to the sodium equilibrium potential, because of the presence of potassium leak channels.
It is closest to the potassium equillibrium potential, because of the presence of potassium leak channels.
The presence of potassium leak channels in the membrane allows potassium to drive the resting cell membrane potential nearer to its equilibrium potential than to sodium's.
The equilibrium potential is the electric potential that would exaclty balance the competing forces of concentration and electrical gradients. High potassium concentration in the cytosol drives potassium out of leak channels in the membrane, toward the extracellular space, but the inside develops a negative charge as a result. When this negative charge pulling positive potassium ions back in is enough to exactly cancel the concentration forces pushing potassium out, the equilibrium potential has been reached.
Example Question #92 : Biology
In humans, nerve impulses are transmitted with the coordinated action of sodium and potassium ion channels. These channels open in a specific sequence, to allow for membrane potential changes to take place in a directional manner along the length of an axon.
Figure 1 depicts a single phospholipid layer of a cell membrane, and three transmembrane channels important to action potential propagation.
The protein labeled "3" is an active transport pump that restores the normal balance of sodium and potassium every time an action potential travels through the region of the axon. What is this pump most likely to transport?
Three sodium into the cell and two potassium out of the cell
Two sodium out of the cell and three potassium into the cell
Two sodium into the cell and three potassium out of the cell
Two sodium out of the cell and two potassium into the cell
Three sodium out of the cell and two potassium into the cell
Three sodium out of the cell and two potassium into the cell
The sodium-potassium pump, or Na/K ATPase, is what restores ionic concentrations back to normal after an action potential. This pump is electrogenic, and active, using ATP to pump three sodium out of the cell, and two potassium into the cell. Along wtih the potassium leak channels, this keeps the potassium concentration in a cell high, and sodium concentration low.
Example Question #11 : Action Potentials And Synapse Biology
In humans, nerve impulses are transmitted with the coordinated action of sodium and potassium ion channels. These channels open in a specific sequence, to allow for membrane potential changes to take place in a directional manner along the length of an axon.
Figure 1 depicts a single phospholipid layer of a cell membrane, and three transmembrane channels important to action potential propagation.
The refractory period is the period of time after action potential that a neuron is unable to "refire" if another stimulus is present.
If protein 1 is a voltage-gated sodium channel, protein 2 is a voltage-gated potassium channel, and protein 3 is a leak channel, which channel contributes most to the absolute refractory period?
Protein 3, due to its lack of an inactivation gate
Protein 1, due to its inactivation gate
Potassium channel, because its lacks an activation gate
Leak channel, due to its inactivation gate
Protein 2, due to its activation gate
Protein 1, due to its inactivation gate
The sodium channel being inactivated, via its inactivation gate, prevents a stimulus from initiating an action potential immediately after a previous stimulus.
During the absolute refractory period, this is a fact regardless of how strong the stimulus is. During the relative refractory period the neuron can be stimulated, but only by a very large stimulus.
Example Question #100 : Biology
In humans, nerve impulses are transmitted with the coordinated action of sodium and potassium ion channels. These channels open in a specific sequence, to allow for membrane potential changes to take place in a directional manner along the length of an axon.
Figure 1 depicts a single phospholipid layer of a cell membrane, and three transmembrane channels important to action potential propagation.
The cell body associated with the axon in Figure 1 is actively taking in electrical inputs from neighboring cells. Which of the following properties is the major difference between post-synaptic potentials from neighboring neurons and pre-synaptic action potentials?
Post-synaptic potentials are graded; action potentials are "all-or-nothing"
Post-synaptic potentials are driven by calcium depolarization; action potentials are driven by sodium depolorization
Post-synaptic potentials are always inhibitory; action potentials are always excitatory
Post-synaptic potentials are "all-or-nothing;" action potentials are graded
Post-synaptic potentials are always excitatory; action potentials are always inhibitory
Post-synaptic potentials are graded; action potentials are "all-or-nothing"
Post-synaptic potentials are graded, while action potentials are "all-or-nothing". This means that the farther from the point of integration in a nerve cell an electrical input enters, the weaker its corresponding post-synaptic potential will be when it reaches the distant integration site.
In this way, post-synaptic potentials can be summed as a function of intensity and distance, while action potentials are always the same amplitude no matter from how far they travel.
Example Question #21 : Nervous System And Nervous Tissue
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?
These cells have no resting potential
Specialized channels allow sodium to enter the cell, which leads to depolarization
Specialized channels allow sodium to exit the cell, which leads to depolarization
These cells do not have sodium-potassium pumps, which allows for quicker depolarization
Specialized channels allow sodium to enter the cell, which leads to depolarization
Remember that an action potential starts with the diffusion of sodium into the cell. As more sodium enters the cell, more voltage gated sodium channels open up. This leads to depolarization of the cell. With a steady diffusion of sodium into the cell, the threshold stimulus will eventually be attained, and an action potential will be generated. It is the steady diffusion of sodium into the autorhythmic cells which results in an action potential.
Example Question #122 : Mcat Biological Sciences
In humans, nerve impulses are transmitted with the coordinated action of sodium and potassium ion channels. These channels open in a specific sequence, to allow for membrane potential changes to take place in a directional manner along the length of an axon.
Figure 1 depicts a single phospholipid layer of a cell membrane, and three transmembrane channels important to action potential propagation.
A dendrite carries an electrical signal to the nerve cell body associated with the axon in Figure 1. If this signal is inhibitory (an inhibitory post synaptic potential), which of the following is likely true of the impact of this signal on the cell?
It will hyperpolarize the cell, and make it less difficult to fire
It will depolarize the cell, and make it more difficult to fire
It will depolarize the cell, and make it less difficult to fire
It will not change the cell membrane potential, but will make it more difficult to fire
It will hyperpolarize the cell, and make it more difficult to fire
It will hyperpolarize the cell, and make it more difficult to fire
An inhibitory post synaptic potential (IPSP) drives the post synaptic cell membrane toward hyperpolarization, and thus away from the threshold necessary to fire an action potential. As a result, the axon requires more stimuli in order to fire an action potential.
Example Question #21 : Neurons And Action Potential
An action potential travels down a neuronal axon. Which of the following is occurring during depolarization of the neuron?
Sodium flows into the neuron down its electrical and chemical gradients
Potassium flows into the neuron down its electrical and chemical gradients
Sodium flows into of the cell down its electrical gradient, but against its chemical gradient
Sodium flows out of the neuron down its electrical and chemical gradients
Sodium flows into the neuron down its electrical and chemical gradients
It is important to recognize that sodium is flowing into the neuron during depolarization. The area outside of the neuron is electrically positive relative to the area inside of the neuron, resulting in the negative resting membrane potential of the cell. This potential allows positively charged sodium ions to flow from a high concentration of positive charge, towards the negative charge in the cell interior. Because the sodium travels from a region of relatively positive charge to a region of relatively negative charge, it is flowing down its electrical gradient.
Due to action by the sodium-potassium pump, there is also a large concentration of sodium ions outside of the cell, relative to the small sodium ion concentration inside the cell. This imbalance creates a chemical gradient across the axon membrane. The opening of the voltage-gated sodium channels during depolarization allows sodium to flow down chemical gradient from high ion concentration to low ion concentration.
Example Question #23 : Nervous System And Nervous Tissue
Which of the following correctly pairs neuron structure with function?
Sodium leaky channels allow the passive release of sodium from the cell
Voltage-gated potassium channels actively export potassium out of the cell
The potassium-calcium pump reestablishes the membrane resting potential of -70 mV
Voltage-gated sodium channels allow the influx of sodium into the cell
Voltage-gated calcium channels cause depolarization
Voltage-gated sodium channels allow the influx of sodium into the cell
Voltage-gated calcium channels do not cause depolarization in neurons, but are integral to depolarization in muscle. Voltage-gated sodium channels are responsible for neural depolarization; there are no sodium leaky channels in neurons, as these would disrupt the resting potential. Voltage-gated potassium channels actively import potassium, whereas the sodium-potassium pump actively exports potassium. There is no such thing a potassium-calcium pump.
Example Question #24 : Nervous System And Nervous Tissue
During an action potential, depolarization is associated with which of the following?
An influx of sodium ions
The closing of voltage-gated sodium ion channels
Decreased membrane potential
Endocytosis of neurotransmitters
An influx of sodium ions
During depolarization, voltage-gated sodium channels open and allow a rapid influx of sodium ions. The membrane voltage rises from its resting potential of -70 mV to 35 mV. Depolarization is not associated with endocytosis of neurotransmitters.
Example Question #125 : Mcat Biological Sciences
Which of the following refers to the process by which action potentials jump from one node of Ranvier to another?
Potential distribution
Diffusion
Threshold stimulus
Sodium-potassium pump
Saltatory conduction
Saltatory conduction
The answer is saltatory conduction. Saltatory conduction is the term used to define the process of action potential jumping described in the question. The other possbilities, while involved in the nervous system and its function, do not adaquately describe the process in question.
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