The Nervous & Endocrine Systems

As you are reading this question, the cells in your eyes are firing in response to the light coming from this screen. Which type of neuron is carrying this message to the brain?

• Sensory

• Motor

Which part of the neuron receives incoming messages from other cells?

• Axons

• Dendrites

What is an axon?

• A layer of fatty tissue that encases the fibers of many neurons

• An antagonist molecule that blocks neurotransmitter receptor sites

• The extension of a neuron that carries messages away from the cell body

• A junction between a sending and receiving neuron

What chemicals does the nervous system use as its messengers?

• Neurotransmitters

• Hormones

José has just played a long, bruising football game but feels little fatigue or discomfort. His lack of pain is most likely caused by the release of:

• Endorphins

• Serotonin

• Acetylcholine

• Melatonin

Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with regulating mood, sleep, appetite, and is often a target for antidepressant medications?

• Dopamine

• Acetylcholine

• Serotonin

• Endorphins

Certain drugs bind to neurotransmitter receptors and produce effects similar to the neurotransmitter itself. What type of molecule are these drugs considered to be?

• Agonists

• Antagonists

The brain and spinal cord make up which component of the nervous system?

• Central

• Peripheral

• Somatic

• Sympathetic

Which division of the peripheral nervous system governs involuntary functions, such as your heart beating?

• Somatic

• Autonomic

The autonomic nervous system is divided into two parts that often work in opposition to each other. Which part prepares the body for stressful or emergency situations by triggering the "fight-or-flight" response?

• Sympathetic

• Parasympathetic