Exploring the Nervous System

What is the basic functional unit of the nervous system?

• Neuron

• Axon

• Dendrite

• Synapse

Which part of the brain is responsible for regulating heart rate and breathing?

• Cerebrum

• Cerebellum

• Brainstem

• Hypothalamus

What is the name of the space between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released?

• Axonal hillock

• Synaptic cleft

• Myelin sheath

• Node of Ranvier

Which type of neuron carries impulses away from the central nervous system to muscles or glands?

• Sensory neuron

• Motor neuron

• Interneuron

• Bipolar neuron

What is the protective covering of the brain and spinal cord called?

• Periosteum

• Pericardium

• Meninges

• Epidermis

Which part of the nervous system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?

• Somatic nervous system

• Autonomic nervous system

• Sympathetic nervous system

• Parasympathetic nervous system

What is the term for the branching structures at the end of axons that release neurotransmitters?

• Axon terminals

• Dendritic spines

• Glial cells

• Nuclei

Which ion is primarily responsible for the depolarization phase of an action potential?

• Calcium (Ca²⁺)

• Sodium (Na⁺)

• Potassium (K⁺)

• Chloride (Cl⁻)

What is the name of the process by which the brain interprets sensory information?

• Transduction

• Perception

• Transmission

• Reception

Which glial cell type forms the myelin sheath in the central nervous system?

• Schwann cells

• Oligodendrocytes

• Astrocytes

• Microglia