Sample Questions for the 3^rd Midterm Examination

Multiple Choice

1. In a stretch reflex (like the patellar reflex), which of the following is NOT correct?

A. Motor neurons innervating the stretched muscle are excited.

B. Motor neurons innervating antagonistic muscles are inhibited.

C. All modifications of motor neuron activity are mediated via interneurons.

D. The receptor is a muscle spindle.

2. The cardiac action potential plateau primarily results from a prolonged

A. increase in sodium permeability.

B. decrease in potassium permeability.

C. increase in calcium permeability.

D. increase in potassium permeability.

3. During the P – Q interval of the electrocardiogram

A. the ventricles are depolarized.

B. the atria are depolarized.

C. the SA node is in the process of depolarizing.

D. the ventricles are in the process of repolarizing.

4. Movements are planned in the

A. basal ganglia.

B. cerebellum.

C. premotor cortex.

D. thalamus.

5. Which of these drugs would be expected to decrease heart rate?

A. a β blocker

B. an α agonist

C. a muscarinic agonist

D. All of the above.

E. Both A. & C.

6. If a treatment had a positive inotropic effect, it would

A. increase the contractility of the heart.

B. increase the heart rate.

C. increase the contractility of the heart and increase the heart rate.

D. shift the Starling curve downwards.

E. Both A. & D.

7. Anaphylactic shock

A. may occur during a myocardial infarction.

B. is due to sudden loss of vasomotor tone.

C. is due to a severe immune response.

D. is the same as hemorrhagic shock.

E. More than one of the above is true.

8. Fluids move back into capillaries at the venous ends of the capillary due to

A. colloid osmotic pressure.

B. hydrostatic pressure.

C. diffusion gradients.

D. a giant sucking sound.

9.  Which one of the following hormones is released by the posterior pituitary?

A. TSH      B. CRH      C. Growth Hormone       D. Oxytocin

True or False - The Hard Way. Each of the following statements is either true or false. If the statement is true, simply mark it as "T". If the statement is false, mark it "F" AND CORRECT THE STATEMENT TO MAKE IT TRUE.

10. Insufficient iodine in the diet will cause the condition called acromegaly.

11. The sound produced by the turbulent blood flow that passes through a heart valve that doesn’t close properly is called a flutter.

12. The volume of blood pumped out of the ventricles during one contraction is the cardiac output.

Essay Questions

13. Describe excitation-contraction coupling in smooth muscle.