System Function: Sensory - Massage and Bodywork Licensing Examination Mblex

1. Which type of neuron transmits impulses from sensory receptors toward the CNS?

   Sensory (afferent) neuron. These neurons detect external or internal stimuli and relay the information to the central nervous system for processing.

2. Which part of a neuron conducts impulses away from the cell body toward terminals?

   Axon. Axons propagate action potentials from the soma to synaptic terminals, ensuring directional signal transmission.

3. Which division of the nervous system includes the cranial and spinal nerves outside the CNS?

   Peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS encompasses all neural elements outside the brain and spinal cord, facilitating communication between the CNS and peripheral tissues.

4. Which type of neuron connects sensory neurons to motor neurons within the CNS?

   Interneuron (association neuron). Interneurons integrate and relay signals between sensory and motor neurons, facilitating complex neural processing in the CNS.

5. What is the primary role of the myelin sheath on many neurons?

   Increases speed of nerve impulse conduction. Myelin insulates axons, enabling saltatory conduction where impulses jump between nodes, enhancing transmission efficiency.

6. Which sensory receptors detect chemicals for taste and smell?

   Chemoreceptors. Chemoreceptors bind specific molecules, generating signals for olfactory and gustatory sensory processing.

7. What is the term for decreased responsiveness to a constant, unchanging sensory stimulus?

   Sensory adaptation. Adaptation reduces neural firing to sustained stimuli, allowing focus on novel or changing environmental inputs.

8. Which sensory receptors detect changes in temperature (heat or cold) in tissues?

   Thermoreceptors. Thermoreceptors monitor thermal changes, contributing to thermoregulation and environmental awareness.

9. Which sensory receptors respond to potentially tissue-damaging stimuli interpreted as pain?

   Nociceptors. Nociceptors activate in response to noxious stimuli, signaling potential harm to promote protective behaviors.

10. Which cranial nerve carries most general sensation from the face to the CNS?

    Cranial nerve V (trigeminal). The trigeminal nerve innervates facial structures, transmitting tactile, pain, and temperature sensations centrally.

11. Which receptors in skeletal muscles detect stretch and contribute to proprioception?

    Muscle spindles. Muscle spindles sense length changes, providing feedback for reflex adjustments and positional awareness.

12. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for vision?

    Cranial nerve II (optic). This nerve relays visual data from retinal ganglion cells to the brain, supporting image formation and processing.

13. What are the two main structural parts of the central nervous system (CNS)?

    Brain and spinal cord. These components integrate and process sensory information while coordinating motor responses throughout the body.

14. What is the term for the sense of body position and movement from muscles and joints?

    Proprioception. Proprioception integrates input from muscle and joint receptors, enabling awareness of spatial orientation and motion.

15. What is the name of the chemical messenger released into the synaptic cleft?

    Neurotransmitter. These chemicals diffuse across the synaptic cleft to bind receptors, modulating the postsynaptic cell's activity.

16. Which part of a neuron typically receives incoming signals from other neurons?

    Dendrites. Dendrites contain receptors that receive synaptic inputs, generating graded potentials toward the cell body.

17. Which sensory receptors respond primarily to mechanical pressure, vibration, or stretch?

    Mechanoreceptors. Mechanoreceptors convert physical deformations into neural signals, supporting senses like touch and hearing.

18. Which receptors in tendons detect tension and help protect against excessive force?

    Golgi tendon organs. These organs monitor tendon strain, triggering reflexes to inhibit muscle contraction and prevent injury.

19. What are specialized structures that detect internal or external stimuli and initiate nerve impulses?

    Sensory receptors. These structures transduce stimuli into action potentials, initiating sensory pathways in the nervous system.

20. Which sensory receptors detect light for vision?

    Photoreceptors. Photoreceptors in the retina transduce light photons into neural signals, forming the basis of visual perception.

21. Which type of neuron transmits impulses from the CNS to muscles or glands?

    Motor (efferent) neuron. These neurons convey signals from the CNS to effector organs, initiating contractions or secretions as needed.

22. What is the term for the functional junction where one neuron communicates with another cell?

    Synapse. Synapses enable signal transmission via neurotransmitters or electrical coupling between neurons or to target cells.

23. Which cranial nerve is primarily responsible for smell (olfaction)?

    Cranial nerve I (olfactory). This nerve conveys olfactory signals from nasal receptors to the brain, enabling scent detection and discrimination.

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