The neurological system governs sensory input, motor output, cognition, and coordination, encompassing the central and peripheral nervous systems. Disorders affecting neurons, synapses, neurotransmitters, and brain structures can significantly impair function. This quiz, aligned with Pharm.D. curricula such as PHA5515 and PHA5561, tests your understanding of neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, and neuropathopharmacology.
1. The basic structural and functional unit of the nervous system is the:
- A. Axon
- B. Neuron
- C. Dendrite
- D. Synapse
Correct answer: B. Neuron
2. Which part of the brain controls vital functions like heart rate and respiration?
- A. Cerebrum
- B. Hypothalamus
- C. Cerebellum
- D. Medulla oblongata
Correct answer: D. Medulla oblongata
3. Myelin sheaths are produced by which cells in the central nervous system?
- A. Schwann cells
- B. Astrocytes
- C. Oligodendrocytes
- D. Microglia
Correct answer: C. Oligodendrocytes
4. The neurotransmitter most associated with Parkinson’s disease is:
- A. Serotonin
- B. Acetylcholine
- C. Norepinephrine
- D. Dopamine
Correct answer: D. Dopamine
5. The blood-brain barrier is primarily formed by:
- A. Microglia
- B. Astrocytes and endothelial cells
- C. Oligodendrocytes
- D. Neurons
Correct answer: B. Astrocytes and endothelial cells
6. In skeletal muscle, calcium is stored in the:
- A. T-tubules
- B. Mitochondria
- C. Sarcoplasmic reticulum
- D. Nucleus
Correct answer: C. Sarcoplasmic reticulum
7. What causes the power stroke during muscle contraction?
- A. Calcium binding to troponin
- B. Hydrolysis of ATP by myosin
- C. ATP binding to actin
- D. Release of ADP and Pi from myosin
Correct answer: D. Release of ADP and Pi from myosin
8. Which muscle type is under voluntary control?
- A. Cardiac
- B. Smooth
- C. Skeletal
- D. Intestinal
Correct answer: C. Skeletal
9. Which ion initiates depolarization of the muscle membrane?
- A. Cl⁻
- B. Ca²⁺
- C. K⁺
- D. Na⁺
Correct answer: D. Na⁺
10. Which protein is responsible for anchoring thin filaments in the sarcomere?
- A. Myosin
- B. Actin
- C. Titin
- D. Z-line
Correct answer: D. Z-line
11. The role of acetylcholinesterase at the neuromuscular junction is to:
- A. Stimulate acetylcholine release
- B. Inhibit calcium influx
- C. Break down acetylcholine
- D. Activate receptors
Correct answer: C. Break down acetylcholine
12. Smooth muscle contraction is primarily regulated by:
- A. Troponin
- B. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)
- C. Actin
- D. ATP synthase
Correct answer: B. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)
13. Which of the following is true of cardiac muscle?
- A. It lacks sarcomeres
- B. It is multinucleated like skeletal muscle
- C. It contracts voluntarily
- D. It contains intercalated discs
Correct answer: D. It contains intercalated discs
14. Which enzyme hydrolyzes ATP during muscle contraction?
- A. Actinase
- B. Myosin ATPase
- C. Calmodulin
- D. Cholinesterase
Correct answer: B. Myosin ATPase
15. Which neurotransmitter is inhibited by botulinum toxin?
- A. Dopamine
- B. Serotonin
- C. Acetylcholine
- D. Glutamate
Correct answer: C. Acetylcholine
16. Which receptor is found at the motor end plate?
- A. Muscarinic
- B. Nicotinic (Nm type)
- C. Beta-1
- D. Alpha-1
Correct answer: B. Nicotinic (Nm type)
17. Which disease is characterized by antibodies against acetylcholine receptors?
- A. Muscular dystrophy
- B. Myasthenia gravis
- C. ALS
- D. Parkinson’s disease
Correct answer: B. Myasthenia gravis
18. What is the role of the T-tubule system in muscle fibers?
- A. Transports oxygen
- B. Conducts action potentials into the muscle interior
- C. Synthesizes ATP
- D. Stores glycogen
Correct answer: B. Conducts action potentials into the muscle interior
19. Which molecule provides immediate energy for muscle contraction?
- A. Creatine phosphate
- B. Glucose
- C. Fatty acids
- D. Glycogen
Correct answer: A. Creatine phosphate
20. Which type of muscle fiber is fatigue-resistant?
- A. Type IIb
- B. Type I
- C. Type IIa
- D. Fast glycolytic
Correct answer: B. Type I
21. During contraction, which bands in the sarcomere shorten?
- A. A-band only
- B. I-band and H-zone
- C. Z-line
- D. M-line
Correct answer: B. I-band and H-zone
22. What is rigor mortis caused by?
- A. Excess oxygen
- B. Calcium deficiency
- C. Lack of ATP
- D. High sodium levels
Correct answer: C. Lack of ATP
23. What does troponin C bind to initiate muscle contraction?
- A. ATP
- B. Calcium
- C. Myosin
- D. Magnesium
Correct answer: B. Calcium
24. The sliding filament model involves which two proteins?
- A. Actin and collagen
- B. Myosin and elastin
- C. Actin and myosin
- D. Troponin and tropomyosin
Correct answer: C. Actin and myosin
25. Cardiac muscle cells are connected by:
- A. Sarcomeres
- B. Desmosomes
- C. Intercalated discs
- D. Gap junctions and desmosomes
Correct answer: D. Gap junctions and desmosomes
26. What molecule is required for muscle relaxation?
- A. Calcium
- B. Potassium
- C. Magnesium
- D. ATP
Correct answer: D. ATP
27. Muscle spindles are involved in:
- A. Fatigue resistance
- B. Golgi tendon reflex
- C. Stretch reflex
- D. Muscle fiber growth
Correct answer: C. Stretch reflex
28. What is the function of dystrophin in muscle cells?
- A. ATP synthesis
- B. Links cytoskeleton to extracellular matrix
- C. Calcium storage
- D. Myosin regulation
Correct answer: B. Links cytoskeleton to extracellular matrix
29. What initiates an action potential in a muscle cell?
- A. Sodium influx
- B. Potassium efflux
- C. Calcium efflux
- D. Chloride entry
Correct answer: A. Sodium influx
30. Which condition results from a mutation in the dystrophin gene?
- A. ALS
- B. Myasthenia gravis
- C. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
- D. Tetany
Correct answer: C. Duchenne muscular dystrophy
31. Fast-twitch muscle fibers primarily use:
- A. Oxidative phosphorylation
- B. Anaerobic glycolysis
- C. Fatty acid oxidation
- D. Creatine shuttling
Correct answer: B. Anaerobic glycolysis
32. Smooth muscle contraction is slower because:
- A. It lacks ATP
- B. It lacks sarcomeres
- C. It uses calmodulin instead of troponin
- D. It is not innervated
Correct answer: C. It uses calmodulin instead of troponin
33. What happens to intracellular calcium during muscle relaxation?
- A. It increases
- B. It binds ATP
- C. It is pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum
- D. It is excreted from the cell
Correct answer: C. It is pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum
34. Which vitamin is essential for muscle contraction?
- A. Vitamin A
- B. Vitamin C
- C. Vitamin D
- D. Vitamin E
Correct answer: C. Vitamin D
35. Curare poisoning results in:
- A. Increased muscle tone
- B. Permanent depolarization
- C. Blockade of nicotinic receptors
- D. Overactive acetylcholinesterase
Correct answer: C. Blockade of nicotinic receptors
36. Which neurotransmitter inhibits smooth muscle in the gut?
- A. GABA
- B. Acetylcholine
- C. Norepinephrine
- D. Histamine
Correct answer: C. Norepinephrine
37. What is tetanus in muscle physiology?
- A. Bacterial infection only
- B. Continuous muscle contraction without relaxation
- C. Voluntary twitch response
- D. Complete muscle paralysis
Correct answer: B. Continuous muscle contraction without relaxation
38. Which protein binds oxygen in muscle cells?
- A. Hemoglobin
- B. Actin
- C. Myoglobin
- D. Troponin
Correct answer: C. Myoglobin
39. Slow-twitch muscle fibers have more:
- A. Myoglobin
- B. Glycogen
- C. Creatine
- D. Myosin ATPase
Correct answer: A. Myoglobin
40. What ion triggers neurotransmitter release at the neuromuscular junction?
- A. Na⁺
- B. Cl⁻
- C. Ca²⁺
- D. K⁺
Correct answer: C. Ca²⁺
41. Which muscle type has automaticity (self-generated rhythm)?
- A. Skeletal
- B. Cardiac
- C. Smooth
- D. All of the above
Correct answer: B. Cardiac
42. What does isometric contraction mean?
- A. Muscle shortens during contraction
- B. Muscle length stays the same while tension increases
- C. Muscle relaxes and stretches
- D. Muscle is at rest
Correct answer: B. Muscle length stays the same while tension increases
43. Which drug is used to reverse neuromuscular blockade?
- A. Atropine
- B. Epinephrine
- C. Neostigmine
- D. Salbutamol
Correct answer: C. Neostigmine
44. In smooth muscle, contraction is regulated by phosphorylation of:
- A. Actin
- B. Troponin
- C. Myosin light chain
- D. Myosin heavy chain
Correct answer: C. Myosin light chain
45. Which muscle type is found in the walls of blood vessels?
- A. Skeletal
- B. Smooth
- C. Cardiac
- D. Hybrid
Correct answer: B. Smooth
46. The latent period of muscle contraction refers to:
- A. Resting state
- B. Time between stimulus and contraction
- C. Refractory phase
- D. Relaxation phase
Correct answer: B. Time between stimulus and contraction
47. Calsequestrin helps with:
- A. ATP synthesis
- B. Calcium buffering in the SR
- C. Acetylcholine degradation
- D. Myosin binding
Correct answer: B. Calcium buffering in the SR
48. Which condition involves spasms due to low calcium levels?
- A. Hyperkalemia
- B. Tetany
- C. Myasthenia gravis
- D. Rigor mortis
Correct answer: B. Tetany
49. The rate of muscle fatigue depends on:
- A. Fiber type and metabolic capacity
- B. Nerve conduction
- C. Bone structure
- D. pKa of proteins
Correct answer: A. Fiber type and metabolic capacity
50. Which muscle fiber type is most prevalent in endurance athletes?
- A. Type IIb
- B. Type I
- C. Fast glycolytic
- D. Type IIx
Correct answer: B. Type I