Peripheral nerves, voluntary and involuntary — practice questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

The division regulating many involuntary visceral functions:

• A. central nervous system only
• B. autonomic nervous system
• C. somatic sensory system only
• D. skeletal system

Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

The system consisting of brain and spinal cord:

• A. autonomic nervous system only
• B. central nervous system
• C. somatic effector system
• D. peripheral nervous system

Question 3 · difficulty L1 · recall

Which peripheral division carries commands to skeletal muscles for voluntary movement?

• A. Endocrine system
• B. Autonomic nervous system
• C. Somatic nervous system
• D. Limbic system

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Which autonomic division is associated most strongly with a fight-or-flight response?

• A. Sensory division
• B. Parasympathetic division
• C. Somatic division
• D. Sympathetic division

Question 5 · difficulty L2 · understanding

What is a typical parasympathetic effect on the heart at rest?

• A. Reduction of heart rate
• B. Marked increase in heart rate
• C. Tetany of skeletal muscle
• D. Loss of sensory input

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · application

Which target is controlled mainly by the autonomic rather than the somatic motor system?

• A. Biceps during lifting
• B. Smooth muscle in the intestine
• C. Quadriceps during walking
• D. Skeletal muscles of the hand

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · application

A person suddenly faces a threat. Which response is most consistent with sympathetic activation?

• A. Pupils constrict and alertness falls
• B. Heart rate falls while digestion rises
• C. Heart rate rises while digestive activity falls
• D. All glandular activity stops

Question 8 · difficulty L3 · application

After a large meal, which pattern is most likely during quiet rest?

• A. Complete withdrawal of autonomic input
• B. Sympathetic suppression of gut motility
• C. Somatic control of intestinal smooth muscle
• D. Parasympathetic activity supporting digestion

Question 9 · difficulty L4 · analysis

One motor pathway innervates skeletal muscle and another innervates smooth muscle in a blood vessel. Which classification is correct?

• A. Somatic for the first, autonomic for the second
• B. Autonomic for both
• C. Sensory for both
• D. Autonomic for the first, somatic for the second

Question 10 · difficulty L4 · analysis

Organ X receives both sympathetic and parasympathetic input, while muscle Y produces a voluntary movement. What is the best interpretation?

• A. Both are parasympathetically controlled
• B. X is autonomically regulated and Y is somatically controlled
• C. X must be skeletal muscle
• D. Y must be smooth muscle