What is the basic unit of the nervous system?
A) Cell
B) Neuron ✅
C) Tissue
D) Axon Explanation: A neuron is the functional and structural unit of the nervous system.
Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination?
A) Cerebrum
B) Cerebellum ✅
C) Medulla
D) Hypothalamus Explanation: The cerebellum regulates voluntary movements and balance.
The brain is protected by:
A) Skull ✅
B) Spine
C) Ribs
D) Skin Explanation: The skull (cranium) encases and protects the brain.
Which structure connects the brain to the spinal cord?
A) Cerebellum
B) Medulla oblongata ✅
C) Hypothalamus
D) Pons Explanation: The medulla oblongata acts as a relay between brain and spinal cord.
Which organ is part of the central nervous system?
A) Heart
B) Kidney
C) Brain ✅
D) Lung Explanation: The brain and spinal cord make up the CNS.
What carries messages away from the neuron’s cell body?
A) Dendrite
B) Axon ✅
C) Synapse
D) Soma Explanation: The axon conducts nerve impulses away from the cell body.
Which part of the neuron receives signals?
A) Axon
B) Synapse
C) Dendrite ✅
D) Nucleus Explanation: Dendrites receive electrical signals from other neurons.
How many pairs of cranial nerves do humans have?
A) 10
B) 12 ✅
C) 14
D) 24 Explanation: There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves.
The largest part of the human brain is the:
A) Cerebellum
B) Medulla
C) Cerebrum ✅
D) Thalamus Explanation: The cerebrum is involved in higher brain functions.
What fluid cushions the brain and spinal cord?
A) Plasma
B) Synovial fluid
C) Lymph
D) Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) ✅ Explanation: CSF protects the brain and spinal cord from trauma.
Which of the following is a sensory nerve function?
A) Motor control
B) Signal reception ✅
C) Hormone secretion
D) Muscle contraction Explanation: Sensory nerves carry signals to the brain/spinal cord.
What is the function of the spinal cord?
A) Digest food
B) Pump blood
C) Relay messages ✅
D) Filter blood Explanation: It transmits messages between the brain and body.
The gap between two neurons is called:
A) Axon
B) Synapse ✅
C) Node
D) Myelin Explanation: Synapses allow communication between neurons.
Which nerve connects the eye to the brain?
A) Optic nerve ✅
B) Vagus nerve
C) Auditory nerve
D) Olfactory nerve Explanation: The optic nerve transmits visual signals.
The involuntary actions are controlled by the:
A) Cerebrum
B) Cerebellum
C) Medulla oblongata ✅
D) Corpus callosum Explanation: The medulla regulates functions like breathing and heartbeat.
The outermost layer of the brain is the:
A) White matter
B) Grey matter
C) Meninges
D) Cerebral cortex ✅ Explanation: The cortex is involved in sensory perception and thinking.
What is the function of motor neurons?
A) Receive stimuli
B) Conduct impulses to muscles ✅
C) Produce hormones
D) Process emotions Explanation: Motor neurons control muscle activity.
Which part of the neuron contains the nucleus?
A) Dendrite
B) Axon
C) Cell body (Soma) ✅
D) Myelin Explanation: The soma holds the nucleus and organelles.
Which of the following is part of the peripheral nervous system?
A) Brain
B) Spinal cord
C) Cranial nerves ✅
D) Thalamus Explanation: PNS includes cranial and spinal nerves.
Which ion is essential for nerve impulse conduction?
A) Magnesium
B) Sodium ✅
C) Calcium
D) Iron Explanation: Sodium influx helps generate action potentials.
🟡 Moderate Level (21–40)
The autonomic nervous system controls:
A) Skeletal muscles
B) Voluntary actions
C) Involuntary actions ✅
D) Reflexes only Explanation: It regulates activities like heart rate and digestion.
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for:
A) Sleep
B) Fight or flight ✅
C) Digestion
D) Relaxation Explanation: It triggers alert responses in stress situations.
Which part of the brain regulates temperature and hunger?
A) Thalamus
B) Hypothalamus ✅
C) Medulla
D) Pons Explanation: Hypothalamus maintains homeostasis.
Neurotransmitters are released at the:
A) Axon hillock
B) Dendrites
C) Synaptic terminals ✅
D) Soma Explanation: Neurotransmitters are secreted across synapses.
The white matter in the brain contains mainly:
A) Neuron cell bodies
B) Unmyelinated fibers
C) Myelinated axons ✅
D) Blood vessels Explanation: Myelinated axons give white matter its color.
Which glial cells form the myelin sheath in the CNS?
A) Schwann cells
B) Oligodendrocytes ✅
C) Astrocytes
D) Microglia Explanation: Oligodendrocytes insulate CNS axons.
A reflex action is an example of a:
A) Voluntary response
B) Conditioned response
C) Involuntary, automatic response ✅
D) Learned response Explanation: Reflexes are rapid, involuntary actions.
Which lobe of the brain is responsible for vision?
A) Frontal
B) Temporal
C) Parietal
D) Occipital ✅ Explanation: The occipital lobe processes visual information.
Which of the following is NOT a neurotransmitter?
A) Acetylcholine
B) Dopamine
C) Insulin ✅
D) Serotonin Explanation: Insulin is a hormone, not a neurotransmitter.
Which structure separates the two cerebral hemispheres?
A) Cerebellum
B) Corpus callosum ✅
C) Thalamus
D) Medulla Explanation: It connects and communicates between hemispheres.
Nodes of Ranvier are found in:
A) Dendrites
B) Unmyelinated axons
C) Myelinated axons ✅
D) Soma Explanation: These are gaps in the myelin sheath.
The “rest and digest” system is:
A) Sympathetic
B) Parasympathetic ✅
C) Somatic
D) Central Explanation: The parasympathetic system calms body functions.
Which part of the brain acts as a relay station for sensory signals?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Thalamus ✅
C) Cerebellum
D) Pons Explanation: Thalamus forwards sensory information to the cortex.
What is the function of Schwann cells?
A) Secrete CSF
B) Generate action potential
C) Form myelin sheath in PNS ✅
D) Act as immune cells Explanation: Schwann cells insulate axons in the peripheral nervous system.
Multiple sclerosis is caused by damage to:
A) Neuron soma
B) Neurotransmitters
C) Myelin sheath ✅
D) Axon terminals Explanation: It’s an autoimmune attack on myelin.
Which structure produces cerebrospinal fluid?
A) Medulla
B) Cerebrum
C) Choroid plexus ✅
D) Meninges Explanation: Choroid plexus filters blood plasma into CSF.
Which brain part controls breathing?
A) Hypothalamus
B) Medulla oblongata ✅
C) Cerebrum
D) Cerebellum Explanation: Medulla regulates vital reflexes including respiration.
Which ion enters the axon terminal to trigger neurotransmitter release?
A) Sodium
B) Potassium
C) Calcium ✅
D) Chloride Explanation: Calcium triggers synaptic vesicle fusion.
Which disease is associated with dopamine deficiency?
A) Alzheimer’s
B) Parkinson’s ✅
C) Epilepsy
D) Huntington’s Explanation: Parkinson’s is linked to dopamine loss in the brain.
The limbic system is involved in:
A) Reflexes
B) Emotion and memory ✅
C) Vision
D) Balance Explanation: It controls emotions and memory processing.
🔴 Hard Level (41–50)
Saltatory conduction occurs in:
A) Unmyelinated neurons
B) Myelinated neurons ✅
C) Interneurons
D) Dendrites Explanation: Impulses jump between nodes in myelinated axons.
Hyperpolarization makes neurons:
A) More likely to fire
B) Less likely to fire ✅
C) Depolarized
D) Resting Explanation: Hyperpolarization increases membrane negativity, inhibiting firing.
Which type of glial cell acts as an immune cell in the CNS?
A) Astrocyte
B) Oligodendrocyte
C) Microglia ✅
D) Schwann cell Explanation: Microglia protect the CNS by engulfing pathogens.
The refractory period ensures:
A) Slower transmission
B) Reversal of signal
C) One-way transmission of impulses ✅
D) Enhanced neurotransmitter release Explanation: It prevents backward conduction of action potentials.
Neurogenesis in adults is mostly found in:
A) Cortex
B) Brainstem
C) Hippocampus ✅
D) Thalamus Explanation: The hippocampus supports memory and shows limited adult neurogenesis.
EPSPs (excitatory postsynaptic potentials) cause:
A) Depolarization ✅
B) Hyperpolarization
C) Inhibition
D) No change Explanation: EPSPs make neurons more likely to fire.
Which area controls speech production?
A) Wernicke’s area
B) Broca’s area ✅
C) Occipital lobe
D) Amygdala Explanation: Broca’s area manages motor functions of speech.
Resting membrane potential of neurons is about:
A) 0 mV
B) +70 mV
C) -70 mV ✅
D) -30 mV Explanation: It’s maintained by the sodium-potassium pump.
Which neurotransmitter is inhibitory in the CNS?
A) Acetylcholine
B) Glutamate
C) GABA ✅
D) Dopamine Explanation: GABA decreases neuronal activity.
What is the role of the Na+/K+ pump in neurons?
A) Create neurotransmitters
B) Restore resting potential ✅
C) Transmit signals
D) Generate myelin Explanation: The pump restores ionic balance after action potentials.