Lesson 3.6.2.2.1

3.6.2.2.1 Synapses and the neuromuscular junction Quiz: AQA Biology, Unit 6

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.6.2.2.1, Synapses and the neuromuscular junction: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Biology (7402), Unit 6: Organisms respond to changes in their internal and external environments, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which structure in a chemical synapse contains voltage-gated calcium channels?

    • Myelin sheath
    • Postsynaptic membrane
    • Synaptic cleft
    • Presynaptic membrane

  2. Which neurotransmitter is used at a cholinergic synapse?

    • Insulin
    • Acetylcholine
    • Adrenaline
    • Glucagon

  3. Which ions enter the presynaptic knob to trigger neurotransmitter vesicle fusion?

    • Potassium ions
    • Calcium ions
    • Sodium ions
    • Chloride ions

  4. Why does transmission across a chemical synapse occur in one direction only?

    • Postsynaptic receptors only
    • Symmetrical ion channels
    • Reversible neurotransmitter flow
    • Presynaptic receptors only

  5. What is the primary role of acetylcholinesterase at a cholinergic synapse?

    • Synthesising neurotransmitters
    • Reabsorbing calcium ions
    • Opening sodium channels
    • Hydrolysing acetylcholine

  6. What type of summation occurs when multiple impulses arrive quickly from a single presynaptic neurone?

    • Inhibitory summation
    • Temporal summation
    • Saltatory summation
    • Spatial summation

  7. What type of summation occurs when simultaneous impulses arrive from multiple presynaptic neurones?

    • Spatial summation
    • Inhibitory summation
    • Saltatory summation
    • Temporal summation

  8. What effect do inhibitory neurotransmitters have on the postsynaptic membrane potential?

    • Depolarisation
    • Repolarisation
    • Hyperpolarisation
    • Sensitisation

  9. Which feature is unique to a neuromuscular junction compared to a cholinergic synapse?

    • Presynaptic vesicle release
    • Folded postsynaptic membrane
    • Hydrolysis by acetylcholinesterase
    • Calcium ion influx

  10. What occurs if a drug inhibits acetylcholinesterase in the synaptic cleft?

    • Stopped neurotransmitter release
    • Reduced calcium entry
    • Continuous depolarisation
    • Immediate hyperpolarisation

  11. What happens when a drug competitively blocks postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors?

    • Continuous action potentials
    • Increased neurotransmitter release
    • Membrane hyperpolarisation
    • No action potential

  12. What directly stops occurring if calcium ions cannot enter the presynaptic knob?

    • Acetylcholinesterase activation
    • Neurotransmitter vesicle fusion
    • Sodium ion influx
    • Postsynaptic hyperpolarisation

  13. Why must acetylcholine be rapidly removed from the synaptic cleft?

    • Increases vesicle production
    • Prevents continuous stimulation
    • Prevents membrane repolarisation
    • Blocks calcium influx

  14. If a motor neurone fires but the muscle fails to contract, what is a likely cause?

    • Overproduction of acetylcholine
    • Blocked acetylcholine receptors
    • Excess acetylcholinesterase breakdown
    • Increased calcium influx

  15. What effect does a drug mimicking acetylcholine have on the postsynaptic membrane?

    • Prolonged depolarisation
    • Inhibition of transmission
    • Rapid hyperpolarisation
    • Reduced vesicle fusion

  16. What is produced if a postsynaptic depolarisation fails to reach threshold?

    • Continuous hyperpolarisation
    • No action potential
    • Smaller action potential
    • Retrograde action potential

  17. Temporal summation involves multiple impulses arriving from a single neurone in what way?

    • In rapid succession
    • Without neurotransmitters
    • At identical voltage
    • From different locations

  18. What determines whether a postsynaptic neurone generates an action potential?

    • Number of mitochondria
    • Presynaptic knob diameter
    • Acetylcholinesterase speed
    • Net membrane potential

  19. How does acetylcholine cross the synaptic cleft to reach postsynaptic receptors?

    • Bulk endocytosis
    • Active transport
    • Simple diffusion
    • Facilitated diffusion

  20. What structural feature of the neuromuscular junction increases signal strength?

    • Multiple axons
    • Postsynaptic folds
    • Narrow synaptic cleft
    • Myelinated dendrites

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