Ch 1 Flashcards
A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by the student?
a. A single circular chromosome
b. A nucleus
c. Free-floating nuclear material
d. No organelles
ANS: B
The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA within its nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.
A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not have histones.
Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a distinct
nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No organelles
describes a prokaryotic cell.
A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is the nurse
describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform nutrients to energy?
a. Metabolic absorption
b. Communication
c. Secretion
d. Respiration
ANS: D
The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cells function of respiration.
The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function of
communication.
The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cells function of metabolic absorption.
The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers to the cells
function of secretion.
- A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of
the genetic information be contained?
a. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic
acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus.
The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.
The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.
The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic material.
The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior. According to
this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the fluid lipid bilayer?
a. Peripheral membrane proteins
b. Integral membrane proteins
c. Glycoproteins
d. Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.
Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.
Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.
Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook together.
Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
a. Oxygen
b. Ribosomes
c. Amphipathic lipids
d. Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.
Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.
Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.
Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.
A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding would
support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix that include:
a. Decreased fibronectin
b. Increased collagen
c. Decreased elastind.
d. Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing cancer
cells to travel, or metastasize.
Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not cancer.
Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated with cancerous
cells.
Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.
Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact?
a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosomes
d. Tight junctions
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the inside of another.
Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.
Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages of others.
Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring
alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling involves the release of local chemical mediators that are quickly taken up, destroyed, or immobilized, as in the case of insulin and the inhibition of the secretion of glucagon.
When cells produce signals that they themselves respond to, autocrine signaling is used.
Neurohormonal signaling involves secretion of hormones into the bloodstream by neurosecretory
hormones.
Hormonal signaling involves specialized endocrine cells that secrete hormone chemicals released by one set of cells that travel through the tissue through the bloodstream to produce a response in
other sets of cells.
In cellular metabolism, each enzyme has a high affinity for a:
a. Solute
b. Substrate
c. Receptor
d. Ribosome
ANS: B
Each enzyme has a high affinity for a substrate, a specific substance converted to a product of the
reaction.
Solutes are small particles that pass through the cell membrane.
A receptor is a site on the cell wall that allows transport into the cell.
Ribosomes are located inside the cell and are not related to the work of enzymes.
An athlete runs a marathon, after which his muscles feel fatigued and unable to contract. The
athlete asks the nurse why this happened. How should the nurse respond? A deficiency in
can cause impaired muscle contraction.
a. GTP
b. AMP
c. ATP
d. GMP
ANS: C
The cell uses ATP for muscle contraction. when it is deficient, impaired muscle contraction results.
GTP is involved in cell signaling, not muscle contraction.
AMP is not involved in muscle contraction.
GMP is not involved in muscle contraction.
Which phase of catabolism produces the most ATP?
a. Digestion
b. Glycolysis
c. Oxidation
d. Citric acid cycle
ANS: D
Most of the ATP is generated during the citric acid cycle.
Larger molecules are broken down into smaller units during digestion; no ATP is produced
during this cycle.
During glycolysis, two molecules of ATP are produced from each glucose molecule, but the most ATP is produced during the citric acid cycle.
Oxidation is part of the glycolysis process and ATP is produced, but more ATP is produced during the citric acid cycle.
A nurse is teaching the staff about the three phases of cellular catabolism. Which of the
following should the nurse include?
a. Digestion, glycolysis and oxidation, and the citric acid cycle
b. Diffusion, osmosis, and mediated transport
c. S phase, G phase, and M phase
d. Metabolic absorption, respiration, and excretion
ANS: A
Digestion, glycolysis and oxidation, and the citric acid cycle are the three phases of cellular catabolism.
Diffusion, osmosis, and mediated transport are parts of the movement of fluids in and out of
cells.
The S, G, and M phases are phases of cellular division, not catabolism.
Metabolic absorption, respiration, and excretion are functions of the cell.
A runner has depleted all the oxygen available for muscle energy. Which of the following
will facilitate his continued muscle performance?
a. Electron-transport chain
b. Aerobic glycolysis
c. Anaerobic glycolysis
d. Oxidative phosphorylation
ANS: C
When no oxygen is available, anaerobic glycolysis occurs.
The electron-transport chain is part of the citric acid cycle.
Aerobic glycolysis involves the presence of oxygen.
Oxidative phosphorylation is the mechanism by which the energy produced from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is transferred to ATP. It is not part of muscle performance.
The faculty member asked the student to identify the appropriate term for the movement of
small, electrically uncharged molecules through a semipermeable barrier. Which answer
indicates the nursing student understood the teaching?
a. Osmosis
b. Diffusion
c. Hydrostatic pressure
d. Active transport
ANS: B
Diffusion is the movement of a solute molecule from an area of greater solute concentration to an
area of lesser solute concentration.
Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from a region of higher
water concentration to one of lower concentration.
Hydrostatic pressure is the force of fluid against a cell membrane. Within the vascular system, this pressure is the blood pressure.
In active transport, molecules move up a concentration gradient. This process requires energy.
A nurse is teaching a patient about fluid and electrolytes. Which of the following indicates
the teaching was successful regarding electrolytes? Electrolytes are:
a. Small lipid-soluble molecules
b. Large protein molecules
c. Micronutrients used to produce ATP
d. Electrically charged molecules
ANS: D
Electrolytes are electrically charged molecules.
Electrolytes are not lipid soluble.
Electrolytes are not made up of protein.
Electrolytes do not have a role in the production of ATP.
A nurse is reading a chart and sees the term oncotic pressure. The nurse recalls that oncotic
pressure (colloid osmotic pressure) is determined by:
a. Concentration of sodium
b. Plasma proteins
c. Hydrostatic pressure
d. Availability of membrane transporter proteins
ANS: B
Oncotic pressure is determined by the effect of colloids or plasma proteins.
The concentration of sodium plays a role in tonicity.
Hydrostatic pressure is the force within a vessel.
Membrane transporter proteins are involved in active transport within a concentration gradient.
A patient has a body fluid of 300 mOsm/kg. This lab result is measuring:
a. Osmolality
b. Osmolarity
c. Osmotic pressured.
d. Oncotic pressure
ANS: A
Osmolality measures the number of milliosmoles per kilogram of water, or the concentration of
molecules per weight of water.
Osmolarity measures the number of milliosmoles per liter of solution, or the concentration of molecules per volume of solution.
Osmotic pressure is the amount of hydrostatic pressure required to oppose the osmotic movement of water.
Oncotic pressure is from plasma proteins, not body fluids.
In teaching a patient with cirrhosis, which information should the nurse include regarding
cholesterol?
a. Cholesterol decreases the membrane fluidity of the erythrocyte, which reduces its
ability to carry oxygen.
b. Cholesterol decreases the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes, which reduces its
ability to carry hemoglobin.
c. Cholesterol increases the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes, which allows
binding of excess glucose.
d. Cholesterol increases the membrane fluidity of erythrocytes, which prolongs its
life span beyond 120 days.
ANS: A
In cirrhosis, the cholesterol content of the red blood cells plasma membrane increases, causing a
decrease in membrane fluidity that seriously affects the cells ability to transport oxygen.
In cirrhosis, for example, the cholesterol content of the red blood cells plasma membrane
increases, causing a decrease in membrane fluidity that seriously affects the cells ability to transport oxygen, not hemoglobin; the hemoglobin carries the oxygen.
In cirrhosis, for example, the cholesterol content of the red blood cells plasma membrane increases, causing a decrease in membrane fluidity that seriously affects the cells ability to transport oxygen; it does not bind excess glucose.
In cirrhosis, for example, the cholesterol content of the red blood cells plasma membrane
increases, causing a decrease in membrane fluidity that seriously affects the cells ability to
transport oxygen. It does not prolong the life of the RBC and could decrease it.
A nurse is discussing the movement of fluid across the arterial end of capillary membranes
into the interstitial fluid surrounding the capillary. Which process of fluid movement is the nurse
describing?
a. Hydrostatic pressure
b. Osmosis
c. Diffusion
d. Active transport
ANS: A
Blood reaching the capillary bed has a hydrostatic pressure of 25 to 30 mm Hg, which is
sufficient force to push water across the thin capillary membranes into the interstitial space.
Osmosis involves the movement of fluid from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower
concentration. It does not involve pressure or force. It is related to hydrostatic pressure.
Diffusion is the passive movement of a solute from an area of higher solute concentration to an
area of lower solute concentration.
Active transport involves movement up a concentration gradient.
A patient who has diarrhea receives a hypertonic saline solution intravenously to replace the
sodium and chloride lost in the stool. What effect will this fluid replacement have on cells?
a. Cells will become hydrated.
b. Cells will swell or burst.
c. Cells will shrink.
d. Cells will divide.
ANS: C
The hypertonic saline will cause fluid to leave the intracellular space and enter the vascular
space, causing cells to shrink.
Intravenous hypertonic solutions lead to cell dehydration.
Intravenous hypertonic solutions cause fluid to leave cells; thus, they would shrink, not swell.
Intravenous hypertonic solutions do not affect cellular division.
A nurse is teaching a patient with diabetes how glucose is transported from the blood to the
cell. What type of transport system should the nurse discuss with the patient?
a. Active-mediated transport (active transport)
b. Active diffusion
c. Passive osmosis
d. Passive-mediated transport (facilitated diffusion)
ANS: D
A well-known passive-mediated transport system is that for glucose in erythrocytes (red blood
cells).
The transport of glucose does not require energy, so active-mediated transport is not correct.
The transport of glucose does not require energy, so active diffusion is not correct.
Osmosis involves the movement of water.
How are potassium and sodium transported across plasma membranes?
a. By passive electrolyte channels
b. By coupled channels
c. By adenosine triphosphate enzyme (ATPase)
d. By diffusion
ANS: C
A carrier mechanism in the plasma membrane mediates the transport of ions and nutrients. The best-known pump is the Na+ -K+ dependent ATPase pump.
Electrolyte movements require energy and do not move passively.
Enzymes, not electrolytes, are passed via coupled channels.
Electrolytes are not transported by diffusion.
Why is potassium able to diffuse easily in and out of cells?
a. Because potassium has a greater concentration in the intracellular fluid (ICF)
b. Because sodium has a greater concentration in the extracellular fluid (ECF)
c. Because the resting plasma membrane is more permeable to potassium
d. Because there is an excess of anions inside the cell
ANS: C
The resting membrane is more permeable to potassium because potassium is more easily
transported inward.
Potassium is greater in concentration in the ICF, but this is not why it is transported more easily.
Sodium does have a greater concentration, but this is not why potassium moves easily when the
membrane potential is at rest.
It is cations, not anions, that are involved in membrane potential activity.
The ion transporter that moves Na+ and Ca2+ simultaneously in the same direction is an example of which of the following types of transport?
a. Biport
b. Uniport
c. Antiport
d. Symport
ANS: D
When ions are transported in one direction, it is termed symport.
There is no such term as biport.
Uniport refers to the movement of a single molecule.
Antiport refers to movement of molecules in the opposite direction.
