TEST BANK
UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1ST CANADIAN EDITION
CHAPTER NO. 01. CELLULAR BIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. The student notices it to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. What else would the student be expected to
observe?
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 prokaryotic cell contains a
single circular chromosome and lacks organelles.
REF: p. 1
2. 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 cell’s ability to produce energy is respiration. Communication involves
maintenance of a steady dynamic state, while metabolic absorption provides cellular
nutrition, and secretion allows for the delivery or release of new substances.
REF: p. 2
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would
most of the genetic information be contained?
a. Peroxisomes
b. Ribosomes
c. The nucleolus
, d. Suspended in nucleoplasm
ANS: D
The region of the cell that contains genetic material is the nucleoplasm contained
within the nucleus. The nucleolus, contained within the nucleus, is largely composed
of ribosomes. Peroxisomes contain digestive enzymes.
REF: p. 2
4. Which of the following can remove proteins attached to the cell’s bilayer by dissolving
the layer itself?
a. Peripheral membrane proteins
b. Integral membrane proteins
c. Glycoproteins
d. Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Proteins directly attached to the membrane bilayer can be removed by the action of
integral membrane proteins that dissolve the bilayer. Peripheral membrane proteins
reside at the surface while cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the
membrane. Glycoproteins act as cell identifiers.
REF: p. 7
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
a. Oxygen
b. Ribosomes
c. Amphipathic lipids
d. Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are the only specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell
membrane.
REF: p. 9
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What alternation
in the extracellular matrix would support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer?
a. Decreased fibronectin
b. Increased collagen
c. Decreased elastin
d. Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Only a reduced amount of fibronectin is found in some types of cancerous cells,
allowing them to travel or metastasize.
, REF: pp. 10-11
7. What type of connection allows for cellular communication?
a. Belt desmosome
b. Gap junction
c. Spot desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: B
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes
nor tight junctions are associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 12
8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighbouring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following
signalling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signalling 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. None of the other options involve signalling that is associated
with a local chemical mediator like insulin.
REF: p. 12
9. 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. Cellular metabolism is not dependent on an attraction
between an enzyme and any of the remaining options.
REF: p. 16
10. An athlete runs a marathon, after which his muscles feel fatigued and unable to
contract. The athlete asks the nurse why this happened. The nurse’s response is
based on the knowledge that the problem is result of a deficiency of:
, a. GTP
b. AMP
c. ATP
d. GMP
ANS: C
When ATP is deficient, impaired muscle contraction results. None of the other options
are involved in muscle contraction.
REF: p. 17
11. Which phase of catabolism produces the most ATP?
a. Digestion
b. Glycolysis
c. Oxidation
d. Citric acid cycle
ANS: D
While some ATP is produced during the oxidation and glycolysis phases, most of the
ATP is generated during the citric acid cycle. Digestion does not produce any ATP.
REF: p. 16
12. A nurse is teaching the staff about the phases of cellular catabolism. Which phases
should the nurse include?
a. Digestion, glycolysis, 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
Only digestion, glycolysis, oxidation, and the citric acid cycle are the phases of
cellular catabolism.
REF: p. 16
13. 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
UNDERSTANDING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1ST CANADIAN EDITION
CHAPTER NO. 01. CELLULAR BIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. The student notices it to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. What else would the student be expected to
observe?
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 prokaryotic cell contains a
single circular chromosome and lacks organelles.
REF: p. 1
2. 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 cell’s ability to produce energy is respiration. Communication involves
maintenance of a steady dynamic state, while metabolic absorption provides cellular
nutrition, and secretion allows for the delivery or release of new substances.
REF: p. 2
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would
most of the genetic information be contained?
a. Peroxisomes
b. Ribosomes
c. The nucleolus
, d. Suspended in nucleoplasm
ANS: D
The region of the cell that contains genetic material is the nucleoplasm contained
within the nucleus. The nucleolus, contained within the nucleus, is largely composed
of ribosomes. Peroxisomes contain digestive enzymes.
REF: p. 2
4. Which of the following can remove proteins attached to the cell’s bilayer by dissolving
the layer itself?
a. Peripheral membrane proteins
b. Integral membrane proteins
c. Glycoproteins
d. Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Proteins directly attached to the membrane bilayer can be removed by the action of
integral membrane proteins that dissolve the bilayer. Peripheral membrane proteins
reside at the surface while cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the
membrane. Glycoproteins act as cell identifiers.
REF: p. 7
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
a. Oxygen
b. Ribosomes
c. Amphipathic lipids
d. Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are the only specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell
membrane.
REF: p. 9
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What alternation
in the extracellular matrix would support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer?
a. Decreased fibronectin
b. Increased collagen
c. Decreased elastin
d. Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Only a reduced amount of fibronectin is found in some types of cancerous cells,
allowing them to travel or metastasize.
, REF: pp. 10-11
7. What type of connection allows for cellular communication?
a. Belt desmosome
b. Gap junction
c. Spot desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: B
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes
nor tight junctions are associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 12
8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighbouring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following
signalling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signalling 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. None of the other options involve signalling that is associated
with a local chemical mediator like insulin.
REF: p. 12
9. 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. Cellular metabolism is not dependent on an attraction
between an enzyme and any of the remaining options.
REF: p. 16
10. An athlete runs a marathon, after which his muscles feel fatigued and unable to
contract. The athlete asks the nurse why this happened. The nurse’s response is
based on the knowledge that the problem is result of a deficiency of:
, a. GTP
b. AMP
c. ATP
d. GMP
ANS: C
When ATP is deficient, impaired muscle contraction results. None of the other options
are involved in muscle contraction.
REF: p. 17
11. Which phase of catabolism produces the most ATP?
a. Digestion
b. Glycolysis
c. Oxidation
d. Citric acid cycle
ANS: D
While some ATP is produced during the oxidation and glycolysis phases, most of the
ATP is generated during the citric acid cycle. Digestion does not produce any ATP.
REF: p. 16
12. A nurse is teaching the staff about the phases of cellular catabolism. Which phases
should the nurse include?
a. Digestion, glycolysis, 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
Only digestion, glycolysis, oxidation, and the citric acid cycle are the phases of
cellular catabolism.
REF: p. 16
13. 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
