BIOL 1410- Final Exam Questions and
Answers | Latest Version | 2024/2025 |
Graded A+
Describe the role of surfactant in the respiratory system.
✔✔ Surfactant reduces surface tension within the alveoli, preventing collapse and ensuring
efficient gas exchange during breathing.
How do the kidneys maintain acid-base balance in the body?
✔✔ The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing
bicarbonate, helping to maintain blood pH within a narrow range.
What is the function of ciliated epithelial cells in the respiratory tract?
✔✔ Ciliated epithelial cells move mucus and trapped particles out of the airways, helping to
keep the respiratory passages clear of debris.
Explain the role of calcium ions in muscle contraction.
✔✔ Calcium ions bind to troponin, causing a shift in tropomyosin and exposing binding sites on
actin, allowing myosin to attach and initiate muscle contraction.
1
,How does the liver contribute to the regulation of blood glucose levels?
✔✔ The liver stores glucose as glycogen and releases it when blood sugar levels drop,
maintaining homeostasis through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
What is the role of chemoreceptors in respiratory control?
✔✔ Chemoreceptors detect changes in blood CO2 levels, pH, and oxygen concentration,
signaling the brain to adjust breathing rate and depth to maintain proper gas exchange.
How does the lymphatic system assist in the absorption of fats?
✔✔ The lymphatic system absorbs dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins through specialized
lymphatic vessels called lacteals, transporting them to the bloodstream.
Explain the significance of synovial fluid in joint movement.
✔✔ Synovial fluid lubricates and nourishes the cartilage within joints, reducing friction and
allowing smooth, pain-free movement.
How does the hormone erythropoietin regulate red blood cell production?
2
,✔✔ Erythropoietin, produced by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels, stimulates the
bone marrow to produce more red blood cells to increase oxygen delivery to tissues.
Describe the process of peristalsis in the digestive system.
✔✔ Peristalsis is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract,
propelling food through the digestive system from the esophagus to the intestines.
What is the function of the pleura in the respiratory system?
✔✔ The pleura is a double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs that reduces friction during
breathing and helps keep the lungs expanded within the thoracic cavity.
How do gap junctions function in cardiac muscle tissue?
✔✔ Gap junctions allow electrical impulses to pass directly between cardiac muscle cells,
enabling coordinated contraction of the heart muscle.
Explain the role of bile in the digestion of fats.
✔✔ Bile emulsifies fats in the small intestine, breaking them into smaller droplets that can be
more easily digested by enzymes like lipase.
3
, What is the significance of the blood-brain barrier in maintaining neural function?
✔✔ The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream while
allowing essential nutrients to pass through, maintaining a stable environment for neural
function.
How does the hypothalamus regulate body temperature?
✔✔ The hypothalamus acts as the body’s thermostat, sensing changes in body temperature and
triggering responses like sweating or shivering to maintain homeostasis.
What role do baroreceptors play in regulating blood pressure?
✔✔ Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure and send signals to the brainstem to adjust
heart rate and vascular resistance, helping to stabilize blood pressure.
How does the structure of villi in the small intestine facilitate nutrient absorption?
✔✔ Villi increase the surface area of the small intestine, allowing for more efficient absorption
of nutrients into the bloodstream.
What is the role of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) in water balance?
4
Answers | Latest Version | 2024/2025 |
Graded A+
Describe the role of surfactant in the respiratory system.
✔✔ Surfactant reduces surface tension within the alveoli, preventing collapse and ensuring
efficient gas exchange during breathing.
How do the kidneys maintain acid-base balance in the body?
✔✔ The kidneys regulate acid-base balance by excreting hydrogen ions and reabsorbing
bicarbonate, helping to maintain blood pH within a narrow range.
What is the function of ciliated epithelial cells in the respiratory tract?
✔✔ Ciliated epithelial cells move mucus and trapped particles out of the airways, helping to
keep the respiratory passages clear of debris.
Explain the role of calcium ions in muscle contraction.
✔✔ Calcium ions bind to troponin, causing a shift in tropomyosin and exposing binding sites on
actin, allowing myosin to attach and initiate muscle contraction.
1
,How does the liver contribute to the regulation of blood glucose levels?
✔✔ The liver stores glucose as glycogen and releases it when blood sugar levels drop,
maintaining homeostasis through glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.
What is the role of chemoreceptors in respiratory control?
✔✔ Chemoreceptors detect changes in blood CO2 levels, pH, and oxygen concentration,
signaling the brain to adjust breathing rate and depth to maintain proper gas exchange.
How does the lymphatic system assist in the absorption of fats?
✔✔ The lymphatic system absorbs dietary fats and fat-soluble vitamins through specialized
lymphatic vessels called lacteals, transporting them to the bloodstream.
Explain the significance of synovial fluid in joint movement.
✔✔ Synovial fluid lubricates and nourishes the cartilage within joints, reducing friction and
allowing smooth, pain-free movement.
How does the hormone erythropoietin regulate red blood cell production?
2
,✔✔ Erythropoietin, produced by the kidneys in response to low oxygen levels, stimulates the
bone marrow to produce more red blood cells to increase oxygen delivery to tissues.
Describe the process of peristalsis in the digestive system.
✔✔ Peristalsis is the rhythmic contraction of smooth muscles in the gastrointestinal tract,
propelling food through the digestive system from the esophagus to the intestines.
What is the function of the pleura in the respiratory system?
✔✔ The pleura is a double-layered membrane surrounding the lungs that reduces friction during
breathing and helps keep the lungs expanded within the thoracic cavity.
How do gap junctions function in cardiac muscle tissue?
✔✔ Gap junctions allow electrical impulses to pass directly between cardiac muscle cells,
enabling coordinated contraction of the heart muscle.
Explain the role of bile in the digestion of fats.
✔✔ Bile emulsifies fats in the small intestine, breaking them into smaller droplets that can be
more easily digested by enzymes like lipase.
3
, What is the significance of the blood-brain barrier in maintaining neural function?
✔✔ The blood-brain barrier protects the brain from harmful substances in the bloodstream while
allowing essential nutrients to pass through, maintaining a stable environment for neural
function.
How does the hypothalamus regulate body temperature?
✔✔ The hypothalamus acts as the body’s thermostat, sensing changes in body temperature and
triggering responses like sweating or shivering to maintain homeostasis.
What role do baroreceptors play in regulating blood pressure?
✔✔ Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure and send signals to the brainstem to adjust
heart rate and vascular resistance, helping to stabilize blood pressure.
How does the structure of villi in the small intestine facilitate nutrient absorption?
✔✔ Villi increase the surface area of the small intestine, allowing for more efficient absorption
of nutrients into the bloodstream.
What is the role of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) in water balance?
4
