FUNDAMENTALS OF ANATOMY AND
PHYSIOLOGY
12TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)FREDERIC H. MARTINI;
JUDI L. NATH; EDWIN F.
BARTHOLOMEW
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Levels of Organization — Cellular → Tissue → Organ →
System
Stem
A student observes that exposure to a toxin destroys a small
population of hepatocytes (liver cells). Over the next week the
liver’s ability to metabolize a medication declines, but the
organ’s gross shape is unchanged. Which reasoning best
,explains how a cellular-level injury produces organ-level
functional change without immediate change in gross anatomy?
Options
A. Loss of hepatocytes disrupts normal tissue organization and
reduces functional cell mass, lowering metabolic capacity.
B. Cells die but parenchymal tissue is quickly replaced by
connective tissue, so function declines even though shape
remains.
C. The circulatory system compensates by increasing flow,
keeping organ function stable despite cell loss.
D. Loss of a few hepatocytes is clinically irrelevant; measured
changes are due to lab error.
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Damage to hepatocytes reduces the number of
functional cells performing metabolic reactions. Structure
(cellular enzyme systems) supports hepatic function; loss of
functional cell mass lowers organ-level metabolism before any
change in gross shape. This explains organ dysfunction arising
from cellular-level injury.
Incorrect (B): Rapid replacement by connective tissue (fibrosis)
would alter tissue texture and eventually gross anatomy; it is
not the immediate response to small-scale hepatocyte loss.
Incorrect (C): Increased blood flow cannot substitute for lost
cellular metabolic machinery; perfusion alone doesn’t restore
,enzymatic capacity.
Incorrect (D): Dismissing the change as lab error ignores
plausible structure–function mechanisms and student
observation.
Teaching Point
Organ function depends on integrated cellular function; gross
anatomy can remain unchanged early.
Citation
Martini, F. H., Nath, J. L., & Bartholomew, E. F. (2024).
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (12th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Levels of Organization — Tissue interactions
Stem
A physiology lab asks students to predict why skeletal muscle
damage often produces localized swelling and limited joint
motion. Use structure–function reasoning to justify how tissue-
level responses to muscle injury alter organ and system
performance.
Options
A. Injury to muscle cells triggers inflammation; increased
interstitial fluid and connective tissue changes reduce
contractile excursion.
B. Muscle damage causes immediate bone remodeling that
, restricts joint motion.
C. Damaged muscle cells secrete neurotransmitters that
permanently paralyze nearby nerves.
D. Muscle injury causes systemic dehydration leading to
reduced synovial fluid and joint stiffness.
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Muscle injury provokes an inflammatory
response—vascular permeability increases, fluid and immune
cells accumulate, and damaged fibers and connective tissue
changes reduce the muscle’s ability to contract and shorten,
limiting joint range of motion. This links tissue inflammation to
organ/system performance.
Incorrect (B): Bone remodeling is a long-term process and is not
the immediate cause of post-injury motion limitation.
Incorrect (C): Muscle cells do not secrete neurotransmitters that
permanently paralyze nerves; nerve injury has different
mechanisms.
Incorrect (D): Local swelling is due to increased interstitial fluid,
not systemic dehydration reducing synovial fluid.
Teaching Point
Inflammation alters tissue mechanics and quickly affects
organ/system function.
PHYSIOLOGY
12TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)FREDERIC H. MARTINI;
JUDI L. NATH; EDWIN F.
BARTHOLOMEW
TEST BANK
1
Reference
Ch. 1 — Levels of Organization — Cellular → Tissue → Organ →
System
Stem
A student observes that exposure to a toxin destroys a small
population of hepatocytes (liver cells). Over the next week the
liver’s ability to metabolize a medication declines, but the
organ’s gross shape is unchanged. Which reasoning best
,explains how a cellular-level injury produces organ-level
functional change without immediate change in gross anatomy?
Options
A. Loss of hepatocytes disrupts normal tissue organization and
reduces functional cell mass, lowering metabolic capacity.
B. Cells die but parenchymal tissue is quickly replaced by
connective tissue, so function declines even though shape
remains.
C. The circulatory system compensates by increasing flow,
keeping organ function stable despite cell loss.
D. Loss of a few hepatocytes is clinically irrelevant; measured
changes are due to lab error.
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Damage to hepatocytes reduces the number of
functional cells performing metabolic reactions. Structure
(cellular enzyme systems) supports hepatic function; loss of
functional cell mass lowers organ-level metabolism before any
change in gross shape. This explains organ dysfunction arising
from cellular-level injury.
Incorrect (B): Rapid replacement by connective tissue (fibrosis)
would alter tissue texture and eventually gross anatomy; it is
not the immediate response to small-scale hepatocyte loss.
Incorrect (C): Increased blood flow cannot substitute for lost
cellular metabolic machinery; perfusion alone doesn’t restore
,enzymatic capacity.
Incorrect (D): Dismissing the change as lab error ignores
plausible structure–function mechanisms and student
observation.
Teaching Point
Organ function depends on integrated cellular function; gross
anatomy can remain unchanged early.
Citation
Martini, F. H., Nath, J. L., & Bartholomew, E. F. (2024).
Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology (12th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference
Ch. 1 — Levels of Organization — Tissue interactions
Stem
A physiology lab asks students to predict why skeletal muscle
damage often produces localized swelling and limited joint
motion. Use structure–function reasoning to justify how tissue-
level responses to muscle injury alter organ and system
performance.
Options
A. Injury to muscle cells triggers inflammation; increased
interstitial fluid and connective tissue changes reduce
contractile excursion.
B. Muscle damage causes immediate bone remodeling that
, restricts joint motion.
C. Damaged muscle cells secrete neurotransmitters that
permanently paralyze nearby nerves.
D. Muscle injury causes systemic dehydration leading to
reduced synovial fluid and joint stiffness.
Correct Answer
A
Rationales
Correct (A): Muscle injury provokes an inflammatory
response—vascular permeability increases, fluid and immune
cells accumulate, and damaged fibers and connective tissue
changes reduce the muscle’s ability to contract and shorten,
limiting joint range of motion. This links tissue inflammation to
organ/system performance.
Incorrect (B): Bone remodeling is a long-term process and is not
the immediate cause of post-injury motion limitation.
Incorrect (C): Muscle cells do not secrete neurotransmitters that
permanently paralyze nerves; nerve injury has different
mechanisms.
Incorrect (D): Local swelling is due to increased interstitial fluid,
not systemic dehydration reducing synovial fluid.
Teaching Point
Inflammation alters tissue mechanics and quickly affects
organ/system function.
