COMSAE Phase 1 Form 114 Exam
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A 24-year-old man develops recurrent episodes of wheezing, chest
tightness, and cough that worsen at night. Pulmonary function testing
shows reversible airway obstruction. Which mediator is most
responsible for the acute bronchoconstriction seen in this condition?
A. Interleukin-2
B. Interferon-gamma
C. Leukotriene D4
D. Tumor necrosis factor-beta
Leukotriene D4 is a potent bronchoconstrictor released by mast cells during
allergic asthma attacks and contributes significantly to airway narrowing
and mucus production.
, 2. A researcher studies a patient with a mutation preventing conversion
of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. Which enzyme complex is deficient?
A. Isocitrate dehydrogenase
B. Pyruvate kinase
C. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
D. Citrate synthase
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex catalyzes the irreversible conversion
of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.
3. A 67-year-old woman develops sudden right-sided weakness and
aphasia. Occlusion of which vessel is most likely responsible?
A. Posterior cerebral artery
B. Anterior cerebral artery
C. Left middle cerebral artery
D. Basilar artery
The dominant hemisphere middle cerebral artery supplies Broca and
Wernicke language areas as well as motor cortex controlling the face and
upper extremity.
4. A patient presents with fatigue and pallor. Laboratory testing reveals
microcytic hypochromic anemia with low ferritin. Which diagnosis is
most likely?
,A. Thalassemia major
B. Sideroblastic anemia
C. Anemia of chronic disease
D. Iron deficiency anemia
Low ferritin is highly suggestive of iron deficiency anemia because ferritin
reflects body iron stores.
5. Which embryologic structure gives rise to the thyroid follicular cells?
A. Fourth pharyngeal pouch
B. Neural crest cells
C. Third pharyngeal pouch
D. Endoderm of the primitive pharynx
Thyroid follicular cells arise from endodermal tissue in the floor of the
primitive pharynx, while parafollicular cells originate from neural crest
derivatives.
6. A 6-year-old child has recurrent respiratory infections and absent
thymic shadow on chest radiograph. Failure of development of which
pharyngeal pouch is most likely?
A. First pouch
B. Second pouch
, C. Third pouch
D. Fourth pouch
The third pharyngeal pouch forms the thymus and inferior parathyroids;
developmental failure results in thymic aplasia.
7. A patient develops nephrotic syndrome characterized by diffuse foot
process effacement on electron microscopy. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Membranous nephropathy
B. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
C. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
D. Minimal change disease
Minimal change disease is characterized by podocyte foot process
effacement and often responds well to corticosteroids.
8. Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine
C. GABA
D. Dopamine
Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leads to
dopamine deficiency and the motor symptoms of Parkinson disease.
Practice Questions And Correct Answers
(Verified Answers) Plus Rationales 2026
Q&A | Instant Download Pdf
1. A 24-year-old man develops recurrent episodes of wheezing, chest
tightness, and cough that worsen at night. Pulmonary function testing
shows reversible airway obstruction. Which mediator is most
responsible for the acute bronchoconstriction seen in this condition?
A. Interleukin-2
B. Interferon-gamma
C. Leukotriene D4
D. Tumor necrosis factor-beta
Leukotriene D4 is a potent bronchoconstrictor released by mast cells during
allergic asthma attacks and contributes significantly to airway narrowing
and mucus production.
, 2. A researcher studies a patient with a mutation preventing conversion
of pyruvate to acetyl-CoA. Which enzyme complex is deficient?
A. Isocitrate dehydrogenase
B. Pyruvate kinase
C. Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex
D. Citrate synthase
The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex catalyzes the irreversible conversion
of pyruvate into acetyl-CoA, linking glycolysis to the citric acid cycle.
3. A 67-year-old woman develops sudden right-sided weakness and
aphasia. Occlusion of which vessel is most likely responsible?
A. Posterior cerebral artery
B. Anterior cerebral artery
C. Left middle cerebral artery
D. Basilar artery
The dominant hemisphere middle cerebral artery supplies Broca and
Wernicke language areas as well as motor cortex controlling the face and
upper extremity.
4. A patient presents with fatigue and pallor. Laboratory testing reveals
microcytic hypochromic anemia with low ferritin. Which diagnosis is
most likely?
,A. Thalassemia major
B. Sideroblastic anemia
C. Anemia of chronic disease
D. Iron deficiency anemia
Low ferritin is highly suggestive of iron deficiency anemia because ferritin
reflects body iron stores.
5. Which embryologic structure gives rise to the thyroid follicular cells?
A. Fourth pharyngeal pouch
B. Neural crest cells
C. Third pharyngeal pouch
D. Endoderm of the primitive pharynx
Thyroid follicular cells arise from endodermal tissue in the floor of the
primitive pharynx, while parafollicular cells originate from neural crest
derivatives.
6. A 6-year-old child has recurrent respiratory infections and absent
thymic shadow on chest radiograph. Failure of development of which
pharyngeal pouch is most likely?
A. First pouch
B. Second pouch
, C. Third pouch
D. Fourth pouch
The third pharyngeal pouch forms the thymus and inferior parathyroids;
developmental failure results in thymic aplasia.
7. A patient develops nephrotic syndrome characterized by diffuse foot
process effacement on electron microscopy. What is the most likely
diagnosis?
A. Membranous nephropathy
B. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
C. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
D. Minimal change disease
Minimal change disease is characterized by podocyte foot process
effacement and often responds well to corticosteroids.
8. Which neurotransmitter is deficient in Parkinson disease?
A. Serotonin
B. Acetylcholine
C. GABA
D. Dopamine
Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra leads to
dopamine deficiency and the motor symptoms of Parkinson disease.
