Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Huether: Understanding Pathophysiology, First Canadian Edition
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
Huether: Understanding Pathophysiology, First Canadian Edition
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
