Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by
the student?
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 single circular
chromosome called a prokaryote contains free-floating nuclear material but has no
organelles.
REF: p. 2
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 absorb oxygen is referred to as respiration while its
communication ability involves maintenance of a steady dynamic state, metabolic
absorption provides nutrition, and secretion allows for the synthesizing 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. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus Cytoplasm
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of
ribonucleic acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus, which
is located within the cell’s nucleus. Mitochondria is associated with cellular
respiration, while ribosomes are involved with protein manufacturing. Cytoplasm is
a fluid filling that is a component of the cell.
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. Glycoprotein marks cells and does not float.
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
U matrix
alternation in the extracellular S N would
T sOuNp p oRr t t hIe dG
iagnBo.siC
s
ofMmetastatic 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: p. 10
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical
contact?
a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes
nor tight junctions are associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 11
, 8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighboring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following
signaling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling 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 signaling 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
NURSINGTB.COM
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. 16
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
When no oxygen is available, anaerobic glycolysis occurs. The electron-transport
chain is part of the citric acid cycle. Aerobic glycolysis involves the presence of
oxygen. Oxidative phosphorylation is the mechanism by which the energy produced
from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is transferred to ATP. It is not part of muscle
performance.
NURSINGTB.COM
REF: p. 16
14. A faculty member asks a student to identify the appropriate term for the movement
of a solute from an area of greater to lesser concentration. Which answer indicates
the nursing student understood the teaching?
a. Osmosis
b. Diffusion
c. Hydrostatic pressure
d. Active transport
ANS: B
Diffusion is the movement of a solute molecule from an area of greater solute
concentration to an area of lesser solute concentration through a permeable
membrane. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
from a region of higher water concentration to one of lower concentration.
Hydrostatic pressure is the force of fluid against a cell membrane. In active
transport, molecules move up a concentration gradient.
REF: p. 19
15. Which description accurately describes electrolytes?
a. Small lipid-soluble molecules
b. Large protein molecules
c. Micronutrients used to produce ATP
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 6th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by
the student?
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 single circular
chromosome called a prokaryote contains free-floating nuclear material but has no
organelles.
REF: p. 2
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 absorb oxygen is referred to as respiration while its
communication ability involves maintenance of a steady dynamic state, metabolic
absorption provides nutrition, and secretion allows for the synthesizing 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. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus Cytoplasm
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of
ribonucleic acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus, which
is located within the cell’s nucleus. Mitochondria is associated with cellular
respiration, while ribosomes are involved with protein manufacturing. Cytoplasm is
a fluid filling that is a component of the cell.
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. Glycoprotein marks cells and does not float.
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
U matrix
alternation in the extracellular S N would
T sOuNp p oRr t t hIe dG
iagnBo.siC
s
ofMmetastatic 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: p. 10
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical
contact?
a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes
nor tight junctions are associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 11
, 8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighboring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following
signaling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling 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 signaling 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
NURSINGTB.COM
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. 16
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
When no oxygen is available, anaerobic glycolysis occurs. The electron-transport
chain is part of the citric acid cycle. Aerobic glycolysis involves the presence of
oxygen. Oxidative phosphorylation is the mechanism by which the energy produced
from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is transferred to ATP. It is not part of muscle
performance.
NURSINGTB.COM
REF: p. 16
14. A faculty member asks a student to identify the appropriate term for the movement
of a solute from an area of greater to lesser concentration. Which answer indicates
the nursing student understood the teaching?
a. Osmosis
b. Diffusion
c. Hydrostatic pressure
d. Active transport
ANS: B
Diffusion is the movement of a solute molecule from an area of greater solute
concentration to an area of lesser solute concentration through a permeable
membrane. Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane
from a region of higher water concentration to one of lower concentration.
Hydrostatic pressure is the force of fluid against a cell membrane. In active
transport, molecules move up a concentration gradient.
REF: p. 19
15. Which description accurately describes electrolytes?
a. Small lipid-soluble molecules
b. Large protein molecules
c. Micronutrients used to produce ATP
