NURS 534 ADVANCED PHYSIOLOGY FINAL PAPER 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔This organelle generates the majority of the cellular supply of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP).
• The _____ has a double membrane; during oxidative phosphorylation, electrons are
transferred to electron donors and acceptors (e.g., oxygen). These reactions release
energy (ATP).
• The __________ has an independent genome, and mutations in mitochondrial genes
have been associated with a variety of human diseases
Mitochondria = powerhouse of the cell, site of oxidative phosphorylation
Kreb Cycle creates ATP, occurs in mitochondria
Glycolysis also creates ATP, occurs in cytoplasm
Mitochondria has shared genetic information with prokaryotes
The mitochondrion has an independent genome, and mutations in mitochondrial genes
have been associated with a variety of human diseases
Predominantly passed on maternally - ✔✔Metochondria (metochondrion)
✔✔• Actin filaments (i.e., microfilaments) - components of the contractile apparatus
• Intermediate filaments (e.g., keratin filaments, neurofilaments)
• Microtubules - important for intracellular transport, support the movement of
chromosomes during mitosis, and allow the movement of cilia and flagella. -
✔✔Cytoskeleton
✔✔2. Describe the extracellular matrix (ECM) in terms of structure and function -
✔✔Collagen is an important protein of the ECM; collagen is synthesized by fibroblasts.
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs): integrins, cadherins, and selectins
Elastin: an elastic protein in connective tissue that allows tissues to maintain shape
during contractions/stretching.
Skin, heart, other important structures
Fibronectin: a glycoprotein that binds to receptors on the membrane (integrins) and to
collagen
Important in cell adhesion and growth differentiation.
Activate intracellular signaling pathways
✔✔• Collagen is an important protein of the ECM; collagen is synthesized by fibroblasts.
• Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs): integrins, cadherins, and selectins
• Elastin: an elastic protein in connective tissue that allows tissues to maintain shape
during contractions/ stretching.
, • Fibronectin: a glycoprotein that binds to receptors on the membrane (integrins) and to
collagen; important in cell adhesion and growth differentiation.
Slide #6 - ✔✔Components of the extracellular matrix (ECM)
✔✔What are the Physical connections among cells?
•_____ Two adjacent cells are attached and linked by cell adhesion proteins; this fibrous
connect permits stretch (e.g., skin, smooth muscle).
• ______ Two cells are closely associated because their membranes join together (but it
impedes the passages of molecules between the cells).
• ______ the cytoplasm of two cells are directly connected; ions (and electrical
impulses) pass between the cells. - ✔✔Desmosomes:
two adjacent cells are attached and linked by cell adhesion proteins; this fibrous
connect permits stretch (e.g., skin, smooth muscle)
Tight junctions:two cells are closely associated because their membranes join together
(but it impedes the passages of molecules between the cells)
Membranes join together but do not share cytosol
Like a snowperson (two big snowballs next to each other)
Gap junctions
✔✔• ______ occur with "passive" electrical activity (movement of sodium (Na+),
potassium (K+), chloride (Cl‐ ) across the plasma membrane).
• ________ result in small, transient changes in membrane potential.
• _______vary in terms of their strength and duration, and the signal will not travel very
far (the graded potential degrades over time and space). Later (Weeks 5 and 6) we will
contrast this with action potentials.
• Action potential represent greater changes in the electrical properties of the
membrane, and these signals travel a much longer distance.
Slide#7 - ✔✔Graded potentials
✔✔• The membrane is comprised of cholesterol, phospholipids, and proteins. The lipids
repel the entry of water and water‐soluble molecules.
• There are profound differences between the intracellular and extracellular ion
concentrations.
• The intracellular structures are also enclosed in membranes (e.g., mitochondria,
lysosome).
• The membrane also contains aquaporins,which are specialized water channels.
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔This organelle generates the majority of the cellular supply of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP).
• The _____ has a double membrane; during oxidative phosphorylation, electrons are
transferred to electron donors and acceptors (e.g., oxygen). These reactions release
energy (ATP).
• The __________ has an independent genome, and mutations in mitochondrial genes
have been associated with a variety of human diseases
Mitochondria = powerhouse of the cell, site of oxidative phosphorylation
Kreb Cycle creates ATP, occurs in mitochondria
Glycolysis also creates ATP, occurs in cytoplasm
Mitochondria has shared genetic information with prokaryotes
The mitochondrion has an independent genome, and mutations in mitochondrial genes
have been associated with a variety of human diseases
Predominantly passed on maternally - ✔✔Metochondria (metochondrion)
✔✔• Actin filaments (i.e., microfilaments) - components of the contractile apparatus
• Intermediate filaments (e.g., keratin filaments, neurofilaments)
• Microtubules - important for intracellular transport, support the movement of
chromosomes during mitosis, and allow the movement of cilia and flagella. -
✔✔Cytoskeleton
✔✔2. Describe the extracellular matrix (ECM) in terms of structure and function -
✔✔Collagen is an important protein of the ECM; collagen is synthesized by fibroblasts.
Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs): integrins, cadherins, and selectins
Elastin: an elastic protein in connective tissue that allows tissues to maintain shape
during contractions/stretching.
Skin, heart, other important structures
Fibronectin: a glycoprotein that binds to receptors on the membrane (integrins) and to
collagen
Important in cell adhesion and growth differentiation.
Activate intracellular signaling pathways
✔✔• Collagen is an important protein of the ECM; collagen is synthesized by fibroblasts.
• Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs): integrins, cadherins, and selectins
• Elastin: an elastic protein in connective tissue that allows tissues to maintain shape
during contractions/ stretching.
, • Fibronectin: a glycoprotein that binds to receptors on the membrane (integrins) and to
collagen; important in cell adhesion and growth differentiation.
Slide #6 - ✔✔Components of the extracellular matrix (ECM)
✔✔What are the Physical connections among cells?
•_____ Two adjacent cells are attached and linked by cell adhesion proteins; this fibrous
connect permits stretch (e.g., skin, smooth muscle).
• ______ Two cells are closely associated because their membranes join together (but it
impedes the passages of molecules between the cells).
• ______ the cytoplasm of two cells are directly connected; ions (and electrical
impulses) pass between the cells. - ✔✔Desmosomes:
two adjacent cells are attached and linked by cell adhesion proteins; this fibrous
connect permits stretch (e.g., skin, smooth muscle)
Tight junctions:two cells are closely associated because their membranes join together
(but it impedes the passages of molecules between the cells)
Membranes join together but do not share cytosol
Like a snowperson (two big snowballs next to each other)
Gap junctions
✔✔• ______ occur with "passive" electrical activity (movement of sodium (Na+),
potassium (K+), chloride (Cl‐ ) across the plasma membrane).
• ________ result in small, transient changes in membrane potential.
• _______vary in terms of their strength and duration, and the signal will not travel very
far (the graded potential degrades over time and space). Later (Weeks 5 and 6) we will
contrast this with action potentials.
• Action potential represent greater changes in the electrical properties of the
membrane, and these signals travel a much longer distance.
Slide#7 - ✔✔Graded potentials
✔✔• The membrane is comprised of cholesterol, phospholipids, and proteins. The lipids
repel the entry of water and water‐soluble molecules.
• There are profound differences between the intracellular and extracellular ion
concentrations.
• The intracellular structures are also enclosed in membranes (e.g., mitochondria,
lysosome).
• The membrane also contains aquaporins,which are specialized water channels.
