USABO-Review Questions and
Complete Solutions Graded A+
insterstitial fluid - Answer: fluid located between cells and among tissues
cuboidal epithelium - Answer: cube shaped epithelial cells that function in secretion, and are located in
various endocrine glands
simple columnar epithelium - Answer: lines intestines, secretes digestive juices and absorbs nutrients,
one cell thick
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium - Answer: forms a mucous membrane in portions of the
respiratory tract; contains cilia that move the film of mucous
stratified squamous epithelium - Answer: regenerates cells rapidly at the basal lamina, located in areas
of abrasion (anus, vagina, skin, linings of esophagus)
simple squamous epithelium - Answer: thin and leaky, located at sites of diffusion (alveoli and blood
vessels)
basal lamina - Answer: a mat of extracellular matrix that separates an organ from epithelial tissue
lumen - Answer: cavity, external area around organ
loose connective tissue - Answer: connects organs/tissues to epithelium
cartilage - Answer: connective tissue that is sturdy, but softer and more flexible than bone
chondroitin sulfate - Answer: a rubbery matrix made of a protein-carbohydrate complex located in
cartilage
,chondrocytes - Answer: cells in cartilage that secrete collagen chondroitin sulfate
fibrous connective tissue - Answer: includes tendons and ligaments, made of fibers in parallel bundles,
which maximize non-elastic strength
adipose tissue - Answer: tissue that protects, insulates, and cushions the body, holds fat in adipose cells
which contain fat droplets that can grow and shrink
bone - Answer: mineralized connective tissue; contain a matrix of bone with which calcium, magnesium,
and phosphate ions combine to form a mineral
osteoblasts - Answer: secretes matrix of collagen in bone
osteons - Answer: repeating units inside bone, contain concentric layers of mineralized collagen
wrapped around blood vessels and nerves
fibroblasts - Answer: cells of connective tissue that secrete the protein ingredients
macrophages - Answer: engulf foreign particles and debris through phagocytosis
collagenous fibers - Answer: made of collagen, nonelastic and do not tear easily
reticular fibers - Answer: made of collagen, joins connective tissue to adjacent tissues, continuous with
collagenous fibers
elastic fibers - Answer: made of elastin, easily stretched but bounce back to original shape
sarcomeres - Answer: repeating units in muscles
,glial cells or glia - Answer: located in nervous tissue; nourish, insulate, and replenish neurons
regulator - Answer: manages internal conditions to combat changes caused by external conditions
conformer - Answer: allows internal conditions to conform to external conditions
normal range (of a variable - homeostasis) - Answer: range for which action is taken to maintain
homeostasis
acclimatization - Answer: when an animal changes certain aspects of its metabolism, behavior, etc. to
temporarily conform to changing external conditions
endothermic (animal) - Answer: maintain the temperature inside the body through their internal
metabolism
ectothermic (animal) - Answer: gain their heat from external sources, do not perform internal
mechanisms to maintain temperature
poikilotherm - Answer: animal whose body temperature varies with its environment
homeotherm - Answer: animal whose body temperature does not vary with its environment
radiation - Answer: emission of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves
evaporation - Answer: removal of heat along with liquid being turned into gas
convection - Answer: transfer of hear by the movement of air or liquid past a surface
conduction - Answer: the direct transfer of heat between objects in direct contact
, vasodilation - Answer: increasing the diameter of blood vessels as to bring it closer to the surface of the
body and warm it
vasoconstriction - Answer: decreasing the diameter of blood vessels as to take it farther away from the
surface of the body and cool it
countercurrent exchange - Answer: the flow of adjacent fluids in opposing directions that maximizes
transfer rates of heat or solutes
thermogenesis - Answer: heat production
non-shivering thermogenesis - Answer: heat production without moving
brown fat - Answer: tissue specialized for heat production
hypothalamus - Answer: part of the brain that acts like a thermostat for the body, controlling the
internal mechanisms that control internal temperature
bio-energetics - Answer: the overall flow and transformation of energy in an animal
metabolic rate - Answer: the sum of all the energy-requiring biochemical reactions over a given time
interval
basal metabolic rate (BMR) - Answer: in an endotherm, the minimum metabolic rate at rest with an
empty stomach without any stress
standard metabolic rate (SMR) - Answer: in an ectotherm, the minimum metabolic rate when resting,
nonstressed, and fasting
torpor - Answer: a physiological state in which activity is low and metabolism decreases
Complete Solutions Graded A+
insterstitial fluid - Answer: fluid located between cells and among tissues
cuboidal epithelium - Answer: cube shaped epithelial cells that function in secretion, and are located in
various endocrine glands
simple columnar epithelium - Answer: lines intestines, secretes digestive juices and absorbs nutrients,
one cell thick
pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium - Answer: forms a mucous membrane in portions of the
respiratory tract; contains cilia that move the film of mucous
stratified squamous epithelium - Answer: regenerates cells rapidly at the basal lamina, located in areas
of abrasion (anus, vagina, skin, linings of esophagus)
simple squamous epithelium - Answer: thin and leaky, located at sites of diffusion (alveoli and blood
vessels)
basal lamina - Answer: a mat of extracellular matrix that separates an organ from epithelial tissue
lumen - Answer: cavity, external area around organ
loose connective tissue - Answer: connects organs/tissues to epithelium
cartilage - Answer: connective tissue that is sturdy, but softer and more flexible than bone
chondroitin sulfate - Answer: a rubbery matrix made of a protein-carbohydrate complex located in
cartilage
,chondrocytes - Answer: cells in cartilage that secrete collagen chondroitin sulfate
fibrous connective tissue - Answer: includes tendons and ligaments, made of fibers in parallel bundles,
which maximize non-elastic strength
adipose tissue - Answer: tissue that protects, insulates, and cushions the body, holds fat in adipose cells
which contain fat droplets that can grow and shrink
bone - Answer: mineralized connective tissue; contain a matrix of bone with which calcium, magnesium,
and phosphate ions combine to form a mineral
osteoblasts - Answer: secretes matrix of collagen in bone
osteons - Answer: repeating units inside bone, contain concentric layers of mineralized collagen
wrapped around blood vessels and nerves
fibroblasts - Answer: cells of connective tissue that secrete the protein ingredients
macrophages - Answer: engulf foreign particles and debris through phagocytosis
collagenous fibers - Answer: made of collagen, nonelastic and do not tear easily
reticular fibers - Answer: made of collagen, joins connective tissue to adjacent tissues, continuous with
collagenous fibers
elastic fibers - Answer: made of elastin, easily stretched but bounce back to original shape
sarcomeres - Answer: repeating units in muscles
,glial cells or glia - Answer: located in nervous tissue; nourish, insulate, and replenish neurons
regulator - Answer: manages internal conditions to combat changes caused by external conditions
conformer - Answer: allows internal conditions to conform to external conditions
normal range (of a variable - homeostasis) - Answer: range for which action is taken to maintain
homeostasis
acclimatization - Answer: when an animal changes certain aspects of its metabolism, behavior, etc. to
temporarily conform to changing external conditions
endothermic (animal) - Answer: maintain the temperature inside the body through their internal
metabolism
ectothermic (animal) - Answer: gain their heat from external sources, do not perform internal
mechanisms to maintain temperature
poikilotherm - Answer: animal whose body temperature varies with its environment
homeotherm - Answer: animal whose body temperature does not vary with its environment
radiation - Answer: emission of heat in the form of electromagnetic waves
evaporation - Answer: removal of heat along with liquid being turned into gas
convection - Answer: transfer of hear by the movement of air or liquid past a surface
conduction - Answer: the direct transfer of heat between objects in direct contact
, vasodilation - Answer: increasing the diameter of blood vessels as to bring it closer to the surface of the
body and warm it
vasoconstriction - Answer: decreasing the diameter of blood vessels as to take it farther away from the
surface of the body and cool it
countercurrent exchange - Answer: the flow of adjacent fluids in opposing directions that maximizes
transfer rates of heat or solutes
thermogenesis - Answer: heat production
non-shivering thermogenesis - Answer: heat production without moving
brown fat - Answer: tissue specialized for heat production
hypothalamus - Answer: part of the brain that acts like a thermostat for the body, controlling the
internal mechanisms that control internal temperature
bio-energetics - Answer: the overall flow and transformation of energy in an animal
metabolic rate - Answer: the sum of all the energy-requiring biochemical reactions over a given time
interval
basal metabolic rate (BMR) - Answer: in an endotherm, the minimum metabolic rate at rest with an
empty stomach without any stress
standard metabolic rate (SMR) - Answer: in an ectotherm, the minimum metabolic rate when resting,
nonstressed, and fasting
torpor - Answer: a physiological state in which activity is low and metabolism decreases
