NBDE part 1- physiology UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Rods (photoreceptor) - CORRECT ANSWER - responsible for night vision. contain
rhodopsin. Located mostly at the periphery of the retina. Rods are more abundant and have
higher sensitivity/lower acuity compared to cones.
Cones (photoreceptor) - CORRECT ANSWER - responsible for day vision and color. Three
types of color- red, green, blue. located in the center of the retina, especially in the fovea (area
where visual acuity is the highest)
photopigments - CORRECT ANSWER - photopigments, such as rhodopsin, are made of an
opsin (protein) bound to a Retinal compound (responsible for color). Retinal is made from
vitamin A and that's why they say Vitamin A is good for vision.
lateral geniculate nucleus - CORRECT ANSWER - a relay center in the thalamus for the
visual pathway. optic nerves travel via the geniculocalcarine tract to the occipital cortex.
myopia - CORRECT ANSWER - nearsightedness. can see close things fine. eyeball is too
long.
hyperopia - CORRECT ANSWER - farsightedness. can see far things fine. eyeball is too
short.
astigmatism - CORRECT ANSWER - curvature of the lens is not uniform
presbyopia - CORRECT ANSWER - loss of lens elasticity with advancing age. eye cannot
focus sharply on nearby objects.
, rickets - CORRECT ANSWER - softening and weakening of bones in children (vitamin D
deficiency)
Osteomalacia - CORRECT ANSWER - softening and weakening of bones in adults (vitamin
D deficiency).
Vitamin E - CORRECT ANSWER - antioxidant. least toxic of the fat soluble vitamins.
deficiency in vitamin E causes neurologic dysfunction in premature infants. almonds and spinach
are a source of vitamin E.
Von Ebner's Glands - CORRECT ANSWER - Minor glands associated with circumvallate
taste buds and that have serous secretions. (Von Ebner is serious). These glands also secrete
lingual lipase which helps with lipid hydrolysis, essential for taste.
Ageusia - CORRECT ANSWER - Complete loss of taste
Dysgeusia - CORRECT ANSWER - Disturbed sense of taste.
Is taste ipsilateral or contralateral? - CORRECT ANSWER - IPSILATERAL
anosmia - CORRECT ANSWER - absence of smell.
This can be from a common cold or allergic reaction or possibly from kallman syndrome, a
condition characterized by delayed or absent puberty and impaired sense of smell.
hyposmia - CORRECT ANSWER - diminished smell
dysosmia - CORRECT ANSWER - distorted smell
myosin - CORRECT ANSWER - thick filaments.
light meromyosin- makes up the rod like backbone of myosin filaments.
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
Rods (photoreceptor) - CORRECT ANSWER - responsible for night vision. contain
rhodopsin. Located mostly at the periphery of the retina. Rods are more abundant and have
higher sensitivity/lower acuity compared to cones.
Cones (photoreceptor) - CORRECT ANSWER - responsible for day vision and color. Three
types of color- red, green, blue. located in the center of the retina, especially in the fovea (area
where visual acuity is the highest)
photopigments - CORRECT ANSWER - photopigments, such as rhodopsin, are made of an
opsin (protein) bound to a Retinal compound (responsible for color). Retinal is made from
vitamin A and that's why they say Vitamin A is good for vision.
lateral geniculate nucleus - CORRECT ANSWER - a relay center in the thalamus for the
visual pathway. optic nerves travel via the geniculocalcarine tract to the occipital cortex.
myopia - CORRECT ANSWER - nearsightedness. can see close things fine. eyeball is too
long.
hyperopia - CORRECT ANSWER - farsightedness. can see far things fine. eyeball is too
short.
astigmatism - CORRECT ANSWER - curvature of the lens is not uniform
presbyopia - CORRECT ANSWER - loss of lens elasticity with advancing age. eye cannot
focus sharply on nearby objects.
, rickets - CORRECT ANSWER - softening and weakening of bones in children (vitamin D
deficiency)
Osteomalacia - CORRECT ANSWER - softening and weakening of bones in adults (vitamin
D deficiency).
Vitamin E - CORRECT ANSWER - antioxidant. least toxic of the fat soluble vitamins.
deficiency in vitamin E causes neurologic dysfunction in premature infants. almonds and spinach
are a source of vitamin E.
Von Ebner's Glands - CORRECT ANSWER - Minor glands associated with circumvallate
taste buds and that have serous secretions. (Von Ebner is serious). These glands also secrete
lingual lipase which helps with lipid hydrolysis, essential for taste.
Ageusia - CORRECT ANSWER - Complete loss of taste
Dysgeusia - CORRECT ANSWER - Disturbed sense of taste.
Is taste ipsilateral or contralateral? - CORRECT ANSWER - IPSILATERAL
anosmia - CORRECT ANSWER - absence of smell.
This can be from a common cold or allergic reaction or possibly from kallman syndrome, a
condition characterized by delayed or absent puberty and impaired sense of smell.
hyposmia - CORRECT ANSWER - diminished smell
dysosmia - CORRECT ANSWER - distorted smell
myosin - CORRECT ANSWER - thick filaments.
light meromyosin- makes up the rod like backbone of myosin filaments.
