NBDE part 1- physiology Exam 2025
Questions and Answers
Rods (photoreceptor) - 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) - 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 - 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 - ANSWER✔✔-a relay center in the thalamus for the visual
pathway. optic nerves travel via the geniculocalcarine tract to the occipital cortex.
myopia - ANSWER✔✔-nearsightedness. can see close things fine. eyeball is too long.
hyperopia - ANSWER✔✔-farsightedness. can see far things fine. eyeball is too short.
, astigmatism - ANSWER✔✔-curvature of the lens is not uniform
presbyopia - ANSWER✔✔-loss of lens elasticity with advancing age. eye cannot focus
sharply on nearby objects.
rickets - ANSWER✔✔-softening and weakening of bones in children (vitamin D
deficiency)
Osteomalacia - ANSWER✔✔-softening and weakening of bones in adults (vitamin D
deficiency).
Vitamin E - 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 - 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 - ANSWER✔✔-Complete loss of taste
Dysgeusia - ANSWER✔✔-Disturbed sense of taste.
Is taste ipsilateral or contralateral? - ANSWER✔✔-IPSILATERAL
anosmia - ANSWER✔✔-absence of smell.
Questions and Answers
Rods (photoreceptor) - 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) - 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 - 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 - ANSWER✔✔-a relay center in the thalamus for the visual
pathway. optic nerves travel via the geniculocalcarine tract to the occipital cortex.
myopia - ANSWER✔✔-nearsightedness. can see close things fine. eyeball is too long.
hyperopia - ANSWER✔✔-farsightedness. can see far things fine. eyeball is too short.
, astigmatism - ANSWER✔✔-curvature of the lens is not uniform
presbyopia - ANSWER✔✔-loss of lens elasticity with advancing age. eye cannot focus
sharply on nearby objects.
rickets - ANSWER✔✔-softening and weakening of bones in children (vitamin D
deficiency)
Osteomalacia - ANSWER✔✔-softening and weakening of bones in adults (vitamin D
deficiency).
Vitamin E - 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 - 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 - ANSWER✔✔-Complete loss of taste
Dysgeusia - ANSWER✔✔-Disturbed sense of taste.
Is taste ipsilateral or contralateral? - ANSWER✔✔-IPSILATERAL
anosmia - ANSWER✔✔-absence of smell.
