Huether and McCance's
Understanding Pathophysiology
Canadian Edition, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER NO. 01: CELLULAR BIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Q-1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. The student notices it to
have supercoiled DNA with histones. What else would the student be expected to observe?
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 nu-
cleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed. A prokaryotic cell contains a single circular
chromosome and lacks organelles.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Nucleus TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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 produce energy is respiration. Communication involves maintenance of a
steady dynamic state, while metabolic absorption provides cellular nutrition, and secretion
allows for the delivery or release of new substances.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Functions
TOP: Physiological Integrity
, Q-3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell
would most of the genetic information be contained?
a. Peroxisomes
b. Ribosomes
c. The nucleolus
d. Suspended in nucleoplasm
ANS: D
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, is the nucleoplasm contained within the
nucleus. The nucleolus, contained within the nucleus, is largely composed of ribosomes. Pe-
roxisomes contain digestive enzymes.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Nucleus TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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. Glycoproteins act
as cell identifiers.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Membrane Composition
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Receptors
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What al-
ternation in the extracellular matrix would support the diagnosis of metastatic 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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Extracellular Matrix
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-7. What type of connection allows for cellular communication?
a. Belt desmosome
b. Gap junction
c. Spot desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: B
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes nor tight
junctions are associated with cellular communication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Specialized Cells Junction
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighbouring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signalling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
, d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signalling 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 glu-
cagon. None of the other options involve signalling that is associated with a local chemical
mediator like insulin.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Communication and Signal Transduction
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Metabolism
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-10. An athlete runs a marathon, after which their 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 in-
volved in muscle contraction.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Role of Adenosine Triphosphate
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Understanding Pathophysiology
Canadian Edition, 2nd Edition
CHAPTER NO. 01: CELLULAR BIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION AND ANSWERS
Q-1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. The student notices it to
have supercoiled DNA with histones. What else would the student be expected to observe?
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 nu-
cleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed. A prokaryotic cell contains a single circular
chromosome and lacks organelles.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Nucleus TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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 produce energy is respiration. Communication involves maintenance of a
steady dynamic state, while metabolic absorption provides cellular nutrition, and secretion
allows for the delivery or release of new substances.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Functions
TOP: Physiological Integrity
, Q-3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell
would most of the genetic information be contained?
a. Peroxisomes
b. Ribosomes
c. The nucleolus
d. Suspended in nucleoplasm
ANS: D
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, is the nucleoplasm contained within the
nucleus. The nucleolus, contained within the nucleus, is largely composed of ribosomes. Pe-
roxisomes contain digestive enzymes.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Nucleus TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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. Glycoproteins act
as cell identifiers.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Membrane Composition
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Receptors
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What al-
ternation in the extracellular matrix would support the diagnosis of metastatic 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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Extracellular Matrix
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-7. What type of connection allows for cellular communication?
a. Belt desmosome
b. Gap junction
c. Spot desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: B
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes nor tight
junctions are associated with cellular communication.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Specialized Cells Junction
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighbouring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signalling types?
a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
, d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signalling 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 glu-
cagon. None of the other options involve signalling that is associated with a local chemical
mediator like insulin.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Communication and Signal Transduction
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-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.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Cellular Metabolism
TOP: Physiological Integrity
Q-10. An athlete runs a marathon, after which their 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 in-
volved in muscle contraction.
DIF: Cognitive Level: Remember REF: Role of Adenosine Triphosphate
TOP: Physiological Integrity
