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Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA with histones. Which
of the following would also be observed by the student?
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 nucleus; thus, the
nucleus should be observed. A single circular chromosome called a prokaryote contains free-floating nuclear
material but has no organelles.
REF: p. 2
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 absorb oxygen is referred to as respiration while its communication ability involves
maintenance of a steady dynamic state, metabolic absorption provides nutrition, and secretion allows for the
synthesizing of new substances.
REF: p. 2
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of the genetic information
be contained?
a. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus Cytoplasm
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic acid, most of the
DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus, which is located within the cell’s nucleus. Mitochondria is
associated with cellular respiration, while ribosomes are involved with protein manufacturing. Cytoplasm is a
fluid filling that is a component of the cell.
REF: p. 2
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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. Glycoprotein marks cells and does not float.
REF: p. 7
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.
REF: p. 9
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What alternation 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.
REF: p. 10
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact? a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes nor tight junctions are
associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 11
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8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring alpha cells. This action
is an example of which of the following signaling types? a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling 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 glucagon. None of the other options
involve signaling that is associated with a local chemical mediator like insulin.
REF: p. 12
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.
REF: p. 16
10. An athlete runs a marathon,
Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Huether & McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology, 7th Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA with histones. Which
of the following would also be observed by the student?
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 nucleus; thus, the
nucleus should be observed. A single circular chromosome called a prokaryote contains free-floating nuclear
material but has no organelles.
REF: p. 2
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 absorb oxygen is referred to as respiration while its communication ability involves
maintenance of a steady dynamic state, metabolic absorption provides nutrition, and secretion allows for the
synthesizing of new substances.
REF: p. 2
3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of the genetic information
be contained?
a. Mitochondria
b. Ribosome
c. Nucleolus
d. Nucleus Cytoplasm
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic acid, most of the
DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus, which is located within the cell’s nucleus. Mitochondria is
associated with cellular respiration, while ribosomes are involved with protein manufacturing. Cytoplasm is a
fluid filling that is a component of the cell.
REF: p. 2
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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. Glycoprotein marks cells and does not float.
REF: p. 7
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.
REF: p. 9
6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What alternation 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.
REF: p. 10
7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact? a. Cell junction
b. Gap junction
c. Desmosome
d. Tight junction
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.
Gap junctions allow for cellular communication between cells. Neither desmosomes nor tight junctions are
associated with cellular communication.
REF: p. 11
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8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring alpha cells. This action
is an example of which of the following signaling types? a. Paracrine
b. Autocrine
c. Neurohormonal
d. Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling 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 glucagon. None of the other options
involve signaling that is associated with a local chemical mediator like insulin.
REF: p. 12
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.
REF: p. 16
10. An athlete runs a marathon,
