Nursing Elites

1. How do vaccines stimulate the immune system to develop memory without causing full-blown illness? What type of molecule in a vaccine typically triggers the immune response?

• A. Toxins produced by the pathogen
• B. Live, attenuated (weakened) forms of the pathogen
• C. Inactivated (dead) forms of the pathogen
• D. Antigens (specific molecules) from the pathogen

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Vaccines work by triggering the immune system to develop memory without causing illness. They typically contain antigens, which are specific molecules from the pathogen. These antigens stimulate the immune system to produce a targeted immune response without causing full-blown sickness. By presenting these antigens, vaccines help the immune system create memory cells that remember the pathogen. This memory allows the immune system to respond more effectively if it encounters the pathogen in the future. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because vaccines do not typically contain toxins, live pathogens, or inactivated forms of the pathogen. Instead, vaccines primarily rely on specific molecules (antigens) to induce an immune response.

2. Where does the digestion of food start?

• A. Esophagus
• B. Stomach
• C. Small intestine
• D. Mouth

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is the mouth. Digestion begins in the mouth where mechanical breakdown occurs through chewing, and chemical breakdown begins with saliva. Enzymes in saliva start breaking down carbohydrates, initiating the digestion process. The esophagus is responsible for transporting food from the mouth to the stomach and does not play a role in the digestion process. The stomach continues the digestion process after the food leaves the mouth. The small intestine is primarily responsible for absorbing nutrients from the digested food, rather than being the initial site of digestion.

3. What is the primary hormone released by the parathyroid glands?

• A. Insulin
• B. Calcitonin
• C. Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
• D. Thyroxine

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The primary hormone released by the parathyroid glands is parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH plays a crucial role in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels in the body by increasing calcium levels in the blood through various mechanisms, such as promoting calcium release from bones and increasing calcium absorption in the intestines. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and regulates blood sugar levels, calcitonin is produced by the thyroid gland and helps lower blood calcium levels, and thyroxine is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism. Therefore, choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they are not the primary hormone released by the parathyroid glands.

4. Which muscle type is characterized by a combination of voluntary and involuntary control, is striated, and is responsible for pumping blood throughout the circulatory system?

• A. Skeletal muscle
• B. Smooth muscle
• C. Cardiac muscle
• D. Connective tissue

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C, Cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is characterized by a combination of voluntary and involuntary control, is striated, and is responsible for pumping blood throughout the circulatory system. Skeletal muscle is primarily under voluntary control, smooth muscle is primarily under involuntary control, and connective tissue is not a muscle type, but rather provides support and structure to the body.

5. What is the building block of DNA?

• A. Amino acid
• B. Nucleotide
• C. Phosphate group
• D. Fatty acid

Correct answer: B

Rationale: - Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, not DNA. - Nucleotide is the correct building block of DNA. A nucleotide consists of a sugar (deoxyribose in DNA), a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base (adenine, thymine, cytosine, or guanine). - The option 'C) Phosphate group' is incorrect as it is only part of a nucleotide, not the complete building block of DNA. - Fatty acids are not the building blocks of DNA; they are a type of lipid molecule.

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