Nursing Elites

1. What is the primary function of the small intestine in the digestive system?

• A. To secrete digestive enzymes
• B. To absorb nutrients
• C. To break down food
• D. To absorb water

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To absorb nutrients. The small intestine's main role in the digestive system is to absorb nutrients from digested food. It has specialized structures, such as villi and microvilli, that increase its surface area for efficient absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. Choice A is incorrect because the small intestine does not primarily secrete digestive enzymes; that role is mainly carried out by the pancreas and other digestive organs. Choice C is incorrect because the small intestine primarily absorbs nutrients rather than breaking down food. Choice D is incorrect because the absorption of water primarily occurs in the large intestine, not the small intestine.

2. What type of joint is found in the shoulder?

• A. Ball and socket joint
• B. Hinge joint
• C. Saddle joint
• D. Pivot joint

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is a ball and socket joint. The shoulder joint is a ball and socket joint, allowing for a wide range of motion, including rotation. This joint provides excellent flexibility and mobility, making movements like circular motions and rotations possible. A hinge joint, like the elbow, allows movement in only one plane (flexion and extension). A saddle joint, found in the thumb, allows for a wide range of motion but not as much as a ball and socket joint. A pivot joint, such as the joint between the first and second vertebrae of the neck, allows rotation only.

3. Where would you be likely to find a Schwann cell?

• A. In the digestive system
• B. In the nervous system
• C. In the skeletal system
• D. In the muscular system

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Schwann cells are a type of neuroglia found in the peripheral nervous system. They are responsible for producing the myelin sheath around axons of neurons, which helps with the conduction of nerve impulses. Therefore, Schwann cells are typically found in the nervous system. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because Schwann cells are specifically associated with the nervous system and are not found in the digestive, skeletal, or muscular systems.

4. Where do nearly all of the gaseous exchanges between air and blood take place in the lungs?

• A. Pleura
• B. Trachea
• C. Bronchioles
• D. Alveoli

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Nearly all gaseous exchanges between air and blood take place in the alveoli of the lungs. The walls of the alveoli are thin and surrounded by an extensive network of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Oxygen from the air diffuses through the alveoli walls and into the bloodstream, while carbon dioxide, a waste product, diffuses from the blood into the alveoli to be exhaled out of the body. This process is essential for respiration and providing oxygen to the body's cells. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Pleura is the membrane surrounding the lungs, trachea is the windpipe that carries air to the lungs, and bronchioles are the smaller air passages in the lungs. However, the primary site for gaseous exchange is the alveoli due to their structure and function.

5. Which organ in the body is responsible for insulin production?

• A. Pancreas
• B. Liver
• C. Gallbladder
• D. Kidneys

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is the pancreas. The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin, a hormone crucial for regulating blood glucose levels. Insulin plays a key role in allowing cells to take in glucose, thereby helping to keep blood sugar levels in check. The liver (choice B), gallbladder (choice C), and kidneys (choice D) do not produce insulin. The liver is involved in glycogen storage and glucose regulation, the gallbladder stores bile, and the kidneys filter blood and regulate fluid balance.

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