Nursing Elites

1. What is the role of the spleen in the body?

• A. To produce bile
• B. To filter blood and remove old red blood cells
• C. To produce red blood cells
• D. To store fat

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B. The spleen acts as a blood filter, removing old or damaged red blood cells. It also plays a role in immune responses, storing blood reserves, and helping to fight infection. The production of bile is primarily associated with the liver, not the spleen. While the bone marrow is responsible for red blood cell production, the spleen's main functions do not include this process. Storing fat is not a primary function of the spleen.

2. Which hormone is responsible for regulating the body's metabolism?

• A. Insulin
• B. Thyroxine
• C. Melatonin
• D. Adrenaline

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Thyroxine, also known as T4, is produced by the thyroid gland and plays a vital role in regulating the body's metabolism. Insulin is not responsible for regulating metabolism; instead, it helps regulate blood sugar levels. Melatonin is involved in regulating sleep-wake cycles, not metabolism. Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a stress hormone that prepares the body for fight or flight responses, not primarily involved in metabolic regulation.

3. Which of the following is true regarding T cells?

• A. They are only seen in individuals with leukemia.
• B. They are a specialized type of white blood cell.
• C. They mature in the thymus.
• D. They play a role in the immune response.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: T cells are a specialized type of white blood cell that play a crucial role in the immune response. They are produced in the bone marrow and mature in the thymus gland. T cells help coordinate and regulate the immune response to pathogens and foreign substances by interacting with other immune cells. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. T cells are not exclusively seen in individuals with leukemia; they are a normal component of the immune system found in healthy individuals. While it is true that T cells are a specialized type of white blood cell, the key characteristic being tested in this question is their role in the immune response. Lastly, T cells do mature in the thymus, but this alone does not encompass the full scope of their function in the immune system.

4. What cellular process ensures the accurate transmission of genetic material during cell division?

• A. Mitosis (somatic cell division)
• B. Meiosis (germ cell division)
• C. Replication (DNA duplication)
• D. Transcription (DNA to RNA conversion)

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Mitosis is the correct answer. Mitosis is the process by which somatic cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells. During mitosis, the genetic material is accurately replicated and distributed to ensure each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Meiosis, on the other hand, is the type of cell division that occurs in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells), focusing on genetic diversity through recombination and reduction of chromosome number. Replication is the process of copying DNA to produce an identical copy, essential for cell division but not the specific process ensuring accurate genetic material transmission. Transcription involves copying DNA into RNA, crucial for gene expression but not directly related to the accurate transmission of genetic material during cell division.

5. Which level of protein structure is defined by the folds and coils of the protein's polypeptide backbone?

• A. Primary
• B. Secondary
• C. Tertiary
• D. Quaternary

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Secondary. The secondary structure of a protein is defined by the folds and coils of the protein's polypeptide backbone. This level of structure is characterized by the formation of alpha helices and beta sheets, which are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between amino acids along the polypeptide chain. Choice A, Primary, refers to the linear sequence of amino acids in the protein. Choice C, Tertiary, involves the 3D folding of the entire polypeptide chain. Choice D, Quaternary, pertains to the arrangement of multiple polypeptide subunits in a protein complex.

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