Nursing Elites

1. Which division of the nervous system is responsible for involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, and respiratory rate?

• A. Somatic nervous system
• B. Autonomic nervous system
• C. Peripheral nervous system
• D. Central nervous system

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The autonomic nervous system is the correct answer. It is responsible for controlling involuntary functions such as heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, and other automatic processes in the body. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, making choice A incorrect. The peripheral nervous system consists of nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, which is not directly responsible for these involuntary functions, making choice C incorrect. The central nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, but it is not primarily responsible for regulating involuntary functions, making choice D incorrect.

2. Which of the following is NOT a source of genetic variation in a population?

• A. Mutations in genes
• B. Genetic drift (random fluctuations in allele frequencies)
• C. Gene flow (movement of genes between populations)
• D. Blending inheritance (traits of parents are averaged in offspring)

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Rationale: A) Mutations in genes: Mutations are changes in the DNA sequence that can introduce new alleles into a population, leading to genetic variation. B) Genetic drift (random fluctuations in allele frequencies): Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, which can lead to genetic variation through chance events. C) Gene flow (movement of genes between populations): Gene flow occurs when individuals move between populations, bringing new alleles with them and increasing genetic variation within populations. D) Blending inheritance (traits of parents are averaged in offspring): Blending inheritance was a historical theory that suggested offspring inherit a blend of traits from their parents, leading to a reduction in genetic variation over time. However, this concept has been disproven by the understanding of Mendelian genetics, where traits are inherited independently and do not blend together. Therefore, blending inheritance does not contribute

3. Which blood vessel carries oxygenated blood back to the heart?

• A. Pulmonary vein
• B. Pulmonary artery
• C. Aorta
• D. Superior vena cava

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The corrected question is asking for a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood back to the heart. The pulmonary vein is the correct choice as it carries oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the heart during systemic circulation. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. The aorta is the main artery that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body. The superior vena cava returns deoxygenated blood from the upper body back to the heart.

4. What is the term for the process of breaking a large molecule into smaller fragments by applying heat?

• A. Polymerization
• B. Hydrogenation
• C. Isomerization
• D. Pyrolysis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Pyrolysis is the correct answer. It is the process of breaking down large molecules into smaller fragments by applying heat in the absence of oxygen. This results in the decomposition of molecules into simpler compounds. Polymerization, the process of synthesizing large molecules from smaller units, is incorrect as it is the opposite process. Hydrogenation involves adding hydrogen atoms to a compound, usually with a catalyst, which is not related to breaking down large molecules. Isomerization refers to rearranging atoms within a molecule to form isomeric compounds with the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements, which is also unrelated to the process described in the question.

5. What are the building blocks of proteins?

• A. Sugars
• B. Fatty acids
• C. Amino acids
• D. Nucleotides

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Proteins are macromolecules made up of long chains of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are linked together through peptide bonds to form polypeptide chains, which then fold into specific three-dimensional structures to carry out various functions in the body. Sugars (choice A) are the building blocks of carbohydrates, fatty acids (choice B) are the building blocks of lipids, and nucleotides (choice D) are the building blocks of nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. Therefore, the correct answer is amino acids (choice C), as they are specifically responsible for protein synthesis.

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