Nursing Elites

1. Which division of the nervous system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response, preparing the body to respond to stressful situations?

• 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 correctly identified as the division responsible for the 'fight or flight' response, which readies the body to react to stressful situations. This system regulates involuntary bodily functions, such as heart rate, pupil dilation, and adrenaline release during stress. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements and skeletal muscle activity, not the automatic responses seen in the 'fight or flight' reaction. The peripheral nervous system connects the central nervous system to the body's organs and limbs, facilitating communication, while the central nervous system, comprising the brain and spinal cord, serves as the primary control center of the body, integrating and processing information.

2. How does the body maintain a relatively constant blood pH level, even with changes in blood carbon dioxide concentration?

• A. Cellular respiration
• B. Gas exchange
• C. Buffering system
• D. Deoxygenation

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Buffering system. The buffering system is responsible for maintaining a relatively constant blood pH level by minimizing changes in pH when acids or bases are added to the blood. This system consists of chemical compounds that can donate or accept protons to help stabilize the pH. Choice A, Cellular respiration, and Choice B, Gas exchange, are processes involved in gas exchange within the body, not specifically related to maintaining blood pH. Choice D, Deoxygenation, refers to the removal of oxygen from a substance and is not directly related to the regulation of blood pH.

3. Neurotransmitters send chemical messages across the gap between one neuron and another through which of the following structures?

• A. Schwann cell
• B. ganglion
• C. synapse
• D. axon

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Neurotransmitters send chemical messages across the gap between one neuron and another through a structure called the synapse. The synapse is a specialized junction where the axon of one neuron meets the dendrite or cell body of another neuron. Neurotransmitters are released from the axon terminal of the presynaptic neuron and travel across the synaptic cleft to bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron, transmitting the signal between the two neurons. Choice A, Schwann cell, is incorrect as Schwann cells are responsible for producing myelin sheath around axons in the peripheral nervous system, not for transmitting neurotransmitters between neurons. Choice B, ganglion, is incorrect as ganglia are clusters of nerve cell bodies outside the central nervous system and do not directly participate in the transmission of chemical messages between neurons. Choice D, axon, is incorrect as the axon is a long, slender projection of a neuron that conducts electrical impulses away from the cell body and towards the axon terminals, where neurotransmitters are released into the synapse, but it is not the structure across which neurotransmitters travel to communicate between neurons.

4. Which of the following is an example of a tissue?

• A. chloroplasts
• B. liver
• C. mammal
• D. hamstring

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is 'B: liver.' The liver is an example of a tissue. Tissues are groups of cells that work together to perform specific functions in the body. The liver is made up of different types of cells that work together to carry out various essential functions, such as detoxification, metabolism, and storage of nutrients. Option A (chloroplasts) refers to organelles, not tissues. Option D (hamstring) is a muscle, not a tissue. Option C (mammal) represents a higher level of organization than tissues, as it refers to a classification of organisms, not a specific tissue type.

5. What is the principle behind optical fibers used in communication?

• A. Reflection of light within the fiber
• B. Refraction of light due to different densities within the fiber
• C. Total internal reflection guiding light through the fiber core
• D. Diffraction of light around bends in the fiber

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Optical fibers used in communication rely on the principle of total internal reflection guiding light through the fiber core. Total internal reflection occurs when light traveling through the core of the fiber is reflected back into the core due to the higher refractive index of the core compared to the cladding. This reflection ensures that the light remains confined within the core and propagates along the fiber without significant loss, allowing for efficient transmission of signals over long distances in optical communication systems. Choice A is incorrect because optical fibers do not primarily rely on simple reflection; instead, they utilize total internal reflection to guide light. Choice B is incorrect as the primary principle is not the refraction of light due to different densities within the fiber, but rather total internal reflection. Choice D is incorrect as diffraction is not the main principle behind optical fibers, which mainly rely on total internal reflection to guide light through the fiber core.

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