Nursing Elites

1. Which muscle has involuntary cells that are branched and striated and connected by intercalated discs with gap junctions?

• A. Smooth muscle
• B. Cardiac muscle
• C. Skeletal muscle
• D. Epithelial muscle

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle cells fit the description provided in the question; they are involuntary, striated, and branched, with intercalated discs containing gap junctions that allow for synchronized contractions of the heart. Smooth muscle (choice A) lacks striations and is found in the walls of internal organs. Skeletal muscle (choice C) is voluntary and attaches to bones for movement. 'Epithelial muscle' (choice D) is not a valid muscle type, making it an incorrect choice.

2. Which blood vessels carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the right atrium of the heart?

• A. Arteries
• B. Veins
• C. Capillaries
• D. Venules

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Veins are the blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. Arteries transport oxygenated blood away from the heart. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where gas exchange occurs between blood and tissues. Venules are small veins that connect capillaries to larger veins, but they do not directly carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.

3. What is the primary function of the digestive system?

• A. To break down food into nutrients
• B. To absorb oxygen
• C. To produce energy
• D. To regulate body temperature

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To break down food into nutrients.' The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body for energy, growth, and repair. The digestive system is not responsible for absorbing oxygen (Choice B), as that is the role of the respiratory system. While the digestion process does release energy from nutrients, the primary function is not to produce energy (Choice C), but rather to extract nutrients for energy production. Regulating body temperature (Choice D) is primarily handled by the thermoregulatory mechanisms in the body, such as the skin and sweat glands, not the digestive system.

4. What is the monomer for nucleic acids?

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

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: Nucleotide. Nucleotides are indeed the monomers that make up nucleic acids like DNA and RNA. They consist of a sugar molecule, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. Amino acids are the monomers of proteins, not nucleic acids. While the phosphate group is a component of nucleotides, it is not the sole monomer. Ribosome is a cellular organelle involved in protein synthesis and is not a monomer for nucleic acids.

5. What is the role of the spindle apparatus in cell division?

• A. To separate sister chromatids
• B. To move chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell
• C. To form a new nuclear envelope around each daughter cell
• D. To synthesize new DNA

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The spindle apparatus, composed of microtubules, plays a crucial role in cell division (mitosis and meiosis) by ensuring proper chromosome separation and distribution to opposite poles of the cell. This segregation is vital for creating two genetically identical daughter cells in mitosis or four haploid daughter cells in meiosis. Choice A is incorrect because the separation of sister chromatids is specifically carried out by kinetochore fibers within the spindle apparatus. Choice C is inaccurate as the formation of a new nuclear envelope occurs post chromosome segregation. Choice D is incorrect as DNA synthesis does not occur within the spindle apparatus; it takes place during the S phase of the cell cycle.

Similar Questions