Nursing Elites

1. Which neuromuscular system controls voluntary movement?

• A. Autonomic
• B. Somatic
• C. Sympathetic
• D. Parasympathetic

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Somatic. The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles. It is responsible for carrying sensory and motor information to and from the central nervous system. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect. The autonomic nervous system (choice A) controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and digestion. The sympathetic (choice C) and parasympathetic (choice D) nervous systems are subdivisions of the autonomic nervous system and are responsible for the body's fight-or-flight response and rest-and-digest functions, respectively.

2. Consider the graph representing a botanist's data on root growth. What is the independent variable?

• A. Temperature
• B. Root tissue
• C. Light exposure
• D. Root length

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The independent variable is the factor that is intentionally changed or manipulated by the researcher. In this case, light exposure is the independent variable because it is being controlled and tested to observe its effect on root growth. Choices A, B, and D are not the independent variable in this scenario. Temperature, root tissue, and root length are likely dependent variables that could be influenced by the changes in light exposure.

3. What term describes a series of muscle contractions that transports food down the digestive tract in a wave-like fashion?

• A. digestion
• B. deglutition
• C. defecation
• D. peristalsis

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Peristalsis is the correct term for the series of muscle contractions that move food down the digestive tract in a wave-like manner. This process helps propel food through the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, facilitating digestion and nutrient absorption. Digestion (Choice A) refers to the breakdown of food into smaller components, deglutition (Choice B) is the act of swallowing, and defecation (Choice C) is the elimination of waste from the body. Therefore, peristalsis is the most appropriate term to describe the described muscle contractions in the digestive system.

4. What is the difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy?

• A. Polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes influencing one trait, while pleiotropy involves one gene affecting multiple traits.
• B. Polygenic inheritance is found in simple Mendelian traits, while pleiotropy is found in complex traits.
• C. Polygenic inheritance is always quantitative, while pleiotropy can be qualitative or quantitative.
• D. Both involve multiple genes and multiple traits, but the specific mechanisms differ

Correct answer: A

Rationale: - Polygenic inheritance refers to the situation where a trait is influenced by multiple genes, each contributing a small effect to the phenotype. These traits often show continuous variation and are not easily categorized into discrete categories. - Pleiotropy, on the other hand, occurs when a single gene influences multiple, seemingly unrelated traits. This means that a mutation in one gene can lead to multiple phenotypic effects across different traits or characteristics. - Therefore, the key difference between polygenic inheritance and pleiotropy lies in the number of genes involved in influencing a trait (multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. one gene in pleiotropy) and the direction of influence (one trait affected by multiple genes in polygenic inheritance vs. multiple traits affected by one gene in pleiotropy).

5. Which type of muscle is responsible for voluntary movements?

• A. Smooth
• B. Skeletal
• C. Cardiac
• D. Involuntary

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The corrected question is asking about the type of muscle responsible for voluntary movements, which is skeletal muscle (Choice B). Skeletal muscle is under conscious control and is responsible for voluntary movements like walking or lifting objects. Smooth muscle (Choice A) is found in organs like the intestines and blood vessels, responsible for involuntary movements. Cardiac muscle (Choice C) is specific to the heart and is also involuntary. 'Involuntary' (Choice D) is a general term and does not specify a type of muscle responsible for voluntary movements.

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