Nursing Elites

1. Which part of the brain controls breathing and heart rate?

• A. Cerebrum
• B. Medulla oblongata
• C. Thalamus
• D. Cerebellum

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The medulla oblongata is the correct answer because it is responsible for controlling involuntary functions such as breathing and heart rate. The cerebrum (Choice A) is primarily associated with higher brain functions like thinking and voluntary movements, not with regulating basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The thalamus (Choice C) serves as a relay station for sensory information but is not directly involved in controlling breathing and heart rate. The cerebellum (Choice D) plays a role in coordination and balance, not in regulating respiratory and cardiac functions.

2. What is the term used to describe the inability of the kidneys to effectively filter waste products from the blood?

• A. Dehydration
• B. Kidney failure
• C. Incontinence
• D. Nephritis

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Kidney failure is the term used to describe the inability of the kidneys to effectively filter waste products from the blood. Dehydration refers to insufficient fluid intake and not the kidney's filtering function. Incontinence is the loss of bladder control, not related to kidney filtration. Nephritis is the inflammation of the kidneys, not specifically related to the kidneys' inability to filter waste products.

3. What is the term for the process of exchanging gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the blood and the tissues?

• A. Inhalation
• B. Exhalation
• C. External respiration
• D. Internal respiration

Correct answer: C

Rationale: External respiration is the correct term for the process of exchanging gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the blood and the tissues. It specifically refers to the exchange of gases that occurs in the lungs, where oxygen is absorbed into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide is released from the bloodstream to be exhaled. Inhalation and exhalation, choices A and B, are phases of the breathing process that involve the intake and expulsion of air into and out of the lungs, respectively. Internal respiration, choice D, is the process of gas exchange that happens at the cellular level between the blood and body tissues, not between the blood and the lungs or tissues as in external respiration. Therefore, external respiration is the most appropriate term for the described gas exchange process in the question.

4. Which hormone is responsible for milk production in the breasts after childbirth?

• A. Estrogen
• B. Prolactin
• C. Oxytocin
• D. Relaxin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Prolactin is the hormone responsible for milk production in the breasts after childbirth. It is produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the mammary glands to produce milk. Estrogen aids in the development of breast tissue during pregnancy but is not directly involved in milk production. Oxytocin is responsible for milk ejection during breastfeeding, while Relaxin helps relax uterine muscles during pregnancy but is not directly linked to milk production.

5. What is the function of introns in eukaryotic genes?

• A. They code for protein sequences.
• B. They are involved in gene regulation.
• C. They are removed during mRNA processing.
• D. They are non-functional remnants of ancient DNA.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: A) Introns do not code for protein sequences. Exons are the segments of DNA that code for proteins. B) While introns can indirectly influence gene regulation, their primary function is not directly involved in gene regulation. C) Introns are non-coding regions of DNA that are transcribed into pre-mRNA but are removed during mRNA processing through a process called splicing. This allows only the exons to be included in the mature mRNA that will be translated into proteins. D) While introns were once thought to be non-functional remnants of ancient DNA, research has shown that they can have regulatory functions and play a role in gene expression.

Similar Questions