Which of the following is specialized tissue in the right atrium that acts as the heart's natural pacemaker by generating the electrical signal for the heartbeat?
- A. sinus venosus
- B. sinoatrial node
- C. atrioventricular node
- D. tricuspid valve
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The sinoatrial node, often referred to as the SA node, is specialized tissue located in the right atrium of the heart. It functions as the heart's natural pacemaker by generating the electrical signal that initiates each heartbeat. This electrical signal spreads to the atrial muscles and then to the atrioventricular node, causing the heart to contract rhythmically and efficiently. The other options listed do not serve as the heart's natural pacemaker responsible for generating the electrical signal for the heartbeat. Sinus venosus is a developmental structure in fetal hearts, the atrioventricular node delays the electrical signal, and the tricuspid valve is a heart valve that prevents backflow of blood from the right ventricle to the right atrium.
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Which of the following are the blood vessels that transport blood away from the heart?
- A. arteries
- B. capillaries
- C. venules
- D. veins
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to various parts of the body. Therefore, they are the vessels that transport blood away from the heart. Veins, on the other hand, transport blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels where the exchange of nutrients and waste products occurs between blood and tissues, not vessels that transport blood to the heart. Venules are small veins that collect blood from capillaries and connect them to larger veins, rather than transport blood to the heart.
Water is capable of dissolving many substances that organisms need to carry out life functions. Which of the properties of water listed below is responsible for its ability to dissolve important nutrients like ionic salt compounds?
- A. adhesion
- B. cohesion
- C. high specific heat
- D. high polarity
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The property of water that is responsible for its ability to dissolve important nutrients like ionic salt compounds is its high polarity. Water is a polar molecule with a positive and negative end, which allows it to attract and surround individual ions from salt compounds, causing them to dissociate and dissolve in water. This property makes water an excellent solvent for various substances necessary for life functions. Adhesion refers to the ability of water molecules to stick to other substances, cohesion is the attraction between water molecules themselves, and high specific heat is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of water. While these properties are important characteristics of water, they are not directly responsible for its ability to dissolve ionic salt compounds.
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.
Which of the following is NOT a function of the liver?
- A. nutrient processing
- B. blood filtration and detoxification
- C. cholesterol and lipoprotein production
- D. insulin production and blood sugar regulation
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The correct answer is D. The liver does not produce insulin; instead, insulin is produced by the pancreas. The liver plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by storing and releasing glucose but does not directly produce insulin. Choices A, B, and C are functions of the liver. Nutrient processing, blood filtration, detoxification, cholesterol, and lipoprotein production are essential roles performed by the liver to maintain overall metabolic balance and health.
How many neutrons are in an atom of the following element with a mass number of 50?
- A. 38
- B. 88
- C. 50
- D. 126
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Neutrons are found in the nucleus of an atom along with protons. To determine the number of neutrons in an atom, subtract the atomic number (number of protons) from the mass number. In this case, the mass number given is 50. Since the atomic number is not specified, we can infer it from the choices provided. The mass number of an element represents the total sum of protons and neutrons in the nucleus. Therefore, the number of neutrons in this atom would also be 50, as the mass number is equivalent to the combined number of protons and neutrons, making choice C the correct answer. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they do not match the given mass number of 50.
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