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Ok, I know most of you hate lists, but all of you want an idea of what will be on the first exam. I have listed below all of the
possible topics that will be covered in the exam. I will try to ask a question from each of these topics. Yes the exams are
long but you can do it if you pace yourself. This first exam is typically 35 multiple choice, 10 matching questions, 3 fill in
the blank or short questions and One essay question. The topics of these questions are listed below. If you draw a blank on
these questions, please feel free to list this question on the class bulletin board, where you can earn class participation credit
by asking this question, or you can earn even more (5pt) by answering one of these questions.
Topic #1 Human Biology, Science and Society
1) What are the 7 characteristics of life??
2) How do we humans fit in relation to the Natural world?
3) Describe and be able to use the Scientific Method
4) How do sources of Scientific Information vary in style and quality? Who should you believe?
Topic #2
1) What are the 4 most abundant elements (types of atoms) in the human body?
2) Be able to draw an atom and label the 3 parts and the charges these subatomic particles have.
3) Draw a water molecule and describe a hydrogen bond. This bond is responsible for holding together many important
molecule for life.
4) On the pH scale an acid is below 7 (battery acid and stomach acid) neutral pH is 7 (pure water) and above 7 is basic
(bicarbonate that you take for your acidic stomach)
5) Organic compounds are made only by life and contain oxygen, hydrogen and carbon. Would you be able to recognize
one of these compounds if you saw one?
6) Homeostasis is maintained by enzymes in a cell. You can recognize an enzyme because it ends in
7) There are 4 basic types of organic molecules that comprise the body. Name them and list functions.
8) What is a mer and what do many of them do? (polymer, dimer, monomer)
9) What happens to the enzymes in your body when your internal temperature is too high?
Topic #3
1) What is the smallest unit of life? And where do these things come from?
2) What are the two major types of cells? Why do we study these cells?
3) If you were to shrink to a very small size and you could see a membrane what would it look like? If the cell you were
looking at was cut in half how many layers would the cell membrane have?
4) Know what Isotonic, Hypertonic and Hypotonic are. What is the solvent of the human body?
5) What is the difference between diffusion and osmosis?
6) Name the organelles of a cell and describe their function. (7 of them)
7) Biosynthetic making life requires energy, in what form is that energy???
8) Aerobic and Anaerobic respiration, which process gives off the most energy?
Topic #4
1) What is the human body structurally and physiologically adapted to do?
2) Tissues are made by a collection of cells. Name 4 types of tissues and their general properties. Be able to recognize
these general tissue types, if they are described or you are presented with a drawing.
3) What are the 3 cell shapes that give epithelial tissue its name?
4) Where is epithelial tissue located?
5) Why doesn’t water just seep around cells in epithelial tissue?
6) What are connective tissue and the car bumpers considered composites?
7) What type of tissue is a filler tissue in the body?
8) What are the characteristics of cartilage and bone tissue?
9) What are the characteristics of blood and adipose tissue, Can you name the types?
10) Can you recognize a muscle tissue when you see one? What are the three types?
11) Signals move down neurons in one way. Can you show me what way that signal moves?
12) Organs are made of tissues that form a common function. What is an organ system?
13) Can you describe what you skin is and what it does? What happens when your skin gets old?
14) Homeostasis or the long-term maintenance of body conditions is held constant in your body by a series of mechanisms.
Describe a negative feedback system.
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Topic #5
1) What are the 5 basic functions of bone?
2) Can you tell me what an osteocyte is?
3) How can a bone be hollow and light yet still be strong?
4) Bone, as can be seen in a newborn, is made from cartilage templates.
5) Know the bones of the axial skeleton:
6) Know the bones of the skull and face
7) Know the bones of the arms and legs
8) What structure provides a slippery surface between two bones?
Topic#6
1) Can muscles push the bone?
2) Motor neurons stimulate muscle contraction.
3) Know the major muscle groups.
4) What is the difference between fast and slow muscle fibers?
5) The sliding filament theory is used to describe how a muscle contracts. Can you tell me how this works?
Topic #14
1) Can you follow a quarter as it is swallowed by a child? List in order the portions of the GI tract that it passes. What are
the normal functions of those portions?
2) What are the functions of the GI tract, you should find 6 of them.
3) Can you describe the tissues present in a cross section of a piece of intestine?
4) Describe the difference between absorption and digestion
5) What are some things that prevent absorption?
6) Your well balanced diet should consist of complex carbohydrates 65%, fats and lipids 30% and proteins 15%,
7) What are the consequences of under nutrition? Can this be bad for you? Is it worse in children?