GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY QUESTIONS
Correct answer is indicated by a dashed line after that choice
GENERAL AND INTEGRATIVE
1. The rate of passive diffusion is increased when the:
a. number of transport proteins increases
b. thickness of the membrane for diffusion increases
c. pressure gradient increases
d. surface area for diffusion decreases
e. membrane becomes less permeable
2. The movement of water across the digestive system and the capillary endothelium
involves:
a. An active transport of water molecules
b. Facilitated diffusion of water
c. Diffusion through pores specific for water
d. Both oncotic and osmotic forces
e. Active pumping of calcium to establish a gradient
9. If an atherosclerotic plaque partially occludes the radial artery and the systemic blood
pressure remains the same, the hydrostatic pressure in the capillaries of the forearm will
be:
a. increased above normal by autoregulation
b. increased above normal by the reduction in filtration
c. unchanged because the cardiac output remains the same
d. decreased below normal resulting in edema due to Starling forces
e. decreased below normal leading to net absorption
11. The enzyme essential for transport of carbon dioxide in the blood and the formation
of digestive secretions such as hydrochloric acid and pancreatic juice is:
a. carbonic anhydrase
b. gastrin
c. hemoglobin reductase
d. pancreatic oxidase
e. iron oxidase
17. Insulin increases the entry of glucose into:
a. all cells
b. renal tubular cells
c. intestinal enterocytes
d. neurons of the cerebral cortex
e. skeletal muscle
19. Which organ system is NOT involved in the regulation of plasma calcium levels?
a. kidneys
b. skin
c. liver
d. lungs
e. intestine
GENERAL BUT SPECIFIC TO ORGAN SYSTEM
3. If substance X is both filtered and secreted by the kidney without significant
reabsorption, its clearance is equal to the:
a. Glomerular filtration rate
b. Renal plasma flow
c. Tubular maximum (Tm)
d. Filtered load of X
e. Plasma concentration of X
4. Ventilation with 100% O2 would increase oxygen transport most in a patient that had:
a. normal lung function
b. carbon monoxide poisoning
c. pulmonary edema
d. anemia
e. cyanide poisoning
5. If a patient had bilateral phrenic nerve palsy leading to complete paralysis of the
diaphragm, you would expect:
a. a decreased FRC
b. an increased vital capacity
c. paradoxical breathing
d. an inability to cough
e. alveolar ventilation to be reduced
6. A patient has a PaO2 of 50 mm Hg, a PvO2 of 35 mm Hg and a PaCO2 of 30 mm Hg.
This patient is:
a. hyperventilating due to a strong peripheral chemoreceptor drive
b. hypoventilating because of a reduced central chemoreceptor drive
c. breathing normally
d. hyperventilating because of a reduced central chemoreceptor drive
e. hypoventilating due to a strong peripheral chemoreceptor drive
7. What is the correct sequence of events for inspiration to occur?
1. activation of inspiratory muscles
2. decrease in alveolar pressure
3. increase in lung volume
4. activation of DRG inspiratory neurons
5. increase in the size of the thoracic compartment
6. decrease in pleural pressure
a. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
b. 2, 1, 4, 6, 3, 5
c. 4, 1, 5, 6, 3, 2
d. 3, 1, 2, 5, 6, 4
e. 5, 3, 1, 6, 4, 2
8. A patient is likely to have increased sympathetic nervous system activity in
anticipation of a physical exam. This enhanced activity is likely to result in a:
a. negative chronotropic effect on the heart
b. bronchoconstriction of the airways
c. decrease in the preload of the heart
d. prolongation of the R – R interval
e. positive inotropic effect on the heart
10. The ability of the kidney to produce a concentrated urine is related to the:
a. presence of cortical nephrons
b. effect of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) on the proximal tubule cells
c. active transport of sodium in the ascending loop of Henle
d. transport of glucose
e. action of erythropoietin
12. A patient goes from a high sodium intake to a low sodium intake. After several
months on the low sodium diet you might expect to find:
a. decreased plasma sodium concentration
b. decreased plasma volume
c. decreased plasma antidiuretic hormone
d. decreased plasma aldosterone
e. decreased plasma hydrogen ion concentration
13. A patient has a gram negative meningeal infection which causes him to hyperventilate
for a week. He is miraculously cured overnight by a new drug. Immediately following his
cure, you might expect him to show a:
a. respiratory acidosis
b. respiratory alkalosis
c. metabolic acidosis
d. metabolic alkalosis
e. combined respiratory and metabolic acidosis
14. The threshold for a neuronal action potential is the membrane voltage where:
a. all the ligand gated channels are opened
b. Cl- channels are maximally activated
c. Potassium channels normally close
d. Most of the voltage-gated sodium channels are activated
e. Sodium inactivation occurs
15. Neurotransmitters in the central nervous system:
a. are released by the presence of potassium
b. can bind to a specific presynaptic receptor
c. are predominantly proteins
d. bind to a motor endplate
e. cause only depolarization of the postsynaptic neuron
16. Action potentials are conducted most rapidly in fibers that are:
a. C fibers
b. small and myelinated
c. small and unmyelinated
d. large and myelinated
e. large and unmyelinated
18. Naked nerve endings serve as the sensory receptors for detection of:
a. pain
b. touch
c. hearing
d. vision
e. lung volume
20. Glucose reabsorption occurs in the:
a. proximal tubule
b. loop of Henle
c. distal tubule
d. cortical collecting duct
e. medullary collecting duct