Nursing Elites

1. Adaptive radiation refers to the evolutionary process where:

• A. A single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species due to ecological pressures in a heterogeneous environment.
• B. Two unrelated species evolve similar adaptations in response to similar environments, leading to convergent evolution.
• C. A population becomes increasingly well-adapted to its current environment through continued natural selection.
• D. The fossil record exhibits gaps or missing links in the evolutionary history of a lineage.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: - Adaptive radiation is a process where a single ancestral species diversifies into multiple descendant species to exploit different ecological niches within a heterogeneous environment. - This diversification occurs due to the different selective pressures present in various habitats, leading to the evolution of distinct traits and adaptations in different descendant species. - Option A accurately describes the process of adaptive radiation, where the initial species undergoes rapid speciation to occupy different ecological roles and adapt to diverse environmental conditions. - Options B, C, and D do not accurately describe adaptive radiation but refer to other evolutionary processes such as convergent evolution, natural selection, and gaps in the fossil record, respectively.

2. What is the name of the bone marrow cavity in the long bones where red blood cells are produced?

• A. Periosteum
• B. Diaphysis
• C. Medullary cavity
• D. Epiphysis

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The medullary cavity is the correct answer. It is the central cavity within the shafts of long bones where red bone marrow is located, responsible for the production of red blood cells. The periosteum is the outer layer of bone that provides nourishment and participates in bone repair. The diaphysis refers to the shaft of a long bone that contains yellow bone marrow. The epiphysis is the end of a long bone involved in joint articulation and contains red bone marrow in children for blood cell production.

3. Which of the following is NOT an example of an intermolecular force?

• A. Hydrogen bonding
• B. Dipole-dipole interactions
• C. Ionic bonding
• D. London dispersion forces

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Ionic bonding is not considered an intermolecular force but an intramolecular force. Intermolecular forces occur between different molecules, while intramolecular forces act within a molecule. Hydrogen bonding, dipole-dipole interactions, and London dispersion forces are intermolecular forces. Hydrogen bonding involves a hydrogen atom bonded to a highly electronegative atom, dipole-dipole interactions occur between polar molecules, and London dispersion forces are temporary attractions between nonpolar molecules.

4. 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.

5. The kidneys are bean-shaped organs that perform several vital functions. Which of the following is NOT a primary function of the kidneys?

• A. Filtering waste products from the blood
• B. Regulating blood pressure
• C. Producing red blood cells
• D. Maintaining water balance in the body

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C. The kidneys do not produce red blood cells. This function is carried out by the bone marrow. The primary functions of the kidneys include filtering waste products from the blood, regulating blood pressure, and maintaining water balance in the body. Red blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, not in the kidneys. Choices A, B, and D are incorrect as they are primary functions of the kidneys, which involve filtering waste products, regulating blood pressure, and maintaining water balance in the body, respectively.

Similar Questions