Nursing Elites

1. How do isotopes affect the atomic mass of an element?

• A. Isotopes have no effect on the atomic mass of an element.
• B. Isotopes cause the atomic mass of an element to vary slightly.
• C. Isotopes cause the atomic mass of an element to be exactly the same for all isotopes of that element.
• D. Isotopes cause the atomic mass of an element to vary greatly.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but different numbers of neutrons. Since the atomic mass of an element is the weighted average of the masses of its isotopes, the presence of isotopes causes the atomic mass of an element to vary slightly. This variation occurs because different isotopes have different masses due to their varying numbers of neutrons. The atomic mass is affected by the abundance of each isotope, leading to a slight fluctuation in the overall atomic mass of the element. Choice A is incorrect because isotopes do influence the atomic mass. Choice C is incorrect because isotopes have different masses, affecting the overall atomic mass. Choice D is incorrect as isotopes typically do not cause a significant variation in atomic mass, but rather a slight fluctuation.

2. What term describes the functional unit of a skeletal muscle responsible for muscle contraction?

• A. Myofibril
• B. Sarcomere
• C. Tendon
• D. Myoglobin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'Sarcomere.' The sarcomere is indeed the functional unit of a skeletal muscle responsible for muscle contraction. It is composed of actin and myosin filaments that interact to generate muscle contraction. Choice A, 'Myofibril,' is incorrect as myofibrils are composed of sarcomeres, not the functional units themselves. Choice C, 'Tendon,' is incorrect as tendons connect muscles to bones and do not directly participate in muscle contraction. Choice D, 'Myoglobin,' is incorrect as myoglobin is a protein that stores oxygen in muscle cells and is not directly involved in muscle contraction.

3. What is bile, where is it produced, where is it stored, and what is its function?

• A. Produced in the pancreas, stored in the liver, aids in digestion
• B. Produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, aids in fat digestion
• C. Produced in the stomach, stored in the pancreas, neutralizes acid
• D. Produced in the gallbladder, stored in the liver, breaks down proteins

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Bile is a digestive fluid produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and it aids in the digestion of fats by emulsifying them. Emulsification helps to break down fats into smaller particles, facilitating their digestion by enzymes in the small intestine. Choice A is incorrect because bile is not produced in the pancreas, and it is not stored in the liver. Choice C is incorrect as bile is not produced in the stomach, and it does not neutralize acid. Choice D is also incorrect as bile is not produced in the gallbladder, and its primary function is not to break down proteins.

4. When light interacts with a perfectly smooth surface, like a mirror, the dominant interaction is:

• A. Refraction
• B. Diffraction
• C. Total internal reflection
• D. Specular reflection

Correct answer: D

Rationale: When light interacts with a perfectly smooth surface like a mirror, the dominant interaction is specular reflection. Specular reflection occurs when light rays are reflected off a smooth surface at the same angle as the incident angle, resulting in a clear and sharp reflection. Refraction, which involves the bending of light as it passes from one medium to another, is not the dominant interaction with a perfectly smooth surface. Diffraction, the bending of light waves around obstacles, is not the dominant interaction with smooth surfaces. Total internal reflection occurs when light is reflected back into a medium due to encountering a boundary at an angle greater than the critical angle, but it is not the dominant interaction on a perfectly smooth surface like a mirror.

5. 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.

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