Nursing Elites

1. What are the microscopic units responsible for muscle contraction called?

• A. Neurons
• B. Myofibrils
• C. Tendons
• D. Sarcomeres

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Sarcomeres are the fundamental contractile units of skeletal muscles and are responsible for muscle contraction. They consist of actin and myosin filaments that slide past each other during muscle contraction. Neurons are responsible for transmitting signals to and from muscles but are not directly involved in muscle contraction. Myofibrils are composed of sarcomeres and are the structures within muscle cells where muscle contractions take place. Tendons are connective tissues that attach muscles to bones and are not directly involved in muscle contraction.

2. Which of the following is directly transcribed from DNA and represents the first step in protein synthesis?

• A. siRNA
• B. rRNA
• C. mRNA
• D. tRNA

Correct answer: C

Rationale: mRNA (messenger RNA) is directly transcribed from DNA in the nucleus during the process of transcription. It serves as a template for protein synthesis during translation in the cytoplasm. mRNA carries genetic information from the DNA to the ribosomes, where it determines the sequence of amino acids in a protein. Thus, mRNA represents the first step in protein synthesis as it carries the code from the DNA to be translated into a protein. Choice A, siRNA (small interfering RNA), is involved in post-transcriptional gene silencing and does not play a role in protein synthesis. Choice B, rRNA (ribosomal RNA), is a component of the ribosome and plays a structural and functional role in protein synthesis but is not directly transcribed from DNA. Choice D, tRNA (transfer RNA), is responsible for bringing amino acids to the ribosome during protein synthesis but is not directly transcribed from DNA.

3. Elements tend to gain or lose electrons to achieve stable electron configurations like those of noble gases. Their group number often indicates the number of electrons gained/lost and the resulting ionic charge, providing a good starting point for prediction.

• A. Ionic bonds involve electron sharing, while metallic bonds involve electron transfer.
• B. Ionic bonds are weak and directional, while metallic bonds are strong and non-directional.
• C. Ionic bonds exist between metals and non-metals, while metallic bonds exist only between metals.
• D. Ionic bonds form discrete molecules, while metallic bonds form extended structures.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: Ionic bonds typically form between metals and non-metals, where one atom donates electrons (cation) and the other accepts electrons (anion). This results in the transfer of electrons. Metallic bonds, on the other hand, occur between metal atoms where electrons are shared among a sea of delocalized electrons, leading to the characteristic properties of metals like malleability and conductivity. Choice A is incorrect because ionic bonds involve electron transfer, not sharing. Choice B is incorrect as ionic bonds are strong, not weak, and are non-directional, while metallic bonds are strong and non-directional. Choice D is incorrect as ionic bonds do not form discrete molecules but rather a lattice structure, whereas metallic bonds form extended structures.

4. 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.

5. What is the term for the division of the cytoplasm?

• A. Cytokinesis
• B. Mitosis
• C. Meiosis
• D. Apoptosis

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Cytokinesis is the correct term for the division of the cytoplasm during cell division. It is the final stage of cell division, following either mitosis or meiosis, where the cytoplasm of a parent cell is divided into two daughter cells. Mitosis is the process of nuclear division, while meiosis is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. Apoptosis, on the other hand, is programmed cell death and not the division of the cytoplasm.

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