Nursing Elites

1. What is the main component of stomach acid?

• A. Hydrochloric acid
• B. Bicarbonate
• C. Bile salts
• D. Enzymes

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Stomach acid, also known as gastric acid, is primarily composed of hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid plays a crucial role in the digestive process by helping to break down food and kill bacteria in the stomach. Bicarbonate is a base that helps neutralize stomach acid in the small intestine, but it is not the main component of stomach acid. Bile salts are produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, aiding in the digestion and absorption of fats, but they are not the main component of stomach acid. Enzymes are proteins that help catalyze chemical reactions in the body, including the breakdown of food molecules during digestion, but they are not the main component of stomach acid.

2. 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.

3. After a person eats birthday cake, which of the following enzymes is needed to break down the sucrose in the cake?

• A. Lactase
• B. Maltase
• C. Peptidase
• D. Sucrase

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Sucrase is the correct enzyme needed to break down sucrose into its component sugars, glucose, and fructose. Lactase is responsible for breaking down lactose, maltase for maltose, and peptidase for proteins; therefore, they are not the enzymes required to digest sucrose specifically. In the context of digesting birthday cake, which contains sucrose, sucrase is the enzyme needed for this particular sugar.

4. A person wakes up with a fever. The body begins its response to locate the origin of the problem and fix it. What type of feedback mechanism is this?

• A. Equal
• B. Negative
• C. Neutral
• D. Positive

Correct answer: B

Rationale: This scenario describes a negative feedback mechanism. When the body detects a fever, it initiates responses to lower the temperature back to normal levels. Negative feedback mechanisms work to counteract changes and maintain homeostasis in the body. Choice A ('Equal') is incorrect as feedback mechanisms aim to restore balance, not maintain an equal state. Choice C ('Neutral') is incorrect as it does not describe the corrective nature of negative feedback. Choice D ('Positive') is incorrect as it would amplify the fever rather than regulate it.

5. What is the function of the pleurae?

• A. To compartmentalize and lubricate the lungs
• B. To facilitate the flow of air
• C. To produce mucus
• D. To serve as the passageway for air

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The pleurae play a crucial role in compartmentalizing and lubricating the lungs. The pleura is a double-layered membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest cavity. This double-layered structure reduces friction between the lungs and the chest wall during breathing movements, allowing smooth expansion and contraction of the lungs. Options B, C, and D are incorrect. Option B, 'To facilitate the flow of air,' is incorrect because while the pleurae are involved in the respiratory process, their primary function is not to directly facilitate the flow of air. Option C, 'To produce mucus,' is incorrect as the production of mucus is not a primary function of the pleurae. Option D, 'To serve as the passageway for air,' is incorrect as the passageway for air refers to the air passages like the trachea and bronchi, not the pleurae. Therefore, option A is correct as it accurately describes the function of the pleurae.

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