Nursing Elites

1. What is the protective fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord?

• A. Blood
• B. Cerebrospinal fluid
• C. Myelin sheath
• D. Insulin

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Cerebrospinal fluid is the protective fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. It acts as a cushion to protect these vital organs from injury and provides nutrients and removes waste products. Blood, myelin sheath, and insulin do not serve as the protective fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. Blood carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, myelin sheath is a protective covering of nerve fibers, and insulin is a hormone involved in regulating blood sugar levels.

2. What are substances that stimulate adaptive immunity called?

• A. Peptides
• B. Phagocytes
• C. Prions
• D. Platelets

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Substances that stimulate adaptive immunity are called peptides. Peptides are short chains of amino acids that play a crucial role in activating the immune response by interacting with immune cells such as T cells and B cells. Peptides are important in antigen presentation and recognition, leading to the development of specific immune responses against pathogens. Choice B, phagocytes, are cells that engulf and digest pathogens but are not substances that stimulate adaptive immunity. Choice C, prions, are infectious agents made of misfolded proteins and are not related to stimulating adaptive immunity. Choice D, platelets, are cell fragments involved in blood clotting and have no direct role in stimulating adaptive immunity.

3. Where is oxygen exchanged between blood and tissues?

• A. capillaries
• B. veins
• C. ventricles
• D. arteries

Correct answer: A

Rationale: Oxygen is exchanged between blood and tissues primarily at the capillaries. Capillaries are the smallest blood vessels where the exchange of oxygen, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and the tissues. This exchange process is crucial for delivering oxygen to the body's cells and eliminating carbon dioxide waste. Veins carry blood back to the heart, arteries carry blood away from the heart, and ventricles are the lower chambers of the heart responsible for pumping blood. Therefore, capillaries are the correct answer for where oxygen is exchanged between blood and tissues.

4. Molecular clocks utilize the accumulation of mutations in DNA sequences to estimate the evolutionary divergence time between species. This method relies on the assumption that:

• A. The rate of mutation is constant across all genes and all species.
• B. Species with more morphological similarities diverged more recently.
• C. Mutations are always beneficial and contribute to increased fitness.
• D. The fossil record provides the most accurate estimates of evolutionary relationships.

Correct answer: A

Rationale: A molecular clock is a method used to estimate the time of divergence between species by measuring the accumulation of mutations in DNA sequences. This method relies on the assumption that mutations occur at a relatively constant rate over time. If the rate of mutation were not constant, it would be challenging to accurately estimate the evolutionary divergence time between species. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate choice as it aligns with the fundamental principle underlying the molecular clock hypothesis. Option B is incorrect because the assumption that species with more morphological similarities diverged more recently does not directly relate to the concept of molecular clocks and the accumulation of mutations in DNA sequences. Option C is incorrect because mutations are not always beneficial and do not always contribute to increased fitness. Mutations can be neutral or deleterious as well, and their accumulation is what is used to estimate evolutionary di

5. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine. What enzyme breaks down proteins into amino acids?

• A. Pepsin
• B. Lipase
• C. Amylase
• D. Trypsin

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Trypsin is the correct enzyme that breaks down proteins into amino acids. It is produced by the pancreas and released into the small intestine to facilitate protein digestion. Pepsin is an enzyme from the stomach that also breaks down proteins, amylase targets carbohydrates, and lipase works on fats. In this context, since the question specifies the pancreas and small intestine, the correct answer is Trypsin as it is the pancreatic enzyme responsible for protein breakdown in the small intestine.

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