Nursing Elites

1. Which compound is a component of baking soda and is important for maintaining pH balance in the body?

• A. Potassium
• B. Sodium
• C. Calcium
• D. Sodium bicarbonate

Correct answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D, Sodium bicarbonate. Sodium bicarbonate, commonly known as baking soda, is a compound that plays a crucial role in maintaining pH balance in the body. When ingested, sodium bicarbonate acts as a buffer, helping to regulate the body's pH levels. It is essential for various physiological functions. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect. Potassium, calcium, and sodium are important minerals in the body but are not components of baking soda or directly responsible for maintaining pH balance in the same way as sodium bicarbonate.

2. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans utilize a key property of positrons for medical imaging. What is this property?

• A. High mass
• B. Positive charge
• C. Extreme stability
• D. Identical behavior to electrons

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Positron emission tomography (PET) scans utilize the property of positrons having a positive charge. Positrons are the antimatter counterpart of electrons, having the same mass but opposite charge. When a positron collides with an electron, they annihilate each other, producing gamma rays that can be detected by the PET scanner to create images of the body's internal structures and functions. Choice A is incorrect because positrons have the same mass as electrons. Choice C is incorrect as positrons are not extremely stable due to their tendency to annihilate when they encounter electrons. Choice D is incorrect as positrons exhibit different behavior than electrons due to their opposite charges.

3. What is the name of the sheath of connective tissue that surrounds a skeletal muscle?

• A. Epimysium
• B. Perimysium
• C. Endomysium
• D. Myofibril

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is Epimysium. The epimysium is the outermost layer of connective tissue that surrounds a skeletal muscle, providing protection and support to the muscle as a whole. Perimysium, which surrounds bundles of muscle fibers known as fascicles, is not the sheath that surrounds the entire muscle. Endomysium surrounds individual muscle fibers, not the entire muscle. Myofibril is a structure within muscle fibers that contains the contractile proteins responsible for muscle contraction, but it is not the sheath of connective tissue surrounding the muscle.

4. Which hormone, produced by the pancreas, acts in opposition to insulin by increasing blood sugar levels?

• A. Insulin
• B. Glucagon
• C. Cortisol
• D. Thyroxine

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Glucagon is the correct answer. Produced by the pancreas, glucagon acts in opposition to insulin by increasing blood sugar levels. Glucagon promotes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver, leading to the release of glucose into the bloodstream. Insulin, on the other hand, lowers blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells. Cortisol is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, not the pancreas, and is involved in stress response and metabolism. Thyroxine is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland and is primarily responsible for regulating metabolism.

5. Which of the following is a chief difference between evaporation and boiling?

• A. Liquids boil only at the surface, while they evaporate equally throughout the liquid.
• B. Evaporating substances change from liquid to gas, while boiling substances change from gas to liquid.
• C. Evaporation can happen below a liquid's boiling point.
• D. Evaporation happens in nature, while boiling is a man-made phenomenon.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The chief difference between evaporation and boiling is that evaporation can happen below a liquid's boiling point, while boiling only occurs at the liquid's boiling point. Evaporation is the process of a liquid turning into a gas at any temperature, while boiling specifically refers to the rapid vaporization that occurs when a liquid reaches its boiling point. Choice A is incorrect because liquids evaporate throughout the liquid, not just at the surface. Choice B is incorrect as evaporating substances change from liquid to gas, while boiling substances change from liquid to gas. Choice C is incorrect as boiling is not a man-made phenomenon; in fact, it is a natural process based on temperature changes. Choice D is incorrect because evaporation can happen naturally and is not limited to man-made processes.

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