NU 545 UNIT 3 TEST | 2026 UPDATE | WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS-USA.
SECTION 1: HORMONAL REGULATION &
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION (Questions 1-8)
Question 1
Water-soluble hormones (e.g., insulin, growth hormone) are transported in
the blood in which form?
A. Bound to carrier proteins
B. As free, unbound molecules
C. Stored in erythrocytes
D. Bound to albumin only
Correct Answer: B. As free, unbound molecules
Rationale: Peptide and protein hormones are water-soluble and circulate in
free (unbound) forms. Because they are unbound, they are rapidly
catabolized by circulating enzymes and have short half-lives. Lipid-soluble
hormones require carrier proteins.
Subtopic: Hormone Transport Mechanisms
Question 2
Lipid-soluble hormones (e.g., steroids, thyroid hormone) typically remain in
the blood for hours to days because they:
A. Are rapidly excreted by the kidneys
B. Bind to carrier/transport proteins that protect them from metabolism
C. Are stored in large quantities within the thyroid
D. Have no specific binding sites
Correct Answer: B. Bind to carrier/transport proteins that protect them from
metabolism
,Rationale: Lipid-soluble hormones can remain in the blood for hours to days
because they are bound to carrier/transport proteins. Only free
hormones (unbound fraction) can initiate changes within a target cell. The
equilibrium between bound and free hormones regulates hormonal activity.
Subtopic: Hormone Transport Mechanisms
Question 3
A patient with a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma) would
most likely present with which clinical manifestations in females?
A. Hirsutism, weight gain, hypertension
B. Amenorrhea, infertility, and nonpuerperal milk production
C. Osteoporosis, renal calculi, and constipation
D. Virilization, deepening voice, and clitoromegaly
Correct Answer: B. Amenorrhea, infertility, and nonpuerperal milk
production
Rationale: Prolactinomas cause hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in both
sexes. In women, manifestations include amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism,
nonpuerperal milk production (galactorrhea), and osteopenia or
osteoporosis. Hyperprolactinemia inhibits GnRH secretion, leading to
reduced gonadotropins and subsequent hypogonadism.
Subtopic: Pituitary Disorders - Prolactinoma
Question 4
Which action correctly describes the mechanism of oxytocin?
A. It is synthesized and stored in the anterior pituitary
B. It is released in response to elevated blood glucose
C. It is stored in the posterior pituitary and stimulates uterine contractions
and milk ejection
D. It inhibits prolactin release during lactation
Correct Answer: C. It is stored in the posterior pituitary and stimulates
uterine contractions and milk ejection
, Rationale: Oxytocin is a polypeptide hormone synthesized in the supraoptic
and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, then packaged and
transported to the posterior pituitary for storage and secretion. Its primary
effects include uterine contraction and milk ejection in lactating women.
Release is triggered by suckling (milk let-down reflex) and uterine distention.
Subtopic: Posterior Pituitary - Oxytocin
Question 5
A patient with diabetes mellitus is experiencing hyperglycemia. In response
to this elevation in blood glucose, which of the following would the nurse
practitioner expect to observe?
A. Increased release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells
B. Decreased release of glucagon from pancreatic alpha cells
C. Increased cellular uptake of glucose into muscle and adipose tissue
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: Insulin is an anabolic hormone that promotes glucose uptake in
the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Hyperglycemia stimulates insulin
release, which facilitates cellular glucose uptake, decreases hepatic
gluconeogenesis, and promotes glycogen synthesis. Glucagon release is
suppressed in the presence of hyperglycemia.
Subtopic: Endocrine Regulation - Insulin
Question 6
Which type of hormone receptor interaction involves activation of a second
messenger system?
A. Thyroid hormone binding to nuclear receptors
B. Cortisol binding to cytoplasmic receptors
C. Epinephrine binding to membrane-bound G-protein coupled receptors
D. Estrogen binding to intranuclear receptors
COMPLETE SOLUTIONS-USA.
SECTION 1: HORMONAL REGULATION &
ENDOCRINE FUNCTION (Questions 1-8)
Question 1
Water-soluble hormones (e.g., insulin, growth hormone) are transported in
the blood in which form?
A. Bound to carrier proteins
B. As free, unbound molecules
C. Stored in erythrocytes
D. Bound to albumin only
Correct Answer: B. As free, unbound molecules
Rationale: Peptide and protein hormones are water-soluble and circulate in
free (unbound) forms. Because they are unbound, they are rapidly
catabolized by circulating enzymes and have short half-lives. Lipid-soluble
hormones require carrier proteins.
Subtopic: Hormone Transport Mechanisms
Question 2
Lipid-soluble hormones (e.g., steroids, thyroid hormone) typically remain in
the blood for hours to days because they:
A. Are rapidly excreted by the kidneys
B. Bind to carrier/transport proteins that protect them from metabolism
C. Are stored in large quantities within the thyroid
D. Have no specific binding sites
Correct Answer: B. Bind to carrier/transport proteins that protect them from
metabolism
,Rationale: Lipid-soluble hormones can remain in the blood for hours to days
because they are bound to carrier/transport proteins. Only free
hormones (unbound fraction) can initiate changes within a target cell. The
equilibrium between bound and free hormones regulates hormonal activity.
Subtopic: Hormone Transport Mechanisms
Question 3
A patient with a prolactin-secreting pituitary adenoma (prolactinoma) would
most likely present with which clinical manifestations in females?
A. Hirsutism, weight gain, hypertension
B. Amenorrhea, infertility, and nonpuerperal milk production
C. Osteoporosis, renal calculi, and constipation
D. Virilization, deepening voice, and clitoromegaly
Correct Answer: B. Amenorrhea, infertility, and nonpuerperal milk
production
Rationale: Prolactinomas cause hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in both
sexes. In women, manifestations include amenorrhea, infertility, hirsutism,
nonpuerperal milk production (galactorrhea), and osteopenia or
osteoporosis. Hyperprolactinemia inhibits GnRH secretion, leading to
reduced gonadotropins and subsequent hypogonadism.
Subtopic: Pituitary Disorders - Prolactinoma
Question 4
Which action correctly describes the mechanism of oxytocin?
A. It is synthesized and stored in the anterior pituitary
B. It is released in response to elevated blood glucose
C. It is stored in the posterior pituitary and stimulates uterine contractions
and milk ejection
D. It inhibits prolactin release during lactation
Correct Answer: C. It is stored in the posterior pituitary and stimulates
uterine contractions and milk ejection
, Rationale: Oxytocin is a polypeptide hormone synthesized in the supraoptic
and paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus, then packaged and
transported to the posterior pituitary for storage and secretion. Its primary
effects include uterine contraction and milk ejection in lactating women.
Release is triggered by suckling (milk let-down reflex) and uterine distention.
Subtopic: Posterior Pituitary - Oxytocin
Question 5
A patient with diabetes mellitus is experiencing hyperglycemia. In response
to this elevation in blood glucose, which of the following would the nurse
practitioner expect to observe?
A. Increased release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells
B. Decreased release of glucagon from pancreatic alpha cells
C. Increased cellular uptake of glucose into muscle and adipose tissue
D. All of the above
Correct Answer: D. All of the above
Rationale: Insulin is an anabolic hormone that promotes glucose uptake in
the liver, muscle, and adipose tissues. Hyperglycemia stimulates insulin
release, which facilitates cellular glucose uptake, decreases hepatic
gluconeogenesis, and promotes glycogen synthesis. Glucagon release is
suppressed in the presence of hyperglycemia.
Subtopic: Endocrine Regulation - Insulin
Question 6
Which type of hormone receptor interaction involves activation of a second
messenger system?
A. Thyroid hormone binding to nuclear receptors
B. Cortisol binding to cytoplasmic receptors
C. Epinephrine binding to membrane-bound G-protein coupled receptors
D. Estrogen binding to intranuclear receptors
