Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Huether and McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology,
5th Edition
Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by
the student?
A single circular chromosome
A nucleus
Free-floating nuclear material
No organelles
ANS: B
The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA
within its nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.
A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not
have histones.
Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a
distinct nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No
organelles describes a prokaryotic cell.
REF: p. 2
A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is
the nurse describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform
nutrients to energy?
Metabolic absorption
Communication
Secretion
Respiration
ANS: D
The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cell’s function of respiration.
,The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function
of communication.
The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cell’s function of metabolic
absorption.
The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers
to the cell’s function of secretion.
REF: p. 3
A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell
would most of the genetic information be contained?
Mitochondria
Ribosome
Nucleolus
Nucleus
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount
of ribonucleic acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the
nucleolus. The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.
The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.
The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic
material.
REF: p. 5
The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior.
According to this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the
fluid lipid bilayer?
Peripheral membrane proteins
Integral membrane proteins
Glycoproteins
Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.
Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.
Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.
,Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook
together.
REF: p. 6
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
Oxygen
Ribosomes
Amphipathic lipids
Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.
Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.
Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.
Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.
REF: p. 11
A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding
would support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix
that include:
Decreased fibronectin
Increased collagen
Decreased elastin
Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing
cancer cells to travel, or metastasize.
Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not
cancer.
Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated
with cancerous cells.
Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.
REF: p. 8
Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct
physical contact?
, Cell junction
Gap junction
Desmosomes
Tight junctions
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to
cell. Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the
inside of another.
Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.
Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages
of others.
REF: p. 9
Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighboring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling
types?
Paracrine
Autocrine
Neurohormonal
Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling involves the release of local chemical mediators that are quickly
taken up, destroyed, or immobilized, as in the case of insulin and the inhibition of
the secretion of glucagon.
When cells produce signals that they themselves respond to, autocrine signaling is
used.
Neurohormonal signaling involves secretion of hormones into the bloodstream
by neurosecretory hormones.
Hormonal signaling involves specialized endocrine cells that secrete hormone
chemicals released by one set of cells that travel through the tissue through the
bloodstream to produce a response in other sets of cells. REF: p. 11
9. In cellular metabolism, each enzyme has a high affinity for a:
Huether and McCance: Understanding Pathophysiology,
5th Edition
Chapter 01: Cellular Biology
Test Bank
MULTIPLE CHOICE
A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have
supercoiled DNA with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by
the student?
A single circular chromosome
A nucleus
Free-floating nuclear material
No organelles
ANS: B
The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA
within its nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.
A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not
have histones.
Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a
distinct nucleus.
Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No
organelles describes a prokaryotic cell.
REF: p. 2
A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is
the nurse describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform
nutrients to energy?
Metabolic absorption
Communication
Secretion
Respiration
ANS: D
The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cell’s function of respiration.
,The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function
of communication.
The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cell’s function of metabolic
absorption.
The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers
to the cell’s function of secretion.
REF: p. 3
A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell
would most of the genetic information be contained?
Mitochondria
Ribosome
Nucleolus
Nucleus
ANS: C
The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount
of ribonucleic acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the
nucleolus. The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.
The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.
The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic
material.
REF: p. 5
The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior.
According to this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the
fluid lipid bilayer?
Peripheral membrane proteins
Integral membrane proteins
Glycoproteins
Cell adhesion molecules
ANS: B
Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.
Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.
Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.
,Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook
together.
REF: p. 6
5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?
Oxygen
Ribosomes
Amphipathic lipids
Ligands
ANS: D
Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.
Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.
Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.
Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.
REF: p. 11
A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding
would support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix
that include:
Decreased fibronectin
Increased collagen
Decreased elastin
Increased glycoproteins
ANS: A
Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing
cancer cells to travel, or metastasize.
Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not
cancer.
Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated
with cancerous cells.
Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.
REF: p. 8
Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct
physical contact?
, Cell junction
Gap junction
Desmosomes
Tight junctions
ANS: A
Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to
cell. Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the
inside of another.
Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.
Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages
of others.
REF: p. 9
Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from
neighboring alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling
types?
Paracrine
Autocrine
Neurohormonal
Hormonal
ANS: A
Paracrine signaling involves the release of local chemical mediators that are quickly
taken up, destroyed, or immobilized, as in the case of insulin and the inhibition of
the secretion of glucagon.
When cells produce signals that they themselves respond to, autocrine signaling is
used.
Neurohormonal signaling involves secretion of hormones into the bloodstream
by neurosecretory hormones.
Hormonal signaling involves specialized endocrine cells that secrete hormone
chemicals released by one set of cells that travel through the tissue through the
bloodstream to produce a response in other sets of cells. REF: p. 11
9. In cellular metabolism, each enzyme has a high affinity for a:
