OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. The top part of the skin, which is exposed to the environment, is called:
A. adipose tissue
B. the dermis
C. the epidermis*
D. the hypodermis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. Which bacterial genus is commonly associated with acne?
A. Candida
B. Clostridium
C. Propionibacterium*
D. Salmonella
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
3. Papillomas are also known as:
A. comedones
B. pustules
C. urticaria
D. warts*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
4. Tinea corporis is also known as:
A. conjunctivitis
B. ringworm*
C. viral keratitis
D. warts
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
5. The conjunctiva is the:
A. boundary of the lens of the eye
B. layer of mucus covering the eye
C. layer of tissue surrounding the entire eye
Page 1 of 17
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
D. mucous membranes of the eye*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
6. A deep lesion that develops from multiple boils is called a:
A. carbuncle*
B. furuncle
C. macule
D. pustule
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Systemic symptoms are most likely to develop with a:
A. carbuncle*
B. comedo
C. cyst
D. pustule
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
8. Which of the following descrTibE
esSiTmB
peAtiNgK
o?
A. a highly contagious infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus
pyogenes that causes vesicles, pustules, and bullae*
B. a mild and self-limiting viral infection that can be caused by a wide range of infectious
agents
C. a noncontagious rash (not caused by an infectious agent) that spreads rapidly across the
skin
D. a systemic fungal infection caused by Candida spp. and other species that is difficult to
treat
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
9. Which of the following is true of the normal skin microbiota?
A. It does not change over time.
B. It is always identical in all parts of the body.
C. It varies between moist and dry areas only, but is consistent in areas of similar moisture
content.
D. It varies depending on microenvironment and is an important part of the nonspecific
immune system.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
Page 2 of 17
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
10. One reason that the skin is inhospitable to microbes is that:
A. It is moist and hypersaline, which prevents growth by most species of microbes.
B. It is relatively lacking in salt and is hypotonic to bacteria.
C. It is relatively moist and this inhibits their growth.
D. The normal microbiota outcompetes other microbes and inhibits their growth.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
11. An important difference between sebaceous glands and sweat glands is that:
A. Sebaceous glands are not typically associated with hair follicles, whereas sweat glands
typically are associated with hair follicles.
B. Sebaceous glands are tubular and sweat glands are coiled.
C. Sweat glands are found fully within the dermis, whereas sebaceous glands are found fully
within the epidermis.
D. Sweat glands produce a watery fluid, whereas sebaceous glands produce lipid-rich
sebum.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
12. How does sebum affect microbial growth on the skin?
A. It dries out the skin, reducTinEgSthTeBaAbN
iliK
tySoEf L
mLicEroRb.
esCtO
o Mgrow where it is present.
B. It may aid growth by providing nutrients but also has components that inhibit microbial
growth.*
C. It only aids microbial growth, providing a source of nutrition without generally having
any harmful effects on microbes.
D. It repels microbes and they cannot grow where it is present, making it an important part
of the nonspecific immune response.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
13. Sebum-rich areas of the skin, such as the back, generally harbor which of the following?
A. highly mixed microbial populations, including a range of bacteria and fungi
B. less diverse microbial populations than other regions*
C. more diverse microbial populations than other regions
D. varied microbial diversity that is difficult to predict compared with other skin regions
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
14. The normal skin microbiota primarily includes:
A. bacteria and fungi only
B. bacteria, fungi, and viruses*
Page 3 of 17
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
* = Correct answer
Multiple Choice
1. The top part of the skin, which is exposed to the environment, is called:
A. adipose tissue
B. the dermis
C. the epidermis*
D. the hypodermis
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
2. Which bacterial genus is commonly associated with acne?
A. Candida
B. Clostridium
C. Propionibacterium*
D. Salmonella
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
3. Papillomas are also known as:
A. comedones
B. pustules
C. urticaria
D. warts*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
4. Tinea corporis is also known as:
A. conjunctivitis
B. ringworm*
C. viral keratitis
D. warts
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
5. The conjunctiva is the:
A. boundary of the lens of the eye
B. layer of mucus covering the eye
C. layer of tissue surrounding the entire eye
Page 1 of 17
,OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
D. mucous membranes of the eye*
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: N/A
6. A deep lesion that develops from multiple boils is called a:
A. carbuncle*
B. furuncle
C. macule
D. pustule
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
7. Systemic symptoms are most likely to develop with a:
A. carbuncle*
B. comedo
C. cyst
D. pustule
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
8. Which of the following descrTibE
esSiTmB
peAtiNgK
o?
A. a highly contagious infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus
pyogenes that causes vesicles, pustules, and bullae*
B. a mild and self-limiting viral infection that can be caused by a wide range of infectious
agents
C. a noncontagious rash (not caused by an infectious agent) that spreads rapidly across the
skin
D. a systemic fungal infection caused by Candida spp. and other species that is difficult to
treat
Difficulty: Easy
ASM Standard: 23
9. Which of the following is true of the normal skin microbiota?
A. It does not change over time.
B. It is always identical in all parts of the body.
C. It varies between moist and dry areas only, but is consistent in areas of similar moisture
content.
D. It varies depending on microenvironment and is an important part of the nonspecific
immune system.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
Page 2 of 17
, OpenStax Microbiology Test Bank
Chapter 21: Skin and Eye Infections
10. One reason that the skin is inhospitable to microbes is that:
A. It is moist and hypersaline, which prevents growth by most species of microbes.
B. It is relatively lacking in salt and is hypotonic to bacteria.
C. It is relatively moist and this inhibits their growth.
D. The normal microbiota outcompetes other microbes and inhibits their growth.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
11. An important difference between sebaceous glands and sweat glands is that:
A. Sebaceous glands are not typically associated with hair follicles, whereas sweat glands
typically are associated with hair follicles.
B. Sebaceous glands are tubular and sweat glands are coiled.
C. Sweat glands are found fully within the dermis, whereas sebaceous glands are found fully
within the epidermis.
D. Sweat glands produce a watery fluid, whereas sebaceous glands produce lipid-rich
sebum.*
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: N/A
12. How does sebum affect microbial growth on the skin?
A. It dries out the skin, reducTinEgSthTeBaAbN
iliK
tySoEf L
mLicEroRb.
esCtO
o Mgrow where it is present.
B. It may aid growth by providing nutrients but also has components that inhibit microbial
growth.*
C. It only aids microbial growth, providing a source of nutrition without generally having
any harmful effects on microbes.
D. It repels microbes and they cannot grow where it is present, making it an important part
of the nonspecific immune response.
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
13. Sebum-rich areas of the skin, such as the back, generally harbor which of the following?
A. highly mixed microbial populations, including a range of bacteria and fungi
B. less diverse microbial populations than other regions*
C. more diverse microbial populations than other regions
D. varied microbial diversity that is difficult to predict compared with other skin regions
Difficulty: Moderate
ASM Standard: 23, 24
14. The normal skin microbiota primarily includes:
A. bacteria and fungi only
B. bacteria, fungi, and viruses*
Page 3 of 17
