ELECTROLYTE AND GENETIC DISORDERS EXAM 2025 |154 QUESTIONS WITH ACCURATE
SOLUTIONS
1. In a patient with severe hypernatremia, what would you expect to
observe in terms of cellular hydration and potential complications?
Cells will become dehydrated, leading to confusion and
convulsions.
Cells will swell, causing increased intracranial pressure.
Cells will retain excess water, resulting in edema.
Cells will maintain normal hydration levels despite sodium excess.
2. Under anaerobic conditions (a lack of oxygen), glycolysis continues in
most cells despite the fact that oxidative phosphorylation stops, and its
production of NAD+ (which is needed as an input to glycolysis) also
stops. The diagram illustrates the process of fermentation, which is used
by many cells in the absence of oxygen. In fermentation, the NADH
produced by glycolysis is used to reduce the pyruvate produced by
glycolysis to either lactate or ethanol. Fermentation results in a net
production of 2 ATP per glucose molecule. During strenuous exercise,
anaerobic conditions can result if the cardiovascular system cannot
supply oxygen fast enough to meet the demands of muscle cells. Assume
that a muscle cell's demand for ATP under anaerobic conditions remains
the same as it was under aerobic conditions.
What would happen to the cell's rate of glucose utilization?
, Glucose utilization would increase a lot.
Glucose utilization would increase a little.
Glucose utilization would remain the same.
Glucose utilization would decrease a little.
Glucose utilization would decrease a lot.
3. In a patient with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, which type of
cellular adaptation might occur in the respiratory epithelium, and what
would be the implications if the exposure continues?
Metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium to stratified squamous
cells, which may lead to impaired respiratory function.
Hypertrophy of the epithelial cells, enhancing respiratory
function.
Hyperplasia of the epithelial cells, leading to increased mucus
production.
Dysplasia of the epithelial cells, resulting in cancer.
4. Von Recklinghausen syndrome (Type 1 neurofibromatosis) is an
autosomal dominant disease that can express anywhere from dark spots
on the skin to malignant neurofibromas, scoliosis, gliomas, neuromas, etc.
This is an example of:
Expressivity
Incidence
Penetrance
Prevalence
5. What is the normal pH range for arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis?
7.35-7.45
6.95-7.15
, 7.00-7.30
7.50-7.70
6. Sarcopenia is considered a hallmark of ageing, and is characterised by
A reduction in maximal heart rate with increased age
Decrease in synapse number or function
Skeletal muscle fibre and motoneuron loss and increased
atrophy with age
Age related decline in immune system function leading to
motoneuron loss
Age related decline in blood cell numbers
7. How does variable expressivity affect the severity of a disease despite
complete penetrance?
Variable expressivity allows for a range of phenotypic
outcomes, meaning the severity of the disease can differ among
individuals with the same genotype.
Variable expressivity ensures that all individuals with the genotype
will exhibit the same symptoms.
Variable expressivity indicates that the disease will always be mild
in its presentation.
Variable expressivity is unrelated to the severity of the disease.
8. Describe the relationship between hypoxia and necrosis in the context of
myocardial infarction.
Hypoxia leads to cellular injury, which can result in necrosis,
particularly during a myocardial infarction.
Hypoxia improves cellular function, preventing necrosis in
myocardial infarction.
, Necrosis occurs without any relation to hypoxia in myocardial
infarction.
Hypoxia only affects the kidneys, not the heart.
9. If a miRNA such as miR-10B is overexpressed, and that miRNA normally
decreases the expression of genes involved in limiting metastasis, the
consequence is:
Less metastasis
No change in metastasis
Increased metastasis
None of the above
10. What is the primary role of insulin in the treatment of hyperkalemia?
Transports potassium from the blood to the cell
Increases blood glucose levels
Stimulates the production of red blood cells
Decreases sodium levels in the blood
11. What does the term 'penetrance' refer to in genetics?
The percentage of individuals with a specific genotype who
also exhibit the expected phenotype.
The variability in the expression of a phenotype among individuals
with the same genotype.
The likelihood of a genotype being passed to the next
generation.
The total number of alleles present in a population.
12. Describe the relationship between ATP levels and cellular swelling as
mentioned in the provided text.
SOLUTIONS
1. In a patient with severe hypernatremia, what would you expect to
observe in terms of cellular hydration and potential complications?
Cells will become dehydrated, leading to confusion and
convulsions.
Cells will swell, causing increased intracranial pressure.
Cells will retain excess water, resulting in edema.
Cells will maintain normal hydration levels despite sodium excess.
2. Under anaerobic conditions (a lack of oxygen), glycolysis continues in
most cells despite the fact that oxidative phosphorylation stops, and its
production of NAD+ (which is needed as an input to glycolysis) also
stops. The diagram illustrates the process of fermentation, which is used
by many cells in the absence of oxygen. In fermentation, the NADH
produced by glycolysis is used to reduce the pyruvate produced by
glycolysis to either lactate or ethanol. Fermentation results in a net
production of 2 ATP per glucose molecule. During strenuous exercise,
anaerobic conditions can result if the cardiovascular system cannot
supply oxygen fast enough to meet the demands of muscle cells. Assume
that a muscle cell's demand for ATP under anaerobic conditions remains
the same as it was under aerobic conditions.
What would happen to the cell's rate of glucose utilization?
, Glucose utilization would increase a lot.
Glucose utilization would increase a little.
Glucose utilization would remain the same.
Glucose utilization would decrease a little.
Glucose utilization would decrease a lot.
3. In a patient with chronic exposure to cigarette smoke, which type of
cellular adaptation might occur in the respiratory epithelium, and what
would be the implications if the exposure continues?
Metaplasia of the respiratory epithelium to stratified squamous
cells, which may lead to impaired respiratory function.
Hypertrophy of the epithelial cells, enhancing respiratory
function.
Hyperplasia of the epithelial cells, leading to increased mucus
production.
Dysplasia of the epithelial cells, resulting in cancer.
4. Von Recklinghausen syndrome (Type 1 neurofibromatosis) is an
autosomal dominant disease that can express anywhere from dark spots
on the skin to malignant neurofibromas, scoliosis, gliomas, neuromas, etc.
This is an example of:
Expressivity
Incidence
Penetrance
Prevalence
5. What is the normal pH range for arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis?
7.35-7.45
6.95-7.15
, 7.00-7.30
7.50-7.70
6. Sarcopenia is considered a hallmark of ageing, and is characterised by
A reduction in maximal heart rate with increased age
Decrease in synapse number or function
Skeletal muscle fibre and motoneuron loss and increased
atrophy with age
Age related decline in immune system function leading to
motoneuron loss
Age related decline in blood cell numbers
7. How does variable expressivity affect the severity of a disease despite
complete penetrance?
Variable expressivity allows for a range of phenotypic
outcomes, meaning the severity of the disease can differ among
individuals with the same genotype.
Variable expressivity ensures that all individuals with the genotype
will exhibit the same symptoms.
Variable expressivity indicates that the disease will always be mild
in its presentation.
Variable expressivity is unrelated to the severity of the disease.
8. Describe the relationship between hypoxia and necrosis in the context of
myocardial infarction.
Hypoxia leads to cellular injury, which can result in necrosis,
particularly during a myocardial infarction.
Hypoxia improves cellular function, preventing necrosis in
myocardial infarction.
, Necrosis occurs without any relation to hypoxia in myocardial
infarction.
Hypoxia only affects the kidneys, not the heart.
9. If a miRNA such as miR-10B is overexpressed, and that miRNA normally
decreases the expression of genes involved in limiting metastasis, the
consequence is:
Less metastasis
No change in metastasis
Increased metastasis
None of the above
10. What is the primary role of insulin in the treatment of hyperkalemia?
Transports potassium from the blood to the cell
Increases blood glucose levels
Stimulates the production of red blood cells
Decreases sodium levels in the blood
11. What does the term 'penetrance' refer to in genetics?
The percentage of individuals with a specific genotype who
also exhibit the expected phenotype.
The variability in the expression of a phenotype among individuals
with the same genotype.
The likelihood of a genotype being passed to the next
generation.
The total number of alleles present in a population.
12. Describe the relationship between ATP levels and cellular swelling as
mentioned in the provided text.
