Human Structure and Function – Exam Review Flashcards

72 flashcards covering the key concepts, structures, functions, and processes outlined in the lecture notes for efficient exam revision.

Which structure separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity?

The diaphragm

In which abdominal quadrant is appendiceal pain typically localized?

Right-lower quadrant (RLQ)

Penetration of the chest wall that punctures the lung damages which serous membranes?

Both the visceral pleura and parietal pleura

What epithelial tissue thickens on hands to resist friction and abrasion?

Stratified squamous epithelium

Which organelle is the primary producer of large amounts of ATP?

Mitochondria

Liver cells making extra lipids will have an increased number of which organelle?

Smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER)

Red blood cells that shrink and wrinkle were placed in what type of solution?

A hypertonic solution

Which structure prevents food from entering the nasal cavity during swallowing?

The uvula (soft palate)

Why is the small intestine highly efficient at absorption?

Its inner lining is folded (villi & microvilli) to greatly increase surface area

Which pulmonary structures provide the greatest surface area for gas exchange?

Alveoli

Bronchiole diameter changes because their walls contain what tissue?

Smooth muscle

How is most oxygen transported in the blood?

Bound to the heme portion of haemoglobin

What is the primary function of each atrium of the heart?

To receive blood returning to the heart

Which statement correctly describes atrioventricular (AV) valves?

They prevent back-flow of blood into the atria during ventricular contraction

Which vessel returns oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart?

Pulmonary veins

Which of the following best describes glycolysis?

Breakdown of glucose to 2 pyruvate, needs 2 ATP, yields 2 NADH, and is anaerobic (all are correct)

Which substrate directly enters the citric acid (Krebs) cycle?

Acetyl-CoA

The final stage of cellular respiration (electron transport chain) occurs in which location?

The inner mitochondrial membrane

After the proximal convoluted tubule, filtrate flows into which nephron segment?

The Loop of Henle

How is glucose reabsorbed from filtrate back to blood in the nephron?

Co-transport across the apical membrane followed by facilitated diffusion across the basal membrane

A rapid, automatic withdrawal of a limb from pain is what type of response?

A somatic reflex

Correct reflex-arc sequence for a withdrawal reflex?

Sensory receptor → Sensory neuron → Interneuron → Motor neuron → Effector

Which division mediates the ‘fight-or-flight’ response?

Sympathetic nervous system

Which division mediates ‘rest-and-digest’ functions?

Parasympathetic division

The autonomic nervous system consists of what kind of fibers?

Motor fibers from CNS to smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, and glands

Clusters of neuron cell bodies outside the CNS are called what?

Ganglia

Saltatory conduction of action potentials is made possible by what?

The myelin sheath

The vital centres for heart rate and breathing are located in which brain region?

Medulla oblongata

Cell bodies of spinal sensory neurons are found where?

Dorsal root ganglia

Which fissure separates the two cerebral hemispheres?

Longitudinal fissure

The central sulcus separates which cerebral lobes?

Frontal lobe from parietal lobe

Which lobe processes auditory & olfactory input and plays a role in memory?

Temporal lobe

Which cerebral lobe regulates motivation, aggression, mood, smell & voluntary motor activity?

Frontal lobe

Which cortical area lies in the post-central gyrus?

Primary somatic sensory cortex

Which is NOT a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) function?

Initiation of some nerve impulses

The brain stem consists of which three parts?

Midbrain, pons, and medulla

Gray matter is composed primarily of what?

Neuron cell bodies

What happens during neuronal depolarization?

Sodium ions rush in, making the inside of the membrane more positive

Inside a resting neuron is ____ charged and contains ____ sodium than outside.

Negatively; less

Which pituitary-independent function is LEAST likely to be altered by anterior pituitary damage?

Adrenaline synthesis by the adrenal medulla

Insulin’s primary effect on body cells is what?

Stimulates uptake of glucose into cells

Which hormone predominates during the menstrual (luteal) phase?

Progesterone

Elevated thyroid hormones causing weight loss and tachycardia indicate what condition?

Hyperthyroidism

Addison’s disease primarily results in deficiency of which hormone?

Cortisol

Antibodies passed in breast milk confer which type of immunity?

Passive natural immunity

Which of the following is an example of innate (nonspecific) immunity?

All of the listed options (tears, basophil mediators, neutrophil phagocytosis, complement)

Which cells are chiefly responsible for antibody-mediated (humoral) immunity?

B lymphocytes

Why are booster vaccinations effective?

The secondary antibody response prevents disease symptoms from occurring

Vaccines induce what kind of immunity?

Active artificial immunity

Loss of T-helper cells in HIV primarily impairs which immune arm?

Cell-mediated immunity

Forward flow of lymph in lymphatic vessels is promoted chiefly by which structural feature?

Valves in the vessel walls

The nucleotide sequence of mRNA determines the sequence of what?

Amino acids in a protein

In DNA, adenine always pairs with which base?

Thymine

Where does transcription of DNA into RNA occur?

Inside the nucleus

Which RNA molecule carries amino acids to the ribosome?

Transfer RNA (tRNA)

A three-nucleotide sequence in mRNA that codes for an amino acid is called what?

A codon

What mRNA sequence is produced from the DNA template TTC AAG GAT?

AAG UUC CUA

A normal human karyotype contains how many chromosomes?

22 pairs of autosomes and 1 pair of sex chromosomes (46 total)

What major event characterizes interphase of the cell cycle?

Replication of the DNA

What are the end products of meiosis?

Four genetically non-identical daughter cells

List the four basic tissue types of the body.

Epithelial, connective, muscular, and nervous tissue

In which abdominal region is most of the stomach located?

Primarily the epigastric (and left hypochondriac) region

The urinary bladder is situated in which body cavity?

The pelvic cavity

What is the fundamental building block (monomer) of carbohydrates?

Monosaccharides (e.g., glucose)

Name the three anatomical regions of the pharynx.

Nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx

What type of epithelium lines the alveoli to facilitate gas exchange?

Simple squamous epithelium

When a cell is placed in a hypertonic solution, which way does water move and what happens to the cell?

Water exits the cell, causing it to shrink (crenate)

Which reduced coenzymes donate electrons to the electron transport chain?

NADH and FADH₂

Which nervous division lowers heart and respiratory rates?

Parasympathetic division

What are the three phases of an action potential?

Depolarization, repolarization, and hyperpolarization (after-potential)

What is the outermost (most superficial) meningeal layer?

Dura mater

Describe the arrangement of gray and white matter in the brain.

Gray matter forms the outer cortex and deep nuclei; white matter lies beneath the cortex, forming tracts