Module 5 Lab Quiz

Respiratory & Excretory Systems

What is one primary function of the tissues lining the nasal sinuses?

To warm incoming air and trap airborne particles

What happens to the larynx during swallowing, and why?

The larynx moves upward and forward to help close off the windpipe and prevent food from entering it.

Chondrocytes are found in which tissue of the trachea?

-Cartilage

Which statement accurately describes the mechanics of inhalation?-

The diaphragm contracts and flattens, lowering air pressure inside the lungs to draw air in.

How does cigarette smoke physically disrupt the respiratory system's cleaning mechanism?-

It immobilizes the cilia and stimulates excess mucus production.

When examining a slide of a smoker's lung, the dark granules trapped within the tissue are particles of what?

-Tar

If a person tries to hold their breath for as long as possible, what is the primary physiological trigger that ultimately forces them to gasp for air?-

The accumulation of excess carbon dioxide in the blood, sensed by the medulla.

In the context of homeostasis, why does an increase in cellular activity, like exercise, lead to a faster breathing rate?-

Active cells respire faster and produce more carbon dioxide, which the medulla detects and remedies by increasing diaphragm activity.

If a person takes several deep, rapid breaths of fresh air before attempting to hold their breath, how does this alter the homeostatic timeline?-

It floods the cells with extra oxygen, allowing the person to resist the urge to breathe until carbon dioxide accumulates to a critical level again.

A student makes a longitudinal (sagittal) cut of a sheep kidney. Which observation correctly matches the anatomical structure of the kidney?-

The medulla is a deeper red color and contains striped, triangular regions called medullary pyramids.

From an evolutionary perspective, what primary environmental pressure drove the adaptation of water-conservation mechanisms like the kidney in land animals?-

The threat of drying up once animals left fresh water to inhabit the land.

Approximately 20% of the blood plasma filters through the glomerulus into the Bowman's capsule during glomerular filtration. Why are large molecules and cells not filtered out?-.

They are physically too large to pass through the semi-permeable capillary walls

Under a high-power microscope, a student is attempting to distinguish between the proximal convoluted tubule and the distal convoluted tubule in the kidney cortex. What key feature should they look for?-

The proximal convoluted tubule is lined on the inside with fine projections called microvilli, whereas the distal tubule is not.

Which segment of the nephron is responsible for reabsorbing the vast majority (75% to 80%) of total filtered water, as well as 100% of the essential glucose and amino acids?-

The proximal convoluted tubule

A laboratory technician notes that a patient's urine sample is distinctly cloudy and contains trace amounts of proteins and leukocytes. Based on the text, what is the most likely clinical interpretation of these findings?-

The patient may be experiencing a urinary tract infection.

How does the hypothalamus directly trigger the conservation of water when a person consumes highly salty foods?-

It detects an increase in osmotic pressure (solute concentration) and stimulates the pituitary gland to release ADH.

If a person experiences severe dehydration or significant blood loss, what is the initial trigger that prompts the kidneys to release the hormone renin?-

A decrease in body fluid volume which subsequently causes a drop in blood pressure.

What is the precise sequential mechanism by which the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone system restores blood pressure?-

Renin forms angiotensin → angiotensin triggers aldosterone release → aldosterone increases sodium reabsorption → chloride and water follow passively.

Why is glucose normally completely absent from a healthy individual's urine sample?-

It is actively transported and entirely reabsorbed from the tubular fluid back into the bloodstream.

Given that it takes only about 25 minutes for the body's entire 3 liters of plasma to pass through the kidneys, what microscopic structural feature of the nephron allows it to process and reabsorb 75% to 80% of this fluid so rapidly?-

The fine projections called microvilli that line the inside of the proximal convoluted tubules.