Biology 449 - Animal Physiology                                                                              Fall 2004

Midterm 3 - Key

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Multiple choice:   As always, choose the best answer for each multiple-choice question.  Answer on your scantron form.  Each question is worth 3 points.

1.      Which of the following is not a complex carbohydrate?

a.      A disaccharide

b.      A polysaccharide

c.       A starch molecule

d.      A glycogen molecule

e.       All of the above are complex carbohydrates.

2.      From a physiological standpoint, chyme in the lumen of the gut is located

a.       intracellularly.

b.      interstitially.

c.       in the blood.

d.      within the internal environment of the body.

e.       outside the body.

3.      The main trigger for the release of cholecystokinin is

a.       chewing and swallowing of food.

b.      food in the stomach.

c.       acidic chyme in the small intestine.

d.      fats and proteins in the small intestine.

e.       fecal matter in the large intestine.

4.      The activation of the enzymes chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase depends directly on

a.       the acidity of the stomach.

b.      the relative alkalinity of the small intestine.

c.       pepsin.

d.      enterokinase.

e.       trypsin.

5.      Fats (triglycerides) that have been digested and absorbed end up in the bloodstream in the form of

a.       fatty acids.

b.      fats (triglycerides).

c.       micelles.

d.      cholesterol.

e.       Absorbed fats never enter the bloodstream.

6.      Increased amounts of insulin are released

a.       from the alpha cells of the pancreas in response to an increase in blood glucose.

b.      from the alpha cells of the pancreas in response to a decrease in blood glucose.

c.       from the beta cells of the pancreas in response to an increase in blood glucose.

d.      from the beta cells of the pancreas in response to a decrease in blood glucose.

e.       Insulin levels in the body are unchanging.

7.      The fact that many obese people have high levels of circulating leptin suggests that

a.       they are releasing too much leptin for their weight.

b.      their fat cells are acting abnormally.

c.       they are failing to respond appropriately to leptin.

d.      they are eating too few calories.

e.       they are eating too little protein.

8.      The kidneys are directly responsible for regulating the composition of  

a.       the intracellular fluid.

b.      the extracellular fluid.

c.       the cerebrospinal fluid.

d.      a and b.

e.       All of the above.

9.      If you injected an inert substance into your bloodstream, it should eventually be removed by your kidneys provided that

a.       it is structurally similar to a substance normally removed by the kidneys.

b.      it is small enough to filter out of the glomerulus and into Bowman’s capsule.

c.       there are carrier proteins that can secrete it into the proximal tubule.

d.      there are carrier proteins that can secrete it into the distal tubule.

e.       it precipitates out of the blood.

10.  If substance U is filtered at the glomerulus at the rate of 10 mg/min and enters the bladder at the rate of 5 mg/min we can say that U is

a.      reabsorbed.

b.      secreted.

c.       neither secreted no reabsorbed.

d.      actively transported.

e.       not present in the blood.

11.  If the primary urine (= glomerular filtrate) contained no sodium, the proximal tubule would probably have trouble reabsorbing normal amounts of  

a.       glucose.

b.      water.

c.       urea.

d.      Two of the above.

e.       All of the above.

12.  The loop of Henle shows

a.       permeability to water in the descending limb and active transport of sodium in the thin ascending limb.

b.      permeability to water in the descending limb and active transport of sodium in the thick ascending limb.

c.       permeability to sodium in the descending limb and active transport of sodium in the thin ascending limb.

d.      permeability to sodium in the descending limb and active transport of sodium in the thick ascending limb.

e.       None of the above.

13.  By the time the urine reaches the end of the loop of Henle, the flow per minute (or volume per minute) has decreased from about 120 ml at Bowman’s capsule to about

a.       80 ml

b.      40 ml

c.       20 ml

d.      5 ml

e.       1 ml

14.  Renin is

a.       a hormone released by the kidneys.

b.      an enzyme released by the kidneys.

c.       a hormone released by the liver.

d.      an enzyme released by the liver.

e.       a hormone released by the adrenal cortex.

15.  Blood flow through body tissues is driven most directly by

a.       heart rate.

b.      stroke volume.

c.       arterial blood pressure.

d.      venous blood pressure.

e.       blood volume.

16.  A respiratory acidosis results from

a.       low levels of CO2 in the blood.

b.      high levels of CO2 in the blood.

c.       low levels of lactate in the blood.

d.      high levels of lactate in the blood.

e.       Two of the above.

17.  In human females, the pattern of secondary hair growth is due to increasing levels of

a.       GnRH.

b.      FSH.

c.       estrogen.

d.      progesterone.

e.       androgens.

18.  In mature men, the primary direct effect of luteinizing hormone is to

a.       promote spermatogenesis.

b.      stimulate Sertoli cells to release paracrine agents.

c.       stimulate Sertoli cells to release inhibin.

d.      stimulate Leydig cells to release testosterone.

e.       Two of the above.

19.  In mammals, diploid cells that give rise to spermatozoa are known as 

a.       Leydig cells.

b.      Sertoli cells.

c.       seminiferous cells.

d.      luminal cells.

e.       spermatogonia.

20.  A new drug, targeting the Viagra market, is released that claims to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system while inhibiting the sympathetic nervous system.  Which of the following describes the most likely effect of this drug on a man?

a.       He would find it harder to achieve erection but the ejaculatory response might be stronger.

b.      He would find it easier to achieve erection but the ejaculatory response might be compromised.

c.       He would find it harder to achieve erection and the ejaculatory response might be compromised.

d.      He would find it easier to achieve erection and the ejaculatory response might be stronger.

e.       His hair would grow back.

21.  The total number of eggs released from the ovaries of a typical woman is on the order of

a.       tens.

b.      hundreds.

c.       thousands.

d.      tens of thousands.

e.       hundreds of thousands.

22.  During the middle of the luteal phase, the corpus luteum produces relatively large amounts of

a.       progesterone.

b.      estrogen.

c.       luteinizing hormone.

d.      Two of the above. (a and b)

e.       All of the above.

23.  In humans, the delay between fertilization and implantation is about

a.       one hour.

b.      six hours.

c.       24 hours.

d.      three days.

e.       six days.

24.  An antibody that bound to chorionic gonadotropin, thus rendering it inactive, would likely

a.       prevent an embryo from implanting but have no effect on an established embryo or fetus.

b.      cause termination of a pregnancy during the first trimester but have no effect after that.

c.       have no effect during the first trimester but cause termination of a pregnancy after that.

d.      cause termination of a pregnancy at any stage.

e.       have no effect on a pregnancy at any stage.

Where did my last multiple choice question go?  Oh well – three free points for everyone!

Short answer:  Write a concise answer to each of the following questions.  Diagrams may be used but will typically require supporting text.  Your answers should fit in the spaces provided.  Each question is worth 4 points.

25.  Discuss the release and activity of pepsin in the stomach.  What promotes its release, where does it come from, how does it become active and what does it do?

The release of pepsinogen from the chief cells of the stomach is promoted the hormone gastrin (as well as the parasympathetic nervous system).  Once in the stomach, the acidic conditions convert pepsinogen into the active form pepsin, which acts to break proteins into peptides.

26.  What are the two types of tissue currently believed to respond to glucagon, and what are the effects of increased glucagon levels on these tissues?

Glucagon is thought to affect mainly the liver and adipose tissues (fat cells).  In response to increased levels, the liver increases glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen to produce glucose) and gluconeogenesis (the production of glucose from amino acids), and then releases this glucose into the bloodstream.  Fat cells respond to glucagon by increasing lipolysis (the breakdown of fats into fatty acids) and the release of fatty acids into the blood.

27.  What are the results of osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus sensing increased plasma osmolarity?  You should discuss the effects of any hormones, but do not need to discuss these effects at the cellular level.

The major effect of an increase in osmolarity on the hypothalamus is to promote the increased release of anti-diuretic hormone (via the posterior pituitary).  Increased levels of ADH cause the tubule wall of the collecting duct to become more permeable to water, causing more water to be absorbed from the fluid traveling down the duct.  As a result, a smaller volume of more concentrated urine is formed, thus helping to minimize further increases in ECF osmolarity.

28.  Heat exhaustion occurs in part due to dehydration and greatly increased blood flow to the skin in an effort to stay cool.  Given what you know about the determinants of blood pressure, what might be the consequences of these factors on the circulatory system?

Dehydration means reduced fluid volume, which means reduced blood volume, which will tend to reduce arterial blood pressure by reducing venous return to the heart.  Increased bloodflow to the skin would require vasodilation in the skin, which means reduced total peripheral resistance, which will likewise tend to reduce blood pressure.  If you discussed responses, the major acute ones would be an increase in heart rate (to increase cardiac output) and vasoconstriction in other organs (to help bring TPR back up).

29.  Describe the normal developmental pathway for the gonads and internal reproductive organs in a human female from fetal weeks 6 to 12.  Be sure to indicate the cause of each event.

A female fetus lacks a Y chromosome, and hence an srY gene.  When no srY gene product (testis-determining factor) is produced, the protogonads will develop into ovaries instead of testes.  Lacking testes, the fetus does not produce testosterone or Müllerian inhibiting substance.  Without testosterone, the Wolffian ducts degenerate (rather than developing into the male reproductive tract).  And since there is no MIS, the Müllerian ducts do develop, into the female reproductive tract.

30.  Describe the hormonal pathways (promotion of hormone release, negative feedback loops, etc.) of the female reproductive system as they occur during the first week of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

This is the early-to-mid follicular phase.  The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin releasing hormone, which promotes release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary.  The LH promotes the release of androgens from the theca cells of the follicle(s), while the FSH promotes the activity of the granulose cells of the follicles.  This activity includes the conversion of the androgens into estrogen and the release of inhibin.  Inhibin then has negative feedback effects on the release of FSH, while the estrogen (at this stage) inhibits the release of GnRH and LH.  Estrogen also has other effects in the follicle and elsewhere.