High School Biology : High School Biology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for High School Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Negative Feedback Loops

Which of the following hormones will be elevated in the body when blood sugar levels are high?

Possible Answers:

Glucagon

Parathyroid hormone

Insulin

Thyroxine (T4)

Correct answer:

Insulin

Explanation:

Hormones will be elevated in response to the conditions of the body. In other words, the body's hormones will be elevated in order to provide a negative feedback response. When blood glucose is high, insulin is released to lower these levels to the normal range. In contrast, when blood glucose is low, glucagon is released to raise these levels back to normal.

Thyroxine (T4) is released by the thyroid in order to increase the basal metabolic activity of the body, causing it to produce more ATP energy. Parathyroid hormone is released to stimulate osteoclast activity and raise blood calcium levels when they are too low.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Negative Feedback Loops

In primary hypothyroidism, patients are frequently diagnosed with a low free T4 (low thyroid hormone), but a high TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone). Which answer best explains the association, if there is any?

Possible Answers:

A decrease in thyroid hormone causes an increase in TSH to stimulate the secretion of more thyroid hormone. 

An increase in serum TSH causes the inhibition of thyroid hormone secretion by negative feedback. 

There is no association between the levels of TSH and thyroid hormone, it's a mere coincident that these findings are observed in the patient. 

There is a tumor of the hypothalamus that is secreting a lot of TRH that is causing increased TSH.

There is a tumor in the thyroid that is secreting a lot of TSH that overtakes the remaining functions of the thyroid.

Correct answer:

A decrease in thyroid hormone causes an increase in TSH to stimulate the secretion of more thyroid hormone. 

Explanation:

TSH is secreted by the anterior pituitary in response to TRH (thyrotropin-releasing hormone), which is secreted by the hypothalamus. TSH then acts on the thyroid to stimulate the release of thyroid hormone into the blood. Adequate levels of thyroid hormone then cause negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary to decrease the release of TRH and TSH. 

In primary hypothyroidism, the problem lies in the thyroid-- the thyroid is not releasing enough thyroid hormone and it can be due to a variety of causes. What's important here is that there is no negative feedback on the pituitary to decrease its synthesis of TSH and therefore, the TSH levels are higher. It's just not able to function to increase the level of thyroid hormone and bring it to normal. 

Example Question #2 : Understanding Negative Feedback Loops

Increase in thyrotropin-releasing hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone can lead to increase activity of the heart, brain maturation, bone maturation and increased in metabolic rate. Increased in thyrotropin-releasing hormone also leads to an increase in what hormone being produced by the pituitary? 

Possible Answers:

Prolactin

Growth hormone

Somatostatin

Antidiuretic hormone

Correct answer:

Prolactin

Explanation:

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone leads to the stimulation of prolactin at the same time as thyroid-stimulating hormone. Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone are produced by the hypothalamus and stored and secreted by the posterior pituitary. Somatostatin and growth hormone are not influenced by thyrotropin-releasing hormone. 

Example Question #3 : Understanding Negative Feedback Loops

Which of the following is not released by the anterior pituitary?

Possible Answers:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Growth hormone

Oxytocin

Correct answer:

Oxytocin

Explanation:

Oxytocin and antidiuretic hormone are released from the posterior pituitary. All other choices are released from the anterior pituitary.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Sliding Filament Theory

In sarcomeres, the thick filament is composed of which protein?

Possible Answers:

Actin

Collagen

Titin

Myosin

Correct answer:

Myosin

Explanation:

Sarcomeres are composed of thick and thin filaments. The thin filament is composed of polymerized actin, while the thick filament is composed of myosin. Titin is a protein that spans the full range of the sarcomere, and is involved in stability and elasticity in the muscle. Collagen is not a primary component of sarcomeres.

Example Question #763 : High School Biology

Which statement is incorrect in describing sliding filament theory?

Possible Answers:

The protein complex formed is classically named actomyosin and helps facilitate the "stroke" part of muscle contraction

The actin filaments lengthen, while the myosin filaments shorten

Actin and myosin filaments stay the same size during contraction

The actin and myosin filaments slide past one another

Actin and myosin form a "crossbridge" when myosin binds to actin

Correct answer:

The actin filaments lengthen, while the myosin filaments shorten

Explanation:

The sliding filament theory describes the mechanism that allows muscles to contract. According to this theory, myosin (a motor protein) binds to actin. The myosin then alters its configuration, resulting in a "stroke" that pulls on the actin filament and causes it to slide across the myosin filament. The overall process shortens the sarcomere structure, but does not change the actual length of either filament.

Example Question #764 : High School Biology

In order for muscle contraction to occur, what molecules/ions must be readily available?

Possible Answers:

GTP and chloride ions

ADP + Pi

NADPH and GADPH

Glycogen

Calcium ions and ATP

Correct answer:

Calcium ions and ATP

Explanation:

The correct answer is ATP and calcium ions. Myosin head activation to form a cross-bridge with actin requires ATP, and the cleavage of ATP to ADP + Pi contracts the myosin head and pulls the actin. Calcium is required to expose actin binding sites for myosin in conjunction with troponin. 

Example Question #765 : High School Biology

Muscles require a supply of ATP in order to contract. What function is enabled by the release of energy from ATP?

Possible Answers:

Myosin bending to pull actin

Myosin detaching from actin

Myosin attaching to the Z-disc

Myosin attaching to actin

Shortening of myosin

Correct answer:

Myosin detaching from actin

Explanation:

In the sliding filament theory, myosin heads attach to an actin filament, bend to pull the actin filaments closer together, then release, reattach, and pull again. Energy from ATP is required for the myosin head to release from the actin filament—otherwise the myosin heads would remain in the same place, and the muscle would not contract. Even though the filaments are moving, the filaments themselves never actually get shorter or longer.

When ATP stores are depleted, myosin becomes incapable of detaching from actin, and the muscle remains in a taut, flexed state. This is the cause of rigor mortis.

Example Question #766 : High School Biology

When is ATP required for muscles according to the sliding filament theory?

Possible Answers:

For the crossbridges to detach from the actin and eventually reorient the myosin heads.

To perform the power stroke, where the myosin heads rotate toward the sarcomere

For the myosin heads to bind the actin

For crossbridge formation

To perform the power stroke, where the myosin heads rotate away from the sarcomere

Correct answer:

For the crossbridges to detach from the actin and eventually reorient the myosin heads.

Explanation:

The myosin head will hydrolyze the . Being bound to ADP, this allows the myosin head to form crossbridges by binding to actin. As ADP detaches from the myosin head, the head will produce the power stroke motion, where the myosin heads will rotate toward the sarcomeres. The myosin head will be locked in this position, attached to the actin, until another ATP molecule comes and attaches to the myosin head. This will allow the head to detach from actin and reorient itself to complete the process again. 

Example Question #761 : High School Biology

Which bone cell is responsible for resorbing bone matrix and releasing calcium into the blood?

Possible Answers:

Osteogenic cells

Osteocytes

Osteoblasts

Osteoclasts

Correct answer:

Osteoclasts

Explanation:

Osteogenic cells are a type of stem cell that differentiate into osteoblasts, which allow bone to form. Eventually, osteoblasts will become enveloped into the bone matrix and differentiate into osteocytes. Osteoclasts have the opposite function of osteoblasts, and are responsible for the resorption of bone matrix. This releases calcium into the bloodstream by breaking down bone.

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