MCAT Biology : Systems Biology and Tissue Types

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for MCAT Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Types Of Hormones

Both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems are essential for homeostasis and for survival. For example, when we are trying to run away from a threat, the sympathetic nervous system is in full effect to allow us to escape from danger. However, when there is no obvious threat, the parasympathetic nervous system tends to be more in control. 

There are similarities and differences between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems. In preganglionic nerve fibers, both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous system utilize the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Closer to the target organ, the parasympathetic nervous system remains dependent on acetylcholine whereas norepinephrine and epinephrine are the predominant neurotransmitters utilized by the sympathetic nervous system. 

When norepinephrine and epinephrine bind to their receptors, different effects are carried out based on the type of receptor, affinity, and location of the receptor. For example, epinephrine has a higher affinity for the beta-2 receptor. When epinephrine binds to the beta-2 receptor, common effects include vasodilation and bronchodilation. Norepinephrine has a stronger affinity for the alpha-1, alpha-2 and beta-1 receptors. When norepinephrine binds to its receptor, common effects on the body include vasoconstriction (alpha-1), increased heart rate (beta-1) and uterine contraction (alpha-1).

A patient took an unknown drug. A couple of hours later, her blood pressure skyrocketed to 200mmHg. Which of the following is a possible mechanism of the unknown drug.

Possible Answers:

The drug was a beta-1 agonist

The drug was a beta-2 antagonist 

The drug was an alpha-1 antagonist 

The drug was an alpha-1 agonist

The drug was a beta-1 antagonist 

Correct answer:

The drug was an alpha-1 agonist

Explanation:

Acute high blood pressure is generally due to systemic vasoconstriction. Of the answer choices, only activating the alpha-1 receptor will elicit peripheral vasoconstriction.  

Example Question #11 : Types Of Hormones

The cellular membrane is a very important structure. The lipid bilayer is both hydrophilic and hydrophobic. The hydrophilic layer faces the extracellular fluid and the cytosol of the cell. The hydrophobic portion of the lipid bilayer stays in between the hydrophobic regions like a sandwich. This bilayer separation allows for communication, protection, and homeostasis. 

One of the most utilized signaling transduction pathways is the G protein-coupled receptor pathway. The hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties of the cellular membrane allows for the peptide and other hydrophilic hormones to bind to the receptor on the cellular surface but to not enter the cell. This regulation allows for activation despite the hormone’s short half-life. On the other hand, hydrophobic hormones must have longer half-lives to allow for these ligands to cross the lipid bilayer, travel through the cell’s cytosol and eventually reach the nucleus. 

Cholesterol allows the lipid bilayer to maintain its fluidity despite the fluctuation in the body’s temperature due to events such as increasing metabolism. Cholesterol binds to the hydrophobic tails of the lipid bilayer. When the temperature is low, the cholesterol molecules prevent the hydrophobic tails from compacting and solidifying. When the temperature is high, the hydrophobic tails will be excited and will move excessively. This excess movement will bring instability to the bilayer. Cholesterol will prevent excessive movement.

Which of the following molecules can be found inside of a cell? 

I. Steroid hormones

II. Phosphoinositol bisphosphate

III. Calmodulin  

Possible Answers:

None of these

I only

III only

II only

I, II and III

Correct answer:

I, II and III

Explanation:

As mentioned from the passage, steroid hormones must pass through the lipid bilayer in order to reach the nucleus. Phosphoinositol bisphosphate and calmodulin are both secondary messengers as part of the G protein-coupled receptor pathway.  

Example Question #1 : Endocrine Regulatory Mechanisms

Which of the following are examples of positive feedback mechanisms in the body?
 
I. Fever during illness
II. Loss of bone mass in osteoporosis
III. Contraction during childbirth
Possible Answers:

I and III only

I, II, and III

III only

I and II only

Correct answer:

I and III only

Explanation:

Positive feedback describes an event in which a pathway generates a response that further triggers the pathway, increasing the pathway effects. In contrast, negative feedback occurs when a pathway generates a response to inhibit the pathway origin, diminishing the pathway effects. Negative feedback is a common control mechanisms in the body to maintain homeostasis, while positive feedback is inherently designed to disrupt homeostasis.

Fever during illness is enhanced via a positive feedback system that only ends once the illness begins to alleviate. Similarly, contractions during labor will intensify via positive feedback oxytocin stimulation until the child is born. Osteoporosis is caused by an imbalance in the negative feedback system that controls blood calcium. This imbalance simply means that bone is lost more than it is gained, and is still an example of negative feedback.

Example Question #101 : Hormones

The body attempts to closely regulate the free hormone concentration in the blood through a variety of factors, including binding of free hormones in the blood by albumin. This causes inhibition of additional hormone release and increased degradation of existing hormone when levels are too high. For example, triiodothyronine (T3) is able to prevent additional release of T3 from the thyroid when its levels are too high.

What kind of feedback mechanism does T3 employ?

Possible Answers:

Positive feedback

T3 does not employ a feedback mechanism

Neutral feedback

Negative feedback

Correct answer:

Negative feedback

Explanation:

Triiodothyronine (T3) employs a negative feedback mechanism, meaning that when blood serum concentrations of T3 become too high, receptors on the thyroid gland inhibit the release of additional T3.

In contrast, a positive feedback mechanism would encourage additional release of a hormone when levels are high, resulting in an exponential increase in the hormone effects. An example of a positive feedback mechanism is the release of oxytocin during childbirth to help the uterus contract.

Example Question #3 : Endocrine Regulatory Mechanisms

The body attempts to closely regulate the free hormone concentration in the blood through a variety of factors, including binding of free hormones in the blood by albumin. This causes inhibition of additional hormone release and increased degradation of existing hormone when levels are too high. There are times, however, when the body needs to continue having high levels of certain hormones. For example, oxytocin, a hormone released during childbirth, stimulates the uterus to contract. Existing levels of oxytocin in the blood encourage additional oxytocin release.

What kind of feedback mechanism does oxytocin employ?

Possible Answers:

Negative feedback

Oxytocin does not employ a feedback mechanism

Neutral feedback

Positive feedback

Correct answer:

Positive feedback

Explanation:

Oxytocin employs a positive feedback mechanism, meaning that existing levels of oxytocin encourage additional release of oxytocin. This results in an exponential increase in the hormone's effects.

In contrast, a negative feedback mechanism would prevent additional release of a hormone when levels of the existing hormone were too elevated. This results in stable homeostasis around a constant hormone concentration in the blood.

Example Question #141 : Endocrine System

Grave's Disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes antibodies to bind onto thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors on the thyroid. This causes the thyroid to constantly release T3 and T4. What effect would this have on TSH levels?

Possible Answers:

TSH levels would be decreased

TSH levels would decrease, and then increase

TSH levels would increase, and then decrease

TSH levels would not be affected

TSH levels would be increased

Correct answer:

TSH levels would be decreased

Explanation:

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels would be decreased.

The thyroid hormones T3 and T4 act in a negative feedback loop to regulate thyroid activity. Release of TSH increases thyroid activity, while release of the thyroid hormones decreases thyroid activity by suppressing further release of TSH. Since the thyroid is overstimulated in Grave's Disease, excess T3 and T4 are being produced. These hormones will act on the feedback loop to suppress TSH release, lowering TSH levels in individuals with this disease. Since the antibodies bind to the TSH receptors, there are increased levels of T3 and T4 in the body, which negatively inhibit the production of TSH because the body is already flooded with the products of TSH action.

Example Question #1 : Endocrine Regulatory Mechanisms

Insulin is a peptide hormone responsible for lowering blood glucose levels. In some forms of diabetes mellitus, insulin is lacking. Why do diabetics inject insulin into their bodies rather than consuming an insulin pill?

Possible Answers:

Injecting insulin delivers it directly to the brain, while consuming a pill would require it to travel through the gastrointestinal tract first

There is no advantage to injecting insulin versus consuming an insulin pill; insulin is injected simply because that is how it is manufactured

Injecting insulin directly into the bloodstream is much safer than consuming an insulin pill

Injecting insulin allows for it to be dispensed in a slow-release fashion, while consuming an insulin pill releases the hormone rapidly

Injecting insulin delivers it directly into the bloodstream, while consuming a pill would require it to travel through the gastrointestinal tract before being utilized

Correct answer:

Injecting insulin delivers it directly into the bloodstream, while consuming a pill would require it to travel through the gastrointestinal tract before being utilized

Explanation:

Injecting insulin into the body delivers it directly into the bloodstream, while consuming an insulin pill would require it to pass through the gastrointestinal tract. In the gut, the pill would be degraded first and then absorbed into the bloodstream. This entire process would result in a small amount of insulin circulating in the blood, and therefore be much less effective than an insulin injection. Additionally, injecting insulin directly allows more rapid administration of a more consistent dose. 

Example Question #142 : Endocrine System

Which hormones act as antagonists to bone growth?

Possible Answers:

Vasopressin and erythropoietin

Epinephrines and norepinephrines

Adrenalines and cortisols

Gonadotropins and luteins

Androgens and estrogens

Correct answer:

Androgens and estrogens

Explanation:

Androgens and estrogens, the sex hormones, feedback to inhibit somatotropins, the growth hormones. In humans, the sex hormones are produced in puberty, disabling the growth plates and halting growth.

Example Question #143 : Endocrine System

The pancreas is one of the few organs with both exocrine and endocrine functions. Exocrine glands can release a variety of substances via ducts, while endocrine glands release hormones directly into the bloodstream without the use of ducts. Which of these choices is a pancreatic exocrine secretion?

Possible Answers:

Somatostatin

Aldosterone

Trypsinogen

Insulin

Glucagon

Correct answer:

Trypsinogen

Explanation:

There are several pancreatic exocrine secretions, most of which are released into the duodenum of the small intestine. Trypsinogen, which is later cleaved into its active form of trypsin, is one of these. Insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin are endocrine secretions. Aldosterone is not released by the pancreas at all, but is instead secreted by the adrenal cortex.

Example Question #2 : Other Hormone Physiology

Which of these hormones is released by the posterior pituitary?

Possible Answers:

Luteinizing hormone

Growth hormone

Prolactin

Thyroid-stimulating hormone

Oxytocin

Correct answer:

Oxytocin

Explanation:

The posterior pituitary only releases two hormones: oxytocin and ADH (antidiuretic hormone). The rest of the hormones are released by the anterior pituitary.

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