MDS PREP
What is the primary function of the enteric nervous system in the gastrointestinal tract?
1) Controlling digestive enzyme secretion
2) Regulating the absorption of nutrients
3) Coordinating muscular contractions and peristalsis
4) Secreting hormones that regulate digestion
E) Controlling blood flow to the GI tract
The enteric nervous system, also known as the gut-brain, is a network of neurons that controls the muscular activity of the gastrointestinal tract. It is capable of operating independently of the central nervous system but can be modulated by it. Its main function is to regulate motility and secretion within the GI tract, which includes coordinating peristaltic contractions that propel food and facilitate mixing and absorption.
What is the primary function of the descending limb of the Loop of Henle?
1) Reabsorption of sodium and chloride
2) Reabsorption of water
3) Secretion of potassium
4) Active transport of glucose
The primary function of the descending limb of the Loop of Henle is the reabsorption of water, which concentrates the tubular fluid as it descends.
Which of the following is the correct statement regarding mammalian nerve fibers?
1) A-alpha fibers have the lowest conduction velocity and are responsible for pain and temperature sensation.
2) A-beta fibers have the highest conduction velocity and are responsible for motor supply to skeletal muscles.
3) A-gamma fibers are heavily myelinated and have the fastest conduction velocity.
4) C fibers have a large diameter and are responsible for fine motor control.
Answer: 2) A-beta fibers have the second highest conduction velocity after A-alpha fibers and are responsible for touch, kinesthetic sense, and pressure sensation, not motor supply to skeletal muscles. A-alpha fibers have the highest conduction velocity and are indeed responsible for motor supply to skeletal muscles.
What is the role of leptin in the regulation of food intake?
1) It stimulates food intake
2) It inhibits food intake
3) It has no effect on food intake
4) It increases the absorption of nutrients in the intestine
Leptin plays a role in the regulation of food intake by inhibiting hunger, signaling to the brain that the body has enough energy stored.
An unstable membrane potential that will spontaneously depolarize is a property of which type of muscle?
1. Cardiac only
2. Cardiac and smooth
3. Skeletal and smooth
4. Skeletal and cardiac
Physiology
Answer: 1
The type of muscle that exhibits an unstable membrane potential that will
spontaneously depolarize is cardiac muscle.
Cardiac muscle cells, which are responsible for the contraction of the heart,
have an intrinsic ability to contract rhythmically without the need for external
stimulation. This is due to their unique property of automaticity, which is
mediated by the presence of the sinoatrial (SA) node and the subsequent
propagation of electrical impulses throughout the heart via the conduction
system. The SA node, often referred to as the "natural pacemaker" of the heart,
generates action potentials spontaneously and sets the heart rate.
The cardiac action potential involves a series of ionic currents across the cell
membrane that result in the depolarization and repolarization of the membrane.
During the resting phase, the membrane potential is maintained at a negative
value (around -90 mV) primarily due to the efflux of potassium ions (K+). When
the SA node initiates an action potential, voltage-gated sodium (Na+) channels
open, allowing an influx of sodium ions that leads to depolarization. Following
this, calcium (Ca2+) and more sodium ions enter the cell through voltage-gated
calcium (CaV) and sodium (Nav) channels, while potassium ions efflux through
various types of potassium (K+) channels, contributing to the plateau phase and
repolarization of the membrane.
The spontaneous depolarization of cardiac muscle cells is essential for the
coordinated contraction of the heart, which is critical for maintaining blood
circulation in the body. This property is not typically found in skeletal
muscles, which require an external signal from motor neurons to contract, nor in
smooth muscles, which are controlled by the autonomic nervous system and
hormones.
What is the significance of the transport maximum for substances like glucose and phosphate?
1) It indicates the maximum amount that can be filtered by the glomerulus
2) It represents the maximum amount that can be actively reabsorbed by the tubules
3) It is the point at which the substance begins to be excreted in the urine
4) It is the point at which the substance becomes toxic to the body
The transport maximum for substances like glucose and phosphate represents the maximum amount that can be actively reabsorbed by the tubules before reaching saturation and being excreted in urine.
What is the primary function of the parasympathetic nervous system during rest and digest conditions?
1) Stimulation of the heart and increased cardiac output
2) Constriction of blood vessels in the GI tract
3) Diverting blood flow to skeletal muscles
4) Decreasing heart rate and promoting gastrointestinal activity
Answer: 4) Decreasing heart rate and promoting gastrointestinal activityExplanation: The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "rest and digest" functions. It slows the heart rate, constricts pupils, and stimulates digestive processes such as increased salivation, gastric acid secretion, and gastrointestinal motility.
What is the function of cholecystokinin (CCK) in the digestive system?
1) Stimulates the release of bile from the liver
2) Increases the secretion of water in the collecting tubules of the kidney
3) Relaxes the lower esophageal sphincter
4) Decreases the motility of the small intestine
Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulates the release of bile from the liver and pancreatic enzymes, aiding in digestion.