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MCAT Prep Biology

Subjects : mcat, science
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Three loop - like structures in the inner ear that contain sensory receptors to monitor balance.






2. A tRNA with an amino acid attached. This is made by an animoacyl - tRNA synthetase specific to the amino acid being attache.d






3. The main protease secreted by the pancreas; trypsin is activated (from trypsinogen) by enterokinase - and subsequently activates other pancreatic enzymes.






4. The maintenance of relatively constant internal conditions (such as temperature - pressure - ion balance - pH - etc.) regardless of external conditions.






5. The first phase of meiosis II. Prophase II is identical to mitotic prophase - except that the number of chromosomes was reduced by half during meiosis I.






6. A sac filled with fluid (aminotic fluid) that surroudns and protects a developing embryo.






7. The regino of the digestive tract where virtually al digestion and absorption occur. It is subdivided into three regions: the duodenum - the jejunum - and the ileum.






8. The principal mineralocorticoid secreted by teh adrenal cortex. This steroid hormone targets the kidney tubules and increases renal reabsorption of sodium [and excretion of potassium]. (this causes ADH to be secreted & increased water comes out - inc






9. A duodenal enzyme that activates trypsinogen (from the pancreas) to trypsin.






10. Muscles that help focus light on teh retin by controlling the curvature of the lens of the eye.






11. A relatively direct connection between a sensory neuron and a motor neuron that allows an extremely rapid response to a stimulus - often without conscious brain involvement.






12. A green fluid made from cholesterol and secreted by teh liver. It is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. Bile isn an amphipathic molecule that is secreted itno the small intestine when fats are present - adn serves to emulsify the fats for be






13. The outer layer of smooth muscle in the wall of the digestive tract. When the longitudinal muscle contracts the tube shortens.






14. A pigment produced by melanocytes in teh bottom cell layer of the epidermis. Melanin production is increased on sun exposure and helps prevent cllular damage due to UV radiation.






15. A carrier protein that transports two molecules across the plasma membrane in the same direction. For example - the Na+- glucose cotransporter in intestinal cells is a symporter.






16. The characteristics of amolecule that has both polar (hydrophilic) and non - polar hydrophobic) regions - e.g. phospholipids - bile - etc.






17. The collection of fluid in the alveoli - particularly dangerous because it impedes gas exchange. Common causes of pulmonary edema are increased pulmonary blood pressure or infection of the respiratory system.






18. A neuron - to - neuron - neuron - to - organ - or muscle to cell - to - muscle cell junction.






19. The division of the autonomic nervous system known as the 'fright or flight' system. It causes a genera increase in body activities such as heart rate - respiratory rate - and blood pressure - and an increase in blood flow to skeleltal muscle. It cau






20. A mutation caused by an insertion or deletion of base pairs in a gene sequence in DNA such that the reading frame of the gene (and thus teh amino acid sequence of the protein) is altered.






21. A non - protein - but organic - molecule (such as vitamin) that is covalently bound to an enzyme as part of the active site.






22. The cells of the distal tubule at the juxtaglomerular apparatus. They are receptors that monitor filtrate osmolarity as a means of regulatin filtration rate. If a drop is osmolarity is sensed - the macula densa dilates the afferent arteriole (to incr






23. A hormone produced by the C- cells of the thyroid gland that decreases serum calcium levels. It targets teh bones (stimulates osteoblasts) - the kidneys (reduces calcium reabsorption) - and the small intestine (decreases calcium absorption).






24. The fourth and final phase of meiosis II. Telophase II is identical to mitotic telophase - except that the number of chromosomes was reduced by half during meiosis. I.






25. A thin (4 mm) layer of gray matter on the surface of the cerebral hemispheres. The cerebral cortex is the conscious mind - and is functionally divided into four pairs of lobes: the frontal lobes - the parietal lobes - the temporal lobes - and the occ






26. The mechanism of contraction in skeletal and cardiac muscl cells. It is a series of four repeated steps: (1) myosin binds actin - (2) myosin pull actin toward the center of the sarcomere (3) myosin releases actin - and (4) myosin resets to its high -






27. A strong band of connective tissue that connets bones to one another.






28. A sensory receptor that responds to specific chemicals. Some examples are gustatory (taste) receptors - olfactory (smell) receptors - and central chemoreceptors (responds to pH changes in teh cerebrospinal fluid).






29. A clear area in a lawn of bacteria. Plaques represent an area where bacteria are lysing (dying) and usually caused by a lytic virus.






30. Something that acts to oppose the action of something else. For example - muscles that move a join in oppoiste direction are said to be antagonists.






31. The period of time following an action potential when it is possible - but difficult - for the neuron to fire a second action potential due to the fact that membrane is further from theshold potential (hyperpolarized).






32. One of the two small chambers in the heart that receive blood and pass it on to the ventricles. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from teh body through the superior and inferiro vena cavae - adn the left atrium receives oxygenated blood fr






33. The third phase of the ovarian cycle - during which a corpus luteum is formed from the remnants of the follicle that has ovulated its oocyte. The corpus luteum secretes progestrone and estrogen during this time period - which typically lasts from day






34. The site(s) where the parental DNA double helix unwinds during replication.






35. Cells found in gastric glands that secrete hydrochloric acid (for hydrolysis of ingested food) and gastric intrinsic factor (for absorption of vitamin B-12).






36. One of the three primary (embryonic) germ layers formed during gastrulation. Endoderm ultimately forms internal structures - such as the inner lining of the GI tract and glandular organs.






37. Diploid cells resulting from the activation of anoogoium; primary oocytes are ready to enter meiosis I. remember: cyte means ready to undergo meiosi






38. A peptide hormone produced and secreted by the Beta cells of the pancreas. Insulin targets cells in the body - especially the liver and muscle - and allows them to take glucose out of gthe blood (thus lowering blood glucose levels).






39. An insulating layer of membranes wrapped around the axons of almost all neurons in the body. Myelin is essentially the plasma membranes of specialized cells; Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system - and oligodendrocytes in the central nervous






40. A bacterium that cannon survive on minimal medium (glucose alone) because it lacks the ability to syntheisze a molecule it needs to live (typically an amino acid). Auxotrphs must ave the needed substance (the auxiliary trophic substance) added to the






41. A triat determined by a gen on either the X or Y chromosomes (the sex chromosomes).






42. An organism that makes its own - typically using CO2 as a carbon source.






43. The failure of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to separate properly during cell division. This could ocur during anaphase I of meiosis (homologous chromosomes) [--> leaving 2 gametes w/ 2 copies and 2 gametes w/ no copies of chromosome] -






44. Cells that make up exocrine galnds - adn that secrete their products into ducts. For example - in the pancreas - acinar cells secrete digestive enzyme; in the salivary glands - acinar cells secrete saliva.






45. Something that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by reducing the activation energy for that reaction. The free energy of reaction remains unchanged.






46. The portion of the nephron where water reabsorption is regulated via antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Several nephrons empty into each collecting duct - and this is the final region through which urine must passon its way to the ureter.






47. Unicellular exocrine glands found along the respiratory and digestive tracts taht secrete mucus.






48. One of the four aromatic bases found in DNA and RNA. Guanine is a purine; it pairs with cytosine.






49. The unit of muscle contraction. Sarcomeres are bounded by Z lins - to which thin filaments attach. Thick filaments are found in the center of the sarcomere - overlapped by thin filaments over one another during contraction reduces the distance betwee






50. The cell body of a neuron.







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