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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. Arise in blood pH due to hyperventilation (excessive breathing) and a resulting decrease in CO2.






2. A protein - digesting enzyme secreted by the chief cells of the gastric glands. Pepsin is secreted in its inactive form (pepsinogen) and is activated by gastric acid. It is unusual in that its pH optimum is around 1-2; most of these enzymes in the bo






3. The largest bundle of white matter (axons) connecting th two cerebral hemispheres.






4. A layer of cells surroudning the granulosa cells of the follicles in an ovary. Thecal cells help produce the estrogen secreted from the follicle during the first phase of the ovarian cycle.






5. A group of three nucleotides taht is specific for a particular amino acid - or that specifies 'stop translating'






6. The membrane surrounding the DNA in eukaryotic cells made of two lipid bilayers.






7. A long projection off the cell body of a neruon down which an action potential can be propagated.






8. The portion of the cell membrane at the neuromusclar junction; essentially the postsynaptic membrane at the synapse.






9. The primary membrane lipid. Phospholipids consist of a glycerol molecule esterified to two fatty acid chains and a phosphate molecule. Additional - highly hyrohpilic groups are attached to the phosphate - making this molecule extremely amphipathic.






10. Multiple sites of replication found on large - linear eukaryotic linear eukaryotie chromosomes.






11. The intracellular process triggered by the binding of a ligand to its receptor on the cell surface. Typically this activates seond messenger pathways.






12. The third phase of the uterin (endometrial) cycle - during which the rebuilt endometrium is enhanced with glycogen and lipid stores. The secretory phase is primarily under the controll of progestone and estrogen (secreted from the copus luteum during






13. The resistance to blood flow in the systemic circulation. Peripheral resistance increases if arteries constrict (diameter decreases) - and an increase in peripheral resistance leads t o an increase in blood pressure.






14. The portion of theforebrain that includes the thalamus and hypothalamus.






15. The division of the periperal nervsous system that innervates and cotnrols the visceral organs (everything but the skeletal muscles). It is also knowns as the involuntary nervous system and an be subdivided into the sympathetic and parasympathetic di






16. The sum of all genetic material in a population.






17. The third phase of meiosis II. During anaphase II the sister chromatids are finally spearated at their centromeres and puled to opposite sides of teh cell. Note that anaphase II is identical to mitotic anaphase - excep the number of chromosmes was re






18. A poysaccharide found in the cell walls of fungi and in the exoskeletons of insects.






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






20. A bacterial structure formed in unfavorable growth conditions. Endospores have very rough outer shells made of peptidoglycan and can survive harsh conditions. The bacterium inside the endospore is essentially dormant and can become active (called ger






21. The primary muscle of inspiration. The diaphragm is stimulated to contract at regular intervals by the respiratory center in the medulla oblongata (via the phrenic nerve). Although it is made of skeletal muscle (and can therefore be voluntary control






22. Haploid cells resulting from the first meiotic division of spermatogenesis. Secondary spermatocytes are ready to enter meiosis II.






23. The flow of blood through a tissue; ischeia is when there is no blood flow - anoxia when there is no O2 available (ischemia is more dangerous b/c of waste build - up)






24. A cell produced when a B cell is activated by antigen. Memory cells do not actively fight the current infection - but patrol the body in case of future infection with the same antigen. If the antigen should appear again the future - memory cells are






25. Bacteria that have a thick peptido glycan cell wall - and no outer membrane. They stain very darkly (purple) in Gram stain.






26. The pituitary gland.






27. A type of mutation in DNa where a single base is substituted for another.






28. The portion of the ear consisting of the pinna and the external auditory canal. The outer ear is separated from the middle ear by the tympanic membrane (the eardrum).






29. Fingerlike projection of the uterin (fallopian) tubes that drape over the ovary.






30. Very small tube or channel - such as is found between lacunae (connecting them together) in compact bone.






31. Physical structures in two different organism that have funcitonal similarity due to their evoluntion in a common environment - but have different underlying structure. Analogous structures arise from convergent evolution.






32. General - non - specific protection to the body - including the skin (barrier) - gastric acid - phagocytes - lysozyme - and complement.






33. An enzyme that digests starch into disaccharides. Amylase is secreted by salivary glands and by the pancreas.






34. (Singular:villus). Folds of the intestinal mucosa that project into the lumen of the intestine; vili serve to increase the surface area of the intestine for absorption.






35. A layer of connective tissue underneath the epidermis of the skin. The dermis contains blood vessels - lymphatic vessels - nerves - sensory receptors - and glands.






36. The basic functional and structural unit of the nervous system. The neuron is a highly specialized cell - designed to transmit action potentials.






37. One of the four aromatic bases found in DNA and RNA. Cytosine is a pyrimidine; it pairs with guanine.






38. Muscles located in between the ribs that play a role in ventilation.






39. A system of blood vessels where the blood passes from arteries to capillaries to veins - then through a second set of capillaries - and then through a final set of veins. THere are two portal systems in the body - the hepatic portal system and the hy






40. The deliberate exposure of a person to an antigen in order to provoke the primary immune response and memory cell production. Typically the antigens are those normally associated with pathogens - thus if the live pathogen is encountered in the future






41. An abdominal organ that is considered part of the immune system. THe spleen has four functions: (1) it filters antigen from the blood (2) it is the site of B cell maturation - (3) it stors blood - and (4) it destroys old red blood cells.






42. A neuron that carries information (action potentials) away from the central nervous system; a motor neuron.






43. The middle (approximtely 40%) of the small intestine.






44. The capillaries that surround the tubules of the nephron. The vasa recta reclaims reabsorbed substances - such as water and sodium ions.






45. A chemical released by the axon of a neuron in response to an action potential that binds to receptors on a postsynaptic cell and causes that cell to either depolarize slightlly (EPSP) or hyperpolarize slightly (IPSP). Examples are acetylcholine - no






46. Small organelles that contain the hydrogen peroxide produced as a byproduct of lipid metabolism. Peroxisomes convert hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen by way of the enzyme catalase.






47. The 'language' of a molecular biology that specifies which amino acid corresponds to which three - nucleotide group (codon).






48. A pigmented membrane found just in from the lens of the eye. In the center of iris is the pupil - a hole through which light enters the eyeball. The iris regulates the diameter of the pupil in response to the brightness of light.






49. A hydrophobic molecule - usually fomred from long hydrocarbon chains. The most common forms in which lipids are found in the body are as triglycerides (energy storage) - phospholipids (cell membranes) - and cholestero (cell membranes and steroid synt






50. An ion channel that is constitutively open - allowing the movement of teh ion across the plasma membrane according to its concentration gradient.