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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. The muscuar layer of the uterus. The myometrium is made of smooth muscles that retains its ability to divide in order to accomodate the massive size increases that occur during pregnancy. The myometrium is stimulated to contract during labor by the h






2. The first phase of mitosis. During prophase the replicated chromosomes condense - the spindle is formed - and the nuclear envelope breaks apart into vessicles.






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






4. The pressure measured in the arteries during contraction of the ventricles (during systole).






5. The curled structure in the inner ear that contains the membranes and hair cells that transduce sound waves into action potentials.






6. The cellular elements of blood; erythrocytes - leukocytes - and platelets.






7. 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).






8. The secon phase of mitosis. During metaphase chromosomes align at the center of the ell (the metaphase plate).






9. A situation in which a heterozygote displays the phenotype associated with each of the alleles - e.g. - human blood type AB.






10. The maximum amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled from the lungs after filling them to their maximum level - typically about 4500 mL






11. Messenger RNA; the type of RNa that is read by a ribosome to synthesize protein.






12. The specific molecule that binds to a receptor.






13. The process of breaking down large molecules into smaller precursors - e.g. digesion of starch into glucose.






14. A hormone produced and released by the kidney that stimulates the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.






15. A subphase of male orgasm. Emission is the movement of sperm (via the vas deferens) and semen into the urtehra in prepartion for ejaculation.






16. The release of a secondary oocyte (along with some granulosa cells) from the ovary at the approximate midpoint of the menstrual cycle (typically around day 14). Ovulation is triggered by a surge in LH.






17. Inhibitory postsynaptic potential; a slight hyperpolarization of the postysynaptic cell - moving the membrane potential of that cell further from threshold.






18. The inner epithelial lining of the uterus that thickens and develops during the menstrual cycle - into which a fertilized ovum can implant - and which sloughs off during menstration if a pregnancy does not occur.






19. A tropic hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that targets the thyroid gland - stimulating it to produce and release thyroid hormone.






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






21. A neuron that arries information (action potentials) to the central nervous system; a sensory neuron.






22. A viral life cycle in which the host is turned into a 'virus factory' and ultimately lysed to release the new viral particles.






23. A cell characterized by the presence of a nucleus and other membrane - bound organelles. Eukaryotes can be unicellular (protists) or multicellular (fungi - plants and animals).






24. A self - initiating action potential that occurs in the conduction system of the heart and triggers action potentials (and thus contraction) in the cardiac muscle cells Tee pacemaker potential is triggered by the regular - spontaneous depolarization






25. 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.






26. Sperm production; occurs in human males on a daily basis from puberty until death. Spermatogenesis results in the production of four mature gametes (sperm) from a single precursor cell (spermatogonium). For maximum sperm viability - spermatogenesis r






27. A constant input to the arteries that keeps them somewhat constricted to maintain a basal level of blood pressure.






28. A region within the nucleus where rRNA is transribed and ribosomes are partially assembled.






29. The outer ring of cells of a blastocyst. The trophoblast takes part in the formation of the placenta.






30. A protein found in the plasma membrane of all cells in the body that uses the energy of an ATP (hydrolyzes ATP) to move three Na+ ions out of the cell and two K+ ions into the cell - thus establishing concentrations gradients for these ions across th






31. An X- linked recessive disorder in Which blood fails to clot properly - leading to excessive bleeding if injured.






32. The second most common of the five classes of leukocytes. Lymphocytes are involved in specific immunity and include two cell types - B- cells and T cells. B- cells produce and secrete antibodies and T- cells are invovled in cellular immunity.






33. The newly forming daughter strand of DNA that is replicated in a continuous fasion; the daughter strand that is replicated in thes aem direction that parental DNA is unwinding.






34. The exchange of DNA between paired homologus chromosomes (tetrads) during prophase I of meiosis.






35. 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






36. A strong connective tissue with varying degrees of flexibility. (1) Elastic cartilage is the most flexible - forming structures that reuqire support but also need to bend - such as the epiglottis and outer ear. (2) Hyaline cartilage is more rigid tha






37. A chemical secreted by a T cell (usually the helper Ts) that stimulates activation and proliferation of other immune system cells.






38. A mechanism by which the stroke volume of the heart is increased by increasing the venous return of the heart (thus stretching the ventricular muscle).






39. Also called thryoid hormone - thyroxine is produced and secreted by follicle cells in the thyroid gland. it targets all cells in the body and increases overall body metabolism.






40. One type of eukaryotic mRNA processing in which introns are removed from the primary transcript and exons are ligated together. SPlicing of transcripts can be different in different tissues.






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






42. Large conglomerations of proteins - fats - and cholesterol that transport lipids in the bloodstream. (chylomicrons are a type of lipoprotein).






43. A sensory receptor that responds to mechanical disturbances - such as shape changes (being squashed - bent - pulled - etc.). Mechanoreceptors include touch receptors in the skin - hair cells - in the ear - muscle spindles - and others.






44. 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.






45. Also called DNA pol - this is the enzyme that replicates DNA. Eukaryotes have a single version of the enzyme - simply called DNA pol (not need to know much detail); prokaryotes have three versions - called DNA pol I - DNA pol II - and DNA pol III.






46. The monomer of a carbohydrate. Monosaccharides have the general chemical formula CnH2nOn - and common monosaccharides include glucose - fructose - galactose - and ribose.






47. The movement of air into the respiratory tract. Inspiration is an active process - requiring contraction of the diaphragm.






48. The valve that regulates the passage of chyme from the stomach into the small intestine.






49. A cyoplasmic Ca2+- binding protein. Calmodulin is particularly important in smooth muscle cells - where binding of Ca2+ allows calmodulin to activate myosin light - chian kinase - the first step in smooth muscle cell contraction.






50. DNA replication in prokaryotes - so named because as replication proceeds around the single - circular chromosome - it takes on the appearnce of the Greek letter theta.