Test your basic knowledge |

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. In the autonomic division of the PNS - a neuron that has its cell body located in the autonomic ganglion (where a preganglionic neuron synapses with it) and whose axon synapses with the target axon.






2. Three loop - like structures in the inner ear that contain sensory receptors to monitor balance.






3. The pituitary gland.






4. An enzyme that lyses bacterial cell walls. Lysozyme is produced in the end stages of the lytic cycle so that new viral particles can escape their hosst; it is also found in human tears and human saliva.






5. A region at the head of a sperm cell that contains digestive enzyems which - when released during the acrosome reaction - can facilitate penetration of the corona radiata of the egg - and subsequently - fertilization






6. The first phase of the ovarian cycle - during which a follicle (an oocyte and its surroudning cells) enlarges and matures. This phase is under the control of FSH from the anterior pituitary - and typically lasts from day 1 to day 14 of the menstrual






7. The region of teh brain that coordinates and smooth skeletal muscle activity.






8. Myelinated axons






9. MRna that codes for several different proteins by utliizing different reading frames - nested genets - etc. Polycistronic mRNa is a characteristic of prokaryotes.






10. 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).






11. The specialized cells of the heart that spontaneously initiate action potentials and transmit them to the cardiac muscle cells. The cells of the conduction system are essentially cardiac muscle cells - but lack the contractile fibers of the muscle ce






12. An activated B cell that is secreting antibody.






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






14. Muscle tissue found in the walls of hollow organs - e.g. - blood vessels - the digestive tract - the uterus - etc. Smooth muscle is non - striated - uninucleate - and under involuntary control (controlled by the autonomic nervous system).






15. A protein that is associated with the plasma membrane of a cell - but that is not embedded in the lipid bilayer. Peripheral proteins typically associate with embedded proteins through hydrogen bonding or electrostatic interactions.






16. Muscle tissue that is attached to the bones. SKeletal muscle is striated multinucleate - and under voluntary control.






17. The final portion of the large intestine.






18. A long - coiled duct on the outside of the testis in which sperm mature.






19. A cell surface receptor associated with an intracellular protein that binds and hydrolyzes GTP. When GTP is bound - the protein is active - and can regulate the activity of adenylyl cyclease; this modifies the intracellular levels of second messenger






20. Enzymes that degrade various macromolecules and that require an acidic pH to function properly. Acid hydrolases are found within the lysosomes of cells.






21. A looser - more porous type of bone tissue found at the inner core of the epiphyses in long bones and all other bone types. Spongy gone is filed with red bone marrow - important in blood cell formation.






22. 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






23. A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.






24. Paired glands found on the posterior external wall of the bladder in males. Their secretions contain an alkaline mucus and fructose - among other things - and make up approximately 60% of the ejaculate volume.






25. A mature - cartilage cell.






26. A protein - based substance secreted by cells of the epiderms as they migrate outward. The keratin makes the cells tougher (better able to withstand abrasion) and helps make the skin waterproof.






27. The physical characterisitcs resulting from the genotype. Phenotypes are usually described as dominant or recessive.






28. An organism that can only survive in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic metabolism); oxygen is toxic to obligate anaerobes.






29. A subphase of male orgasm - a reflex reaction triggered by the presence of semen in the urethra. Ejaculation is a series of rhythmic contractions of muscles near teh base of teh penis that increase pressure in the urethra - forcing the semen out.






30. The main air tube leading into the respiratory system. The trachea is made of alternating rings of cartilage and connective tissue.






31. The return of membrane potential to normal resting values after a depolarization of hyperpolarization.






32. A cyclic version of adenosine monophosphate - where the phosphate is esterified to both the 5' and 3' carbons - forming a ring. Cyclic AMP is an important intracellular signaling moelcule - often called the 'second messenger.' It serves to activate c






33. A type of syanpse in which the cells are connected by gap junctions - allowing ions (and therefore an action potential) to spread easily from cell to cell - usually in smooth and cardiac muscle. - compared to chemical synapse.






34. Steroid hormones secreted from the adrenal cortex. The two major classes are teh mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. Aldosterone is the principal mineralocorticoid - and cortisol is the principal glucorcorticoid.






35. An alkaline - fructose - rich fluid produced by three different glands in the male reproductive tract and released during ejaculation. Semen is very nourishing for sperm.






36. The third phase of mitosis. During anaphase - replicated chromosmes are split apart at their centromeres (the sister chromatids are separated from each other) and moved to opposite sides of the cell.






37. The phase of the cell cycle during which the genome is replicated.






38. A gene appearing in a single copy in diploid organisms - e.g. X- linked genes in human males.






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






40. The enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the synaptic cleft.






41. An organism that cannot make its own food - and thus must ingest other organisms.






42. The first step in viral infection. Attachemen of a virus to its host is very specific and is also known as adsorption.






43. The largest artery in teh body; the aorta carries oxygenated blood away from the left ventricle of the heart.






44. Connective tissue with large amounts of either collagen fibers (making them strong) or elastic fibers - or both. Dense tissues are typically strong (e.g. bone - cartilage - tendons - etc.)






45. 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.






46. The three glands in the male reproductive system that reproduce semen: the seminal vesicles - the prostate - and the






47. An RNA polymerase that creates a primer (made of RNA) initiate DNa replication. DNA pol binds to the primer and elongates it.






48. 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.






49. The allele in a heterozygous genotype that is expressed; the phenotype resulting from either a heterozygous genotype or a homozygous dominant genotype.






50. The contribution of an individual gas to the total ppressure of a mixture of gases. Partial pressures are used to describe the amounts of the various gases carried in the bloodstream.