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






2. A hormone made of amino acids (in some cases just a single - modified amino acid). Peptide hormones are generally hydrophilic and cannot cross the plasma membranes of cells - thus receptor for peptide hormones must be found on the cell surface. An ex






3. The flow of blood from the heart - through the lungs - and back to the heart.






4. Active transport that relies directly on the hydrolysis of ATP.






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






6. A flexible piece of cartilage in the larynx that flips downward to seal teh trachea during swallowing.






7. Microscopic outward folds of the cells lining the small intestine; microvilli serve to increase the surface area of the small intestine for absorption.






8. The plasma membrane of a muscle cell.






9. A sensory receptor that responds to hcanges in pressure; for example - there are baroreceptors in the carotid arteries and the aortic ach that monitor blood pressure.






10. A vein connecting the capillary bed of the intestines with the capillary bed of the liver. This allows amino acids and gluocse absorbed from the intestines to be delivered first to the liver for processing before being transported throughout the circ






11. Anterior pituitary topic hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing homeon) that stimulates the gonads (testes and ovaries) to produce gametes and to secrete sex steroids.






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






13. The birth canal; the stretchy - muscular passageway through which a baby exits the uterus during childbirth.






14. The pressure measured in the arteries while the ventricles are relaxed (during diastole).






15. The most common class of bone in the body - long bones have a well - defined shaft (the diaphysis) and two well - defined ends (the epiphyses).






16. A thin - watery fluid found in teh anterior segment of the eye (between the lens and the cornea). THe aqueous humor is constantly produced and drained - adn helps to bring nutrients to the lesn and corena - as well as to remove metabolic wastes






17. A phase in the cycle between mitosis and S phase (G1) or between S phase and mitosis (G2). During gap phases the cell undergoes normal activity and growth; G1 may include preparation for DNA replication and G2 includes preparation for mitosis. Note t






18. 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.






19. A hormone produced and secreted by teh adrenal medulla that prolongs and increases teh effects of the sympathetic nervous system.






20. A thick - gelatinous fluid found in the posterior segment of the eye (between the lens and the retina). The vireous humor is only produced during fetal development and helps maintain intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eyeball).






21. A prokaryotic enzyme used to twist teh single circular chromosome of prokaryotes upon itself to form supercois. Supercoiling helps to compact prokaryotic DNa and make it sturdier.






22. Also known as the neurohyophysis - the posterior pituitary is made of nervous tisssue and stores and secretes two hormones made by the hypothlamus; oxtytocin and ADH. The posterior pituitary is controlled by action potentials from the hypothalamus.






23. Molecules made from monosaccharides that serve as the primary source of cellular energy -. Carbohydrates can also act as cell surface markers (good thing to remember).






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






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






26. The space between the inner and outer cell membranes in Gram - negative bactera. The peptidoglycan cell wall is found in the periplasmic space - and this space sometimes contains enzymes to degrade antibiotics.






27. 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.






28. 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






29. Chemoreceptors in the upper nasal cavity that respond to odo chemicals.






30. A genotype in which two different alleles are possessed for a given gene.






31. A stack of membranes found near the rough ER in eukaryotic cells that is involved in the secretory pathway. The Golgi is involved in protein glycosylation (and other protein modification) and sorting and packagin proteins.






32. A type of lipoprotein; the form in which absorbed fats from the intestines are transported to the circulatory system.






33. The relationship of muscle length to its ability to generate strong contractions. Maximum tension (contraction strength) is achieved at sarcomere lengths between 2.0 and 2.2 microns. Tension decreases outside of this range <-- remember.






34. One of the three primary (embryonic) germ layers formed during gastrulation. Mesoderm ultimately forms 'middle' structures such as bones - muscles - blood vessels - heart - kindeys - etc.






35. A bacterial enzyme that recognizes a specific DNA nucleotide sequence and that cuts the double helix at a specific site within the sequence.






36. The reactants in an enzyme - catalyzed reaction. Substrate binds at the active site of an enzyme.






37. 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.






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






39. The amount of blood returned to heart by the vena cavae.






40. Toward the 5' end of an Rna transcript (the 5' end of the DNA coding strand). The promoter and start sites are upstream.






41. A set of vessels in the body that runs alongside the vessels of the circulatory system. It is a one - way system - with lymphatic capillaries beginning at the tissues and ultimately emptying into the large veins near the heart. It serves to return ex






42. The constant inhibition provided to the heart by the vagus nerve. Vagal tone reduces the intrinsic firing rate of teh SA node from 120 beats/minute to around 80 beats/minute.






43. (1) In the GI tract - organs that play a role in digestion but not directly part of the alimentary canal. These include the liver - the gallbladder - the pancreas - adn the salivary glands.






44. Enzymes secreted by the mucosal cells lining the intestine. The brush border enzymes are disaccharides adn dipeptidases taht digest the smallest peptides and carbohydrates into their respective monomers.






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






46. A mature - dormant osteoblast.






47. The region of the nephron that surrounds the glomerulus. The capsule ollects the plasma that is filtered from teh capillaries in the glomerulus.

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48. Complementary DNA. DNA produced synthetically by reverse trascribing mRNA. Because of eukaryotic mRNA splicing - cDNA contains no inrons.






49. The fourth (and final) phase of mitosis. During telophase the nuclear envelope reforms - chromosomes decondense - and the mitotic spindle is disassembled.






50. 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).