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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 structure in the cochlea of the inner ear made up of the basilar membrane - the auditory hair cells - and the tectorial membrane. The Organ of Corti is the site where auditory sensation is detected and transduced to action potentials.






2. 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






3. A four - carbon molecule that binds with the two - carbon acetyl unit of acetyl - CoA to form citric acid in the first step of the Krebs cycle.






4. Myelinated axons






5. One of several vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart.






6. The tube that connects the middle ear acity with the pharynx; also known as the Eustachian tube. Its fucntion is to equalize midle ear pressure with atmospheric pressure so that pressure on boths sides of the tympanic membrane is the same.






7. Summation by a postsynaptic cell of input (EPSPs or IPSPs) from a single source over time.






8. A lubricating - nourishing fluid found in joint capsules.






9. The movement of air out of the respiratory tract. Expiration can be passive (caused by relaxation of the diaphragm and elastic recoil of the lungs) or active (caused by contraction of the abdominal muscles - which increases intraabdominal pressure an






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






11. 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






12. The first portion of the nephron tubuel after the glomerulus. THe PCT is the site of most reabsorption; all filtered nutrients are reabsorbed here as well as most of the filtered water.






13. The first generation of offspring from a given genetic cross.






14. An amphipathic molecule secreted by cells in the alveoli (type 2 alveolar cells) tha reducs surface tension on the inside of the alveolar walls. This prevents the alveoli from collapsing upon exhale and sticking together - thus reducing the effort re






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






16. Photoreceptors in the retina of the eye that responds to bright light and provide color vision.






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






18. A trop hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gand that targets the adrenal cortex - stimulating it to relase corisol and aldosterone.






19. A four - subunit protein found in red blood cells that binds oxygen. Each subunit contains a heme group - a large multi - ring molecule with an iron atom at its center. One hemoglobin molecule can bind four oxygen molecules in a cooperative manner.






20. A function the reproductive system (conrolled by the sympathetic nervous system) that returns the body to its normal resting state after sexual arousal and orgasm.






21. A lipid bilayer that surrounds the capsid of an animal virus. the envelope is acquired as teh virus buds out through the plasma membrane of its host cell. Not all annimal viruses possess and envelope.






22. 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






23. 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.






24. The layer of granulosa cells taht surround an oocyte after is has been ovulated.






25. A form of symbiosis in Which both organisms involved benefit from the association.






26. The fusion of a sperm with an ovum during sexual reproduction. Fertilization typically occurs in the uterine tubes and requires capacitation of the sperm and relase of the acrosomal enzymes. Fertilization is a species - specific process - requiring b






27. A peptide hormone produced and secreted by the alpha cells - of the pancreas. It tartes primarily the liver - stimulating the breakdown of glycogen - thus increasing blood gluocse level.s






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






29. The period of exponential growth of bacterial population.






30. The product of glycolysis; 2 pyruvic acid (pyruvate) molecules are produced from a single glucose molecule. In the absence of oxygen - pyruvic acid undergoes fermentation and is reduced to either lactic acid or ethanol; in the presence of oxygen - py






31. A structure near the middle of eukaryotic chromosomes to which the fibers of the mitotic spindle attach during cell division.






32. Genes that are inherited only from the mother - such as mitochondrial genes (all organelles come only from the ovum).






33. A law of population genetics that states that the frequencies of alleles in a given gene pool do not change over time. There are five assumptions required for this law to hold true: there must be no mutation - there must be no migration - there must






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






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






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






37. A string of several hundred adenine nucletodies added to the 3' end of the eukaryotic mRNA.






38. The step in the sliding filament theory during which yosin undergoes a conformaitonal change to its low energy state - in the process dragging the thin filaments (and the attached Z lines) toward the center fo the sarcomere. NOte that power stroke re






39. 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.






40. A hormone released by teh G cells of the stomach in the presence of food. Gastrin promotes muscular activity of the stomach as well as secretion of hydrochloric acid - pepsinogen - and mucus.






41. In the autonomic divison of the PNS - a neuron that has its cell body located in the CNS - and whose axon extends into the PNS to synapse with a second neuron at an autonoic ganglion. (The second neuron's axon synapses with the target axon)






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






43. A carrier protein that transports two molecules acrss the plasma membrane in opposite directions.






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






45. An integral protein that selectively allows molecules across the plasma membrane. See also entries under 'ion channel' - 'voltage - gated channel' - and 'ligand - gated channel'.






46. The final phase of the digestive tract - also called the colon. The primary funcion of the large intestine is to reabsorb water and to store the feces.






47. The final section (approximately 55%) of the small intestine.






48. A virus that infects a bacterium.






49. The cell body of a neuron.






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