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






2. 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.






3. A protein channel in a cell membrane that is specific for a particular ion - such as Na+ or K+. Ion channels may be constitutively open (leak channels) - or regulated (voltage - gated or ligand - gated).






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






5. 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






6. The set of adult characteristics that develop during puberty under the control of the sex steroids. In males the secondary sex characteristics include enlargement and maturation of the genitalia - growth of facial - body - and pubic hair - increased






7. Strong contractions of the uterus (stimulated by oxytoncin) that force a baby out of the mother's baby during childbirth. Labor contractions are part of a positive feedback cycle - during which the baby's head stretches the cervix - which stimulates






8. A genetic cross between an organism displaying a recessive phenotype (homozygous recessive) and an organism displaying a dominant phenotype (for whic the genotype is unknown) - done to determine the unknown genotype.






9. Also called simply - 'islet cells' these are the endocrine cells of the pancreas. Different cell types wihtin the inslets secrete insulin - glucagon - and somatostatin






10. The largest organ in the abdominal cavity. The liver has many roles - including procesing of carbohydrates and fats - synthesis of urea - production of blood proteins - production of bile - recycling heme - and storage of vitamins.






11. A hormone secreted by the samll intestine (duodenum) in response to the presence of fats. It promotes release of bile from the gallbladder and pancreatic juice from the pancreas - and reduces stomach motility.






12. Also called immunoblobins - the antibodies are protiens secreted by B- cells upon activation that bind in a highly specific manner to foreign proteins (such as those found of the surface of pathogens or transplanted tissues). The foreign proteins are






13. Also called falopian tubes - these tubes extend laterally from their side of the uterus and serve as a passageway for the ocyte to travel from the ovary to the uterus. This is also the normal site of fertilization. Severing of the uterine tubes (tuba






14. Unicellular exocrine glands found along the respiratory and digestive tracts taht secrete mucus.






15. The portion of the placenta derived from the zygote.






16. The outer layer of an organ - e.g. the renal cortex - the ovarian cortex - the adrenal cortex - etc.






17. A hormone tha tcontrols the release of another hormone.






18. The valve that controls the release of urine from the bladder. It has an internal part made of smooth muscle (thus involuntary) and an external part made of skeletal muscle (thus voluntary).






19. 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.






20. The muscular femal organ - in which a baby develops during pregnancy.






21. Strong bands of connective tissue that connect skeletal muscle to bone.






22. A large - mature - ovarian follicel with a well - developed antrum and a secondary oocyte. Ovulation of the oocyte occurs from this type of follicle.






23. The band of the sarcomere that extends the full length of the thick filament. The A band includes regions of thick and thin filament overlap - as well as a region of thick filament only. A bands alternate with I bands to give skeletal and cardiac mus






24. Plasma with the clotting factors removed. Serum is often used in diagnostic tests because it does not clot.






25. Bacteria that have a thin peptidoglycan cell wall covered by an outer plasma membrane. They stain very lightly (pink) in Gram stain. Gram - negative bacteria are typically more resistant to antibiotics than Gram - positive bacteria.






26. 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.






27. The folds of skin that enclose the vaginal and urethral openings of females.






28. A mechanism for increasing tension (contractile length) in a muscle by activating more motor units.






29. A gene that has effects on several different characteristics.






30. The movement of molecules through the plasma membrane against their concentration gradients. Active transport requires input of cellular energy - often in the form of ATP. An example is the Na+/K+ ATPase in the plasma membrane of all cells.






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






32. DNA replication in which each of the parental strands is read to make a complementary daughter strand - ethus each new DNa molecule is composed of half the parental molecule paired with a newly synthesized strand.






33. A portion of DNA that codes for some product - usually a protein - including all regulatory sequences. Some genes code for rRNA and tRNA - which are not translated.






34. A contact point between the afferent arteriole of the glomerulus and the distal convoluted tubule of the nephron. It is involved in regulating blood pressure.






35. 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.






36. The cytoskeleton filaments with the smallest diameter. Microfilaments are composed of the contractile protein actin. They are dynamic filaments - constantly beig made and broken down as needed - and are responsible for events such as pseudopod format






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






38. A group of nucleotides that does not specify a particular amino acid - but instead serves to notify the ribosome that the protein being translated is complete. The stop codons are UAA - UGA - and UAG. They are also known as nonsense codons.






39. The valvecontrolling release of bile and pancreatic juice into the bloodstream.






40. An organism that requires oxygen to survive (aerobic metabolism only).






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






42. Cranial nerve pair X. The vagus nerves are very large mixed nerves (They carry both sensory input and motor input) that innervate virtually every visceral organ. They are especially important in transmitting parasympathetic input to the heart and dig






43. (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.






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






45. 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.






46. 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).






47. A hair - like structure on teh cell surface composed of microtubules ina '9+2' arrangement (nine pairs of microtubles surrounding 2 single microtubules in the center). Teh microtubules are conneted with a contractile protien called dynein. Cilia beat






48. A thick muscular tube that connects the epididymis of the testes to the urethra. Muscular contractions of the vas deferns during ejaculation ehp propel the sperm outward. Severing of the vas deferens (vasectomy) results in sterility of the male.






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






50. A clear fluid the circulates around through the brain and spinal cord that helps to physially support teh brain and act as a shock absorber - and taht also exchanges nutrients and wastes with teh brain and spinal cord.