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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 subdivision of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.






2. The nerve extending from the back of teh eyeball to teh brain that carries visual information. The ptic nerve is made up of the axons of the ganglion cells of the retina.






3. The protective - connective tissue wrapping of the central nervous system (the dura mater - arachnoid mater - and pia mater).






4. The duplication of DNA






5. Also known as the adenohypophysis - the anterior pituitary is made of gland tissue and makes and secretes six different homrones: FSH - LH - ACTH - prolactin - TSH - and growth hormone. The anterior pituitary is controlled b yreleasing and inhibiting






6. The percentage of wholeblood made up of erythrocytes The typical hematocrit value is between 40-45%.






7. A dense grwoth of bacteria that covers the surface of a petri dish.






8. The muscle tissue of the heart Cardiac muscle is striated - uninucleate - and under involuntary control (controlled by teh autonomic nervous system). Note also that cardiac muscle is self - stimulatory - and autonomic control serves only to modify th






9. A molecule formed by joining many monosaccharides together. POlysaccharides are typically energy- storage molecules (glycogen in animals - starch in plants) or structural molecules (cellulose in plants - chitin in exoskeletons).






10. A tissue in which the cytoplasms of the cells are connected by gap junctions - allowing the cells to function as a unit. Cardiac and smooth muscle tissues are examples of functional synctiums.






11. A small gland encircling the male urethra just inferior to the bladder (only reproductive structure not paired). Its secretion contain nutrients and enzymes and account for approximately 35% of the ejaculate volume.






12. 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.






13. Aromatic bases found in DNA and RNA that are derived from purine. They have a double rightn structure and include adenine and guanine.






14. Aromatic bases found in DNa and RNA that have a single - ring structure. They include cytosine - thymine - and uracil.






15. The membrane surrounding the DNA in eukaryotic cells made of two lipid bilayers.






16. The movement of water (the solvent) from its region of high concentration to its region of low concentration. NOte that the water concnetration gradient is opposite to the solute concentration gradient - since where solutes are concentrated - water i






17. 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.






18. The bond formed between the carboxyl group of one amino acid and the amino group of another.






19. The period of human development from implantation through 8 weeks of gestation. Gastrulation - neurulation - and organogenesis occur during this time period. The developing baby is known as embryo during this time period.






20. 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






21. One of the four aromatic bases found in RNA. Uracil is pyrimidine; it pairs with adnenine.






22. The third phase of meiosis II. During anaphase II the sister chromatids are finally spearated at their centromeres and puled to opposite sides of teh cell. Note that anaphase II is identical to mitotic anaphase - excep the number of chromosmes was re






23. Pain receptors. Nociceptors are found everywhere in the body except for the brain.






24. The uptake of material into a cell - usually by invagination. See also 'phagocytosis' - pinocytosis - and receptor - mediated endocytosis..






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






26. A physiological catalyst. Enzymes are usually proteins - although some RNAs have catalytic activity.






27. 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.






28. The oxidation of high - energy electron carriers (NADH and FADH2) coupled to the phosphorylation of ADP - producing ATP. In eukaryotes - oxidative phosphorylation occurs in the mitochondira.






29. An organelle bounded by a double membrane (double lipid bilayer) called the nuclear envelope. The nucleus contains the genome and is the site of replication and transcription.






30. The organ that carries out teh command sent along a particular motor neuron






31. The unit of muscle contraction. Sarcomeres are bounded by Z lins - to which thin filaments attach. Thick filaments are found in the center of the sarcomere - overlapped by thin filaments over one another during contraction reduces the distance betwee






32. The ball of capillaries at the beginning of the nephron where blood filtration takes place.






33. Also known as the Bundle of His - this is the first portion of the cardiac conduction system - after the AV node.






34. The neurotransmitter used by the sympathetic division of the ANS at the postganglionic (organ - level ) synapse.






35. The central structure of the diencephalon of the brain. the thalamus acts as a relay station and major integrating area for sensory impulses.






36. The principal mineralocorticoid secreted by teh adrenal cortex. This steroid hormone targets the kidney tubules and increases renal reabsorption of sodium [and excretion of potassium]. (this causes ADH to be secreted & increased water comes out - inc






37. An organism that has only a single copy of its genome in each of its cells. Haploid organisms possess no homolous chromosomes.






38. The environment in which or upon Which bacteria grow. It typically contains a sugar source and any other nutrients that bacteria may require. 'Minimal medium' contain nothing but glucose.






39. The elimination of wastes from the body.






40. Ribosomal RNA; the type of RNA that associates with ribosomal proteins to make a functional ribosome. It is thought that the rRNA has the peptidyl transferase activity.






41. A eukaryotic organelle filled with digestive enzymes (acid hydrolases) that is involved in digestion of macromolecules such as worng organelles or material ingested by phagocytosis.






42. The period of time during which the ventricles of the heart are contracted.






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






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






45. The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the to outside of the body. In males it also carries semen and sperm during ejaculation.






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






47. The first part of the large intestine.






48. A subsequent immune response to previously encountered antigen that results in antibody production and T cell activation. The secondary immune response is mediated by memory cells (produced during the primary immune respone) and is much faster and st






49. The cells of the afferent artery at the juxtaglomerular apparatus. They are baroreceptors that secrete renin upon sensing a decrease in blood pressure.






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