Chapter 1. Cellular Biology

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. A student is observing a cell under the microscope. It is observed to have supercoiled DNA 

with histones. Which of the following would also be observed by the student?

a. A single circular chromosome

b. A nucleus

c. Free-floating nuclear material

d. No organelles

ANS: B

The cell described is a eukaryotic cell, so it has histones and a supercoiled DNA within its 

nucleus; thus, the nucleus should be observed.

A single circular chromosome is characteristic of prokaryotic cells, which do not have histones.

Free-floating nuclear material describes a prokaryotic cell, which would not have a distinct 

nucleus.

Eukaryotic cells have membrane bounded cellular components called organelles. No organelles 

describes a prokaryotic cell.

2. A nurse is instructing the staff about cellular functions. Which cellular function is the nurse 

describing when an isolated cell absorbs oxygen and uses it to transform nutrients to energy?

a. Metabolic absorption

b. Communication

c. Secretion

d. Respiration

ANS: D

The ability of the cell to absorb oxygen refers to the cells function of respiration.

The ability of the cell to function within a society of cells refers to its function of 

communication.

The ability of the cell to take in nutrients refers to the cells function of metabolic absorption.

The ability of the cell to synthesize new substances and secrete these elsewhere refers to the cells 

function of secretion.

3. A eukaryotic cell is undergoing DNA replication. In which region of the cell would most of 

the genetic information be contained?

a. Mitochondria

b. Ribosome

c. Nucleolus

d. Nucleus

ANS: C

The region of the cell that contains genetic material, including a large amount of ribonucleic 

acid, most of the DNA, and DNA-binding proteins, is the nucleolus.

The mitochondria is the site of cellular respiration.

The ribosomes are involved in manufacturing of proteins within the cell.

The nucleus contains the nucleolus, and it is the nucleolus that contains genetic material.

4. The fluid mosaic model for biologic membranes describes membrane behavior. According to 

this model, which of the following float singly or as aggregates in the fluid lipid bilayer?

a. Peripheral membrane proteins

b. Integral membrane proteins

c. Glycoproteins

d. Cell adhesion molecules

ANS: B

Integral membrane proteins float freely in the fluid lipid bilayer.

Peripheral membrane proteins are not embedded in the layer, but reside at the surface.

Glycoproteins act as cell surface markers.

Cell adhesion molecules are on the outside of the membrane and allow cells to hook together.

5. Which of the following can bind to plasma membrane receptors?

a. Oxygen

b. Ribosomes

c. Amphipathic lipids

d. Ligands

ANS: D

Ligands are specific molecules that can bind with receptors on the cell membrane.

Oxygen moves by diffusion; it does not bind to receptors.

Ribosomes make proteins and are not involved in binding.

Amphipathic lipids are a portion of the cell membrane.

6. A nurse is reviewing a report from a patient with metastatic cancer. What finding would 

support the diagnosis of metastatic cancer? Alterations in extracellular matrix that include:

a. Decreased fibronectin

b. Increased collagen

c. Decreased elastin

d. Increased glycoproteins

ANS: A

Reduced amounts of fibronectin are found in some types of cancerous cells, allowing cancer 

cells to travel, or metastasize.

Collagen provides strength, and its breakdown is associated with osteoarthritis, not cancer.

Elastin is found in the lungs and allows tissues to stretch; it is not associated with cancerous 

cells.

Decreased, not increased, glycoproteins are associated with cancerous cells.

7. Which form of cell communication is used to relate to other cells in direct physical contact?

a. Cell junction

b. Gap junction

c. Desmosomes

d. Tight junctions

ANS: A

Cell junctions hold cells together and permit molecules to pass from cell to cell.

Gap junctions allow communication from the inside of one cell to the inside of another.

Desmosomes are not involved in communication, but allow cells to hold together.

Tight junctions are barriers that prevent movement of some substances and leakages of others.

8. Pancreatic beta cells secrete insulin, which inhibits secretion of glucagon from neighboring 

alpha cells. This action is an example of which of the following signaling types?

a. Paracrine

b. Autocrine

c. Neurohormonal

d. Hormonal

ANS: A

Paracrine signaling involves the release of local chemical mediators that are quickly taken up, 

destroyed, or immobilized, as in the case of insulin and the inhibition of the secretion of 

glucagon.

When cells produce signals that they themselves respond to, autocrine signaling is used.

Neurohormonal signaling involves secretion of hormones into the bloodstream by neurosecretory 

hormones.

Hormonal signaling involves specialized endocrine cells that secrete hormone chemicals released 

by one set of cells that travel through the tissue through the bloodstream to produce a response in 

other sets of cells.

9. In cellular metabolism, each enzyme has a high affinity for a:

a. Solute

b. Substrate

c. Receptor

d. Ribosome

ANS: B

Each enzyme has a high affinity for a substrate, a specific substance converted to a product of the 

reaction.

Solutes are small particles that pass through the cell membrane.

A receptor is a site on the cell wall that allows transport into the cell.

Ribosomes are located inside the cell and are not related to the work of enzymes.

10. An athlete runs a marathon, after which his muscles feel fatigued and unable to contract. The 

athlete asks the nurse why this happened. How should the nurse respond? A deficiency in 

________ can cause impaired muscle contraction.

a. GTP

b. AMP

c. ATP

d. GMP

ANS: C

The cell uses ATP for muscle contraction. when it is deficient, impaired muscle contraction 

results.

GTP is involved in cell signaling, not muscle contraction.

AMP is not involved in muscle contraction.

GMP is not involved in muscle contraction.

11. Which phase of catabolism produces the most ATP?

a. Digestion

b. Glycolysis

c. Oxidation

d. Citric acid cycle

ANS: D

Most of the ATP is generated during the citric acid cycle.

Larger molecules are broken down into smaller units during digestion; no ATP is produced 

during this cycle.

During glycolysis, two molecules of ATP are produced from each glucose molecule, but the 

most ATP is produced during the citric acid cycle.

Oxidation is part of the glycolysis process and ATP is produced, but more ATP is produced 

during the citric acid cycle.

12. A nurse is teaching the staff about the three phases of cellular catabolism. Which of the 

following should the nurse include?

a. Digestion, glycolysis and oxidation, and the citric acid cycle

b. Diffusion, osmosis, and mediated transport

c. S phase, G phase, and M phase

d. Metabolic absorption, respiration, and excretion

ANS: A

Digestion, glycolysis and oxidation, and the citric acid cycle are the three phases of cellular 

catabolism.

Diffusion, osmosis, and mediated transport are parts of the movement of fluids in and out of 

cells.

The S, G, and M phases are phases of cellular division, not catabolism.

Metabolic absorption, respiration, and excretion are functions of the cell.

13. A runner has depleted all the oxygen available for muscle energy. Which of the following 

will facilitate his continued muscle performance?

a. Electron-transport chain

b. Aerobic glycolysis

c. Anaerobic glycolysis

d. Oxidative phosphorylation

ANS: C

When no oxygen is available, anaerobic glycolysis occurs.

The electron-transport chain is part of the citric acid cycle.

Aerobic glycolysis involves the presence of oxygen.

Oxidative phosphorylation is the mechanism by which the energy produced from carbohydrates, 

fats, and proteins is transferred to ATP. It is not part of muscle performance.

14. The faculty member asked the student to identify the appropriate term for the movement of 

small, electrically uncharged molecules through a semipermeable barrier. Which answer 

indicates the nursing student understood the teaching?

a. Osmosis

b. Diffusion

c. Hydrostatic pressure

d. Active transport

ANS: B

Diffusion is the movement of a solute molecule from an area of greater solute concentration to an 

area of lesser solute concentration.

Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from a region of higher 

water concentration to one of lower concentration.

Hydrostatic pressure is the force of fluid against a cell membrane. Within the vascular system, 

this pressure is the blood pressure.

In active transport, molecules move up a concentration gradient. This process requires energy.

15. A nurse is teaching a patient about fluid and electrolytes. Which of the following indicates 

the teaching was successful regarding electrolytes? Electrolytes are:

a. Small lipid-soluble molecules

b. Large protein molecules

c. Micronutrients used to produce ATP

d. Electrically charged molecules

ANS: D

Electrolytes are electrically charged molecules.

Electrolytes are not lipid soluble.

Electrolytes are not made up of protein.

Electrolytes do not have a role in the production of ATP.

16. A nurse is reading a chart and sees the term oncotic pressure. The nurse recalls that oncotic 

pressure (colloid osmotic pressure) is determined by:

a. Concentration of sodium

b. Plasma proteins

c. Hydrostatic pressure

d. Availability of membrane transporter proteins

ANS: B