Title: Overview of Body Systems
Course: Question Banks

Q: The ________ is an organ with a major role in both the nervous and endocrine systems.
- heart (Incorrect. The heart is predominantly an organ of the cardiovascular system.)
- testes (Incorrect. Testes are part of the endocrine and reproductive systems.)
- brain (Correct. The brain plays equal role in the nervous and endocrine systems as it is home to many neurons and receptors as well as glands.)
A: brain

Q: The ________ system is responsible for movement.
- nervous (Incorrect. The nervous system controls the signals that result in movement, but does not move the body.)
- integumentary (Incorrect. This is the skin and associated structures, which functions to protect and support the body.)
- muscular (Correct. The muscular system is all the muscles and ligaments that, in conjunction with the underlying skeleton, moves the body.)
A: muscular

Q: Common medical conditions are often named after the ________ they affect.
- tissue (Incorrect. We do not usually term medical conditions by tissues. Would you say “My epithelium hurts”?)
- cell (Incorrect. Common ailments and medical conditions are not often named after cells. We do not usually say “I have an upset parietal cell” for example.)
- organ (Correct. We often label ailments by the organ they impact, for example “I have an upset stomach.”)
A: organ

Q: When you drink excess water, the ________ system is involved in sensing solute and water levels in your body.
- urinary (Incorrect. The urinary system will produce more dilute urine in response to drinking excess water, but it does not sense water or solute levels.)
- nervous (Incorrect. The nervous system has no major role in regulating water levels in your body.)
- cardiovascular (Correct. The cardiovascular and lymphatic systems are mainly responsible for sensing the levels of water and solutes in body fluids.)
A: cardiovascular

Q: The ________ system is responsible for the visible reactions to the body’s efforts to maintain a steady internal temperature.
- muscular (Incorrect. In extreme cold the muscular system may cause you to shiver, which can be seen, but this is not the most visible set of reactions to temperature regulation.)
- respiratory (Incorrect. You may breathe more rapidly to eliminate excess heat, but this is not the most visible response to temperature regulation.)
- integumentary (Correct. The integumentary and cardiovascular systems work together, but these responses are visible especially on your skin. When you become hot the skin will flush and produce sweat to cool the body; in cases of cold, the hairs on your skin rise, you get goose bumps and have cold, pale extremities.)
A: integumentary

Q: The endocrine system controls the ________.
- absorption of calcium from food (Incorrect. The digestive system is responsible for absorbing calcium from food.)
- removal of excess calcium from the body (Incorrect. The urinary system is responsible for removing excess calcium in the urine.)
- responses to changes in blood calcium levels (Correct. The endocrine system contains the parathyroid and thyroid glands, each of which contains receptors that respond to blood calcium levels.)
A: responses to changes in blood calcium levels

Q: The ________ gland detects low calcium levels in the body.
- thyroid (Incorrect. The thyroid gland has the opposite role: it monitors for high levels of calcium in the blood.)
- pancreas (Incorrect. The pancreas has no role in monitoring the levels of blood calcium.)
- parathyroid (Correct. The parathyroid gland is responsible for monitoring when blood calcium levels drop below a key threshold in the body.)
A: parathyroid

Q: The pancreas monitors ________.
- low glucose levels in the body (Incorrect. This is not all the pancreas monitors.)
- high levels of glucose in the blood (Incorrect. This is not all the pancreas monitors.)
- both high and low levels of glucose in the blood (Correct. The pancreas detects both high and low levels of glucose in the blood, and triggers an appropriate response to shift glucose levels.)
A: both high and low levels of glucose in the blood

Q: In response to high levels of calcium in the blood, the skeletal system will ________.
- secrete calcium into urine (Incorrect. The urinary system will excrete excess calcium in urine.)
- stop forming vitamin D (Incorrect. The kidneys will stop forming vitamin D, which triggers absorption of calcium by the digestive system.)
- build new bone (Correct. Calcium is essential for bone formation by osteoblasts; excess calcium can therefore be “harvested” to form into new bone.)
A: build new bone

Q: The ________ of sensory data only occurs in the brain.
- reception (Incorrect. Sensory data may be received at a variety of locations around the body: any spot with nerve endings in fact.)
- impact (Incorrect. The impact of sensory data may be moving your hand from a hot stove: in this case the impact occurs in an appendage.)
- integration (Correct. The brain “makes sense” of the data it receives from a variety of sources; that is then used to determine the appropriate body response.)
A: integration

Q: The ________ nervous system has voluntary control of skin, bones, joints, and skeletal muscle.
- central (Incorrect. The central nervous system is the brain and spinal cord, the body’s “control center.”)
- autonomic (Incorrect. The autonomic nervous system has involuntary control of internal organs, blood vessels, and smooth and cardiac muscles.)
- somatic (Correct. The somatic nervous system of the peripheral nervous system is the portion that we exert voluntary control over.)
A: somatic

Q: Motor neurons are all ________ neurons.
- inhibitory (Incorrect. Motor neurons do not inhibit their target cells.)
- afferent (Incorrect. Motor neurons do not bring information to the brain region.)
- excitatory (Correct. Motor and somatic neurons cause function in their target cells or postsynaptic neurons.)
A: excitatory

Q: The endocrine system ________.
- only sends chemical messages to the brain (Incorrect. The endocrine system does not just send signals to the brain.)
- aids the immune system in defending the body from pathogens (Incorrect. The endocrine system does not play a major role in the immune response.)
- secretes chemical messengers within specific organs (Correct. The endocrine system controls ductless glands that secrete hormones to influence the action of different cells in the body.)
A: secretes chemical messengers within specific organs

Q: ________ act immediately; whereas, ________ take longer to trigger an intended effect.
- Hormones; inhibitors (Incorrect. Hormones do not act immediately.)
- Activators; inhibitors (Incorrect. Activation or inhibition is just a type of action: this does not indicate or dictate speed at which cells respond.)
- Neurotransmitters; hormones (Correct. The chemical messengers of the nervous system are fast acting neurotransmitters, while the endocrine system produces slower acting hormones.)
A: Neurotransmitters; hormones

Q: Endocrine glands are found ________.
- embedded in the skin (Incorrect. There are no endocrine glands in the skin but there are quite a few exocrine glands.)
- only in the nervous system (Incorrect. Most endocrine glands are outside the nervous system.)
- throughout the body (Correct. Endocrine glands are found in several locations around the body, often colocalized with the organs they impact. Some endocrine glands, such as the thyroid and adrenal complex, do affect tissues throughout the body.)
A: throughout the body

Q: In the male reproductive system, where to the sperm mature?
- testes (Incorrect. Sperm are produced in the testes but this is not where they mature before ejaculation.)
- vas deferens (Incorrect. Sperm do not mature in the vas deferens; this is the tube that moves them during ejaculation.)
- epididymis (Correct. Sperm are stored and mature in the epididymis after being produced in testes and before exiting via the urethra.)
A: epididymis

Q: Fertilization in humans occurs in the ________.
- ovaries (Incorrect. This is the site of oocyte (“egg”) production.)
- vagina (Incorrect. The vagina is the part of the female reproductive tract that conducts sperm inward, but this is not where fertilization actually occurs.)
- Fallopian tubes (Correct. The Fallopian tubes are the site where sperm and oocytes fuse; the fertilized egg then travels the tube to the uterus for implantation and development.)
A: Fallopian tubes

Q: The female ________ is homologous to the male ________.
- vagina; prostate (Incorrect. The vagina is homologous to the prostatic utricle in males, the prostate to Skene's glands.)
- labia majora; foreskin (Incorrect. The labia majora is homologous to the scrotum and the foreskin to the clitoral hood.)
- clitoris; penis (Correct. These structures develop from the genital tubercle embryonic tissue and each provides many of the pleasurable sensations associated with sexual stimulation.)
A: clitoris; penis

Q: Taste and smell are both ________ senses.
- thermoreception (Incorrect. Taste or smell are not connected to temperature changes, though temperature can impact these senses due to the rate at which molecules move at higher temperatures.)
- mechanoreception (Incorrect. Touch is partially controlled by mechanical sensations such as pressure, vibration, and slip, but not taste or smell.)
- chemoreception (Correct. Taste and smell are both dependent on the reception of chemical compounds.)
A: chemoreception

Q: The sense of hearing is a ________ sense.
- chemoreception (Incorrect. Taste and smell are both dependent on the reception of chemical compounds.)
- thermoreception (Incorrect. Touch is partially controlled by thermoreception, or detect of temperature changes.)
- mechanoreception (Correct. Hearing and equilibrium (a physiological sense) are both mechanoreception senses, controlled by detection of sensations such as pressure and vibration.)
A: mechanoreception

Q: ________ are the photoreceptors responsible for night vision.
- Cones (Incorrect. Cones are responsible for photopic vision and color perception.)
- Retina (Incorrect. The retina is the innermost layer of the eye that contains the photoreceptors that actually detect the light signals required for vision.)
- Rods (Correct. The rods detect the signals required for scotopic vision.)
A: Rods

Q: During fetal development, the heart is likely ________.
- the last organ to become functional (Incorrect. The lungs are among the last organs to develop.)
- the first organ to begin its development (Incorrect. Components of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord, may begin development before the heart.)
- the first organ to become functional (Correct. The heart is thought to be the first organ to become functional; the average human’s heart will beat about 3 billion times during life.)
A: the first organ to become functional

Q: Blood is transported away from the heart by the ________.
- capillaries (Incorrect. Capillaries connect the arteries and the veins; they have no direct path to the heart. Together there are nearly 6,3000 square meters of capillaries in your body.)
- veins (Incorrect. Veins carry blood to the heart.)
- arteries (Correct. These muscular blood vessels carry both oxygenated and deoxygenated blood away from the heart.)
A: arteries

Q: Cardiac muscle is ________.
- under voluntary control (Incorrect. Cardiac muscle is completely involuntary.)
- controlled by reflex nervous stimuli (Incorrect. Cardiac muscle has its own conduction system, meaning it is self-exciting. The rate at which the heart pumps can be changed by nervous or hormonal influence, but the action of the muscle itself is not changed by these outside influences.)
- found only in the heart (Correct. The heart is composed of involuntary cardiac muscle tissue.)
A: found only in the heart

Q: The respiratory system helps regulate body temperature by ________.
- filtering and warming air that enters the body (Incorrect. This is not part of body temperature regulation.)
- moving heat from the lungs (Incorrect. The respiratory system does not move heat from any specific location within the body.)
- dissipating heat through evaporation during exhalation (Correct. Body temperature can be lowered by releasing some heat during the evaporation connected to the action of expiration. Body temperature cannot be raised by the respiratory system.)
A: dissipating heat through evaporation during exhalation

Q: The upper respiratory tract is ________.
- found only above the mouth (Incorrect. The upper respiratory tract includes the pharynx, which is at the level of the mouth.)
- contained in the upper chest (Incorrect. Most of the lower respiratory tract in in the chest area.)
- contained in the head of the body (Correct. The upper respiratory tract includes the nostrils, nasal cavities, pharynx, epiglottis, and sometimes the larynx. All of these are contained within the head.)
A: contained in the head of the body

Q: Gas exchange occurs in the ________.
- upper respiratory tract (Incorrect. This is where air is filtered, warmed, and humidified.)
- entire respiratory tract (Incorrect. The respiratory tract is divided into two “parts” not based solely on location, but also on function.)
- lower respiratory tract (Correct. Gas exchange physically occurs in the lower respiratory tract only.)
A: lower respiratory tract

Q: Mechanical barriers such as the skin represent a type of ________ immunity.
- adaptive (Incorrect. Adaptive immunity recognizes and adjusts to specific pathogens and antigens; the skin does not distinguish between materials trying to enter your body.)
- specific (Incorrect. The skin does not distinguish between materials trying to enter your body; therefore it is not specific.)
- innate (Correct. Mechanical barriers keep out everything and are nonspecific, making them a form of innate immunity.)
A: innate

Q: Activated lymphocytes respond to pathogens directly during ________ immunity.
- antibody-mediated (Incorrect. Antibody-mediated immunity requires a foreign particle to trigger one of the MHC molecules, which then activate T-cells.)
- innate (Incorrect. Activated T-lymphocytes are not a part of innate, nonspecific immunity.)
- cell-mediated (Correct. During cell-mediated immunity, a pathogen will directly cause a T-cell to become activated.)
A: cell-mediated

Q: Cells that present a MHC class II antigen will ________.
- be directly attacked by the immune cell that recognizes the antigen (Incorrect. A direct attack by the recognizing immune cell is triggered by MHC class I antigens.)
- be ignored by the immune system, since this is the signal for self (Incorrect. MHC class II antigens are not the signal for self; molecules with a MHC class II antigen will trigger an immune response.)
- trigger the immune system to mobilize cells against that antigen (Correct. This is an indirect, but still specific, response to an antigen.)
A: trigger the immune system to mobilize cells against that antigen

Q: Mechanical digestion finishes in the ________.
- mouth (Incorrect. Mechanical digestion begins in the mouth.)
- esophagus (Incorrect. The esophagus has no direct role in digestion: it is just a pathway in the digestive system.)
- stomach (Correct. Mechanical digestion finishes in the stomach and chemical digestion takes precedence.)
A: stomach

Q: The alimentary canal begins ________.
- at the small intestine (Incorrect. There is much for to the alimentary canal than just the two intestines and the anus.)
- in the stomach (Incorrect. The alimentary canal does not begin in the stomach.)
- at the mouth (Correct. The alimentary canal is the long tube of organs from the mouth to anus that food passes through while undergoing digestion.)
A: at the mouth

Q: The majority of the enzymes involved in chemical digestion are released by the ________.
- pancreas (Incorrect. The pancreas produces most of the enzymes used for chemical digestion, but it does not release them.)
- mouth (Incorrect. The mouth is involved in release of salivary amylase, which begins the breakdown of carbohydrates, but no other enzymes used for digestion.)
- small intestine (Correct. The small intestine releases nearly all the enzymes that function in chemical digestion.)
A: small intestine

Q: ________ muscle is under voluntary control.
- Cardiac (Incorrect. The heart muscles must work without thought or effort.)
- Smooth (Incorrect. Smooth muscle is involuntary muscle found in the walls of organs and structures that need to function without conscious control.)
- Skeletal (Correct. Only these muscles are under voluntary control and work when directed.)
A: Skeletal

Q: ________ muscle is striated and has a single nucleus per cell.
- Skeletal (Incorrect. The cells that make up skeletal muscle have a long, striped appearance but several nuclei in each cell.)
- Smooth (Incorrect. Smooth muscle is not striped but does have only a single nucleus per cell.)
- Cardiac (Correct. The cells that make up cardiac muscle have a long, striped appearance with a single nucleus in each cell.)
A: Cardiac

Q: ________ skeletal muscle is anaerobic and has few mitochondria.
- Type I (Incorrect. Type I skeletal muscle is “red” muscle and is quite rich in mitochondria and myoglobin.)
- Type IIa (Incorrect. Type IIa skeletal muscle is “slow” muscle, which works in aerobic conditions and contains a lot of mitochondria.)
- Type IIb (Correct. This type of skeletal muscle is the common fast muscle type in small animals, and because it has less mitochondria and myoglobin, causes the “white” appearance of this tissue.)
A: Type IIb

Q: The ________ is a remnant of the growth plate in bones.
- hyaline cartilage (Incorrect. Hyaline cartilage forms joints with other bones.)
- periosteum (Incorrect. The periosteum contains blood vessels and cells associated with repairing and restoring bone.)
- epiphyseal line (Correct. The epiphyseal line is found within the epiphysis (spongy bone region at either end of a long bone) and shows where the growth plate was originally.)
A: epiphyseal line

Q: ________ bone tissue is very dense.
- Cancellous (Incorrect. Cancellous bone looks like a trabeculated matrix and is less dense than the other major type of bone.)
- Short (Incorrect. Short bone is not a specific type of bone tissue but rather describes specific bones. All “bones” are composed of a mixture of the two types of tissue.)
- Cortical (Correct. Also known as compact bone, cortical bone is the more dense type of bone and is located near the margins of bones.)
A: Cortical

Q: ________ are the cells that undergo active division and secrete the framework for bone formation.
- Osteocytes (Incorrect. Osteocytes cannot divide by mitosis.)
- Osteoclasts (Incorrect. Osteoclasts actually demineralize bone, breaking it down to release calcium into the body for other uses besides hardening bone.)
- Osteoblasts (Correct. Osteoblasts undergo mitosis and secrete osteoid, which serves for the sight of mineral deposition that created hardened bones.)
A: Osteoblasts

Q: The most important role of the skin is ________.
- water retention (Incorrect. The skin plays a role in minimizing fluid loss but this is not its main role.)
- retaining body heat (Incorrect. The skin does play a role in temperature regulation, but it does so in conjunction with the circulatory system and hair.)
- protection from pathogens (Correct. The skin is a mechanical and physical barrier protecting the underlying tissues.)
A: protection from pathogens

Q: The primary function of the ________ glands is body temperature regulation.
- apocrine (Incorrect. The apocrine sweat glands are the human equivalent of scent glands, responsible for sweat odor.)
- sebaceous (Incorrect. Sebaceous glands secrete sebum for waterproofing and protecting the skin.)
- eccrine (Correct. Eccrine sweat glands secrete sweat that is 99 percent water and is used to regulate body temperature by evaporative cooling.)
A: eccrine

Q: Skin contains ________ layers.
- hypodermal and epidermal (Incorrect. The hypodermis is not usually classified as a layer of skin. Hypodermic needles for example are used to inject below the skin.)
- dermal and adipose (Incorrect. Adipose deposits are subcutaneous, meaning below the skin.)
- epidermal and dermal (Correct. Skin is composed of two layers: the epidermis and the dermis.)
A: epidermal and dermal