Anatomy and Physiology

    Cardiovascular System
    An ophthalmologist using a tonometer measures the pressure in an eyeball to be 10 mmHg. What does this mean?
    At sea level on Earth, atmospheric pressure is about 760 mmHg. This value is taken to be “zero” and is often ignored by pressure measuring devices. When such devices show the pressure to be 10 mmHg on their gauge, this means that the actual pressure is 10 mmHg above atmospheric pressure. Hence total pressure is 760 + 10 mmHg.
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    Gastrointestinal System
    What role do the Kupffer cells of the liver perform?
    Kupffer cells engulf any bacteria that have travelled from the gut in the blood.
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    Gastrointestinal System
    Which part of the gastrointestinal tract contains three distinct layers of smooth muscle in its walls?
    The stomach uses its muscular wall to churn (mix) the contents as part of mechanical digestion.
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    Chemistry for Physiology
    Which of the following are NOT proteins?
    Glycolipids are lipids not proteins.
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    Cells and Tissues
    What are the major types of tissue in the body?
    Choice C refers to cell types; B is a list of epithelial tissue. Protein is applied to molecules.
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    Ionising Radiation
    Why is a 150 keV gamma emitter more useful for nuclear medicine than an 800 keV gamma emitter? Because:
    800 keV gamma photons are more penetrating than 150 keV photons, so fewer of them will be detected by the “camera”. Hence longer exposure or a greater dose of radiopharmaceutical would be required to produce an image.
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    Gastrointestinal System
    The surface area available for absorption in the small intestine is increased by all of the following structures EXCEPT one. Which one?
    Haustra are pouches (or sacculations) in the large intestine that do NOT occur in the small intestine.
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    Cells and Tissues
    Which of the following statements about “leak channels” in the plasma membrane is correct?
    This is the definition of leak channels. They may be “gated” which means shut until stimulated to open. Choice A refers to facilitated diffusion.
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    Cardiovascular System
    What achieves short-term control of blood pressure?
    In the short term, it is the cardiovascular centre (of the brain). It receives input from higher brain centres (hypothalamus and cerebrum), baroreceptors and chemoreceptors.
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    Measurement, Errors, Data and Unit Conversion
    Systematic errors arise from some inadequacy of equipment or technique. Which of the following is NOT an example of systematic error?
    As the words suggest, random error is not systematic as it is unpredictable.
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