What is the main target organ for insulin, the hormone produced by the pancreas?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The main target organ for insulin is muscles. Insulin plays a crucial role in regulating glucose metabolism by promoting the uptake of glucose into muscle cells. This glucose can then be utilized for energy production or stored for later use. Therefore, muscles are the primary site where insulin exerts its effects on glucose uptake and utilization. The liver primarily responds to insulin by regulating glucose storage and release, but the main target for insulin-mediated glucose uptake is muscles. Kidneys are not a target organ for insulin action in glucose metabolism. The brain does not heavily rely on insulin for glucose uptake as it primarily uses glucose independently of insulin for energy production.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The small intestine is the primary site for both chemical digestion and absorption of nutrients in the digestive system. The lining of the small intestine is equipped with villi and microvilli, which significantly increase the surface area available for absorption. Enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the liver play crucial roles in further breaking down food into absorbable molecules that can pass through the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. While the stomach assists in mechanical breakdown and initial protein digestion, it is not the main site of nutrient absorption. The large intestine, on the other hand, mainly absorbs water and electrolytes from undigested food particles. The mouth aids in initial mechanical breakdown and some carbohydrate digestion, but the majority of nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, making it the correct answer.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The compound CH₃COOH is commonly known as acetic acid. Acetic acid is a clear, colorless liquid with a sour taste and a pungent smell. It is a weak acid found in vinegar and is used in the production of various chemicals. Formic acid, butyric acid, and propionic acid are different organic acids with distinct chemical structures and properties, but they are not the common name for the compound CH₃COOH.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The skeletal system is divided into two main divisions: the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The axial skeleton comprises the skull, vertebral column, and rib cage, providing structural support and protection for vital organs. On the other hand, the appendicular skeleton includes the bones of the upper and lower limbs, shoulder girdle, and pelvic girdle, facilitating movement and flexibility. The divisions are based on the location and function of the bones within the skeletal system, making choices A, C, and D incorrect as they do not represent the primary divisions of the skeletal system.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Diabetic nephropathy, a complication of diabetes, affects the nephrons. Nephrons are the functional units of the kidneys responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. The high blood sugar levels associated with diabetes can damage the nephrons over time, leading to kidney dysfunction and, ultimately, kidney failure. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because diabetic nephropathy primarily impacts the nephrons in the kidneys, not the ureters, bladder, or urethra.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Mitosis is the correct answer. Mitosis is the process by which somatic cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells. During mitosis, the genetic material is accurately replicated and distributed to ensure each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and maintenance of multicellular organisms. Meiosis, on the other hand, is the type of cell division that occurs in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells), focusing on genetic diversity through recombination and reduction of chromosome number. Replication is the process of copying DNA to produce an identical copy, essential for cell division but not the specific process ensuring accurate genetic material transmission. Transcription involves copying DNA into RNA, crucial for gene expression but not directly related to the accurate transmission of genetic material during cell division.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: Vitamin B12 requires intrinsic factor, a glycoprotein secreted by the parietal cells of the stomach, for proper absorption in the small intestine. Intrinsic factor binds to vitamin B12 and facilitates its absorption in the ileum. Deficiency in intrinsic factor can lead to pernicious anemia, a condition characterized by a lack of vitamin B12 absorption. Options A, B, and C are incorrect. Vitamin A is absorbed in the small intestine with the help of bile salts; Vitamin C is absorbed in the small intestine via active transport; Vitamin D is absorbed in the small intestine through a process involving bile salts and micelles. It is essential for students to understand this relationship as it highlights the importance of intrinsic factor in the absorption of specific vitamins and the consequences of its deficiency.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Syncope, also known as fainting, is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood flow to the brain. It results from a brief interruption in the brain's blood supply, leading to a temporary loss of consciousness. The correct answer is C. A stroke, option A, is caused by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels in the brain, not insufficient blood flow. Seizure, option B, involves a sudden surge of electrical brain activity, not reduced blood flow. Coma, option D, is characterized by prolonged unconsciousness, not a temporary loss of consciousness due to insufficient blood flow.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The aorta is the correct answer because it is the main artery in the body that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart to the rest of the body. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation. The superior and inferior vena cava are veins that carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.