What is the process by which muscles convert chemical energy (ATP) into mechanical energy (movement)?

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Muscle contraction is the correct answer. It is the process by which muscles convert chemical energy (ATP) into mechanical energy (movement). During muscle contraction, the sliding filament theory explains how actin and myosin filaments slide past each other, causing muscle fibers to shorten and generate force. Photosynthesis (option A) is the process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy. Cellular respiration (option B) is the process by which cells generate ATP from glucose and oxygen. The sliding filament theory (option D) is a detailed explanation of the molecular events that occur during muscle contraction but is not the overall process of converting energy into movement; it focuses on the mechanism within the process of muscle contraction.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: Epinephrine (adrenaline). Epinephrine is produced by the adrenal medulla and is responsible for preparing the body for a stressful situation. It increases heart rate, dilates airways, and mobilizes energy stores to help the body respond to a fight-or-flight scenario. Testosterone (Choice A) is a sex hormone produced by the testes in males and in smaller amounts by the ovaries in females, not by the adrenal medulla. Cortisol (Choice B) is a stress hormone produced by the adrenal cortex, not the adrenal medulla. Growth hormone (Choice D) is produced by the pituitary gland and is involved in growth, metabolism, and various bodily functions, not by the adrenal medulla.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: When a muscle shortens and generates force, it is contracting. Contraction is the process by which muscle fibers develop tension and exert a pulling force on the bones they are attached to, resulting in movement. Relaxation refers to the phase when a muscle returns to its original length, allowing for rest or preparation for the next contraction. Extension, on the other hand, is the movement that increases the angle between body parts, moving them further apart. Atrophy is unrelated to muscle contraction and refers to the wasting away or decrease in size of muscle tissue due to disuse or disease. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Contraction.'

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, Cardiac muscle. Cardiac muscle is the type of muscle tissue that has a unique branching network and is found in the heart. This type of muscle is involuntary and contracts rhythmically to pump blood throughout the body. Skeletal muscle, choice A, is attached to bones and is responsible for voluntary movements. Smooth muscle, choice C, is found in the walls of internal organs and blood vessels, playing a role in involuntary movements. Multifidus muscle, choice D, is a specific muscle in the back that helps with spinal stability, unrelated to the unique branching network found in cardiac muscle.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The occipital lobe is the part of the brain responsible for processing visual information. Located at the back of the brain, the occipital lobe contains the primary visual cortex, which plays a crucial role in interpreting visual stimuli received from the eyes. The frontal lobe is primarily involved in higher cognitive functions, decision-making, and motor control, not vision processing. The temporal lobe is responsible for auditory processing, memory, and emotion, not vision. The parietal lobe is involved in sensory integration, spatial awareness, and perception of stimuli, but not specifically for visual processing.