Which fibrous connective tissue connects a muscle to a bone, allowing movement at a joint?

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Tendons, the correct answer, are fibrous connective tissues that connect muscles to bones, enabling movement at joints. They play a crucial role in transmitting the force generated by muscles to the bones, facilitating movement. Ligaments (option B) connect bone to bone, providing stability to joints. Cartilage (option C) is a flexible tissue that acts as a cushion, reducing friction between bones in joints. Bursae (option D) are fluid-filled sacs located near joints that help reduce friction between tissues such as tendons and bones.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The myelin sheath is a fatty layer that surrounds the axon of a neuron, providing insulation and speeding up the transmission of nerve impulses. This insulation helps prevent the loss of electrical signals as they travel along the axon, allowing for faster and more efficient communication within the nervous system. Dendrites are branching extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, the synapse is the junction between two neurons where communication occurs, and the cell body contains the nucleus and organelles of the neuron, but none of these structures provide insulation for the transmission of nerve impulses along the axon.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: Insulin is the correct answer. It is produced by the pancreas and plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels by facilitating the absorption of glucose into cells. When blood sugar levels are elevated, insulin is released to help cells utilize glucose for energy or store it for future use. Glucagon, choice B, is produced by the pancreas as well but has the opposite effect of raising blood sugar levels by releasing stored glucose into the bloodstream. Cortisol, choice C, is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that is involved in the stress response and metabolism, not specifically in regulating blood sugar levels. Thyroxine, choice D, is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism but is not directly involved in the uptake of glucose into cells.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The mitral valve, also known as the bicuspid valve, is located between the left atrium and the left ventricle of the heart. Its primary function is to prevent the backflow of blood from the left ventricle into the left atrium during ventricular contraction. The aortic valve (A) prevents the backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle, the pulmonary valve (B) prevents the backflow of blood from the pulmonary artery into the right ventricle, and the tricuspid valve (C) prevents the backflow of blood from the right ventricle into the right atrium. Understanding the functions of these heart valves is crucial in maintaining proper blood flow through the heart and preventing regurgitation of blood into the wrong chambers.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The diaphragm is the primary muscle responsible for inhalation during normal breathing. When it contracts, it flattens, increasing the volume of the thoracic cavity and creating a negative pressure that allows air to flow into the lungs. Intercostal muscles also play a role in expanding the chest cavity during inhalation, but the diaphragm is the main driver of the process. Abdominal muscles are primarily involved in exhalation by pushing the diaphragm upward to expel air from the lungs. Pectoral muscles are involved in movements of the arms and shoulders, not in breathing, making them incorrect choices for this question.