Question 1

Air rushes into the lungs of humans during inhalation because

Accepted Answer

A)  the rib muscles and diaphragm contract, increasing the lung volume. 
B)  the volume of the alveoli increases as smooth muscles contract. 
C)  gas flows from a region of lower pressure to a region of higher pressure. 
D)  pulmonary muscles contract and pull on the outer surface of the lungs. 
E)  a positive respiratory pressure is created when the diaphragm relaxes. 
A)  the rib muscles and diaphragm contract, increasing the lung volume. 
B)  the volume of the alveoli increases as smooth muscles contract. 
C)  gas flows from a region of lower pressure to a region of higher pressure. 
D)  pulmonary muscles contract and pull on the outer surface of the lungs. 
E)  a positive respiratory pressure is created when the diaphragm relaxes.

Question 2

Blood returning to the mammalian heart in a pulmonary vein drains first into the

Accepted Answer

A)  left atrium. 
B)  right atrium. 
C)  left ventricle. 
D)  right ventricle. 
A)  left atrium. 
B)  right atrium. 
C)  left ventricle. 
D)  right ventricle.

Question 3

Heart rate will increase in the presence of increased

Accepted Answer

A)  apolipoproteins. 
B)  immunoglobulins. 
C)  erythropoietin. 
D)  epinephrine. 
E)  platelets. 
A)  apolipoproteins. 
B)  immunoglobulins. 
C)  erythropoietin. 
D)  epinephrine. 
E)  platelets.

Question 4

Please use the following information to answer the question(s) below.
In the Himalayas, Mount Everest, Earth's highest mountain, reaches over 8,800 meters at its peak. At this altitude the atmospheric pressure is only 254 mm Hg. Although humans cannot survive at this altitude, the bar-headed goose can fly there without any problems. Bar-headed goose hemoglobin can bind the same number of oxygen molecules as human hemoglobin, but their affinities for binding oxygen are different (see graph below).  
-What is the approximate partial pressure of oxygen on top of Mount Everest?

Accepted Answer

A)  26 mm Hg 
B)  53 mm Hg 
C)  159 mm Hg 
D)  254 mm Hg 
A)  26 mm Hg 
B)  53 mm Hg 
C)  159 mm Hg 
D)  254 mm Hg

Question 5

The set of blood vessels with the lowest blood pressure driving flow is

Accepted Answer

A)  the arteries. 
B)  the arterioles. 
C)  the venules. 
D)  the capillaries. 
E)  the veins. 
A)  the arteries. 
B)  the arterioles. 
C)  the venules. 
D)  the capillaries. 
E)  the veins.

Question 6

Breathing is usually regulated by

Accepted Answer

A)  erythropoietin levels in the blood. 
B)  the concentration of red blood cells. 
C)  hemoglobin levels in the blood. 
D)  CO₂ and O₂ concentration and pH-level sensors. 
E)  the lungs and the larynx. 
A)  erythropoietin levels in the blood. 
B)  the concentration of red blood cells. 
C)  hemoglobin levels in the blood. 
D)  CO₂ and O₂ concentration and pH-level sensors. 
E)  the lungs and the larynx.

Question 7

Which of the following respiratory systems is not closely associated with a blood supply?

Accepted Answer

A)  the lungs of a vertebrate 
B)  the gills of a fish 
C)  the tracheal system of an insect 
D)  the skin of an earthworm 
A)  the lungs of a vertebrate 
B)  the gills of a fish 
C)  the tracheal system of an insect 
D)  the skin of an earthworm

Question 8

What statement about the data in the graph is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at higher altitudes than human hemoglobin. 
B)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at lower altitudes than human hemoglobin. 
C)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at higher temperatures than human hemoglobin. 
D)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at lower temperatures than human hemoglobin. 
A)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at higher altitudes than human hemoglobin. 
B)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at lower altitudes than human hemoglobin. 
C)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at higher temperatures than human hemoglobin. 
D)  Bar-headed geese hemoglobin can bind more oxygen at lower temperatures than human hemoglobin.

Question 9

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to a column of 760 mm Hg. Oxygen makes up 21% of the atmosphere by volume. The partial pressure of oxygen in such conditions is

Accepted Answer

A)  160 mm Hg. 
B)  16 mm Hg. 
C)  120/75. 
D)  21/760. 
E)  760/21. 
A)  160 mm Hg. 
B)  16 mm Hg. 
C)  120/75. 
D)  21/760. 
E)  760/21.

Question 10

To become bound to hemoglobin for transport in a mammal, atmospheric molecules of oxygen must cross

Accepted Answer

A)  zero membranes-oxygen binds directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
B)  one membrane-that of the lining in the lungs-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
C)  two membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
D)  four membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung and in and out of the endothelial cell lining an alveolar capillary-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
E)  five membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung, in and out of the endothelial cell lining an alveolar capillary, and into the red blood cell-to bind with hemoglobin. 
A)  zero membranes-oxygen binds directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
B)  one membrane-that of the lining in the lungs-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
C)  two membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
D)  four membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung and in and out of the endothelial cell lining an alveolar capillary-and then bind directly to hemoglobin, a protein dissolved in the plasma of the blood. 
E)  five membranes-in and out of the cell lining the lung, in and out of the endothelial cell lining an alveolar capillary, and into the red blood cell-to bind with hemoglobin.

Question 11

At what point in the following figure would blood pressure be highest?

Accepted Answer

A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E 
A)  A 
B)  B 
C)  C 
D)  D 
E)  E

Question 12

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled in a normal breath is called

Accepted Answer

A)  residual volume. 
B)  vital capacity. 
C)  tidal volume. 
D)  countercurrent exchange. 
A)  residual volume. 
B)  vital capacity. 
C)  tidal volume. 
D)  countercurrent exchange.

Question 13

A species that has a normal resting systolic blood pressure of >260 mm Hg is likely to be

Accepted Answer

A)  an animal that is small and compact, without the need to pump blood very far from the heart. 
B)  an animal with abundant lipid storage. 
C)  a species that has very wide-diameter veins. 
D)  an animal that has a very long distance between its heart and its brain. 
E)  an animal that makes frequent, quick motions. 
A)  an animal that is small and compact, without the need to pump blood very far from the heart. 
B)  an animal with abundant lipid storage. 
C)  a species that has very wide-diameter veins. 
D)  an animal that has a very long distance between its heart and its brain. 
E)  an animal that makes frequent, quick motions.

Question 14

An increased concentration of nitric oxide within a vascular bed is associated with

Accepted Answer

A)  vasoconstriction. 
B)  vasodilation. 
C)  narrowing of the arteries. 
D)  a reduction in blood flow in that region. 
E)  a decreased amount of blood in the capillaries of that vascular bed. 
A)  vasoconstriction. 
B)  vasodilation. 
C)  narrowing of the arteries. 
D)  a reduction in blood flow in that region. 
E)  a decreased amount of blood in the capillaries of that vascular bed.

Question 15

The semilunar valves of the mammalian heart

Accepted Answer

A)  are the route by which blood flows from the atria to the ventricles. 
B)  are found only on the right side of the heart. 
C)  are the attachment sites where the pulmonary veins empty into the heart. 
D)  are able to prevent backflow of blood in the aorta and pulmonary arteries. 
E)  are at the places where the anterior and posterior venae cavae empty into the heart. 
A)  are the route by which blood flows from the atria to the ventricles. 
B)  are found only on the right side of the heart. 
C)  are the attachment sites where the pulmonary veins empty into the heart. 
D)  are able to prevent backflow of blood in the aorta and pulmonary arteries. 
E)  are at the places where the anterior and posterior venae cavae empty into the heart.

Question 16

A group of students was designing an experiment to test the effect of smoking on grass frogs. They hypothesized that keeping the frogs in a smoke-filled environment for defined periods of time would result in the animals developing lung cancer. However, when they searched for previously published information to support their hypothesis, they discovered they were wrong in their original assessment. Even though they were never going to go ahead with their experiment (so as not to harm frogs needlessly), they knew that a more likely outcome of putting carcinogens in the air would be the development of

Accepted Answer

A)  the amphibian equivalent of hypertension. 
B)  skin cancer. 
C)  gill abnormalities in the next generation of tadpoles. 
D)  tracheal tube abnormalities. 
E)  diminished absorption of oxygen. 
A)  the amphibian equivalent of hypertension. 
B)  skin cancer. 
C)  gill abnormalities in the next generation of tadpoles. 
D)  tracheal tube abnormalities. 
E)  diminished absorption of oxygen.

Question 17

In an animal species known for endurance running rather than fast sprinting, you would expect to find

Accepted Answer

A)  a slower rate of oxygen consumption so that its breathing will not have to be accelerated. 
B)  a decrease in myoglobin concentration in the muscles. 
C)  a relatively slow heart rate in order to lower oxygen consumption. 
D)  a lower pressure of oxygen in the alveoli. 
E)  a much higher rate of oxygen consumption for its size. 
A)  a slower rate of oxygen consumption so that its breathing will not have to be accelerated. 
B)  a decrease in myoglobin concentration in the muscles. 
C)  a relatively slow heart rate in order to lower oxygen consumption. 
D)  a lower pressure of oxygen in the alveoli. 
E)  a much higher rate of oxygen consumption for its size.

Question 18

An anthropologist discovers the fossilized heart of an extinct animal. The evidence indicates that the organism's heart was large, was well formed, and had four chambers, with no connection between the right and left sides. A reasonable conclusion supported by these observations is that the

Accepted Answer

A)  animal had evolved from birds. 
B)  animal was endothermic and had a high metabolic rate. 
C)  animal was most closely related to alligators and crocodiles. 
D)  animal was likely an invertebrate animal. 
E)  species had little to no need to regulate blood pressure. 
A)  animal had evolved from birds. 
B)  animal was endothermic and had a high metabolic rate. 
C)  animal was most closely related to alligators and crocodiles. 
D)  animal was likely an invertebrate animal. 
E)  species had little to no need to regulate blood pressure.

Question 19

Countercurrent exchange in the fish gill helps to maximize

Accepted Answer

A)  endocytosis. 
B)  blood pressure. 
C)  diffusion. 
D)  active transport. 
E)  osmosis. 
A)  endocytosis. 
B)  blood pressure. 
C)  diffusion. 
D)  active transport. 
E)  osmosis.

Question 20

If a molecule of CO₂ released into the blood in your left toe is exhaled from your nose, it must pass through all of the following except

Accepted Answer

A)  the pulmonary vein. 
B)  the trachea. 
C)  the right atrium. 
D)  the right ventricle. 
A)  the pulmonary vein. 
B)  the trachea. 
C)  the right atrium. 
D)  the right ventricle.

Exam 34: Circulation and Gas Exchange

Air rushes into the lungs of humans during inhalation because

Blood returning to the mammalian heart in a pulmonary vein drains first into the

Heart rate will increase in the presence of increased

The set of blood vessels with the lowest blood pressure driving flow is

Breathing is usually regulated by

Which of the following respiratory systems is not closely associated with a blood supply?

What statement about the data in the graph is true?

Atmospheric pressure at sea level is equal to a column of 760 mm Hg. Oxygen makes up 21% of the atmosphere by volume. The partial pressure of oxygen in such conditions is

To become bound to hemoglobin for transport in a mammal, atmospheric molecules of oxygen must cross

At what point in the following figure would blood pressure be highest?

The amount of air inhaled and exhaled in a normal breath is called

A species that has a normal resting systolic blood pressure of >260 mm Hg is likely to be

An increased concentration of nitric oxide within a vascular bed is associated with

The semilunar valves of the mammalian heart

In an animal species known for endurance running rather than fast sprinting, you would expect to find

An anthropologist discovers the fossilized heart of an extinct animal. The evidence indicates that the organism's heart was large, was well formed, and had four chambers, with no connection between the right and left sides. A reasonable conclusion supported by these observations is that the

Countercurrent exchange in the fish gill helps to maximize

If a molecule of CO₂ released into the blood in your left toe is exhaled from your nose, it must pass through all of the following except

Introduction: Evolution and the Foundations of Biology

The Chemical Context of Life

Carbon and the Molecular Diversity of Life

A Tour of the Cell

Membrane Transport and Cell Signaling

An Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis and Sexual Life Cycles

Mendel and the Gene Idea

The Chromosomal Basis of Inheritance

The Molecular Basis of Inheritance

Gene Expression: From Gene to Protein

Regulation of Gene Expression

Development, Stem Cells, and Cancer

Viruses

Genomes and Their Evolution

Descent With Modification

Phylogeny

The Evolution of Populations

The Origin of Species

Broad Patterns of Evolution

Early Life and the Diversification of Prokaryotes

The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

The Colonization of Land by Plants and Fungi

The Rise of Animal Diversity

Plant Structure and Growth

Resource Acquisition, Nutrition, and Transport in Vascular Plants

Reproduction and Domestication of Flowering Plants

Plant Responses to Internal and External Signals

Homeostasis and Endocrine Signaling

Animal Nutrition

The Immune System

Reproduction and Development

Neurons, Synapses, and Signaling

Nervous and Sensory Systems

Motor Mechanisms and Behavior

Population Ecology and the Distribution of Organisms

Species Interactions

Ecosystems and Energy

Global Ecology and Conservation Biology

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