Physiology 31 Study Guide for Lecture Exam #1
Exam #1 will consist of 100 multiple choice questions drawn from the lecture materials from
Chapters 1-6. Refer to the lecture handouts and textbook figures that reinforce the material
covered in lecture as you prepare for the exam.
Chapter 1 –Introduction to Physiology
- What is physiology?
- Understand the levels of human organization.
- Know the 11 body systems and their basic functions.
- What is homeostasis? What happens when homeostasis is disrupted? What are the three basic
components of a physiological control system
- How is the body compartmentalized for different functions?
- How do the cells of the body communicate?
- How are materials moved in and out of cells? What types of molecules can diffuse through a
cell membrane?
- What is the Law of Mass Balance? What type of body substances are maintained by mass
balance?
- What is Mass Flow? What types of body substances are involved in mass flow? Why does
mass flow occur? What opposes mass flow?
- Describe the processes used in the scientific method.
- What are placebos and nocebos? How do researchers try to minimize the psychological factors
that might influence experimental results?
Chapter 2 – Atoms, Ions, and Molecules
- What is all matter composed of?
- What is an element? What are the 6 major essential elements in the body? Which elements are
considered minor, or trace elements?
- What is an isotope? What are radioisotopes? How are they used in medicine?
- What is an antioxidant? A free radical? In what way are they related?
- What are the components of an atom? Which component defines the type of element?
- What is meant by atomic number? Atomic mass (weight)?
- Which components of an atom engage in chemical reactions? What is an electrically neutral
atom? What types of atoms are most stable?
- What is an ion? An anion? A cation? How are they related to electrolytes?
- What is pH? What is meant by an acid? A base? What is a buffer?
- How are molecules and compounds related?
- Describe the 5 types of chemical bonds.
- How do polar (hydrophilic) and nonpolar (hydrophobic) molecules differ?
- What percent of the body is water? What properties of water make it the ideal fluid of life?
- What are the four major classes of organic polymers? What are their basic monomers (building
blocks)?
- Describe the different types of carbohydrates. What are carbohydrates used for in the body?
- Describe the different types of lipids. What is each used for in the body? Which are harmful in
high concentrations?
- Describe a basic amino acid. How do the 20 amino acids differ from each other? What do
amino acids join together to form?
- Describe the 3 major types of nucleic acids. Which two are used to manufacture proteins?
Which is the main energy molecule in cells?
Chapter 3 – Cells & Tissues
- Describe the structure and functions of the cell membrane
- List the cellular organelles and their basic functions (refer to the cell chart handout).
- How do microvilli and cilia differ functionally? What types of cells have these stuctures?
- List the tissues, their locations and functions. Describe the characteristics of the four basic
tissue types (refer to the tissue handout).
- How do endocrine and exocrine glands differ functionally?
Chapter 4 – Cellular Metabolism
- What is energy? How does potential energy differ from kinetic energy? What are examples of
each in cells?
- What are the laws of thermodynamics?
- Describe exergonic and endergonic reactions. How do they differ? Why are these two types of
reactions usually coupled?
- Describe decomposition, synthesis, and exchange reactions.
- What is a reversible reaction? How are they related to the law of mass action?
- Explain oxidation and reduction in terms of electrons (or hydrogen atoms) gained or lost.
- Describe the properties of enzymes. How do enzymes increase the rate of chemical reactions?
What is a substance that binds to an enzyme called? What site on the enzyme does the
substance bind to?
- What 3 factors affect enzyme reaction rates? How is enzyme activity modulated?
- What are cofactors and coenzymes?
- What is a metabolic pathway? How do cells regulate their metabolic pathways?
- Know the overall cellular respiration equation, as well as the key events that occur in
glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and electron transport chain. How much ATP is made in each
stage? Which stages require oxygen? Which is anaerobic? What is oxygen needed for? What
do NADH and FADH2 do? What mitochondrial membrane enzyme catalyzes the formation of
ATP via the flow of H+ ions through it?
- What other biomolecules (Other than glucose) can be used to regenerate ATP? How are they
used?
- Describe the synthetic pathways whereby large biomolecules are made from smaller molecules.
Chapter 5 – Membrane Dynamics
- What are the properties and functions of the cell membrane?
- Describe the different types of proteins found in the cell membrane and their functions.
- Explain the methods whereby materials move across cell membranes. What types of molecules
can diffuse freely? Which must be transported? What types of transport are used? Which
transport processes require ATP energy?
- What factors influence the rate of diffusion across the cell membrane?
- How are cells affected in solutions of different tonicities?
- Describe the activity of the sodium potassium pump. What type of transport does this involve?
- Does a resting cell usually have more sodium inside of outside the cell?
- Describe the 3 types of junctions found between cells.
Chapter 6 – Cell Signaling
- By what two basic methods do cells communicate with each other?
- Describe the four types of cell-to-cell communication.
- What general types of chemicals carry out local communication?
- How is long distance communication carried out in the body?
- What is a target cell? Why do some cells respond to certain chemicals, while others do not
respond to the same chemicals?
- What is a signal pathway? What common features are shared by signal pathways?
- How do water-soluble and lipid-soluble chemicals differ in their actions on target cells?
- What is signal transduction?
- What are second messengers? List the major second messengers. What types of intracellular
responses can second messengers generate?
- Describe the four main types of cell membrane receptors and their activities.
- Why is calcium needed in the body? How does it work as an intracellular signal? Where does
calcium come from in a cell?
- What three properties of membrane receptors are similar to the properties of enzymes?
- Describe up- and down-regulation of receptors in the cell membrane. What causes these
actions to occur?
- What are the 7 components of reflex control pathways?
- Compare and contrast negative and positive feedback loops. Which is more responsible for the
maintenance of homeostasis in the body?