When acid chyme enters the duodenum, the hormone secretin protects the intestinal lining by stimulating:

Bicarbonate-rich pancreatic juice

Anatomy and physiology for nurses

50 Staff nurse recruitment practice questions on Anatomy and physiology for nurses, part of Basic Sciences. The first 25 are below; the first 5 with answers and explanations (tap Show answer after you have chosen), the rest in Learn with a free account.

Question 1 · Easy
Salivary amylase (ptyalin) begins the digestion of:
1. AStarch
2. BProteins
3. CNucleic acids
4. DFats
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Answer: A · Starch
Salivary amylase splits starch into smaller sugars such as maltose, starting carbohydrate digestion in the mouth. It works best at a neutral pH and is inactivated by stomach acid. Pancreatic amylase completes starch digestion in the small intestine. Chewing food well gives the enzyme more time to act.
- B: Protein digestion begins in the stomach with pepsin.
- C: Nucleic acids are digested by pancreatic nucleases in the small intestine.
- D: Fat digestion is mainly by pancreatic lipase after emulsification by bile.
Question 2 · Easy
Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is secreted by the:
1. AChief (peptic) cells
2. BParietal (oxyntic) cells
3. CG cells of the antrum
4. DMucous neck cells
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Answer: B · Parietal (oxyntic) cells
Parietal cells in the gastric glands of the body and fundus secrete hydrochloric acid using a proton pump. The acid kills swallowed microbes and converts pepsinogen to pepsin. Proton pump inhibitors such as pantoprazole block this pump and are used for peptic ulcer and reflux. The same cells also make intrinsic factor.
- A: Chief cells secrete pepsinogen, the precursor of pepsin, not acid.
- C: G cells secrete the hormone gastrin, which stimulates acid release but is not acid itself.
- D: Mucous neck cells secrete protective mucus that lines the stomach wall.
Question 3 · Medium
When acid chyme enters the duodenum, the hormone secretin protects the intestinal lining by stimulating:
1. ARelease of insulin
2. BEnzyme-rich pancreatic juice
3. CGastric acid secretion
4. DBicarbonate-rich pancreatic juice
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Answer: D · Bicarbonate-rich pancreatic juice
Secretin is released from the duodenal mucosa when acid arrives and tells the pancreatic ducts to secrete a watery, bicarbonate-rich juice. The bicarbonate neutralises the acid, protecting the duodenum and giving pancreatic enzymes the neutral pH they need. Poor neutralisation contributes to duodenal ulcers. Secretin also slows gastric emptying.
- A: Insulin release is driven mainly by blood glucose, not by secretin.
- B: Enzyme-rich pancreatic juice is mainly stimulated by cholecystokinin.
- C: Secretin reduces, rather than stimulates, gastric acid secretion.
Question 4 · Hard
A dialysis patient who missed two sessions has muscle weakness, serum potassium 7.0 mEq/L and tall peaked T waves on the monitor. Which ordered treatment should the nurse give FIRST?
1. AIV 10% calcium gluconate
2. BA low-potassium diet
3. CIV furosemide
4. DOral potassium-binding resin
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Answer: A · IV 10% calcium gluconate
Calcium gluconate does not lower potassium, but within minutes it stabilises the heart muscle membrane and protects against fatal arrhythmias, so it comes first when ECG changes are present. Insulin with dextrose then shifts potassium into cells. Resins, diuretics and diet remove or limit potassium but act over hours. For this patient, urgent dialysis is the definitive treatment.
- B: Diet prevents future rises but does nothing for a dangerous level now.
- C: Furosemide works slowly and poorly in a patient who passes little urine.
- D: Binding resins act over hours and do not protect the heart now.
Question 5 · Medium
Which blood vessels offer the greatest resistance to flow and mainly control the diastolic blood pressure?
1. AArterioles
2. BLarge veins
3. CCapillaries
4. DLarge elastic arteries
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Answer: A · Arterioles
Arterioles have thick smooth muscle and a narrow lumen, and small changes in their diameter change resistance greatly. Their tone, set by the sympathetic nerves and hormones, determines peripheral resistance and therefore diastolic pressure. Vasodilator drugs lower blood pressure mainly by relaxing arterioles. In septic shock, widespread arteriolar dilatation drops the pressure.
- B: Large veins are capacitance vessels holding most of the blood volume.
- C: Each capillary is narrow, but they lie in parallel in huge numbers, so total resistance is low.
- D: Large elastic arteries smooth the pulse but offer little resistance.
Question 6 · Hard
After two days of repeated vomiting, a man has this ABG: pH 7.52, PaCO2 41 mmHg, HCO3- 33 mEq/L (normal 22-26). How is it best interpreted?
1. ACompensated metabolic alkalosis
2. BUncompensated metabolic alkalosis
3. CUncompensated respiratory alkalosis
4. DPartly compensated metabolic acidosis
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Question 7 · Easy
Which white blood cells mature into plasma cells that produce antibodies?
1. AT lymphocytes
2. BBasophils
3. CB lymphocytes
4. DMonocytes
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Question 8 · Medium
Most of the carbon dioxide produced by the tissues is carried in the blood as:
1. ABicarbonate ions in the plasma
2. BCarbaminohaemoglobin in red cells
3. CCarbon dioxide dissolved in plasma
4. DCarbonic acid in the cell cytosol
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Question 9 · Medium
In normal cerebrospinal fluid, the glucose level is about:
1. AOne-tenth of the blood glucose
2. BTwo-thirds of the blood glucose
3. CEqual to the blood glucose
4. DTwice the blood glucose
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Question 10 · Medium
In what form is most of the oxygen in arterial blood carried?
1. ADissolved in the plasma
2. BAs bicarbonate in the plasma
3. CBound to plasma albumin
4. DBound to haemoglobin in red cells
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Question 11 · Easy
When the nurse asks a patient to shrug both shoulders against resistance, which cranial nerve is being tested?
1. AAccessory nerve (XI)
2. BFacial nerve (VII)
3. CHypoglossal nerve (XII)
4. DVagus nerve (X)
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Question 12 · Medium
In an adult over 40, a third heart sound (S3) heard at the apex usually suggests:
1. AVolume overload of a failing ventricle
2. BNormal closure of the aortic valve
3. CNormal closure of the mitral valve
4. DA stiff, hypertrophied ventricle
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Question 13 · Medium
Five days after a large bleed from a duodenal ulcer, a patient's reticulocyte count is 6% (normal 0.5-2.5%). What does this result show?
1. AThe marrow is replacing lost red cells
2. BThe marrow is failing after the bleed
3. CThe ulcer is still bleeding actively
4. DThe patient has iron overload
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Question 14 · Easy
A person of which blood group is called the universal recipient for red cells?
1. AA Rh-positive
2. BAB Rh-positive
3. CB Rh-negative
4. DO Rh-negative
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Question 15 · Medium
A patient with chronic kidney disease has a low serum calcium. Which loss of kidney function mainly explains this?
1. AFailure to secrete renin
2. BFailure to activate vitamin D
3. CFailure to make erythropoietin
4. DFailure to excrete urea
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Question 16 · Medium
Bleeding time is prolonged in thrombocytopenia but usually normal in haemophilia, because bleeding time mainly tests:
1. ALiver synthesis of prothrombin
2. BPlatelet plug formation
3. CClotting factor VIII levels
4. DFibrin clot formation
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Question 17 · Hard
A 32-year-old woman with heavy periods has Hb 8.4 g/dL, MCV 68 fL (normal 80-100), MCH 21 pg (normal 27-32), serum ferritin 6 ng/mL and a smear showing small, pale red cells. The most likely diagnosis is:
1. AAplastic anaemia
2. BVitamin B12 deficiency anaemia
3. CIron deficiency anaemia
4. DAnaemia of chronic kidney disease
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Question 18 · Medium
During quiet inspiration, air flows into the lungs because contraction of the diaphragm:
1. APushes the abdominal organs up into the chest
2. BRaises the pressure in the alveoli above the air outside
3. CSqueezes the lungs and empties the dead space
4. DEnlarges the chest and lowers pressure in the alveoli
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Question 19 · Medium
A spirometry report shows FEV1/FVC of 0.58 with a near-normal FVC. What does this pattern indicate?
1. ARestrictive lung disease
2. BWeak respiratory muscles
3. CNormal lung function
4. DObstructive airway disease
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Question 20 · Easy
In a healthy adult, the serum albumin level is about:
1. A10-12 g/dL
2. B0.5-1.5 g/dL
3. C6.0-8.0 g/dL
4. D3.5-5.0 g/dL
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Question 21 · Hard
A 60 kg man has passed 150 mL of urine through his catheter in the last 6 hours after major surgery. The nurse calculates his urine output as:
1. A0.4 mL/kg per hour; normal for an adult after surgery
2. B25 mL/kg per hour; polyuria, so report it
3. C0.4 mL/kg per hour; below the minimum, so report it
4. D2.5 mL/kg per hour; adequate, so keep observing
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Question 22 · Easy
In an adult who does not have diabetes, the fasting plasma glucose normally lies between:
1. A30 and 50 mg/dL
2. B180 and 220 mg/dL
3. C126 and 160 mg/dL
4. D70 and 100 mg/dL
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Question 23 · Medium
A 65-year-old man has a raised jugular venous pressure, an enlarged tender liver and pitting oedema of both ankles, but clear lung fields. Which chamber is mainly failing?
1. ARight ventricle
2. BLeft ventricle
3. CRight atrium alone
4. DLeft atrium
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Question 24 · Medium
A patient with fever and productive cough has a total WBC count of 16,500/µL with 86% neutrophils. This blood picture most likely indicates:
1. AAllergic reaction
2. BWorm infestation
3. CAcute bacterial infection
4. DAcute viral infection
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Question 25 · Medium
A 45-year-old woman with weight gain, cold intolerance and dry skin has TSH 28 mIU/L (normal 0.4-4.0) and a low free T4. What do these results indicate?
1. ASubclinical hypothyroidism
2. BSecondary (pituitary) hypothyroidism
3. CPrimary hyperthyroidism
4. DPrimary hypothyroidism
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25 more Anatomy and physiology for nurses questions

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Anatomy and physiology for nurses

Salivary amylase (ptyalin) begins the digestion of:

Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is secreted by the:

When acid chyme enters the duodenum, the hormone secretin protects the intestinal lining by stimulating:

A dialysis patient who missed two sessions has muscle weakness, serum potassium 7.0 mEq/L and tall peaked T waves on the monitor. Which ordered treatment should the nurse give FIRST?

Which blood vessels offer the greatest resistance to flow and mainly control the diastolic blood pressure?

After two days of repeated vomiting, a man has this ABG: pH 7.52, PaCO2 41 mmHg, HCO3- 33 mEq/L (normal 22-26). How is it best interpreted?

Which white blood cells mature into plasma cells that produce antibodies?

Most of the carbon dioxide produced by the tissues is carried in the blood as:

In normal cerebrospinal fluid, the glucose level is about:

In what form is most of the oxygen in arterial blood carried?

When the nurse asks a patient to shrug both shoulders against resistance, which cranial nerve is being tested?

In an adult over 40, a third heart sound (S3) heard at the apex usually suggests:

Five days after a large bleed from a duodenal ulcer, a patient's reticulocyte count is 6% (normal 0.5-2.5%). What does this result show?

A person of which blood group is called the universal recipient for red cells?

A patient with chronic kidney disease has a low serum calcium. Which loss of kidney function mainly explains this?

Bleeding time is prolonged in thrombocytopenia but usually normal in haemophilia, because bleeding time mainly tests:

A 32-year-old woman with heavy periods has Hb 8.4 g/dL, MCV 68 fL (normal 80-100), MCH 21 pg (normal 27-32), serum ferritin 6 ng/mL and a smear showing small, pale red cells. The most likely diagnosis is:

During quiet inspiration, air flows into the lungs because contraction of the diaphragm:

A spirometry report shows FEV1/FVC of 0.58 with a near-normal FVC. What does this pattern indicate?

In a healthy adult, the serum albumin level is about:

A 60 kg man has passed 150 mL of urine through his catheter in the last 6 hours after major surgery. The nurse calculates his urine output as:

In an adult who does not have diabetes, the fasting plasma glucose normally lies between:

A 65-year-old man has a raised jugular venous pressure, an enlarged tender liver and pitting oedema of both ankles, but clear lung fields. Which chamber is mainly failing?

A patient with fever and productive cough has a total WBC count of 16,500/µL with 86% neutrophils. This blood picture most likely indicates:

A 45-year-old woman with weight gain, cold intolerance and dry skin has TSH 28 mIU/L (normal 0.4-4.0) and a low free T4. What do these results indicate?