NEET-PG 2015 - Physiology Practice Questions

Q: Which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

Progesterone. ***Progesterone*** - **Progesterone**, secreted by the **corpus luteum** after ovulation, is crucial for maintaining the luteal phase by preparing the **endometrium** for implantation. - It causes the endometrial lining to thicken and become more vascularized, creating a suitable environment for a fertilized egg. *Estrogen* - While **estrogen** is important throughout the menstrual cycle for endometrial proliferation, its primary role is in the **follicular phase**, not the maintenance of the luteal phase. - Estrogen levels are higher during the follicular phase, promoting the growth of the dominant follicle. *Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)* - **FSH** is primarily responsible for stimulating the growth and development of **ovarian follicles** during the follicular phase. - Its levels decrease significantly after ovulation, and it does not play a direct role in maintaining the luteal phase. *Luteinizing hormone (LH)* - **LH** triggers **ovulation** and the formation of the **corpus luteum** from the ruptured follicle. - While essential for initiating the luteal phase, its levels decline afterward, and it's not the primary hormone for *maintaining* the corpus luteum's function.

Q: Vibrations are detected by which types of receptors?

Rapidly adapting. ***Rapidly adapting*** - **Rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors**, such as **Pacinian corpuscles** and **Meissner's corpuscles**, are highly sensitive to changes in pressure and movement. - They fire at the **onset and offset of a stimulus**, making them ideal for detecting vibrations, which are rhythmic changes in pressure. *Slowly adapting* - **Slowly adapting mechanoreceptors**, such as **Merkel cells** and **Ruffini endings**, are responsible for sustained pressure and touch. - They continue to fire as long as the stimulus is present, making them less suited for detecting transient vibratory stimuli. *Non-adapting* - The human body does not typically have **truly non-adapting** sensory receptors; most receptors show some form of adaptation to continuous stimuli. - This term is not standard in the classification of mechanoreceptors based on their adaptation rates. *None of the above* - This option is incorrect because rapidly adapting receptors are indeed responsible for detecting vibrations.

Q: Which of the following receptors is stimulated by sustained pressure?

Ruffini's end organ. ***Ruffini's end organ*** - These are **slowly adapting mechanoreceptors** located deep in the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. - They are responsible for detecting **sustained pressure**, stretch, and position sense. *Merkel's disc* - These are **slowly adapting mechanoreceptors** found in the basal epidermis. - They are crucial for sensing **light touch** and **two-point discrimination**. *Hair cells* - These are **mechanoreceptors** primarily found in the inner ear, responsible for hearing and balance. - They are not involved in the perception of somatosensory stimuli like pressure on the skin. *Meissner Corpuscles* - These are **rapidly adapting mechanoreceptors** located in the dermal papillae, close to the skin surface. - They are primarily involved in detecting **light touch** and **discriminative touch**, especially changes in texture.

Q: Broca's area is primarily involved in which of the following functions?

Speech production. ***Speech production*** - **Broca's area** is a region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, typically the left, that is crucial for the formation of coherent and grammatically correct speech. - Damage to this area leads to **Broca's aphasia**, characterized by **non-fluent speech**, difficulty retrieving words, and impaired syntax. *Language comprehension* - **Wernicke's area**, located in the temporal lobe, is primarily responsible for **language comprehension**. - Patients with **Wernicke's aphasia** can produce fluent speech but have difficulty understanding spoken and written language. *Language repetition* - The **arcuate fasciculus**, a bundle of nerve fibers connecting Broca's and Wernicke's areas, is essential for **language repetition**. - Lesions in this pathway result in **conduction aphasia**, where comprehension and fluency are relatively preserved, but repetition is severely impaired. *Reading ability* - Reading ability involves a complex network of brain regions, including the **angular gyrus** and **visual cortex**, in addition to language areas. - While Broca's area contributes to the motor planning aspects of reading aloud, it is not its primary function.

Q: Maximum density of muscle spindle is found in?

Lumbricals. ***Lumbricals*** - **Lumbricals** are small, intricate muscles in the hand, responsible for fine motor control and precise movements like grasping and manipulating objects. - The high density of **muscle spindles** in lumbricals allows for extremely accurate feedback on muscle length and tension, crucial for **proprioception** and delicate tasks. *Calf muscle* - **Calf muscles** (gastrocnemius and soleus) are large muscles primarily involved in powerful movements like walking and running. - While they do contain muscle spindles for proprioception, their density is lower compared to muscles involved in fine motor control. *Quadriceps muscle* - The **quadriceps femoris** is a large muscle group in the thigh responsible for knee extension and powerful leg movements. - They contain muscle spindles to monitor muscle stretch, but not with the extreme density seen in muscles with fine motor functions. *Triceps* - The **triceps brachii** is a large muscle on the back of the upper arm, primarily responsible for elbow extension. - It has a moderate density of muscle spindles, sufficient for coordinating arm movements but not as high as muscles designed for precision.

Q: During the sympathetic fight-or-flight response, what is the primary cardiovascular effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine on skeletal muscle vasculature?

Increased blood flow to muscles. ***Increased blood flow to muscles*** - **Epinephrine** and **norepinephrine** cause **vasodilation** in skeletal muscle arterioles, shunting blood toward tissues critical for immediate physical action. - This response ensures that muscles have adequate **oxygen** and **nutrients** to support intense activity, enabling a quick escape or confrontation. *Increased blood flow to the skin* - During fight-or-flight, the body prioritizes essential organs, causing **vasoconstriction** in the skin to redirect blood flow away from non-essential areas. - This redirection helps to conserve blood and reduce potential blood loss from surface injuries. *Bronchoconstriction* - **Epinephrine** and **norepinephrine** actually cause **bronchodilation**, leading to the relaxation of airway smooth muscles. - This effect increases the diameter of the airways, allowing more air to enter and exit the lungs, thereby enhancing **oxygen intake** and carbon dioxide expulsion. *Decreased heart rate* - The primary effect of **epinephrine** and **norepinephrine** is to **increase heart rate** and myocardial contractility. - This cardiac acceleration enhances **cardiac output**, ensuring rapid and efficient delivery of oxygenated blood throughout the body to meet the demands of stress.

Q: EPSP is due to?

Sodium ion influx. ***Sodium ion influx*** - An **Excitatory Postsynaptic Potential (EPSP)** is caused primarily by the binding of an **excitatory neurotransmitter** to its receptor, leading to the opening of **ligand-gated ion channels** permeable to sodium (Na+) ions. - The **influx of positively charged sodium ions** into the postsynaptic neuron causes a **depolarization** of the membrane potential, making it more likely to reach the threshold for an action potential. *Potassium ion influx* - **Potassium (K+) influx** is not the primary mechanism for generating an EPSP; instead, **potassium efflux** (movement out of the cell) is typically involved in **repolarization** after an action potential or in generating **Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials (IPSPs)**. - The movement of K+ into the cell would make the membrane potential more negative, leading to **hyperpolarization** or preventing depolarization. *Sodium ion efflux* - **Sodium (Na+) efflux** is mediated by the **Na+/K+ pump** and is crucial for maintaining the resting membrane potential, but it does **not directly cause an EPSP**. - Pumping Na+ out of the cell would **hyperpolarize** the cell or oppose depolarization, making an action potential less likely. *Calcium ion influx* - While **calcium (Ca2+) influx** is vital for many neuronal processes, including **neurotransmitter release** from the presynaptic terminal, it is **not the primary ionic basis** for generating an EPSP in the postsynaptic neuron itself. - Significant Ca2+ influx can occur during an **action potential** or lead to intracellular signaling, but it's not the main depolarizing current responsible for an EPSP.

Q: Small intestinal peristalsis is controlled by :

Myenteric plexus. ***Myenteric plexus*** - The **myenteric (Auerbach's) plexus** is located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers of the muscularis propria and is primarily responsible for **controlling gastrointestinal motility**, including peristalsis. - Its neurons coordinate the contractions and relaxations of these muscle layers to propel contents through the alimentary canal. *Meissners plexus* - The **Meissner's (submucosal) plexus** is located in the submucosa and mainly controls **glandular secretion**, local blood flow, and absorption, rather than muscle motility. - While it subtly influences motility through local reflexes, it is not the primary controller of peristalsis. *Vagus nerve* - The **vagus nerve (cranial nerve X)** provides parasympathetic innervation to the small intestine, modulating activity but not directly initiating or solely controlling peristalsis. - It influences the activity of the enteric nervous system (including the myenteric plexus) but does not itself generate the complex, coordinated patterns of muscle contraction. *Parasympathetic system* - The **parasympathetic nervous system**, through nerves like the vagus, generally **stimulates gastrointestinal motility**, but it acts by modulating the intrinsic enteric nervous system. - The local control and generation of specific peristaltic movements are primarily mediated by the enteric nervous system, especially the myenteric plexus.

Q: Cholecystokinin is produced from:

Duodenal mucosa. ***Duodenal mucosa*** - **Cholecystokinin (CCK)** is primarily secreted by **I cells**, which are specialized enteroendocrine cells located in the **mucosa of the duodenum** and jejunum. - The release of CCK is stimulated by the presence of **fatty acids** and **amino acids** in the small intestine. *Hepatocyte* - **Hepatocytes** are the main functional cells of the liver, responsible for bile production, metabolism, and detoxification. - They **do not produce regulatory hormones** like cholecystokinin. *Gastric mucosa* - The **gastric mucosa** primarily produces **gastrin**, hydrochloric acid, and pepsinogen, which are involved in gastric digestion. - It does **not secrete cholecystokinin**, which is involved in stimulating gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme release. *Epithelial cells of distal common bile duct* - The **epithelial cells of the common bile duct** are involved in bile transport and modification, but **not in hormone production**. - Their primary role is to line the duct and contribute to the composition of bile.

Q: Somatomedin-C deficiency causes?

Growth retardation. ***Growth retardation*** - **Somatomedin-C** (also known as **Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 or IGF-1**) is a crucial mediator of **growth hormone's** effects on growth. - A deficiency in Somatomedin-C, therefore, directly leads to **impaired growth** and **stature**, manifesting as **growth retardation**. *Genetic dwarfism* - This term generally refers to dwarfism caused by various **genetic conditions** (e.g., achondroplasia), which may or may not involve the **growth hormone/IGF-1 axis**. - While Somatomedin-C deficiency can be genetic, "genetic dwarfism" is a broader term and not the most precise answer for the direct consequence. *Congenital hypothyroidism* - This condition results from **deficient thyroid hormone production** from birth. - It leads to neurological impairment and **growth failure**, but it is due to **thyroid hormone deficiency**, not Somatomedin-C deficiency. *Type 1 diabetes mellitus* - This is an **autoimmune disease** characterized by the **destruction of pancreatic beta cells**, leading to **insulin deficiency**. - It is entirely unrelated to **Somatomedin-C** or the growth hormone axis.

Question 1

Which hormone is primarily responsible for maintaining the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle?

Accepted Answer

Progesterone

Answer

Estrogen

Answer

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Answer

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Question 2

Vibrations are detected by which types of receptors?

Accepted Answer

Rapidly adapting

Answer

Slowly adapting

Answer

Non-adapting

Answer

None of the above

Question 3

Which of the following receptors is stimulated by sustained pressure?

Accepted Answer

Ruffini's end organ

Answer

Merkel's disc

Answer

Hair cells

Answer

Meissner Corpuscles

Question 4

Broca's area is primarily involved in which of the following functions?

Accepted Answer

Speech production

Answer

Language comprehension

Answer

Language repetition

Answer

Reading ability

Question 5

Maximum density of muscle spindle is found in?

Accepted Answer

Lumbricals

Answer

Calf muscle

Answer

Triceps

Answer

Quadriceps muscle

Question 6

During the sympathetic fight-or-flight response, what is the primary cardiovascular effect of epinephrine and norepinephrine on skeletal muscle vasculature?

Accepted Answer

Increased blood flow to muscles

Answer

Increased blood flow to the skin

Answer

Bronchoconstriction

Answer

Decreased heart rate

Question 7

EPSP is due to?

Accepted Answer

Sodium ion influx

Answer

Potassium ion influx

Answer

Sodium ion efflux

Answer

Calcium ion influx

Question 8

Small intestinal peristalsis is controlled by :

Accepted Answer

Myenteric plexus

Answer

Meissner's plexus

Answer

Vagus nerve

Answer

Parasympathetic system

Question 9

Cholecystokinin is produced from:

Accepted Answer

Duodenal mucosa

Answer

Hepatocyte

Answer

Gastric mucosa

Answer

Epithelial cells of distal common bile duct

Question 10

Somatomedin-C deficiency causes?

Accepted Answer

Growth retardation

Answer

Genetic dwarfism

Answer

Congenital hypothyroidism

Answer

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

NEET-PG 2015 — Physiology