Epithelial/Connective tissues Practice Questions

Question 1

A 35-year-old woman presents to a pre-operative evaluation clinic prior to an elective cholecystectomy. She has a 5 pack-year smoking history. The anesthesiologist highly recommends to discontinue smoking for at least 8 weeks prior to the procedure for which she is compliant. What is the most likely histology of her upper respiratory tract's epithelial lining at the time of her surgery?

Accepted Answer

Pseudostratified columnar

Answer

Simple squamous

Answer

Simple columnar

Answer

Stratified squamous

Answer

Stratified columnar

Question 2

A 28-year-old woman and her husband are admitted to the office due to difficulties conceiving a child for the past year. Her menarche was at the age of 15 years, and her periods have been regular since then. Her medical history is positive for an abortion with curettage 5 years ago. A spermogram on the partner is performed, and it shows motile sperm cells. An ultrasound is performed on the patient and it is unremarkable. The laboratory results show that the FSH, LH, TSH, and prolactin levels are within normal ranges. A hysteroscopy is additionally performed and multiple adhesions are found in the uterus (refer to the image). Which of the following is the most likely composition of the scar tissue present in the uterus?

Accepted Answer

Type 1 collagen

Answer

Type 3 collagen

Answer

Type 4 collagen

Answer

Type 2 collagen

Answer

Elastin

Question 3

A 65-year-old man with a 40-pack-year smoking history presents with hemoptysis and a persistent cough. Chest CT shows a 3.5 cm centrally located mass in the right main bronchus. Positron emission tomography confirms a malignant nodule. Bronchoscopy with transbronchial biopsy is performed and a specimen sample of the nodule is sent for frozen section analysis. The tissue sample is most likely to show which of the following tumor types?

Accepted Answer

Squamous cell carcinoma

Answer

Carcinoid tumor

Answer

Metastasis of colorectal cancer

Answer

Small cell lung carcinoma

Answer

Large cell carcinoma

Question 4

An investigator is studying the interaction between epithelial cells and calcium ion concentration. When the calcium ion concentration available to a sample of epithelial tissue is decreased, an increased gap between adjacent epithelial cells is seen on electron microscopy. This observed decrease in cell adhesion is most likely due to an effect on which of the following proteins?

Accepted Answer

Cadherin

Answer

Actin

Answer

Integrin

Answer

Claudin

Answer

Cytokeratin

Question 5

A 37-year-old man presents to the clinic because of painful, severe blistering over his buttocks for the past week. About a year ago, he noticed a similar outbreak on his inner thighs, but it receded within a few days on its own. Physical examination shows the blisters are tense, and rubbing the affected skin does not result in ‘popping’ of the blisters. A biopsy shows the entire epidermis lifting away from the basal lamina with extensive inflammatory infiltrates abundant with eosinophils. Immunofluorescence shows a linear pattern of immune complex deposits. Which of the following cellular structures, if defective, is most likely involved in the formation of these blisters?

Accepted Answer

Hemidesmosomes

Answer

Gap junctions

Answer

Lamellar bodies

Answer

Zonula occludens

Answer

Macula adherens

Question 6

An 11-year-old girl presents to her primary care physician because she has been having difficulty hearing her teachers at school. She says that the difficulty hearing started about a year ago, and it has slowly been getting worse. Her past medical history is significant for multiple fractures in both her upper and lower extremities. She also recently had a growth spurt and says that her friends say she is tall and lanky. A mutation in which of the following genes is most likely associated with this patient's condition?

Accepted Answer

Type 1 collagen

Answer

Type 4 collagen

Answer

Type 3 collagen

Answer

Fibrillin

Answer

Fibroblast growth factor receptor

Question 7

An investigator is studying the structural integrity of collagen. Human fibroblasts are cultured on a medium and different enzymes are applied. One of the cultures is supplemented with an enzyme that inhibits lysyl oxidase, preventing the formation of covalent cross-links between collagen α-chains. Which of the following processes is most likely to be impaired as a result?

Accepted Answer

Bone matrix synthesis

Answer

Internal elastic lamina formation

Answer

Ligament relaxation

Answer

Osteoclast activation

Answer

Cartilaginous growth plate mineralization

Question 8

A 61-year-old woman comes to the physician for evaluation of numbness and a burning sensation in her feet for the past 5 months. She has type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia. Her blood pressure is 119/82 mm Hg. Neurologic examination shows decreased sensation to pinprick, light touch, and vibration over the soles of both feet. There is a nontender ulcer on the plantar surface of her left foot. Pedal pulses are strong bilaterally. Her hemoglobin A1c concentration is 8.6%. Which of the following processes is most likely involved in the pathogenesis of this patient's current symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Increased protein deposition in endoneural vessel walls

Answer

Demyelination of posterior columns and lateral corticospinal tracts

Answer

Accumulation of lipids and foam cells in arteries

Answer

Elevated hydrostatic pressure in arteriolar lumen

Answer

Osmotic damage to oligodendrocyte nerve sheaths

Question 9

A 22-year-old Caucasian male is stabbed in his left flank, injuring his left kidney. As the surgeon undertakes operative repair, she reviews relevant renal anatomy. All of the following are correct regarding the left kidney EXCEPT?

Accepted Answer

The left kidney has a longer renal artery than the right kidney

Answer

The left kidney has a longer renal vein than the right kidney

Answer

The left kidney underlies the left 12th rib

Answer

The left kidney moves vertically during deep breathing

Answer

The left kidney lies between T12 and L3

Question 10

A 46-year-old man is brought to the emergency department for the onset of severe pain in his right knee that occurred when he tripped while descending a staircase. As he landed, he heard and felt an immediate popping sensation in his right knee. His medical history is positive for obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, severe asthma, and hyperlipidemia. He currently takes lisinopril, hydrochlorothiazide, metformin, atorvastatin, an albuterol inhaler, and a fluticasone inhaler. He recently completed a hospitalization and week-long regimen of systemic corticosteroids for a severe exacerbation of his asthma. The patient's family history is not significant. In the emergency department, his vital signs are normal. On physical examination, his right knee is warm and swollen and he rates the pain as 9/10. He cannot stand or walk due to pain. He is unable to extend his right knee. A knee X-ray is ordered. Which of the following would best describe the cause of this presenting condition?

Accepted Answer

Quadriceps tendon tear

Answer

Meniscal tear

Answer

Avascular necrosis of the femur

Answer

Traction apophysitis of the tibia

Answer

Femoral fracture

Epithelial/Connective tissues

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Simple epithelial tissues

Stratified epithelial tissues

Specialized epithelial junctions

Epithelial glands

Loose connective tissue

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Cartilage types and structure

Bone structure and types

Connective tissue cells and fibers

Extracellular matrix components

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