Admission Tests Admission Tests Certifications PCAT Questions & Answers

• Question 241:

  Which pathway accounts for the least amount of ATP generated (by the pathway)?

  A. glycolysis

  B. TCA cycle

  C. ETC

  D. all have an equal number of ATP made

  Correct Answer: B

  The generation of most to least ATP is as follows: ETC, which can produce 32 ATP; Glycolysis, which produces 2 ATP, and the TCA cycle, which produces 2 GTP in addition to electron carriers that are used in the ETC to generate ATP.

• Question 242:

  Why does the lactic acid pathway predominate in anaerobic respiration?

  A. because the lactic acid can be made into oxygen when needed

  B. because O2 is needed for the creation of NADH

  C. because O2 is required for glycolysis

  D. without O2 there is no electron acceptor for the ETC

  Correct Answer: D

  Lactic acid fermentation, a method of anaerobic respiration, is relied upon to generate energy for cells in the absence of oxygen. However, because oxygen acts as the primary electron acceptor in aerobic respiration, the lactic acid pathway, lacking oxygen, contains no electron acceptor in the process.

• Question 243:

  The oxidation of NADH occurs in which of the following?

  A. glycolysis

  B. TCA cycle

  C. ETC

  D. photosynthesis

  Correct Answer: C

  NADH is the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and contains an electron that can be donated in the ETC. In the ETC, NADH is oxidized to NAD+.

• Question 244:

  Which of the following most recently evolved to its present state?

  A. pons

  B. cerebrum

  C. cerebellum

  D. medulla oblongata

  Correct Answer: B

  The medulla oblongata and the pons make up the brain stem, which evolved earliest. The cerebellum evolved next, followed by the cerebrum.

• Question 245:

  Which of the following is NOT a result of sympathetic stimulation?

  A. increase in blood pressure

  B. increase of blood flow to intestines

  C. increase in blood flow to the brain

  D. dilation of pupils

  Correct Answer: B

  Sympathetic stimulation, associated with the fight-or-flight response, results in an increased blood pressure to help the body deal with a stressful situation. The body diverts blood away from digestion and the digestive system in favor of the skin, the muscles, and the brain.

• Question 246:

  A virus contains all of the following except?

  A. mitochondria

  B. RNA

  C. amino acids

  D. DNA

  Correct Answer: A

  A virus is neither eukaryotic nor prokaryotic, but similar to prokaryotes, viruses lack organelles. They are composed primarily of nucleic acids, DNA and RNA, and proteins. Viruses lack mitochondria.

• Question 247:

  Which of the following does NOT happen during inflammation?

  A. release of histamine

  B. an increase of local temperature

  C. migration of leukocytes

  D. constriction of blood vessels

  Correct Answer: D

  Inflammation causes dilation, not constriction of blood vessels. This dilation of blood vessels is designed to increase permeability across the blood vessels and facilitate mobility of white blood cells and other phages.

• Question 248:

  Which hormone is released after a meal high in carbohydrates?

  A. insulin

  B. glucagon

  C. EPO

  D. ghrelin

  Correct Answer: A

  When the blood stream is over saturated with glucose (as a result of a meal high in carbohydrates), the pancreas releases insulin in order to regulate the glucose levels in the blood.

• Question 249:

  Which is the most inferior structure?

  A. stomach

  B. sigmoid colon

  C. pancreas

  D. small intestine

  Correct Answer: B

  Inferior refers to the area nearest the feet. Its opposite is superior, which refers to the area nearest the top of the head. In this case, the stomach is superior to both the pancreas and the small intestine which are both superior to the sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon is nearest the feet of the options.

• Question 250:

  Which of the following is necessary for the penetration of an egg?

  A. the flagellum

  B. mitochondria

  C. acrosome

  D. centriole

  Correct Answer: C

  In order to penetrate an egg, a spermatozoon must bind with the exterior of the egg. This binding takes place by way of the acrosome reaction, in which the sperm penetrates the jelly coat of the egg to breach and fuse with the egg plasma membrane before releasing its constituents into the eggs cytoplasm.