1. How many bones make up the human spine? Answer:
33
Vertebrae (singular: vertebra) are the individual irregular bones that
make up the vertebral column (aka spine) — a flexuous and flexible column.
There are normally thirty-three (33) vertebrae in humans, including the five
that are fused to form the sacrum (the others are separated by
intervertebral discs) and the four coccygeal bones which form the tailbone.
The upper three regions comprise the remaining 24, and are grouped under the
names cervical (7 vertebrae), thoracic (12 vertebrae) and lumbar (5
vertebrae), according to the regions they occupy. This number is sometimes
increased by an additional vertebra in one region, or it may be diminished
in one region, the deficiency often being supplied by an additional vertebra
in another. The number of cervical vertebrae is, however, very rarely
increased or diminished.
With the exception of the first and second cervical, the true or movable
vertebrae (the upper three regions) present certain common characteristics
which are best studied by examining one from the middle of the thoracic
region.
2. In what part of the human body is the Epiglottis located? Answer:
Larynx
The epiglottis is a lid-like flap of cartilage tissue covered with a
mucus membrane, attached to the root of the tongue. The epiglottis guards
the entrance of the glottis, the opening between the vocal cords.
It is normally pointed upward, but during swallowing, elevation of the hyoid
bone draws the larynx upward; as a result, the epiglottis folds down to a
more horizontal position. In this manner it prevents food from going into
the trachea and instead directs it to the esophagus, which is more
posterior.
The epiglottis is one of three large cartilaginous structures that make up
the larynx (voice box).
3. Is Plasma a component of Blood? Answer: YES
Blood plasma is the liquid
component of blood, in which the blood cells are suspended. Plasma is a
yellow colored liquid. Plasma is the largest single component of blood,
making up about 55 percent of total blood volume.
Blood plasma contains many vital proteins including fibrinogen, globulins
and human serum albumin. Sometimes blood plasma may contain viral impurities
which must be extracted through viral processing."Serum" refers to blood
plasma in which clotting factors (such as fibrin) have been removed
naturally by allowing the blood to clot prior to isolating the liquid
component.
Plasma resembles whey in appearance (transparent with a faint straw color).
It is mainly composed of water, blood proteins, and inorganic electrolytes.
It serves as transport medium for glucose, lipids, amino acids, hormones,
metabolic end products, carbon dioxide and oxygen. The oxygen transport
capacity and oxygen content (CO2) of plasma is much lower than that of the
hemoglobin in red blood cells; the CO2 will, however, increase under
hyperbaric conditions.) Plasma is the storage and transport medium of
clotting factors. Its protein content is necessary to maintain the oncotic
pressure of the blood, which "holds" the serum within the vessels. The act
of separating plasma from red blood cells is known as Plasmapheresis.
4. In what part of the human body is the Left Ventricle located? Answer:
Heart
The left ventricle is one of four chambers (two atria and two
ventricles) in the human heart. It receives oxygenated blood from the left
atrium via the mitral valve, and pumps it into the aorta via the aortic
valve.
The left ventricle is longer and more conical in shape than the right, and
on transverse section its concavity presents an oval or nearly circular
outline. It forms a small part of the sternocostal surface and a
considerable part of the diaphragmatic surface of the heart; it also forms
the apex of the heart.
By teenage and adult ages, its walls have thickened to three to six times
greater than that of the right ventricle. This reflects the typical five
times greater pressure workload this chamber performs while accepting blood
returning from the lungs veins at ~8mmHg pressure and pushing it forward to
the typical ~120mmHg pressure in the aorta during each heartbeat. (The
pressures stated are resting values and stated as relative to surrounding
atmospheric which is the typical "0" reference pressure used in medicine.)
For excellence of health, the left ventricular muscle must (a) relax very
rapidly after each contraction so as to fill rapidly with oxygenated blood
flowing from the lung veins, i.e. diastolic relaxation and filling, (b)
contract rapidly and forcibly to force the majority of this blood into the
aorta, overcoming the much higher aortic pressure and the extra pressure
required to stretch the aorta and other major arteries enough to expand and
make room for the sudden increase in blood volume, i.e. systolic contraction
and ejection, and (c) be able to rapidly increase or decrease its pumping
capacity under nervous system control.
Typical healthy adult heart pumping volume is ~5 liters/min, resting.
Maximum capacity pumping volume extends from ~25 liters/min for non-athletes
to as high as ~45 liters/min for Olympic level athletes.
5. Which organ of the human body is largely
responsible for the breakdown of food in the small intestine? Answer:
Duodenum
In anatomy of the digestive system, the duodenum is a hollow jointed
tube connecting the stomach to the jejunum. It is the first and shortest
part of the small intestine and it is where most chemical digestion takes
place. It begins with the duodenal bulb and ends at the ligament of Treitz.
The name duodenum is from the Latin duodenum digitorum, twelve fingers'
breadths or inches.
The duodenum is largely responsible for the breakdown of food in the small
intestine. Brunner's glands, which secrete mucus, are found in the duodenum.
The duodenum wall is composed of a very thin layer of cells that form the
muscularis mucosae. The duodenum is almost entirely retroperitoneal. The pH
in the duodenum is approximately nine (slightly basic)
6. Which organ of the body is
responsible for the disease Diabetes Mellitus? Answer: Pancreas
Diabetes
mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood
sugar) and other signs, as distinct from a single disease or condition. The
World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes: type 1,
type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have
similar signs, symptoms, and consequences, but different causes and
population distributions. Type 1 is usually due to autoimmune destruction of
the pancreatic beta cells which produce insulin. Type 2 is characterized by
tissue-wide insulin resistance and varies widely; it sometimes progresses to
loss of beta cell function. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2
diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy
cause insulin resistance in those women genetically predisposed to
developing this condition.
Types 1 and 2 are incurable chronic conditions, but have been treatable
since insulin became medically available in 1921, and are nowadays usually
managed with a combination of dietary treatment, tablets (in type 2) and,
frequently, insulin supplementation. Gestational diabetes typically resolves
with delivery.
Diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications (hypoglycemia,
ketoacidosis or nonketotic hyperosmolar coma) may occur if the disease is
not adequately controlled. Serious long-term complications include
cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (diabetic
nephropathy is the main cause of dialysis in developed world adults),
retinal damage (which can lead to blindness and is the most significant
cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly in the developed world), nerve
damage (of several kinds), and microvascular damage, which may cause
erectile dysfunction (impotence) and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds,
particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene which can require amputation
— the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults in the developed
world. Adequate treatment of diabetes, as well as increased emphasis on
blood pressure control and lifestyle factors (such as smoking and keeping a
healthy body weight), may improve the risk profile of most aforementioned
complications.
7. Are bones involved in the production of blood cells? Answer: YES
Bones
are rigid organs that form part of the endoskeleton of vertebrates. Bones
function to move, support, and protect the body, produce red and white blood
cells and store minerals. Bones come in a variety of shapes and have a
complex internal and external structure, allowing them to be lightweight yet
strong and hard, while fulfilling their many other functions. One of the
types of tissues that makes up bones is the mineralized osseous tissue, also
called bone tissue, that gives bones their rigidity and honeycomb-like
three-dimensional internal structure. Other tissue types found in bones
include marrow, the periosteum, nerves, blood vessels and cartilage.
8. A zygote (fertilised cell) begins
to divide through a process called? Answer: Mitosis
Mitosis is the process
by which a cell duplicates its genetic information (DNA), in order to
generate two, identical, daughter cells. It is generally followed
immediately by cytokinesis which divides the cytoplasm and cell membrane.
This results in two identical daughter cells with a roughly equal
distribution of organelles and other cellular components. Mitosis and
cytokinesis together define the mitotic (M) phase of the cell cycle, the
division of the mother cell into two daughter cells, each with the genetic
equivalent of the parent cell. Mitosis occurs exclusively in eukaryotic
cells. In multicellular organisms, the somatic cells undergo mitosis, while
germ cells — cells destined to become sperm in males or ova in females —
divide by a related process called meiosis. Prokaryotic cells, which lack a
nucleus, divide by a process called binary fission.
The process of mitosis is complex and highly regulated. The sequence of
events is divided into phases, corresponding to the completion of one set of
activities and the start of the next. These stages are prophase,
prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. During the process of
mitosis the pairs of chromosomes condense and attach to fibers that pull the
sister chromatids to opposite sides of the cell. The cell then divides in
cytokinesis, to produce two identical daughter cells.
Because cytokinesis usually occurs in conjunction with mitosis, "mitosis" is
often used interchangeably with "mitotic phase". However, there are many
cells where mitosis and cytokinesis occur separately, forming single cells
with multiple nuclei. This occurs most notably among the fungi and slime
moulds, but is found in various different groups. Even in animals,
cytokinesis and mitosis may occur independently, for instance during certain
stages of fruit fly embryonic development. Errors in mitosis can either kill
a cell through apoptosis or cause mutations that may lead to cancer.
9. Three of the four Blood Types are,
Type O, Type A, and Type B. Name the fourth? Answer: Type AB
A blood type
(also called a blood group) is a classification of blood based on the
presence or absence of inherited antigenic substances on the surface of red
blood cells (RBCs). These antigens may be proteins, carbohydrates,
glycoproteins or glycolipids, depending on the blood group system, and some
of these antigens are also present on the surface of other types of cells of
various tissues. Several of these red blood cell surface antigens, that stem
from one allele (or very closely linked genes), collectively form a blood
group system.
Blood group AB individuals have both A and B antigens on the surface of
their RBCs, and their blood serum does not contain any antibodies against
either A or B antigen. Therefore, an individual with type AB blood can
receive blood from any group (with AB being preferable, but can donate blood
only to another group AB individual.
Blood group A individuals have the A antigen on the surface of their RBCs,
and blood serum containing IgM antibodies against the B antigen. Therefore,
a group A individual can receive blood only from individuals of groups A or
O (with A being preferable), and can donate blood to individuals of groups A
or AB.
Blood group B individuals have the B antigen on their surface of their RBCs,
and blood serum containing IgM antibodies against the A antigen. Therefore,
a group B individual can receive blood only from individuals of groups B or
O (with B being preferable), and can donate blood to individuals of groups B
or AB.
Blood group O (or blood group zero in some countries) individuals do not
have either A or B antigens on the surface of their RBCs, but their blood
serum contains IgM anti-A antibodies and anti-B antibodies against the A and
B blood group antigens. Therefore, a group O individual can receive blood
only from a group O individual, but can donate blood to individuals of any
ABO blood group (ie A, B, O or AB). If a blood transfusion is needed in a
dire emergency, and the time taken to process the recipient's blood would
cause a detrimental delay, O Neg blood is issued.
10. Which of the following is not a communicable disease? Answer:
Arthritis
Arthritis (from Greek arthro-, joint + -itis, inflammation; plural:
arthritides) is a group of conditions where there is damage caused to the
joints of the body. Arthritis is the leading cause of disability in people
over the age of 65.
There are many forms of arthritis, each of which has a different cause.
Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis are autoimmune diseases in
which the body is attacking itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint
infection. Gouty arthritis is caused by deposition of uric acid crystals in
the joint that results in subsequent inflammation. Additionally, there is a
less common form of gout that is caused by the formation of needle shaped
crystals of calcium pyrophosphate. This form of gout is known as pseudogout.
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis is also known as
degenerative joint disease and occurs following trauma to the joint,
following an infection of the joint or simply as a result of aging. There is
emerging evidence that abnormal anatomy may contribute to early development
of osteoarthritis.
11. Emphysema is a disease of which organ of the human body? Answer:
Lungs
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive lung disease. It is often
caused by exposure to toxic chemicals or long-term exposure to tobacco
smoke.
Emphysema is characterized by loss of elasticity of the lung tissue,
destruction of structures supporting the alveoli, and destruction of
capillaries feeding the alveoli. The result is that the small airways
collapse during exhalation, leading to an obstructive form of lung disease
(airflow is impeded and air is generally "trapped" in the lungs in
obstructive lung diseases). Symptoms include shortness of breath on exertion
(typically when climbing stairs or inclines, and later at rest),
hypoventilation, and an expanded chest. As emphysema progresses, clubbing of
the fingers may be observed, a feature of longstanding hypoxia.
Emphysema patients are sometimes referred to as "pink puffers". This is
because emphysema sufferers may hyperventilate to maintain adequate blood
oxygen levels. Hyperventilation explains why emphysema patients do not
appear cyanotic as chronic bronchitis (another COPD disorder) sufferers
often do; hence they are "pink puffers" (adequate oxygen levels in the
blood) and not "blue bloaters" (cyanosis; inadequate oxygen in the blood).
12. What is the name of the
medical field that studies the Kidneys? Answer: Nephrology
Nephrology is
the branch of internal medicine dealing with the study of the function and
diseases of the kidney. The word nephrology is derived from the Greek word
nephros, which means "kidney," and the suffix -ology, or "study of."
Nephrology concerns itself with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney
diseases including electrolyte disorders and hypertension, and the care of
those requiring renal replacement therapy, including dialysis and renal
transplant patients. Many diseases affecting the kidney are not limited to
the organ itself, but are systemic disorders, and may require not only a
whole patient approach, but also special treatment, such as systemic
vasculitides or other autoimmune diseases, such as lupus.
13. Epilepsy affects which organ of the body? Answer: Brain
Epilepsy
(sometimes referred to as a seizure disorder) is a common chronic
neurological condition that is characterized by recurrent unprovoked
epileptic seizures. These seizures are transient signs and/or symptoms due
to abnormal, excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain. It
affects approximately 50 million people worldwide. Epilepsy is usually
controlled, but not cured, with medication, although surgery may be
considered in difficult cases. Not all epilepsy syndromes are lifelong –
some forms are confined to particular stages of childhood.
14. Osteoporosis is a disease of which part of the human body? Answer: Bones
Osteoporosis is a disease of bone in which the bone mineral density
(BMD) is reduced, bone microarchitecture is disrupted, and the amount and
variety of non-collagenous proteins in bone is altered. Osteoporotic bones
are more at risk of fracture. Osteoporosis is defined by the World Health
Organization (WHO) in women as a bone mineral density 2.5 standard
deviations below peak bone mass (20-year-old sex-matched healthy person
average) as measured by DXA; the term "established osteoporosis" includes
the presence of a fragility fracture. While treatment modalities are
becoming available (such as the bisphosphonates), prevention is still
considered the most important way to reduce fracture. Due to its hormonal
component, more women, particularly after menopause, suffer from
osteoporosis than men. In addition it may be caused by various hormonal
conditions, smoking and medications (specifically glucocorticoids) as well
as many chronic diseases.
Osteoporotic fractures are those that occur under slight amount of stresses
that would not normally lead to fractures in nonosteoporotic people. Typical
fractures occur in the vertebral column, hip and wrist. Collapse of a
vertebra ("compression fracture") can cause one or a combination of the
following: acute onset of back pain; a hunched forward or bent stature; loss
of height; limited mobility and possibly disability. Fractures of the long
bones acutely impair mobility and may require surgery. Hip fracture, in
particular, usually requires prompt surgery, as there are serious risks
associated with a hip fracture, such as deep vein thrombosis and a pulmonary
embolism.
While osteoporosis occurs in men, especially elderly men, and pre-menopausal
women, the problem is overwhelmingly prevalent in postmenopausal women.
15. What is the name of the acid
secreted by the stomach? Answer: Hydrochloric Acid
Gastric acid is,
together with several enzymes and the intrinsic factor, one of the main
secretions of the stomach. Chemically it is an acid solution consisting
mainly of hydrochloric acid, but also containing small quantities of
potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium chloride (NaCl).
Information obtained from the Wikipedia web site. Wikipedia the free encyclopedia.