CHAPTER 2 CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (Select the single best answer)
1. Which of the following characteristics is shared by simple and facilitated diffusion of glucose?
A. Occurs down an electrochemical gradient
B. Is saturable
C. Requires metabolic energy
D. Is inhibited by the presence of galactose
E. Requires a Na+ gradient
2. Solutions A and B are separated by a semipermeable membrane that is permeable to K+, but not to Cl-. Solution A is 100
mM KCl, and solution B is 1 mM KCl. Which of the following statements about solution A and solution B is true?
A. K+ ions will diffuse from solution A to solution B until the [K+] of both solutions is 50.5 mM
B. K+ ions will diffuse from solution B to solution A until the [K+] of both solutions is 50.5 mM
C. KCl will diffuse from solution A to solution B until the [KCl] of both solutions is 50.5 mM
D. K+ will diffuse from solution A to solution B until a membrane potential develops with solution A negative with respect
to solution B
E. K+ will diffuse from solution A to solution B until a membrane potential develops with solution A positive with respect
to solution B
3. Transport of D-and L-glucose proceeds at the same rate down an electrochemical gradient by which of the following
processes?
A. Simple diffusion B. Facilitated diffusion C. Primary active transport
D. Cotransport E. Countertransport
4. A drug completely blocks Na+ channels in nerves. Which of the following effects on the action potential would it be
expected to produce?
A. Block the occurrence of action potentials
B. Increase the rate of rise of the upstroke of the action potential
C. Shorten the absolute refractory period
D. Abolish the hyperpolarizing afterpotential
E. Increase the Na+ equilibrium potential
5. Which of the following transport processes is involved if transport of glucose from the intestinal lumen into a small
intestinal cell is inhibited by abolishing the usual Na+ gradient across the cell membrane?
A. Simple diffusion B. Facilitated diffusion C. Primary active transport
D. Cotransport E. Countertransport
6. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is used indirectly for which of the following processes?
A. Accumulation of Ca2+ by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)
B. Transport of Na+ from intracellular to extracellular fluid
C. Transport of K+ from extracellular to intracellular fluid
D. Transport of H+ from parietal cells into the lumen of the stomach
E. Absorption of glucose by intestinal epithelial cells
7. Secretion of H+ by gastric parietal cells occurs by which of the following processes?
A. Simple diffusion B. Facilitated diffusion
C. Primary active transport D. Cotransport
E. Countertransport
8. The action potential of a neuron
A. Is initiated by efflux of Na+
B. Is terminated by efflux of K+
C. Declines in amplitude as it moves along the axon
D. Results in a transient reversal of the concentration gradient of Na+ across the cell membrane
E. Is not associated with any net movement of Na+ or K+ across the cell membrane
9. The action potential of skeletal muscle
A. Has a prolonged plateau phase
B. Spreads inward to all parts of the muscle via the T tubules
C. Causes the immediate uptake of Ca2+ into the lateral sacs of the sarcoplasmic reticulum
D. Is longer than the action potential of cardiac muscle
E. Is not essential for contraction
10. The functions of tropomyosin in skeletal muscle include
A. Sliding on actin to produce shortening
B. Releasing Ca2+ after initiation of contraction
C. Binding to myosin during contraction
D. Acting as a "relaxing protein" at rest by covering up the site where myosin binds to actin
E. Generating ATP, which it passes to the contractile mechanism
11. The cross-bridges of the sarcomere in skeletal muscle are made up of
A. Actin B. Myosin C. Troponin
D. Tropomyosin E. Myelin
12. The contractile response in skeletal muscle
A. Starts after the action potential is over
B. Does not last as long as the action potential
C. Produces more tension when the muscle contracts isometrically than when the muscle contacts isotonically
D. Produces more work when the muscle contracts isometrically than when the muscle contacts isotonically
E. Decreases in magnitude with repeated stimulation
13. Gap junctions
A. Are absent in cardiac muscle
B. Are present but of little functional importance in cardiac muscle
C. Are present and provide the pathway for rapid spread of excitation from one cardiac muscle fiber to another
D. Are absent in smooth muscle
E. Connect the sarcotubular system to individual skeletal muscle cells
14. Initiation of an action potential in skeletal muscle by stimulating its motor nerve
A. Requires spatial facilitation
B. Requires temporal facilitation
C. Is inhibited by a high concentration of Ca2+ at the neuromuscular junction
D. Requires the release of norepinephrine
E. Requires the release of acetylcholine
15. The correct temporal sequence for events at the neuromuscular junction is
A. Action potential in the motor nerve, depolarization of the muscle end plate; uptake of Ca2+ into the presynaptic nerve
terminal
B. Uptake of Ca2+ into the presynaptic terminal; release of acetylcholine (ACh); depolarization of the muscle end plate
C. Release of ACh; action potential in the motor nerve; action potential in the muscle
D. Uptake of Ca2+ into the motor end plate; action potential in the motor end plate; action potential in the muscle
E. Release of ACh; action potential in the muscle end plate; action potential in the muscle
16. Which characteristic or component is shared by skeletal muscle and smooth muscle?
A. Thick and thin filaments arranged in sarcomeres
B. Troponin
C. Elevation of intracellular [Ca2+] for excitation-contraction coupling
D. Spontaneous depolarization of the membrane potential
E. High degree of electrical coupling between cells
17. Repeated stimulation of a skeletal muscle fiber causes tetanic contraction because the intracellular concentration of which
solute increases and remains at high levels?
A. Na+ B. K+ C.Cl- D. Mg2+ E. Ca2+
18. A person with myasthenia gravis notes increased muscle strength when he is treated with an acetylcholinesterase (AChE)
inhibitor. The basis for his improvement is increased
A. Amount of acetylcholine (ACh) released from motor nerves
B. Levels of ACh at the muscle end plates
C. Number of ACh receptors on the muscle end plates
D. Amount of norepinephrine released from motor nerves
E. Synthesis of norepinephrine in motor nerves
19. The rate of conduction of action potentials along a nerve will be increased by
A. Stimulating the Na+-K+ pump
B. Inhibiting the Na+-K+ pump
C. Decreasing the diameter of the nerve
D. Myelinating the nerve
E. Lengthening the nerve fiber
20. At the muscle end plate, acetylcholine (ACh) causes the opening of
A. Na+ channels and depolarization toward the Na+ equilibrium potential
B. K+ channels and depolarization toward the K+ equilibrium potential
C. Ca2+ channels and depolarization toward the Ca2+ equilibrium potential
D. Na+ and K+ channels and depolarization to a value halfway between the Na+ and K+ equilibrium potentials
E. Na+ and K+ channels and hyperpolarization to a value halfway between the Na+ and K+ equilibrium potentials
21. Which of the following events occurs before depolarization of the T tubules in skeletal muscle in the cell mechanism of
excitation-contraction coupling?
A. Depolarization of the sarcolemmal membrane
B. Opening of Ca2+ release channels on the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR)
C. Uptake of Ca2+ into the SR by Ca2+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase)
D. Binding of Ca2+ to troponin C
E. Binding of actin and myosin
22. Which of the following is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system (CNS)?
A. Norepinephrine B. Glutamate C. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
D. Serotonin E. Histamine
TERMS
1. Channel proteins
2. Voltage gating
3. Ligand gating
4. Primary active transport and secondary active transport
5. Resting potential
6. Action potential
7. Threshold potential
8. All-or-nothing principle
9. Absolute refractory period
10. End plate potential
11. Excitation-contraction coupling
12. Isometric contraction & isotonic contraction
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the ways of membrane transport.
2. Describe the physiological role of sodium pump.
3. List the important factors in the establishment of the normal resting potential.
4. Describe the mechanism of the initiation and termination of action potential (AP).
5. Describe the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction.
6. List the important factors that affect contractile performance of skeletal muscle.
ANSWERS
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS
1. A 2. D 3. A 4. A 5. D 6. E 7. C 8. B 9. B 10. D
11. B 12. C 13. C 14. E 15. B 16. C 17. E 18. B 19. D 20. D
21. A 22. C
TERMS
1. Channel proteins
The protein channels are watery pathways through the interstices of the protein molecules. Substances can diffuse by simple
diffusion directly through these channels from one side of the membrane to the other. The protein channels are distinguished
by two important characteristics: (1) they are often selectively permeable to certain substances and (2) many of the channels
can be opened or closed by gates.
2. Voltage gating
Some protein channel gates respond to the electrical potential across the cell membrane, this causes a conformational change
in the protein molecule that opens or closes the gate. This is called Voltage gating.
3. Ligand gating
Some protein channel gates are opened by the binding of a chemical substance (a “ligand”) with the protein, this causes a
conformational change in the protein molecule that opens or closes the gate. This is called chemical gating or ligand gating.
4. Primary active transport and secondary active transport
When a cell membrane moves molecules or ions “uphill” against a concentration gradient (or “uphill” against an electrical or
pressure gradient), the process is called active transport. Active transport is divided into two types according to the source of
the energy used to cause the transport. They are called primary active transport and secondary active transport. In primary
active transport, the energy is derived directly from breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or of some other high-
energy phosphate compound. In secondary active transport, the energy is derived secondarily from energy that has been
stored in the form of ionic concentration differences between the two sides of a membrane, created in the first place by
primary active transport.
5. Resting potential
The resting potential is the transmembrane potential difference across the membrane of a normal cell at rest. Resting
potential of cells is typically in the range of -10 to -100 mV, the inside of the cell being negative with respect to the outside.
6. Action potential
Some of the cells (excitable cells) are capable to rapidly reverse their resting potential from negative resting values to slightly
positive values. This transient and rapid change in membrane potential is called an action potential.
7. Threshold potential
A sudden rise in membrane potential of 15 to 30 millivolts usually is required to initiate an action potential. The threshold
potential is the membrane potential to which a membrane must be depolarized to initiate an action potential.
8. All-or-nothing principle
Once an action potential has been elicited at any point on the membrane of a normal fiber, the depolarization process travels
over the entire membrane if conditions are right, or it might not travel at all if conditions are not right. This is called the all-
or-nothing principle.
9. Absolute refractory period
That period immediately following the discharge of an action potential during which the cell cannot be induced to fire again.
10. End plate potential
Upon the arrival of an action potential at the axon terminal, acetylcholine releases and binds to the nicotinic acetycholine
receptors that dot the motor end plate. Thus opening of acetylcholine-gated channels is to allow large numbers of sodium
ions to pour to the inside of the fiber, carrying with them large numbers of positive charges. This creates a local positive
potential change inside the muscle fiber membrane called the end plate potential. In turn, this end plate potential initiates an
action potential spreading along the muscle membrane and thus causes muscle contraction.
11. Excitation-contraction coupling
To cause muscle contraction, electrical currents must penetrate deeply into the muscle fiber to the vicinity of all the separate
myofibrils. This is achieved by transmission of action potentials along transverse tubules (T tubules) that penetrate all the
way through the muscle fiber from one side to the other. The T tubule action potentials in turn cause release of calcium ions
in the immediate vicinity of all the myofibrils, and these calcium ions then cause contraction. This overall process is called
excitation-contraction coupling.
12. Isometric contraction & isotonic contraction
Muscle contraction is said to be isometric when the muscle does not shorten during contraction and isotonic when it does
shorten with the tension on the muscle remaining constant.
QUESTIONS
1. Describe the ways of membrane transport.
(1) Simple diffusion;
(2) Facilitated diffusion;
(3) Active transport;
(4) Endocytosis and exocytosis.
2. Describe the physiological role of sodium pump.
(1) Maintaining the Na+ and K+ gradients across the cell membrane;
(2) Partly responsible for establishing a negative electrical potential inside the cell;
(3) Controlling cell volume;
(4) Providing energy for secondary active transport.
3. List the important factors in the establishment of the normal resting potential.
(1) K+ diffusion potential;
(2) Na+ diffusion;
(2) Na+-K+ pump.
4. Describe the mechanism of the initiation and termination of action potential (AP).
(1) Mechanism of the initiation of AP:
a. Local response and Na+ channel activated;
b. Regenerative cycle of Na+ influx;
c. Threshold potential.
(2) Mechanism of the termination of AP:
a. Na+ channel inactivated;
b. K+ channel activated.
5. Describe the molecular mechanism of muscle contraction.
(1) Increase of intracellular calcium level;
(2) Combination of calcium ion with troponin C;
(3) Conformational change of troponin complex and tropomyosin;
(4) “Uncovery” of active sites of the actin;
(5) Interaction of myosin and actin filaments;
(6) Sliding mechanism, “walk-along” theory.
6. List the important factors that affect contractile performance of skeletal muscle.
(1) Preload;
(2) Afterload;
(3) Contractility.
