Question 1

Which of the following best describes the primary function of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the extracellular matrix (ECM)?

Accepted Answer

They create an osmotic gradient that draws water into the ECM, helping resist compression.

Question 2

A patient presents with a genetic disorder that prevents the formation of collagen fibers. Which tissue function would be most directly impaired?

Accepted Answer

Resistance to tensile (stretching) forces in connective tissue

Question 3

Which cell junction is most critical for preventing the passage of macromolecules between adjacent epithelial cells in the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Tight junctions

Question 4

A biopsy of a gland reveals cells that accumulate their product until the entire cell ruptures, releasing the contents. Which type of secretion is this?

Accepted Answer

Holocrine secretion

Question 5

Which of the following best explains why cartilage heals poorly after injury?

Accepted Answer

Cartilage is avascular, so nutrients and oxygen must diffuse slowly from the perichondrium.

Question 6

Which epithelial tissue type is best suited for rapid diffusion of gases and is found lining the air sacs of the lungs?

Accepted Answer

Simple squamous epithelium

Question 7

A tissue sample shows multiple layers of cells with the apical layer composed of flat, anucleate cells packed with keratin. What is the most likely function of this tissue?

Accepted Answer

Protection against abrasion and water loss

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the role of gap junctions in cardiac muscle tissue?

Accepted Answer

They allow ions and small molecules to pass directly between cells, enabling coordinated contraction.

Question 9

Which connective tissue type is specialized for energy storage, insulation, and shock absorption?

Accepted Answer

Adipose tissue

Question 10

A patient with a severe burn loses the epidermis but not the dermis. Which tissue types are primarily affected?

Accepted Answer

Keratinized stratified squamous epithelium and loose connective tissue

Question 11

Which of the following is a key difference between endocrine and exocrine glands?

Accepted Answer

Exocrine glands secrete products onto epithelial surfaces via ducts; endocrine glands release hormones into the blood.

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the process of transcellular transport across simple epithelia?

Accepted Answer

Substances enter a cell, diffuse through the cytosol, and exit through the opposite membrane.

Question 13

Which protein fiber in the ECM is most responsible for allowing tissues like the aorta to stretch and then return to their original shape?

Accepted Answer

Elastic fibers

Question 14

A tissue sample from the spleen shows a network of thin fibers that trap cells. Which fiber type is most abundant in this tissue?

Accepted Answer

Reticular fibers

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why carcinomas are the most common type of cancer in humans?

Accepted Answer

Epithelial tissues have a high rate of cell division and are exposed to environmental carcinogens.

Question 16

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the process of fibrosis during tissue repair?

Accepted Answer

A skin wound heals with a dense irregular connective tissue scar, losing some original function.

Question 17

Which of the following cell types is primarily responsible for synthesizing the protein fibers and ground substance in connective tissue proper?

Accepted Answer

Fibroblasts

Question 18

A patient has a mutation that prevents the formation of gap junctions in cardiac muscle. What is the most likely physiological consequence?

Accepted Answer

The heart will be unable to contract as a coordinated unit.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the main function of the basement membrane in epithelial tissues?

Accepted Answer

It anchors the epithelium to underlying connective tissue and regulates exchange.

Question 20

Which of the following is a distinguishing feature of pseudostratified columnar epithelium?

Accepted Answer

It appears layered due to nuclei at different heights, but all cells touch the basement membrane.

Histology: Structure and Function of Tissues

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