Question 1

Which of the following best explains why cartilage heals more slowly than bone after an injury?

Accepted Answer

Cartilage is avascular and relies on diffusion for nutrient delivery, while bone is highly vascularized.

Question 2

A patient presents with a wound that is slow to heal and shows poor regeneration. Histological analysis reveals the tissue is avascular, with chondrocytes in lacunae and a matrix rich in chondroitin sulfate. Which tissue is most likely affected?

Accepted Answer

Cartilage

Question 3

Which of the following gland types is best described as a simple coiled tubular gland, and where is it most commonly found?

Accepted Answer

Eccrine (merocrine) sweat gland; found in the skin

Question 4

Which of the following best describes the main structural difference between the reticular and papillary layers of the dermis?

Accepted Answer

The reticular layer contains dense irregular connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers, while the papillary layer contains areolar tissue.

Question 5

Which of the following is a function of the integumentary system that directly contributes to homeostasis?

Accepted Answer

Thermoregulation through sweat gland activity

Question 6

A biopsy of a gland reveals that its secretory cells release their product by exocytosis without loss of cytoplasm. Which type of secretion is this, and which gland most commonly uses this method?

Accepted Answer

Merocrine secretion; eccrine sweat gland

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why a cut made parallel to tension lines in the skin heals with less scarring than a cut made perpendicular to them?

Accepted Answer

Collagen and elastic fibers are aligned parallel to tension lines, so a parallel cut disrupts fewer fibers.

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the difference in ground substance between cartilage and bone?

Accepted Answer

Cartilage ground substance is a gel with chondroitin sulfate, while bone ground substance is a small volume of liquid surrounding insoluble crystals of calcium salts.

Question 9

Which of the following epithelial tissues is best adapted for rapid diffusion and where is it commonly found?

Accepted Answer

Simple squamous epithelium; lining of blood vessels

Question 10

A patient with a genetic defect in connexin proteins would most likely have impaired function in which type of cell junction, and what is a likely physiological consequence?

Accepted Answer

Gap junctions; impaired coordination of cardiac muscle contraction

Question 11

Which of the following best describes the main function of dendritic (Langerhans) cells in the epidermis?

Accepted Answer

They participate in immune defense by detecting and presenting antigens.

Question 12

Which of the following best explains why the skin of older adults is more prone to bruising and tearing?

Accepted Answer

The dermis thins and the connections between the epidermis and dermis weaken with age.

Question 13

Which of the following is a characteristic feature of smooth muscle tissue, as opposed to skeletal or cardiac muscle?

Accepted Answer

Cells are spindle-shaped, nonstriated, and can divide to regenerate after injury.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the role of the arrector pili muscle?

Accepted Answer

It contracts to make hair stand erect, producing 'goose bumps' in response to cold or emotional states.

Question 15

Which of the following best explains why a deficiency in vitamin D3 can lead to rickets in children?

Accepted Answer

Vitamin D3 is required for the synthesis of calcitriol, which is essential for calcium absorption in the intestine.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes the main difference between endocrine and exocrine glands?

Accepted Answer

Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream, while exocrine glands release secretions onto epithelial surfaces or into ducts.

Question 17

Which of the following best describes the function of collagen fibers in connective tissue?

Accepted Answer

They provide tensile strength and resist stretching.

Question 18

A patient presents with white patches of skin that lack pigmentation. Which condition is most likely responsible, and what is the underlying cause?

Accepted Answer

Vitiligo; loss of melanocytes in affected areas

Question 19

Which of the following best explains why the stratum corneum is an effective barrier against water loss?

Accepted Answer

It consists of multiple layers of dead, keratinized cells tightly joined by desmosomes.

Tissues and the Integumentary System: Structure, Function, and Classification

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