Download Scientists are trying to develop a pain medication that will bind to the

PROCTOR VERSION
4.9 C: Organ Interactions Quiz
1.
Scientists are trying to develop a pain medication that will bind to the sodium-potassium pumps of
sensory neurons. When the medication binds to the sodium-potassium pump, the number of ions
that the protein can carry will be reduced by 40–60%. Which statement best explains why this
medication may reduce pain in the area where the medication is administered?
(A) The medication will decrease the rate at which sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) ions move
through channel proteins, which will prevent action potentials in sensory neurons and
prevent the nerves from sending pain signals.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that movement of sodium (Na+) and
potassium (K+) ions across the membrane would be affected, but does not understand the
role of the sodium-potassium pump in the generation of an action potential and
repolarization of a neuron that initiates pain signals sent to the brain.
(B) The medication will prevent the depolarization of sensory neurons by stopping
neurotransmitters from binding to neurons, which will reduce the perception of pain in the
brain.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that blocking neurotransmitters can
repress nerve signals, but does not understand that the drug targets the sodium-potassium
pump by reducing its ability to repolarize, and does not affect the neurotransmitter signaling
the sodium-potassium pump.
(C) The medication will decrease the ability of neurons to repolarize, which will decrease the
rate at which action potentials are sent to the brain and reduce the perception of pain.
Rationale:
This answer suggests the student understands that a reduction in the number of ions
moving through the sodium-potassium pump would slow the rate at which repolarization of a
neuron occurs, which would block the initiation of pain signals sent to the brain.
(D) The medication will prevent the sodium-potassium (Na+/ K+) pump from maintaining
homeostasis and cause an ionic imbalance in the sensory neurons, which will stop the brain
nerves from sending pain signals to the brain.
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PROCTOR VERSION
4.9 C: Organ Interactions Quiz
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+)
are ions that move across the plasma membrane in sensory neurons, but does not
understand that the movement of these ions in neurons is unrelated to the role of transport
proteins involved in maintaining homeostasis and ion/water balance.
Aligned to: LO 4.9 CA 4.9: Predict Effects of Changes to Biological Systems
2.
Type 2 diabetes is a disease believed to be caused by both genetic and environmental factors.
Normally, when blood glucose levels become too high, pancreatic cells are stimulated to secrete
the hormone insulin, which lowers blood glucose levels, by stimulating most body cells to uptake
glucose. In type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to regulate blood glucose levels despite
pancreatic cells producing and secreting insulin in response to elevated blood glucose levels.
In which type of genes should a researcher look for mutations that may predispose a person to
developing type 2 diabetes?
(A) In genes involved in the production and secretion of insulin from pancreatic cells and
preventing insulin from leaving the pancreas
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand how insulin is produced and secreted
from pancreatic cells, but does not understand that type 2 diabetes is caused by a defect
that affects target cells’ ability to respond to insulin, and is not caused by pancreatic cells
preventing insulin from leaving the pancreas.
(B) In genes involved in the reception of the insulin signal in target cells because insulin is not
producing the appropriate response in these cells
Rationale:
This answer suggests the student understands that diabetes is due to the inability of the
target cells to respond to insulin, which involves defective receptor or transduction response
proteins.
(C) In genes involved in feedback regulation with pancreatic cells because pancreatic cells are
improperly responding to changes in blood glucose levels
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PROCTOR VERSION
4.9 C: Organ Interactions Quiz
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that blood glucose regulation involves a
feedback loop, but does not understand that type 2 diabetes is due to poor insulin
response in target cells and not due to the failure of pancreatic cells to regulate insulin
production through negative feedback.
(D) In genes involved in the production of glucose from glycogen in liver cells and preventing the
liver from releasing glucose
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that glycogen is converted into glucose in
the liver, but does not understand that this process would increase blood glucose levels,
not lower them.
Aligned to: LO 4.9 CA 4.9: Predict Effects of Changes to Biological Systems
3.
Sensory signals from the body are interpreted in one particular area of the brain. Different
neurons receive signals from different parts of the body, and the neurons for each body part are
very close in proximity. Amputees are individuals who have had a limb amputated, and some
amputees experience sensations as if the limb were still attached, in a phenomenon called
“phantom limb pain.” When parts of the body, such as the face or torso, are touched, neurons in
the brain that were once associated with the limb before it was amputated are stimulated and
interpret the sensations as occurring in the amputated limb.
Which statement best explains why some amputees experience phantom limb pain?
(A) Phantom limb pain is due to the severed sensory nerves at the site of amputation sending
nerve signals directly to the brain, which are interpreted as having originated in the missing
limb.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that nerve signals are sent to the brain
where the signals are interpreted as pain, but does not understand that severed neurons
cannot transmit nerve signals or that phantom limb pain is an emergent property due to
neural rewiring of the brain and stimuli on other body parts.
(B) Phantom limb pain is due to the nerves in the central nervous system being unable to
differentiate sensory signals from motor signals.
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PROCTOR VERSION
4.9 C: Organ Interactions Quiz
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that phantom limb pain is due to the
brain misinterpreting signals from the peripheral nervous system, but does not understand
that the pain is not caused by the brain confusing sensory and motor neurons.
(C) Phantom limb pain is due to the rewiring of the brain, in which sensory signals from other
parts of the body are misinterpreted by the brain as having occurred in the missing limb.
Rationale:
This answer suggests the student understands that phantom limb pain is caused by the
rewiring of the brain and the brain’s misinterpretation of sensory signals from different parts
of the body.
(D) Phantom limb pain is due to the inability of the neurons in the brain to receive signals after a
significant change in the peripheral nervous system.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that pain is associated with changes in
signaling after an amputation, but does not understand that the pain is due to rewiring of
neural pathways and not the inability of neurons in the brain to receive signals.
Aligned to: LO 4.9 CA 4.9: Predict Effects of Changes to Biological Systems
4.
The diagram below shows the interactions among the thyroid gland, the skeletal system, and the
kidneys in the regulation of calcium levels in the body.
When calcium levels in the blood are high, the thyroid gland secretes calcitonin. Which statement
best explains how calcitonin interacts with the skeletal system and the kidneys to regulate
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PROCTOR VERSION
4.9 C: Organ Interactions Quiz
calcium levels in the body?
(A) Calcitonin causes bone cells to release calcium into the blood and causes the removal of
calcium by the kidney from the urine in order to maintain calcium levels within a
specific range.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that the bones and the kidneys can
increase calcium levels in the blood, but does not understand that this would not help to
regulate high blood calcium levels.
(B) Calcitonin causes bone cells to initiate the release of calcium into the blood and causes the
kidneys to increase the elimination of calcium in order to prevent too much calcium from
being stored in the bones.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand the role of the kidneys in decreasing
blood calcium levels, but does not understand that the release of calcium from the bones
would increase blood calcium levels.
(C) Calcitonin causes bone cells to deposit excess calcium in bone and causes the kidneys to
increase the removal of calcium from the urine in order to ensure that enough calcium is
stored in the bones until it is needed.
Distractor Rationale:
This answer suggests the student may understand that the bones can store calcium and
decrease calcium levels in the blood, but does not understand the role of the kidneys in
regulating blood calcium levels.
(D) Calcitonin causes bone cells to deposit excess calcium in bone and causes the kidneys to
decrease the removal of calcium from the blood in order to keep calcium levels within a
specific range.
Rationale:
This answer suggests the student understands how calcitonin, the skeletal system, and the
kidneys work to regulate high calcium levels in the blood.
Aligned to: LO 4.9 CA 4.9: Predict Effects of Changes to Biological Systems
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