Short Answer and Essay Questions
I won’t use all of these, and I won’t necessarily use them exactly as written, but these are the possible
short answer and essay questions for the exam. There will be 2-5 short answer questions. Most likely
you will be given 5-6 essay questions and asked to answer 3-4. An extra short answer can always be
done for extra credit.
What are the 3 major types of plasma proteins and what functions do they perform?
What happens to the hemoglobin in an RBC when the cell reaches the end of its life cycle?
Distinguish between hemopoiesis and erythropoiesis.
To whom can persons with blood type O positive donate? From whom can they receive blood? Answer the same
questions for AB positive.
What specific conditions can result in the development of hemolytic disease of the newborn? Who specifically
is at risk? What can be done to prevent this disease?
Distinguish between the extrinsic pathway and the intrinsic pathway of blood clot formation.
What is the significance of the plateau phase in cardiac muscle? Why doesn’t cardiac muscle experience tetany?
What effect does sympathetic stimulation have upon heart rate? What about parasympathetic stimulation?
Follow the flow of blood through the major vessels and the heart. Be sure to include the 4 valves and whether
oxygenated blood or deoxygenated blood flowing through the structure.
List the major steps in the cardiac cycle and what the heart chambers and valves are doing at each step.
What distinguishes pacemaker cells from normal cardiac cells? What percentage of cardiac cells are pacemaker
cells?
What structures are involved in the conducting system of the heart? List them in the order that the action
potentials are generated.
Explain what events are happening during the P wave, QRS complex and T wave of an EKG. What mechanical
events follow the electrical events?
Clarify the differences between intrinsic regulation of the heart and extrinsic regulation of the heart.
What factors affect blood flow? For each factor, explain what would happen to blood flow if the factor was
increased. (is the factor directly proportional or indirectly proportional to flow?) What is the most important
factor in determining resistance to blood flow?
In what part of the circulatory system does blood flow most rapidly? Most slowly? Explain your answers.
How is short-term regulation of blood pressure managed by baroreceptors? Sensory receptors are received by
what portion of the brain? What then happens to lower blood pressure? What happens to raise blood pressure?
How does the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone mechanism regulate blood pressure? List the steps complete with
the organs that are responsible for making the substances along the pathway.
