Question 1

Although the aorta and other arteries begin to stiffen with age, the left ventricle pumps the same amount of blood.

Accepted Answer

The left ventricle pumps the same amount of blood to compensate for the increased stiffness of the aorta and other arteries with age.

Question 2

Although relatively few changes occur in the aging GI system, changes that do occur increase the risk for diseases and disorders.

Accepted Answer

As the gastrointestinal (GI) system ages, even minor changes can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases and disorders due to factors like decreased motility, reduced enzyme production, and weakened tissue integrity.

Question 3

Adverse drug reactions in the older population occur as a result of changes in the liver and pancreas.

Accepted Answer

Adverse drug reactions in older adults are primarily due to changes in liver and kidney function, not the pancreas. The liver's ability to metabolize drugs and the kidneys' ability to excrete them can decline with age, affecting drug clearance and increasing the risk of adverse effects.

Question 4

All four cardiac valves increase in circumference in older adults, with the greatest increase occurring in which valve?

Accepted Answer

The aortic valve typically shows the greatest increase in circumference in older adults due to age-related changes such as calcification and fibrosis.

Question 5

Which of the following is calculated as the amount of air that can be expelled following maximum inspiration?

Accepted Answer

Vital capacity is the maximum amount of air that can be expelled from the lungs after a maximum inhalation.

Question 6

Despite the reduced inspiratory capacity, which of the following -the maximum volume to which the lungs can expand during greatest inspiratory effort-remains virtually unchanged with age?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Despite the reduced inspiratory capacity, which of...

Question 7

The number of glomeruli decreases by as much as 30% to 40% by age 90 due to what medical condition?

Accepted Answer

Glomerulosclerosis is the scarring or hardening of the tiny blood vessels within the kidney, which can lead to a decrease in the number of functional glomeruli as people age.

Question 8

What equation can be used to predict renal disease but may not reflect the usual aging process; therefore, its use can lead to underdosing in healthy older adults and overdosing in compromised older adults?

Accepted Answer

The Cockcroft-Gault equation is used to estimate renal function and drug dosing in patients, but it may not accurately reflect the changes in kidney function due to aging, leading to potential dosing errors in older adults.

Question 9

A decrease in ovarian synthesis of what glycoprotein explains the increase in follicle-stimulating hormone prior to, throughout, and after menopause?

Accepted Answer

Inhibin B is a glycoprotein produced by the ovaries that inhibits the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). A decrease in its synthesis leads to increased FSH levels.

Question 10

With age, what organ(s) atrophy to such a small size that they can become impalpable during an examination?

Accepted Answer

Ovaries tend to atrophy significantly after menopause, often becoming small enough that they are impalpable during a physical examination.

Question 11

Erythrocytes have the capacity for continual self-renewal, which allows for the replenishment of the red blood cell supply.

Accepted Answer

Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, do not have the capacity for continual self-renewal. They are produced in the bone marrow and have a lifespan of about 120 days.

Question 12

Immunosenescence is associated with a decreased incidence of infectious diseases such as bronchitis and influenza.

Accepted Answer

Immunosenescence refers to the gradual deterioration of the immune system associated with aging, leading to an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases like bronchitis and influenza, not a decreased incidence.

Question 13

Even if the body is repeatedly exposed to the same antigen, it will react each time to that particular antigen as if it had never before been encountered.

Accepted Answer

The body's immune system is designed to recognize and respond to foreign invaders, such as bacteria and viruses. When the body is exposed to an antigen, it produces antibodies that are specific to that antigen. These antibodies will then bind to the antigen and neutralize it. If the body is repeatedly exposed to the same antigen, the immune system will produce more antibodies and become more efficient at neutralizing it. This is known as immunological memory.

Question 14

What type of cells, which are involved in the immune system, leave the blood and enter tissues where they turn into macrophages?

Accepted Answer

Monocytes are a type of white blood cell that circulate in the bloodstream and can migrate into tissues where they differentiate into macrophages, which are crucial for the immune response.

Question 15

Deficiency of what mineral can inhibit production of cytokines, thereby hindering immune system communication and the overall coordination of the immune response?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Deficiency of what mineral can inhibit production...

Question 16

With age, vaginal pH levels shift from an acidic environment toward an alkaline environment due to decreased levels of which of the following in the vaginal tissue?

Accepted Answer

With age, estrogen levels decrease, leading to reduced glycogen in vaginal tissues. This results in less lactic acid production by lactobacilli, causing the vaginal pH to become more alkaline.

Question 17

The menopausal transition is characterized by declines in which of the following along with the onset of variable menstrual cycles in both early and late stages?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The menopausal transition is characterized by declines...

Question 18

The degradation of which of the following may cause neuronal disruption by slowing the nerve impulses as they travel through the nervous system, which may help to explain middle age-related declines in cognition and motor control?

Accepted Answer

Myelin is a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, facilitating the rapid transmission of electrical impulses along the nervous system. Degradation of myelin can slow down nerve impulses, leading to cognitive and motor control declines.

Question 19

What neurotransmitter induces learning and memory via cholinergic input to the hippocampus and neocortex in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Acetylcholine is the neurotransmitter that plays a crucial role in learning and memory by providing cholinergic input to the hippocampus and neocortex.

Question 20

Which of the following, also known as antidiuretic hormone, is secreted by neurons that originate in the hypothalamus and extend into the pituitary gland?

Accepted Answer

Vasopressin is also known as antidiuretic hormone and is secreted by neurons that originate in the hypothalamus and extend into the pituitary gland.

Quiz 4: Review of the Aging of Physiological Systems