PTS Phase 1 SBA questions 2021

Question 1

What type of protein structure would zinc fingers, helix-turn-helix and beta-alpha-beta be classed as?

Answer 1

Super-secondary

Question 2

A pathologist was analysing some samples. She used a histological stain on brush borders and hexose sugars which produced a magenta colour. Which stain did she use?

Answer 2

Periodic acid schiff
It stains brush borders and hexose sugars dark pink (magenta).

Question 3

You order a blood test for a patient, whom you suspect may have a parasitic infection. Which type of blood cell is typically elevated in parasitic infections?

Answer 3

Eosinophil

Question 4

A patient has been diagnosed with hypertension. Blood tests show that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) levels are elevated. Which of the following has a similar function to ANP?

Answer 4

Adrenaline acting on α2 receptor

Question 5

Fragments of the respiratory tract constitute the anatomic dead space. It’s a part of physiological dead space- an area where gas exchange does not occur. Which part of the anatomic dead space has got the largest area?

Answer 5

Trachea

Question 6

Airway smooth muscle constriction is stimulated by Ach release acting on which type of receptors?

Answer 6

M3 subtype of muscarinic receptors

Question 7

A patient with a history of Sjogren’s syndrome comes to your clinic. A key aspect of Sjogren’s syndrome is lack of saliva. Which of the following is NOT a component of saliva?

Answer 7

Protease and peptidase

Question 8

Which enzyme hydrolyses triglycerides?
Hepatic lipase
Lipoprotein lipase
Triglyceride lipase
Aminotransferase
Gamma-glutamyl transferase

Answer 8

Lipoprotein lipase

Question 9

The pancreas is formed from a fusion of a ventral and dorsal bud. Which areas of the pancreas does the ventral pancreatic bud form?

Answer 9

Uncinate process, main pancreatic duct and pancreatic head

Question 10

What initiates the cephalic phase of pancreatic secretion?

Answer 10

Seeing food

Question 11

Within a distribution of data, if the median is greater than the mean of the data, what is the data described as?

Answer 11

Negatively skewed

Question 12

Which of the structures below function as interneurons that are stimulated by alpha motor neurons and through a feedback system can also be inhibited by alpha motor neurons causing autoinhibition
Weibel-Palade bodies
Renshaw Cells
Delta cells
Oligodendrocytes

Answer 12

Renshaw Cells

Question 13

A 20 year old boy presents to his GP with loss of taste and any sensation at the back of his tongue. Which cranial nerve innervates the posterior 1/3 of the tongue?

Answer 13

Glossopharyngeal nerve

Question 14

The urogenital organs are developed from which layer of the germ cells?

Answer 14

Intermediate mesoderm

Question 15

What level does the renal artery come off the abdominal aorta?

Answer 15

L2

Question 16

Where does the oesophagus pass through the abdomen

Answer 16

T10

Question 17

Where does the aorta pass through the abdomen

Answer 17

T12

Question 18

What is the level at which the superior mesenteric artery branches off the aorta

Answer 18

L1

Question 19

What is the level at which the inferior mesenteric artery branches off the aorta

Answer 19

L3

Question 20

A common genital tubercle forms at 8 weeks in development, which has lateral urethral folds and labioscrotal swellings. Which of the following do the urethral folds develop into?

Answer 20

Labia minora

Question 21

The urogenital triangle is the anterior half of the perineum and is made of a number of fascial layers and pouches. Which of the following is part of the superficial perineal pouch?

Answer 21

Ischiocavernosus muscle

Question 22

A 31-year-old female has a baby following prolonged labour, which resulted in a vesicovaginal fistula. During labour, the foetus obstructed blood supply and caused local tissue necrosis and abnormal communication with the bladder. Which vessel is most likely to have been affected?

Answer 22

Uterine artery

Question 23

Which cells in the kidney tubule are responsible for controlling acid-base balance?

Answer 23

Intercalated cells

Question 24

A dermatome is an area of skin supplied by a spinal nerve. What dermatome is responsible for the suprapubic region?

Answer 24

L1

Question 25

What is the dermatome for the nipple

Answer 25

T4

Question 26

What is the dermatome for the umbilicus

Answer 26

T10

Question 27

What is the dermatome for the inguinal region

Answer 27

L2

Question 28

What has no dermatone

Answer 28

C1

Question 29

Which of the following hormones has no effect on the kidney?
Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP)
Erythropoietin
Parathyroid Hormone
Vasopressin
Aldosterone

Answer 29

Erythropoietin

Question 30

Which of these statements regarding ion transport in the kidney tubules is false?

The function of the proximal convoluted tubule is bulk reabsorption of ions, particularly HCO3- and glucose
The collecting duct is responsible for fine control of water balance under the influence of ADH
The Loop of Henle is a countercurrent multiplication system which creates a hyperosmotic interstitium
AQP2 is expressed on the apical membrane collecting duct cells and AQP3 and AQP4 is present on the basolateral membrane
The NKCC2 cotransporter pumps Na+ and K+ into the cell and 2 Cl- ions into the tubule lumen

Answer 30

The NKCC2 cotransporter pumps Na+ and K+ into the cell and 2 Cl- ions into the tubule lumen

Question 31

Which of the statements below regarding renal embryology is false?

The pronephros develops first followed by the mesonephros and then the metanephros
The kidney becomes functional in the 12th week of development
In females the mesonephric (Wolffian ducts) ducts degenerate
The kidney develops high in the abdomen and descends upon development
The bladder develops from the urogenital sinus

Answer 31

The kidney develops high in the abdomen and descends upon development

Question 32

A Phase 3a student is on their GP placement and required to give an intramuscular injection to a patient in their buttock. However, they give the injection in the wrong section of the buttock. The patient subsequently complains of an inability to flex the knee. What nerve has been affected?

Answer 32

Sciatic nerve

Question 33

During a hip examination, a 70-year-old male is found to have a positive Trendelenburg’s sign. When he stands on only his left leg, his right pelvis drops. Which muscles are affected?

Answer 33

Left gluteus medius and gluteus minimus

Question 34

Stress is defined as a non-specific response of the body to any demand for change. Which of the following describes the correct sequence of the phases of stress response?

Answer 34

Alarm, adaptation, exhaustion

Question 35

Omalizumab, a biologic drug for treating asthma, costs £200,000 with a quality adjusted life score (QALY) of 7. It therefore has an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £28,500 per QALY. What type of economic evaluation does this describe?

Answer 35

Cost-utility analysis

Question 36

The current first line chemotherapy treatment for malignant melanoma costs £10,000 per patient per annum, with an overage of 5 quality adjusted life years (QALYs) of benefit. A new chemotherapy drug which has been put forward to NICE costs £25,000 per patient per annum, with an average of 6 QALYs of benefit. What would be the incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for the new chemotherapy drug?

Answer 36

£15,000 per QALY gained