1Formulas and methods
Biology for nursing entrance exams
Method
- Name the topic of the question: cell parts, transport, division, DNA and protein synthesis, inheritance, biomolecules, microorganisms or experimental design.
- Recall the key rule: A–T and G–C, diffusion from high to low, water moves towards more solute, mitosis keeps and meiosis halves the chromosome number.
- For crosses, write the parents’ genotypes, list the gametes and fill a Punnett square before counting.
- For experiments, label the independent, dependent and controlled variables, and ask whether the evidence supports or only suggests the conclusion.
- Check each option against the question asked, not just whether it is a true statement.
Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Method
- Identify what is given and asked: particles, a formula, a state change, a concentration, a pH or a mass.
- Use the periodic table: the atomic number gives protons, the group gives valence electrons and the usual ion charge.
- Balance equations with coefficients only, element by element, oxygen and hydrogen last.
- For amounts, go mass → moles → mole ratio → moles → mass, and for solutions use M = mol/L and C₁V₁ = C₂V₂.
- Remember that pH is logarithmic: one unit is a factor of 10.
2Practice problems
1.Human anatomyMedium
The head of the femur articulates with which structure?
- AGlenoid cavity
- BAcetabulum
- CGreater trochanter
- DObturator foramen
2.Human anatomyHard
A typical posterolateral disc herniation between L4 and L5 most often compresses which nerve root?
- AL3
- BL4
- CL5
- DS1
3.Human physiologyMedium
Which ion enters the cell to cause the depolarisation phase of a typical neuronal action potential?
- AChloride (Cl⁻)
- BPotassium (K⁺)
- CSodium (Na⁺)
- DCalcium (Ca²⁺)
4.Human physiologyHard
Which transporter in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle is key to building the medullary concentration gradient?
- AThe sodium–glucose cotransporter (SGLT2)
- BThe Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
- CThe epithelial sodium channel (ENaC)
- DAquaporin-2 water channels
5.Biology for nursing entrance examsMedium
A red blood cell is placed in a very salty (hypertonic) solution. What happens?
- AWater enters the cell and it bursts
- BNothing changes because salt cannot cross
- CSalt enters the cell and it swells
- DWater leaves the cell and it shrinks
6.Biology for nursing entrance examsHard
In uncontrolled diabetes, glucose appears in the urine and the person passes large volumes of urine. What is the best explanation?
- AGlucose in the kidney filtrate holds water by osmosis
- BGlucose is broken down into water in the bladder
- CGlucose makes the kidneys absorb more water
- DInsulin makes the kidneys filter more blood
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsMedium
A radioactive isotope has a half-life of 5 days. A sample starts with 80 g. How much is left after 10 days?
- A0 g
- B40 g
- C20 g
- D10 g
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance examsHard
In terms of bonds, why is a reaction exothermic?
- ANo bonds are broken in exothermic reactions
- BMore energy is absorbed breaking old bonds than is released forming new ones
- CMore energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
- DForming bonds always absorbs energy
3Solutions
1.Human anatomy
Answer: B · Acetabulum
Why this is the answer
The acetabulum is the cup-shaped socket of the hip bone, formed by the ilium, ischium and pubis. The glenoid cavity is the shoulder's socket.
2.Human anatomy
Answer: C · L5
Why this is the answer
A posterolateral L4–L5 herniation usually catches the traversing L5 root, causing weakness of big toe extension and numbness on the top of the foot.
3.Human physiology
Answer: C · Sodium (Na⁺)
Why this is the answer
Voltage-gated Na⁺ channels open and Na⁺ rushes in, depolarising the membrane. K⁺ outflow then repolarises it.
4.Human physiology
Answer: B · The Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
Why this is the answer
NKCC2 moves Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl⁻ out of the tubule into the interstitium without water, building the medullary gradient. Loop diuretics such as furosemide block it.
B · The Na⁺–K⁺–2Cl⁻ cotransporter (NKCC2)
5.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: D · Water leaves the cell and it shrinks
Why this is the answer
The solution outside has more solute, so water leaves the cell by osmosis and the cell shrinks (crenates). In a hypotonic solution the opposite happens.
D · Water leaves the cell and it shrinks
6.Biology for nursing entrance exams
Answer: A · Glucose in the kidney filtrate holds water by osmosis
Why this is the answer
When blood glucose is very high, the kidneys cannot reabsorb all the glucose. The extra glucose in the filtrate lowers its water potential, so less water is reabsorbed and more urine is produced.
A · Glucose in the kidney filtrate holds water by osmosis
7.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · 20 g
Why this is the answer
10 days is 2 half-lives: 80 g → 40 g → 20 g. Each half-life halves the amount that is left, so the sample does not lose a fixed mass each time.
8.Chemistry for nursing entrance exams
Answer: C · More energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
Why this is the answer
Breaking bonds is always endothermic and forming bonds is always exothermic. If the bonds formed release more energy than the bonds broken required, the overall reaction releases energy.
C · More energy is released forming new bonds than is absorbed breaking old ones
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