Research Errors
A doctor publishes a study saying "My new pill cures the flu!" But he only tested it on 3 people.
Sample size is too small; outliers skew the data
Botox works by freezing muscles. It does this by blocking the release of neurotransmitters at the synapse. If the chemical never reaches the muscle, what happens to the muscle tone?
Paralysis / It relaxes completely
A patient has lost a lot of blood. You need to fill their veins quickly. Why do you use Saline (0.9% Salt) instead of Water?
Saline is Isotonic to blood. Water would burst the cells
A patient has a metal spike driven through their Frontal Lobe (like Phineas Gage). They survive, but their friends notice a massive change in their ________.
Personality / Decision Making / Impulse Control
A baby is born with a "Hole in the Heart" between the Left and Right Ventricles. Why is this dangerous regarding Oxygen?
Oxygen-rich and Oxygen-poor blood mix, lowering the O2 delivered to the body
You are testing a weight-loss drug. You weigh the patients every Monday. A student claims "Monday" is the Independent Variable. Correct them.
Time/Monday is the IV. Weight is the Dependent Variable
Cystic Fibrosis is caused by a broken protein channel in the cell membrane. It traps Chloride (Salt) inside the cell. Because "Salt Sucks," what happens to the water in the lungs?
Water moves INTO the cells (or stays in them), leaving the mucus outside thick and sticky
A patient arrives with Edema (swollen ankles). This means water is stuck in their tissues. To pull the water back into the blood, the IV fluid must be ________ compared to the tissue.
Hypertonic / Higher Salt
A stroke patient can understand what you say, but physically cannot speak the words. This implies damage to which specific area or lobe?
Frontal Lobe / Broca’s Area
The heart has 4 valves. If a valve fails to close tightly, blood leaks backward. Doctors hear a "swishing" sound. What is this condition called?
Heart Murmur
In a Double-Blind study, the patient doesn't know what they are taking. Who else must be "blind" for the study to be valid, and why?
The Doctor/Researcher. To prevent bias/subconscious clues
The Liver's job is to detoxify blood (alcohol/drugs). Therefore, liver cells are packed with a huge amount of this specific organelle (not the mitochondria).
Smooth ER
Explain "Water Intoxication." How can drinking 3 gallons of pure water in an hour actually kill you?
It dilutes the blood so much it becomes Hypotonic -> Brain cells swell and crush against the skull
A patient is "Cortically Blind." Their eyes work perfectly, but their brain cannot process the image. Which Lobe is dead?
Occipital Lobe
Enzymes are proteins. If a patient’s fever hits 107°F, they die because their enzymes Denature. Explain what "Denature" actually means physically.
The protein shape unravels/unfolds, so the substrate no longer fits
Correlation vs. Causation: A study shows that "People who drink diet soda weigh more." Does this prove diet soda causes weight gain? Explain.
No. It is a correlation. Overweight people might just choose diet soda more often.
If a cell detects it has mutated beyond repair (Cancer), it pops its own Lysosomes to commit "cellular suicide." What is the medical term for this?
Apoptosis
You are preserving a human heart for transplant. You must place it in a liquid. If you place it in a Hypertonic solution, what specific damage will happen to the heart muscle cells?
They will Crenate / Shrivel / Dehydrate
ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) destroys Motor Neurons but leaves Sensory Neurons alive. Describe the patient's symptoms.
They can feel everything (pain/touch), but cannot move
Coronary Arteries feed the heart muscle. If one is blocked, the heart muscle dies. We call this a Heart Attack. What is the medical term for a Heart Attack?
Myocardial Infarction
A researcher is paid by a Tobacco Company to test if vaping is safe. Even if the data looks okay, why is this study flagged?
Conflict of Interest / Bias
Oxygen crosses the cell membrane directly. Glucose requires a channel. Sodium requires a pump. Which of these three requires ATP energy, and why?
Sodium. It is Active Transport / Moving against the gradient
Plants love Hypotonic environments (rain). Animals hate them. What structure allows plants to survive (and thrive) in pure water without bursting?
The Cell Wall / Turgor Pressure
A patient cannot form new memories (like Dory from Finding Nemo). Which specific brain structure is damaged?
Hippocampus
Ketosis: If a patient eats zero carbs, the body burns fat. This produces "Ketones," which are acidic. What happens to the pH of the blood?
It drops / Becomes acidic