A patient with osteoporosis is concerned about bone strength. What type of bone cell is primarily responsible for bone resorption, and what role does it play in bone health?
Osteocyte; maintaining bone tissue
Osteoclast; breaking down bone tissue
Chondrocyte; forming cartilage
Osteoblast; forming new bone tissue
The Correct Answer is B
A. Osteocyte; maintaining bone tissue: Osteocytes are mature bone cells embedded within the bone matrix. Their primary role is to maintain the mineral concentration of the matrix and communicate mechanical stress to other cells, but they do not primarily break down or build bone mass.
B. Osteoclast; breaking down bone tissue: Osteoclasts are large, multinucleated cells responsible for resorption-the process of breaking down bone tissue to release minerals (like calcium) into the blood. In osteoporosis, osteoclast activity often outpaces osteoblast activity, leading to net bone loss.
C. Chondrocyte; forming cartilage: Chondrocytes are the cells found in cartilage, not bone. They are responsible for producing the cartilaginous matrix (collagen and proteoglycans).
D. Osteoblast; forming new bone tissue: Osteoblasts are the "builders." They synthesize the bone matrix (collagen) and coordinate the mineralization process. While essential for health, the question specifically asked for the cell responsible for resorption.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
A. Central nervous system:Sudden focal motor deficits (e.g., inability to move one limb) and speech disturbance typically indicate a lesion in the brain (cerebral cortex, internal capsule, brainstem) or spinal cord - structures of the central nervous system (CNS). Common causes include stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic), intracerebral hemorrhage, or a space-occupying lesion affecting motor or language areas.
B. Enteric nervous system:The enteric nervous system governs gastrointestinal motility, secretion, and blood flow within the gut. It does notcontrol voluntary limb movement or speech, so it is not responsible for these focal neurological signs.
C. Peripheral nervous system:The peripheral nervous system (PNS) includes peripheral nerves and roots. PNS lesions produce patterns such as peripheral neuropathy, mononeuropathy, or radiculopathy (sensory loss, distal weakness, reflex changes) but rarely cause acute combined limb paralysis plus dysarthria from a single focal lesion affecting both motor cortex and language pathways - that pattern points to CNS pathology.
D. Autonomic nervous system:The autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions (heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, pupil size). Autonomic dysfunction would not cause isolated sudden motor loss of an arm or slurred speech.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Frontal plane:The frontal plane (also called the coronal plane) divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions. It does not separate right and left halves.
B. Coronal plane:The coronal plane is synonymous with the frontal plane and divides the body into front and back. Therefore it is not the plane that separates right and left.
C. Transverse plane:The transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) parts. It does not create right and left halves.
D. Sagittal plane:The sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions. A midsagittal (median) plane produces equal right and left halves; a parasagittal plane produces unequal right and left portions.
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