Which of the following describes the function of ligaments?

 

The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that plays a key role in breathing. It separates the thoracic cavity, which contains the heart and lungs, from the abdominal cavity. When the diaphragm contracts, it moves downward and increases the volume of the thoracic cavity, allowing air to flow into the lungs. When it relaxes, it moves upward and decreases the volume of the thoracic cavity, forcing air out of the lungs.

• The number of protons in an atom is equal to its atomic number.
• The periodic table shows that phosphorus (P) has an atomic number of 15.
• This means every phosphorus atom has 15 protons in its nucleus.

Analysis of Other Options:

• A. 30 → This is close to the atomic mass (30.97), but the atomic mass is not the same as the number of protons. ❌
• B. 16 → This is incorrect; sulfur (S) has an atomic number of 16, not phosphorus. ❌
• D. 31 → This is rounded from the atomic mass (30.97), but atomic mass ≠ number of protons. ❌

• A. Sarcoplasmic Reticulum → A specialized endoplasmic reticulum in muscle cells that stores and releases calcium for muscle contraction. ❌
• B. Muscle Fiber → Another name for a muscle cell, which is a long, cylindrical, multinucleated cell that makes up muscle tissue. ✅
• C. Sarcolemma → The cell membrane of a muscle fiber, which surrounds the muscle cell. ❌
• D. Myofilament → Protein structures (actin and myosin) within a muscle fiber that are responsible for contraction. ❌

Muscle contraction is a complex process that involves the interaction between actin and myosin filaments in the muscle fibers. The sliding of these filaments is initiated by the release of calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, a specialized organelle in muscle cells. The calcium ions bind to the protein troponin, which causes a conformational change in the troponin-tropomyosin complex, exposing the myosin-binding sites on actin. This allows the myosin heads to bind to actin, forming cross-bridges that pull the actin filaments towards the center of the sarcomere, resulting in muscle contraction.

Option a) is incorrect because calcium does not bind to tropomyosin directly, but rather binds to the protein troponin, causing a conformational change in the troponin-tropomyosin complex. Option c) is incorrect because calcium does not activate motor neurons, but rather is released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum in response to an action potential that travels down the motor neuron to the neuromuscular junction. Option d) is incorrect because calcium is required for muscle contraction, not relaxation. The relaxation of muscles after contraction is due to the active transport of calcium ions back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which allows the troponin-tropomyosin complex to return to its resting conformation, blocking the myosin-binding sites on actin and ending the cross-bridge cycle.

• Lithium (Li) is a metal from Group 1 (alkali metals) on the periodic table.
• Bromine (Br) is a nonmetal from Group 17 (halogens).
• When a metal reacts with a nonmetal, an ionic bond forms, resulting in an ionic compound.
• Lithium donates one electron to bromine, forming Li⁺ (cation) and Br⁻ (anion), which attract each other to form LiBr (Lithium Bromide).

Analysis of Other Options:

• A. Coordinate compound → Involves a metal ion bonded to a ligand via coordinate (dative) bonds, not relevant here. ❌
• C. Organic compound → Organic compounds contain carbon, but LiBr does not. ❌
• D. Covalent compound → Covalent bonds occur between two nonmetals, but lithium is a metal. ❌

The main difference between a solid and a liquid is their physical state and the way their particles are arranged. In a solid, the particles are tightly packed together and have a fixed position, which gives the solid a definite shape and volume. Solids are also characterized by their high density, low compressibility, and high thermal conductivity.

In contrast, the particles in a liquid are more loosely packed and can move around each other, which allows the liquid to take the shape of its container. Liquids have a definite volume but no fixed shape, which means they can be poured or spilled. Liquids also have a lower density than solids, are more compressible than solids, and have lower thermal conductivity than solids.

Option b) is incorrect because it describes the properties of a gas, not a liquid. Option c) is incorrect because solids and liquids have different physical properties. Option d) is incorrect because it describes the properties of a gas, not a liquid or a solid.

The unit used to indicate length is the meter (m). It is the base unit of length in the Internaonal System of Units (SI).

Innate immunity is a fundamental aspect of the body's defense mechanism that operates from birth. It offers immediate protection against a wide range of pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, without requiring prior exposure to these invaders.

This defense system is non-specific, meaning it doesn't target a particular pathogen but rather provides a generalized response to various threats. Innate immunity includes physical barriers like the skin and mucous membranes, as well as cellular components such as phagocytes and natural killer cells. These elements work together to detect and neutralize potential threats swiftly, preventing infections from taking hold in the body.

• The image shown is a highly detailed 3D surface view of a blood clot, which suggests that it was captured using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).
• SEM produces high-resolution, three-dimensional images by scanning a sample with a focused beam of electrons, making it ideal for studying surface structures like blood cells and clots.

Analysis of Other Options:

• A. Compound Light Microscope → Uses visible light to magnify samples but lacks the resolution and 3D detail seen in the image. ❌
• B. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) → Produces 2D images of ultra-thin sections, not detailed 3D surface views. ❌
• D. Stereoscope → A low-magnification microscope used for viewing larger objects, not detailed cellular structures. ❌

Vaccines are a type of preventative medicine that work by exposing the individual to a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen (such as a virus or bacteria) or to a piece of the pathogen (such as a protein or sugar) that triggers an immune response in the body. This exposure allows the body to develop immunity to the pathogen without getting sick from the full-blown disease. Once the immune system has been primed, it can recognize and quickly respond to the pathogen if it is encountered again in the future, providing protection against the disease.

It is a common misconception that vaccines can cause the disease they are designed to protect against. This is not true. While some vaccines may cause mild symptoms such as a low-grade fever or soreness at the injection site, they do not cause the full-blown disease.

Vaccines provide active immunity, meaning that the body produces its own antibodies against the pathogen, rather than receiving pre-made antibodies as in passive immunity. Additionally, vaccines can be effective against both bacterial and viral infections, depending on the specific vaccine.