BCSE Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which endocrine gland is located near the thyroid in dogs and produces parathyroid hormone (PTH) to regulate calcium homeostasis?
- Adrenal medulla
- Parathyroid gland (Correct answer)
- Pineal gland
- Thymus
Correct answer: Parathyroid gland
The parathyroid glands, typically four small glands associated with the thyroid, secrete PTH which raises blood calcium by stimulating bone resorption and renal calcium retention.
Question 2: In the bovine rumen, which volatile fatty acid (VFA) is produced in the greatest molar proportion during normal fermentation?
- Butyrate
- Propionate
- Acetate (Correct answer)
- Valerate
Correct answer: Acetate
Acetate is the predominant VFA produced in the rumen, typically comprising about 65–70% of total VFAs, and is used primarily for fat synthesis and energy in peripheral tissues.
Question 3: Which tendon in the horse is most commonly injured in superficial digital flexor tendinitis ('bowed tendon')?
- Deep digital flexor tendon
- Superficial digital flexor tendon (Correct answer)
- Common digital extensor tendon
- Suspensory ligament
Correct answer: Superficial digital flexor tendon
The superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) is the most frequently injured tendon in racehorses, resulting in the classic 'bowed tendon' appearance due to thickening and inflammation.
Question 4: Surfactant produced by Type II pneumocytes in the lungs primarily functions to do which of the following?
- Increase airway resistance
- Reduce alveolar surface tension to prevent collapse (Correct answer)
- Transport oxygen across the alveolar membrane
- Stimulate mast cell degranulation
Correct answer: Reduce alveolar surface tension to prevent collapse
Pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension at the air-liquid interface in alveoli, preventing alveolar collapse (atelectasis) at end-expiration.
Question 5: The hepatic portal vein in dogs drains blood from which set of organs before delivering it to the liver?
- Kidneys, adrenal glands, and bladder
- Gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas (Correct answer)
- Lungs, heart, and great vessels
- Skin, muscle, and peripheral lymph nodes
Correct answer: Gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas
The hepatic portal vein collects nutrient-rich blood from the gastrointestinal tract, spleen, and pancreas and delivers it to the hepatic sinusoids for processing.
Question 6: Which structure in the feline inner ear detects linear acceleration and the pull of gravity?
- Semicircular canals
- Cochlea
- Otolith organs (utricle and saccule) (Correct answer)
- Tympanic membrane
Correct answer: Otolith organs (utricle and saccule)
The utricle and saccule contain otolith organs with calcium carbonate crystals (otoliths) overlying hair cells that detect linear acceleration and gravitational forces.
Question 7: In dogs, which muscle of the hindlimb acts as the primary extensor of the stifle joint and is commonly assessed for atrophy in orthopedic disease?
- Biceps femoris
- Quadriceps femoris (Correct answer)
- Semimembranosus
- Gracilis
Correct answer: Quadriceps femoris
The quadriceps femoris (composed of rectus femoris and three vastus muscles) is the principal extensor of the stifle and rapidly atrophies with disuse or neurological disease.
BCSE Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology 5
Which endocrine gland is located near the thyroid in dogs and produces parathyroid hormone (PTH) to regulate calcium homeostasis?