Biology

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

674 Questions

Endocrine and metabolic disorders focus on diseases caused by hormonal imbalances, such as goitre, diabetes mellitus, and hyperthyroidism. Test takers will find questions related to disease causes, diagnostic tests like Cushing's syndrome indicators, and clinical treatments. This is a crucial biology topic frequently asked in medical entrance and public service commission examinations.

Thyroid gland disordersGoitre causesDiabetes mellitus characteristicsHyperthyroidism treatmentsGrowth hormone deficiency

Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders Questions

Multiple choice

Obesity is caused by

  1. not eating enough of vitamins and minerals

  2. overeating of carbohydrates and fats

  3. overeating of vitamins and minerals

  4. not eating enough of roughage and proteins

  5. not eating enough of carbohydrates and fats
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Obesity is caused by overeating of carbohydrates and fats. Hence, it is the correct answer.

Multiple choice

Which among the following statements regarding benign tumors is false?

  1. Benign tumors cause mass effect.

  2. A benign tumor metastasises quickly.

  3. Tumors of endocrine tissues may overproduce certain hormones.

  4. Benign skin tumors are usually surgically ressected.

  5. Benign tumors are mostly well-differentiated.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

A benign tumor is a mass of cells (tumor) that lacks the ability to invade neighboring tissue or metastasize. These characteristics are required for a tumor to be defined as cancerous and therefore benign tumors are non-cancerous.

Multiple choice

Hyponatremaia is a metabolic condition in which there is not enough

  1. sodium

  2. potassium

  3. calcium

  4. magnesium

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hyponatremia (note: the question has a typo 'Hyponatremaia') is a metabolic condition characterized by low sodium concentration in the blood, specifically below 135 mEq/L. Sodium is a critical electrolyte that regulates fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle function. The condition name literally derives from Greek meaning 'deficient salt' in the blood. It can be caused by various factors including excessive fluid intake, certain medications, or underlying medical conditions.

Multiple choice

Which of the following can cause of hypercalcemia in an individual?

  1. Primary hyperparathryoidism

  2. Secondary hyperparathyroidism

  3. Hypovitaminosis of vitamin D

  4. Chovstek's syndrome

  5. Acute pancreatitis

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Excess parathyroid hormone raises plasma calcium levels. In primary hyper parathyroidism there is a primary increase in parathyroid hormone and so a rise in plasma calcium.

Multiple choice

Aditi is a patient with substantial plasma hyperphosphatemia. Which of the following may not be true in her case?

  1. The most likely cause is renal impairment.

  2. Reduction of dietary intake of phosphate may be helpful in renal failure condition.

  3. Soft tissue calcification may occur.

  4. Cell lysis is a possible cause.

  5. Dialysis cannot remove phosphate and is of no benefit.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

In renal failure dialysis does remove phosphate. Thus, it is highly recommended.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is NOT a secondary cause of hypertension?

  1. Addison's disease

  2. Cushing's disease

  3. Renal disease

  4. NSAIDs

  5. Coarctation of the aorta
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Addison's disease causes postural hypotension. Other causes include phaeochromocytoma, Conn's disease and other drugs such as the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) and steroids.

Multiple choice

Amit is a patient with hyponatremia i.e. low plasma sodium concentration .Which of the following statements is NOT associated with hyponatremia?

  1. Plasma osmolality is likely to be low.

  2. Its symptoms are always present.

  3. Depression of neurological function is a recognised feature .

  4. If body volume is high, treatment is water restriction.

  5. If body volume is low, treatment is with sodium and water replacement.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Patients with hyponatremia commonly have no symptoms, but it is still important to treat the condition because if it is untreated, symptoms and serious problems can arise.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are INCORRECT regarding the diuretics?

  1. Loop diuretics can cause potassium depletion.

  2. Thiazide diuretics can cause potassium depletion.

  3. Amiloride can cause potassium depletion.

  4. A very high plasma glucose level can act as a diuretic.

  5. Diuretics are used to treat edema.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Amiloride inhibits the reabsorption of sodium in the collecting ducts and so also blocks the potassium secretion at this point in the nephron. The result is that amiloride can reduce overall potassium excretion and potassium depletion does not occur. 

Multiple choice

The mutations in the Na-K-2Cl transporter in the Loop of Henle causes

  1. Liddle's syndrome

  2. Pseudohypoaldosteronism

  3. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

  4. Gitelman's syndrome

  5. Barrter's syndrome
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This renal disorder arises from a mutation of the receptors for ADH (anti diuretic hormone or vasopressin) or the aquaporins which are water channels. In Barrter's syndrome, there is a mutation which inhibits the activity of the NaK2Cl cotransporter, which is the molecule normally inhibited by frusemide. The clinical effects of Barrter''s syndrome are therefore the same as excess frusemide and include loss of sodium, potassium and water. The body's response to this is to raise aldosterone levels in an attempt to conserve sodium.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements does not characterise the disorders of sodium and water metabolism by the kidneys?

  1. Excess aldosterone can cause both excess sodium retention and potassium secretion.

  2. Addison's diseases can be associated with excessive potassium secretion.

  3. Psychogenic polydipsia typically causes a high plasma sodium concentration .

  4. Body volume is typically decreased in Addison's disease.

  5. Body volume is regulated by body sodium content.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

In psychogenic polydipsia, prolonged excess water intake can lower plasma osmolality by a dilutional effect. Despite the kidneys efforts to produce a dilute urine, the patients intake of water may exceed the kidneys output of water and so dilute urine.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is characterised by low plasma osmolality?

  1. SIADH

  2. Addison's disease

  3. Cranial diabetes insipidus

  4. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

  5. Central diabetes insipidus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, there is adequate ADH, but the kidney is unable to respond to the ADH. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus can arise as a side effect of certain drugs, especially lithium which is used to treat manic depression. Changes in plasma osmolality are poorly tolerated, especially by nerve cells, so plasma osmolality is tightly regulated. If renal water reabsorption is inadequate then there will be excess water loss in the urine and plasma osmolality will rise and vice versa. Central diabetes insipidus is characterised by low plasma osmolality.