A 25-year-old woman

complains of headaches, swelling, fatigue, and muscle weakness, sometimes

accompanied by a strange irregular heartbeat. An initial examination will

reveal high blood pressure, elevated sodium levels, and decreased potassium

levels in the blood. These symptoms are typical for a high level of aldosterone

in the body, which in this patient is caused by hyperplasia (increased cell numbers)

of the adrenal cortex. Aldosterone leads to the reabsorption of sodium and

water in the tubules, and conversely increases the excretion of potassium. In

which part of the nephron is found receptors for aldosterone?

An investigator

studying new drug delivery systems administers an aerosol containing 10 μm sized particles to a healthy subject via

a special mask. These particles are found to deposit

on the surface of the respiratory tract with a pseudostratified epithelium.

Which of the following mechanism is the most likely way of clearance of the

particulate matter in this subject?

A 38-year-old woman comes to the physician

because of a 6-month history of heavy, irregular menstrual bleeding. The sample

of endometrium shows corkscrew tubular glands with an irregular lumen lined by

tall columnar epithelial cells. The lumina are dilated and full of secretory

products. The stroma is edematous. Which stage of the menstrual cycle is the

endometrium probably at?

A 44-year-old man comes to the

physician because of a 6-month history of persistent cough with

yellow mucus and worsening shortness of breath. One year ago, he

had similar symptoms that lasted 4 months. He has smoked two

packs of cigarettes daily for the past 20 years. 

A routine

gynecological examination also includes a cytological smear for cervical cancer

screening. During this procedure, cells from the outer surface of the cervix

are taken. Because the outer surface of the cervix faces the lumen of the

vagina, it has the same epithelium as the vagina. What epithelium is it?

A 40-year-old man presents with nephrolithiasis or kidney stones. The

process of stone formation as seen in this patient begins with Randall plaques

found in the basement membranes of a structure that can be found only in the

renal medulla. In which of the structures do these plaques appear?

A 30-year-old woman suffered a serious contusion

of her left lower extremity while working on a local construction site.

Unfortunately, rhabdomyolysis occurs, which is characterized by the breakdown

of skeletal muscle tissue and the release of its contents, including myoglobin,

into the bloodstream. Myoglobin is a risk to the kidneys, especially when

present in high concentrations in the bloodstream. It fills the renal tubules

in the form of protein depositions and can lead to acute kidney injury. On the

second day of hospitalization, the patient experiences a decrease in urine

output. In addition, the serum creatinine level increases significantly.

Elevated serum creatinine levels indicate a decline in renal function because of

the physiological filtration of creatinine as a waste product. It should be

physiologically filtered by the kidneys and excreted from the body in the

urine. Its elevated levels are therefore a marker of impaired renal function.

The picture shows an image of a renal biopsy obtained. Which of the labelled

parts is primarily used to monitor the osmolarity of tubular fluid?

The 63-year-old patient came

to the doctor due to a dry cough lasting for many months, accompanied by

shortness of breath on exertion and fatigue. In addition, he had recently lost

a lot of weight. On physical examination, crepitus (a specific listening

phenomenon - like unzipping a Velcro strap) is present in the lungs. Decreased

oxygen saturation is also measured. In addition, the patient has typical mallet-shaped

fingers with clubbing nails in the shape of an hour glass. To confirm the

diagnosis suspected by his physician, a HRCT of the lungs (high-resolution CT

scan) is required, followed by a lung biopsy and histological examination of

the sample taken. The examination confirm the diagnosis of idiopathic pulmonary

fibrosis. It is probably a uniform pathological response of lung tissue to

infectious and non-infectious agents, but the cause of this disease is unknown.

In this disease, fibrosis and thickening of the blood-air barrier occurs. What

physiologically forms the blood-air barrier?