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Key Facts: PHUMA-SALUD Exam

Total Questions

UNAH CEI-TEST Temario PHUMA-SALUD

80 min

Exam Duration

UNAH CEI-TEST Temario PHUMA-SALUD

Lps. 350.00

Registration Fee

UNAH Pasos PHUMA-SALUD

Indefinite

Score Validity

UNAH Pasos PHUMA-SALUD

The PHUMA-SALUD is UNAH's 60-question admission assessment in biology (25), chemistry (20), and physics (15) for health career applicants with favorable dictámenes. Delivered in Spanish over 80 minutes, admission is allocated via competitive ranking for capped quotas. This resource provides an independent English-language MCQ study adaptation.

Sample PHUMA-SALUD Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the PHUMA-SALUD exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which of the following structural features definitively distinguishes a eukaryotic human epithelial cell from a prokaryotic bacterium such as Escherichia coli?

A.The presence of a membrane-bound nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles

B.The presence of ribosomes capable of translating mRNA into polypeptides

C.The presence of a lipid bilayer cell membrane regulating transport

D.The presence of double-stranded DNA as the primary genetic material

Explanation: Eukaryotic cells are defined by having genetic material enclosed within a membrane-bound nucleus as well as complex membrane-bound organelles such as mitochondria, the Golgi apparatus, and the endoplasmic reticulum. In contrast, prokaryotes lack a membrane-enclosed nucleus and compartmentalized organelles.

2Phospholipids form the foundational matrix of biological membranes. Which fundamental chemical characteristic enables them to organize spontaneously into a stable bilayer in aqueous intracellular and extracellular fluids?

A.Their purely hydrophobic nature, which completely repels surrounding water molecules

B.Their amphipathic structure, possessing hydrophilic phosphate heads and hydrophobic fatty acid tails

C.Their ability to form covalent peptide bonds with neighboring membrane glycolipids

D.Their rigid crystalline lattice stabilized exclusively by electrostatic ionic bridges

Explanation: Phospholipids are amphipathic molecules containing a polar, hydrophilic glycerol-phosphate head and two nonpolar, hydrophobic hydrocarbon fatty acid chains. In an aqueous environment, thermodynamics drives the hydrophobic tails to sequester together away from water, while the hydrophilic heads orient outward toward the aqueous cytosolic and extracellular environments, forming a stable bilayer.

3A renal epithelial transport protein moves sodium ions (Na+) out of the tubular cell into the interstitial space while simultaneously moving potassium ions (K+) into the cell, both against their respective concentration gradients. This transport process requires the hydrolysis of ATP. What mechanism is being demonstrated?

A.Simple passive osmosis

B.Facilitated diffusion

C.Primary active transport

D.Secondary active symport

Explanation: Primary active transport utilizes energy directly derived from adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis to translocate chemical solutes against their electrochemical gradients. The Na+/K+ ATPase pump is the classic physiological example, hydrolyzing one ATP molecule to expel three Na+ ions while importing two K+ ions.

4An alveolar macrophage engulfs an inhaled foreign bacterial pathogen via phagocytosis. Which intracellular organelle fuses with the phagosome to deliver acid hydrolases that degrade the engulfed microorganism?

A.Nucleolus

B.Peroxisome

C.Centrosome

D.Lysosome

Explanation: Lysosomes are membrane-enclosed digestive organelles that contain over 50 different acid hydrolases (active at an acidic pH of roughly 4.5 to 5.0). During phagocytosis, the phagosome merges with a lysosome to form a phagolysosome, where enzymatic hydrolysis digests microbial lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.

5During aerobic cellular respiration, which molecule serves as the terminal electron acceptor in the mitochondrial electron transport chain, reacting with protons to produce metabolic water?

A.Molecular oxygen (O2)

B.Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)

C.Carbon dioxide (CO2)

D.Pyruvate

Explanation: In aerobic respiration, electrons harvested from catabolized nutrients flow through protein complexes I to IV of the inner mitochondrial membrane to molecular oxygen (O2), the final electron acceptor. Oxygen combines with four electrons and four protons at Complex IV (cytochrome c oxidase) to yield two molecules of water (H2O).

6A polypeptide chain folds into alpha-helices and beta-pleated sheets. Which type of chemical bonding is primarily responsible for stabilizing these characteristic secondary structural motifs of proteins?

A.Disulfide covalent bonds between distant cysteine residues

B.Hydrogen bonds between backbone carbonyl oxygens and amide hydrogens

C.Hydrophobic interactions between nonpolar amino acid side chains

D.Ionic salt bridges between positively and negatively charged R-groups

Explanation: Protein secondary structure is defined by regular, repeating local spatial conformations (such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets) stabilized exclusively by hydrogen bonds formed between the carbonyl oxygen (C=O) of one peptide bond and the amide hydrogen (N-H) of another along the polypeptide backbone.

7During human gametogenesis, which specific meiotic event reduces the chromosome number from diploid (2n = 46) to haploid (n = 23)?

A.The replication of DNA during meiotic interkinesis

B.The separation of sister chromatids during anaphase II

C.The separation of homologous chromosome pairs during anaphase I

D.The condensation of chromatin fibers during prophase II

Explanation: Meiosis I is the reductional division of gametogenesis. During anaphase I, homologous pairs of duplicated chromosomes (tetrads) separate and segregate to opposite poles of the spindle, halving the ploidy from 2n to n. Meiosis II is an equational division where sister chromatids separate.

8Pancreatic beta cells synthesize and secrete the peptide hormone insulin. What is the correct sequence of intracellular organelles involved in the synthesis, post-translational processing, and exocytosis of this secretory protein?

A.Smooth endoplasmic reticulum -> peroxisome -> Golgi apparatus -> mitochondria -> plasma membrane

B.Free cytosolic ribosomes -> smooth endoplasmic reticulum -> lysosome -> plasma membrane

C.Golgi apparatus -> rough endoplasmic reticulum -> transport vesicles -> nucleus -> plasma membrane

D.Rough endoplasmic reticulum -> transport vesicles -> Golgi apparatus -> secretory vesicles -> plasma membrane

Explanation: Secretory proteins containing an N-terminal signal sequence are co-translationally translocated into the lumen of the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), folded, packaged into COPII transport vesicles, transferred to the cis-Golgi apparatus for post-translational modification and sorting, packaged into secretory vesicles at the trans-Golgi, and finally released by exocytosis.

9Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. If two clinically unaffected individuals who are both confirmed heterozygous carriers (Cc) have a child, what is the probability that the child will be affected by cystic fibrosis?

A.25% (1 in 4)

B.50% (1 in 2)

C.75% (3 in 4)

D.0% (0 in 4)

Explanation: A monohybrid cross between two heterozygous carriers (Cc x Cc) yields the genotypic ratio of 1 CC : 2 Cc : 1 cc. Because cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive condition, only individuals homozygous for the recessive allele (cc) manifest the phenotype, which represents 1/4 or 25% of offspring.

10In a classic dihybrid cross where two unlinked genes assort independently (AaBb x AaBb), what phenotypic ratio is expected among the F2 offspring assuming complete dominance for both traits?

A.1:2:1:1

B.9:3:3:1

C.3:1

D.1:1:1:1

Explanation: According to Mendel's Law of Independent Assortment, when two gene loci on non-homologous chromosomes are crossed between double heterozygotes (AaBb x AaBb), the resulting phenotypic distribution is 9 (dominant-dominant) : 3 (dominant-recessive) : 3 (recessive-dominant) : 1 (recessive-recessive).

About the PHUMA-SALUD Exam

The PHUMA-SALUD (Prueba Complementaria de Ciencias de la Salud) is the official UNAH knowledge examination in biology, chemistry, and physics for qualifying transfer, second-degree, and career-change applicants competing for limited places in health-science degrees.

Exam sponsor: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras (UNAH) — Dirección del Sistema de Admisión / CEI-TEST. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Assessment

60 multiple-choice questions (Biología 25, Química 20, Física 15) in a single 80-minute testing session

Time Limit

80 minutes (1 hour 20 minutes)

Passing Score

Competitive ranking based on available career quotas (cupos); UNAH publishes no fixed cut score

Exam / Certification Fees

Lps. 350.00 (Honduran Lempiras)

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

41.7%

Competencias de Biología

Organization and cellular function, genetics and inheritance, biological evolution and adaptation, trophic ecology and environment, research data analysis, and human physiology/homeostasis.

33.3%

Competencias de Química

Atomic structure and periodicity, chemical bonding and intermolecular forces, reactions and stoichiometry, chemical equilibrium, solutions, dilution, pH, and biomedical health applications.

25.0%

Competencias de Física

Physical magnitudes and SI units, kinematics (1D motion and graphs), dynamics and Newton's laws, work, energy and power, experimental error evaluation, and fluid pressure/flow in health contexts.

Preparing for the PHUMA-SALUD Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: Competitive ranking based on available career quotas (cupos); UNAH publishes no fixed cut score
Assessment: 60 multiple-choice questions (Biología 25, Química 20, Física 15) in a single 80-minute testing session
Time limit: 80 minutes (1 hour 20 minutes)
Exam / certification fees: Lps. 350.00 (Honduran Lempiras) Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

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PHUMA-SALUD: Suggested Study Strategy

1Pace yourself during the exam: with 60 questions in 80 minutes, you have roughly 1 minute and 20 seconds per question, meaning numerical calculation problems in chemistry and physics should be practiced for speed and accuracy.

2Review quantitative chemistry principles thoroughly, specifically molar mass calculations, solution molarity, dilution formulas (C1V1 = C2V2), and pH calculations.

3Study fluid mechanics and hemodynamic applications in physics, including hydrostatic pressure (P = ρgh), the continuity equation (A1v1 = A2v2), and Bernoulli's principle.

4Integrate biological concepts with human physiology and homeostasis, focusing on negative feedback loops, blood glucose regulation, and renal/respiratory acid-base balance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the PHUMA-SALUD exam in Honduras?

The PHUMA-SALUD (Prueba Complementaria de Ciencias de la Salud) is the official specialized knowledge test administered by UNAH for applicants seeking entry into health-science degrees. Developed by CEI-TEST at UNAH, it evaluates fundamental competencies in biology, chemistry, and physics.

Who is required to take PHUMA-SALUD?

It is required for applicants holding a favorable academic resolution (dictamen favorable) who did not take the general PHUMA or hold no former PCCNS score. This includes university transfers, graduates of other higher-education institutions, UNAH graduates pursuing a second degree, and UNAH students requesting a degree transfer into Medicine, Microbiology, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing, or Nutrition. First-time undergraduate entrants do not sit it.

What is the structure and time limit of the PHUMA-SALUD?

The official exam contains 60 single-choice multiple-choice questions with four options each. It is divided into three sections: Competencias de Biología (25 questions), Competencias de Química (20 questions), and Competencias de Física (15 questions). Total testing time is 1 hour and 20 minutes (80 minutes).

How is admission determined from PHUMA-SALUD scores?

UNAH allocates health-degree admission places through a competitive ranking based on available quotas (cupos) in each program, rather than a fixed passing cut score. The former College Board PCCNS 400-point cut score is no longer applicable.

Is the official PHUMA-SALUD administered in English?

No. The official PHUMA-SALUD is administered exclusively in Spanish by UNAH across its regional campuses. This free practice bank provides an English-language MCQ study adaptation designed for test-takers preparing for the scientific concepts and quantitative problems evaluated on the test.