These move food through the digestive system:

A. digestive fluids

B. enzymes

C. mucous membranes

D. smooth muscles

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Answer Explanation:

d. smooth muscles

- Correct: Smooth muscles are responsible for moving food through the digestive system via a process called peristalsis. Peristalsis involves rhythmic contractions and relaxations of the smooth muscle layers in the walls of the digestive organs, such as the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. These coordinated muscle movements propel food forward along the digestive tract, allowing for mechanical digestion, mixing with digestive fluids, and absorption of nutrients.

a. digestive fluids

- Incorrect: Digestive fluids, such as saliva, gastric juice, bile, and pancreatic enzymes, play crucial roles in the digestion and breakdown of food into smaller molecules. However, they do not directly move food through the digestive system.

b. enzymes

- Incorrect: Enzymes are biological catalysts that facilitate chemical reactions involved in the breakdown of food molecules into smaller, absorbable components. While enzymes aid in digestion, they do not themselves move food through the digestive system.

c. mucous membranes

- Incorrect: Mucous membranes line the inner surfaces of the digestive tract and secrete mucus, which lubricates and protects the epithelial cells from mechanical damage and chemical irritation. While mucous membranes are important for maintaining the health of the digestive tract, they do not actively move food through the digestive system.

Therefore, the Correct Answer is D.

More Questions on Digestive System Practice Exam 2

Question 1:

Which of these organs is not considered an accessory digestive structure?

A. mouth

B. salivary glands

C. pancreas

D. liver

The Correct Answer is A.

a) mouth

- Correct: The mouth is not considered an accessory digestive structure; it is an integral part of the alimentary canal (digestive tract). The mouth is where the process of digestion begins, as food is ingested, chewed, and mixed with saliva. Saliva, produced by the salivary glands, contains enzymes (such as amylase) that initiate the breakdown of carbohydrates. Once food is sufficiently broken down in the mouth, it is formed into a bolus and swallowed, entering the esophagus and continuing its journey through the digestive system.

b) salivary glands

- Incorrect: Salivary glands are accessory digestive structures that secrete saliva into the mouth. Saliva contains enzymes and lubricants that aid in the mechanical and chemical digestion of food.

c) pancreas

- Incorrect: The pancreas is an accessory digestive structure that plays a crucial role in digestion by producing and secreting digestive enzymes into the small intestine. These enzymes aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

d) liver

- Incorrect: The liver is also an accessory digestive structure that contributes to digestion by producing bile, which is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine to aid in the emulsification and digestion of fats. Additionally, the liver plays a role in processing nutrients absorbed from the small intestine and regulating glucose metabolism.


Question 2:

Which part of the large intestine attaches to the appendix?

A. cecum

B. ascending colon

C. transverse colon

D. descending colon

The Correct Answer is A.

Cecum attaches to the appendix


Question 3:

In which part of the alimentary canal does most digestion occur?

A. stomach

B. proximal small intestine

C. distal small intestine

D. ascending colon

The Correct Answer is B.

b) proximal small intestine

- Correct: Most digestion occurs in the proximal small intestine, specifically in the duodenum. The duodenum receives chyme from the stomach and plays a crucial role in digestion by mixing the chyme with digestive enzymes and bile. Digestive enzymes from the pancreas, including amylase, lipase, and proteases, break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, respectively, in the duodenum. Bile, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, emulsifies fats to aid in their digestion and absorption.

a) stomach

- Incorrect: While digestion begins in the stomach, where proteins are broken down by pepsin and fats are emulsified to some extent by gastric lipase, the majority of digestion occurs in the small intestine, particularly in the duodenum.

c) distal small intestine

- Incorrect: The distal small intestine, including the jejunum and ileum, is primarily involved in nutrient absorption rather than digestion. Although some digestion continues in these regions, the majority of digestive processes have already occurred in the proximal small intestine.

d) ascending colon

- Incorrect: The ascending colon is part of the large intestine and is not directly involved in digestion. Its main function is to absorb water and electrolytes from the indigestible residue of food (feces) before it is excreted from the body.


Question 4:

Which of these ingredients in saliva is responsible for activating salivary amylase?

A. mucus

B. phosphate ions

C. chloride ions

D. urea

The Correct Answer is B.

b) phosphate ions

- Correct: Phosphate ions are responsible for activating salivary amylase. Saliva contains salivary amylase (also known as alpha-amylase or ptyalin), which is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of starch into maltose and other smaller carbohydrates. However, salivary amylase is only activated in the presence of certain ions, particularly phosphate ions. These ions help to stabilize the enzyme's structure and facilitate its enzymatic activity. Therefore, phosphate ions play a crucial role in the function of salivary amylase.

a) Mucus

- Incorrect: Mucus in saliva serves primarily as a lubricant and protective barrier for the oral mucosa and facilitates swallowing. It does not directly activate salivary amylase

c) Chloride ions

- Incorrect: Chloride ions are electrolytes present in saliva, but they do not directly activate salivary amylase. Instead, they help maintain the osmotic balance and pH of saliva.

d) Urea

- Incorrect: Urea is a waste product found in urine and is not directly involved in the activation of salivary amylase.


Question 5:

In which organ of the human body is urea produced as a result of the breakdown of amino acids?

A. liver

B. pancreas

C. stomach

D. small intestine

The Correct Answer is A.

A) liver

- Correct: Urea is produced in the liver as a result of the breakdown of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, and when proteins are metabolized for energy or other purposes, their constituent amino acids are broken down in a process called deamination. During deamination, the amino groups (-NH2) are removed from the amino acids, forming ammonia (NH3). The liver converts ammonia into urea through a series of biochemical reactions known as the urea cycle. Urea is then excreted by the kidneys in the urine, helping to remove nitrogenous waste from the body.

B) pancreas

- Incorrect: The pancreas is an organ involved in the production of digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin and glucagon. It is not primarily responsible for the production of urea from the breakdown of amino acids.

C) stomach

- Incorrect: The stomach is primarily involved in the mechanical and chemical digestion of food, particularly proteins. While protein digestion begins in the stomach with the action of gastric juices containing enzymes such as pepsin, urea production from the breakdown of amino acids occurs mainly in the liver.

D) small intestine

- Incorrect: The small intestine is primarily involved in the absorption of nutrients from digested food, rather than the production of urea from the breakdown of amino acids. While some amino acids may be absorbed in the small intestine, urea production primarily occurs in the liver.


Question 6:

Which of the following organs is supported by a layer of adventitia rather than serosa?

A. esophagus

B. stomach

C. small intestine

D. large intestine

The Correct Answer is A.

a) esophagus

- Correct: The esophagus is supported by a layer of adventitia rather than serosa. The adventitia is a connective tissue layer that covers organs and structures that are not located within the peritoneal cavity. In the case of the esophagus, it lies behind the trachea and heart and passes through the diaphragm before connecting to the stomach. Since it is located outside the peritoneal cavity, it is covered by adventitia instead of serosa, which is the visceral peritoneum that covers organs within the abdominal cavity.

b) stomach

- Incorrect: The stomach is supported by a layer of serosa, which is the visceral peritoneum covering organs within the abdominal cavity.

c) small intestine

- Incorrect: The small intestine is supported by a layer of serosa, which is the visceral peritoneum covering organs within the abdominal cavity.

d) large intestine

- Incorrect: The large intestine is supported by a layer of serosa, which is the visceral peritoneum covering organs within the abdominal cavity.


Question 7:

. Parietal cells secrete ________.

A. gastrin

B. hydrochloric acid

C. pepsin

D. pepsinogen

The Correct Answer is B.

b) hydrochloric acid

- Correct: Parietal cells, also known as oxyntic cells, secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) into the stomach lumen. HCl plays a critical role in the digestive process by creating an acidic environment necessary for the activation of pepsinogen to pepsin and for the breakdown of food proteins. Parietal cells also secrete intrinsic factor, which is essential for the absorption of vitamin B12 in the small intestine.

a) gastrin

- Incorrect: Gastrin is a hormone secreted by G cells in the gastric glands of the stomach. It stimulates the secretion of gastric acid (HCl) by parietal cells and promotes gastric motility and emptying.

c) pepsin

- Incorrect: Pepsin is an enzyme that digests proteins by breaking them down into smaller peptides. Pepsin is formed from the precursor molecule pepsinogen, which is secreted by chief cells in the gastric glands. Parietal cells do not directly secrete pepsin.

d) pepsinogen

- Incorrect: Pepsinogen is the inactive precursor of pepsin. It is secreted by chief cells in the gastric glands of the stomach. Pepsinogen is activated to pepsin by the acidic environment created by hydrochloric acid secreted by parietal cells.


Question 8:

During the process of absorption, nutrients from food go from:

A. the intestines into the bladder

B. the blood into the organs

C. the intestines into the bloodstream

D. the mouth into the stomach

The Correct Answer is C.

c. the intestines into the bloodstream

- Correct: During the process of absorption, nutrients from food pass from the intestines into the bloodstream. After food is broken down into its constituent nutrients through digestion in the stomach and small intestine, these nutrients are absorbed across the lining of the small intestine into the bloodstream. The small intestine is highly specialized for absorption, with villi and microvilli increasing the surface area available for nutrient absorption. Once absorbed into the bloodstream, nutrients are transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body to provide energy, support growth and repair, and maintain overall health.

a. the intestines into the bladder

- Incorrect: The bladder is part of the urinary system and is responsible for storing urine produced by the kidneys. Absorption of nutrients does not involve passage into the bladder.

b. the blood into the organs

- Incorrect: While nutrients absorbed into the bloodstream are indeed transported to various organs and tissues throughout the body, absorption itself occurs in the intestines, not directly from the blood into the organs.

d. the mouth into the stomach

- Incorrect: The mouth and stomach are primarily involved in the initial stages of digestion, including mechanical breakdown of food and the initiation of chemical digestion of carbohydrates and proteins. Absorption of nutrients occurs primarily in the small intestine, not from the mouth into the stomach.


Question 9:

In the stomach:

A. muscles churn and mix the food with acids and enzymes

B. glands make 3 quarts of digestive juices each day

C. food leaves as a thick liquid called chyme

D. all of the above

The Correct Answer is D.

d. all of the above

- Correct: All of the statements are true regarding the stomach:

a. muscles churn and mix the food with acids and enzymes: The stomach has muscular walls that contract and relax to mechanically churn and mix food with gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and various enzymes (such as pepsin) that aid in the digestion of proteins.

b. glands make 3 quarts of digestive juices each day: The gastric glands in the lining of the stomach produce gastric juice, which contains hydrochloric acid, enzymes (such as pepsinogen), mucus, and intrinsic factor. These glands collectively secrete about 2 to 3 liters (quarts) of gastric juice per day.

c. food leaves as a thick liquid called chyme: After mixing with gastric juices and undergoing partial digestion in the stomach, food is transformed into a semi-liquid mixture called chyme. Chyme is then gradually released from the stomach into the small intestine for further digestion and absorption.

Therefore, all of the statements accurately describe processes that occur in the stomach.


Question 10:

Which of these statements about reflexes in the GI tract is false?

A. Short reflexes are provoked by nerves near the GI tract.

B. Short reflexes are mediated by the enteric nervous system.

C. Food that distends the stomach initiates long reflexes.

D. Long reflexes can be provoked by stimuli originating outside the GI tract.

The Correct Answer is C.

c) Food that distends the stomach initiates long reflexes.

- False: This statement is false. Food that distends the stomach initiates short reflexes, not long reflexes. Short reflexes are local reflexes that are mediated by the enteric nervous system, which consists of a network of neurons within the walls of the digestive tract. When food stretches or distends the stomach, sensory neurons in the stomach wall detect this mechanical stimulus and initiate short reflexes that regulate local gastrointestinal functions, such as gastric motility and secretion.