Which phase of deglutition involves contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the muscularis?

A. voluntary phase

B. buccal phase

C. pharyngeal phase

D. esophageal phase

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Answer Explanation:

a) voluntary phase

- Correct: The voluntary phase of deglutition (swallowing) involves the initial voluntary movement of food from the mouth into the pharynx. During this phase, the tongue pushes the food bolus backward toward the oropharynx. Contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the muscularis propels the food bolus into the pharynx, which is part of the voluntary control of swallowing.

b) buccal phase

- Incorrect: The buccal phase of deglutition involves the initial formation of the food bolus and its movement toward the oropharynx by the coordinated action of the tongue and muscles of the cheeks. It does not involve contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the muscularis.

c) pharyngeal phase

- Incorrect: The pharyngeal phase of deglutition is involuntary and occurs when the food bolus reaches the pharynx. It involves the sequential contraction of muscles in the pharyngeal wall to propel the food bolus downward toward the esophagus. The contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the muscularis is not a significant component of the pharyngeal phase.

d) esophageal phase

- Incorrect: The esophageal phase of deglutition involves the passage of the food bolus through the esophagus and into the stomach. Peristaltic waves of contraction and relaxation of the muscularis propels the food bolus along the length of the esophagus. The contraction of the longitudinal muscle layer of the muscularis primarily occurs during the voluntary phase of deglutition, not the esophageal phase.

Therefore, the Correct Answer is A.

More Questions on Digestive System Practice Exam 2

Question 1:

Where does the majority of chemical digestion in the stomach occur?

A. fundus and body

B. cardia and fundus

C. body and pylorus

D. body

The Correct Answer is A.

a) fundus and body

- Correct: The majority of chemical digestion in the stomach occurs in the fundus and body regions. These regions contain gastric glands that secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl), pepsinogen, and mucus. Hydrochloric acid creates an acidic environment necessary for the activation of pepsinogen to pepsin, which is responsible for the digestion of proteins. Additionally, the stomach churns and mixes food with gastric juices in the fundus and body, facilitating the breakdown of food particles and the mixing of digestive enzymes with the food bolus.

b) cardia and fundus

- Incorrect: While the fundus region is involved in chemical digestion due to the presence of gastric glands, the cardia region primarily serves as the entry point of the esophagus into the stomach and does not significantly contribute to chemical digestion.

c) body and pylorus

- Incorrect: While the body region of the stomach is involved in chemical digestion, the pylorus region is primarily responsible for regulating the passage of partially digested food (chyme) into the small intestine through the pyloric sphincter. The pylorus region does not contribute significantly to chemical digestion.

d) body

- Incorrect: While the body region of the stomach is involved in chemical digestion, the majority of chemical digestion occurs in both the fundus and body regions. The body region alone does not represent the entirety of where chemical digestion occurs in the stomach.


Question 2:

Which human excretory organ breaks down red blood cells and synthesizes urea?

A. lung

B. kidney

C. skin

D. liver

The Correct Answer is D.

D) liver

- Correct: The liver is the human excretory organ that breaks down red blood cells and synthesizes urea. Red blood cells have a finite lifespan and are continually replaced by new cells produced in the bone marrow. When old or damaged red blood cells are removed from circulation, their components are broken down by macrophages, primarily in the spleen and liver. The liver plays a crucial role in this process by breaking down hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells, into heme and globin. Heme is further broken down into bilirubin, which is excreted in bile and eventually eliminated from the body in feces. Additionally, the liver synthesizes urea as a waste product of protein metabolism, which is excreted by the kidneys in urine.

A) lung

- Incorrect: While the lungs play a role in the excretion of carbon dioxide during respiration, they are not involved in breaking down red blood cells or synthesizing urea.

B) kidney

- Incorrect: The kidneys are responsible for filtering blood to remove waste products and excess substances, such as urea, creatinine, and electrolytes, to produce urine. While the kidneys excrete urea synthesized by the liver, they do not break down red blood cells.

C) skin

- Incorrect: The skin is involved in excreting certain waste products, such as sweat (containing water, electrolytes, and small amounts of urea and other metabolic waste), but it does not break down red blood cells or synthesize urea.


Question 3:

Which of these is involved in the chemical digestion of protein?

A. pancreatic amylase

B. trypsin

C. sucrase

D. pancreatic nuclease

The Correct Answer is B.

b) trypsin

- Correct: Trypsin is an enzyme involved in the chemical digestion of protein. It is secreted as trypsinogen by the pancreas and activated to its active form, trypsin, by enterokinase in the duodenum. Trypsin breaks down proteins into smaller peptides by cleaving peptide bonds between specific amino acids.

a) pancreatic amylase

- Incorrect: Pancreatic amylase is an enzyme involved in the digestion of carbohydrates (starches). It breaks down starch molecules into maltose and other simpler sugars.

c) sucrase

- Incorrect: Sucrase is an enzyme involved in the digestion of disaccharide sugars, specifically sucrose. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of sucrose into its constituent monosaccharides, glucose, and fructose.

d) pancreatic nuclease

- Incorrect: Pancreatic nuclease is an enzyme involved in the digestion of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA). It breaks down nucleic acid molecules into their component nucleotides.


Question 4:

Where does the chemical digestion of starch begin?

A. mouth

B. esophagus

C. stomach

D. small intestine

The Correct Answer is A.

a) mouth

- Correct: The chemical digestion of starch begins in the mouth. Salivary amylase, an enzyme secreted by the salivary glands, initiates the breakdown of starch molecules into maltose and other smaller carbohydrate molecules. This process begins as soon as food enters the mouth and continues as it is mixed with saliva during chewing and swallowing.

b) esophagus

- Incorrect: The esophagus is not directly involved in the chemical digestion of starch. It serves primarily as a conduit for the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach via peristaltic contractions.

c) stomach

- Incorrect: While some minor digestion may occur in the stomach due to the presence of salivary amylase from swallowed saliva, the stomach is not the primary site of starch digestion. Its acidic environment inhibits the activity of salivary amylase, so significant starch digestion does not occur there.

d) small intestine

- Incorrect: Starch digestion continues in the small intestine, primarily in the duodenum, but it does not begin there. Enzymes such as pancreatic amylase and brush border enzymes further break down starch into simpler sugars in the small intestine.


Question 5:

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 6:

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 7:

Which structure is located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm?

A. esophageal hiatus

B. cardiac orifice

C. upper esophageal sphincter

D. lower esophageal sphincter

The Correct Answer is A.

a) esophageal hiatus

- Correct: The structure located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm is called the esophageal hiatus. The esophagus passes through an opening in the diaphragm known as the esophageal hiatus as it descends from the thoracic cavity into the abdominal cavity. This hiatus allows the esophagus to connect the pharynx to the stomach.

b) cardiac orifice

- Incorrect: The cardiac orifice is the opening of the stomach into the esophagus. It is located at the superior portion of the stomach and is surrounded by the lower esophageal sphincter. It is not located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm.

c) upper esophageal sphincter

- Incorrect: The upper esophageal sphincter is a muscular ring located at the upper end of the esophagus, where it meets the pharynx. It controls the passage of food from the pharynx into the esophagus but is not located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm.

d) lower esophageal sphincter

- Incorrect: The lower esophageal sphincter (LES), also known as the cardiac sphincter, is a muscular ring located at the lower end of the esophagus, where it meets the stomach. It controls the passage of food from the esophagus into the stomach but is not located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm.


Question 8:

Pancreatic juice ________.

A. deactivates bile.

B. is secreted by pancreatic islet cells.

C. buffers chyme.

D. is released into the cystic duct.

The Correct Answer is C.

c) buffers chyme.

- Correct: Pancreatic juice contains bicarbonate ions, which act as buffers to neutralize the acidic chyme entering the duodenum from the stomach. This neutralization is essential for maintaining the optimal pH for the activity of digestive enzymes in the small intestine.

a) deactivates bile.

- Incorrect: Pancreatic juice does not deactivate bile. Bile is not deactivated in the digestive process; instead, it aids in the emulsification and digestion of fats in the small intestine.

b) is secreted by pancreatic islet cells.

- Incorrect: Pancreatic juice is secreted by exocrine cells called pancreatic acinar cells, not by pancreatic islet cells. Pancreatic islet cells secrete hormones such as insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels.

d) is released into the cystic duct.

- Incorrect: Pancreatic juice is released into the duodenum through the pancreatic duct, not the cystic duct. The cystic duct connects the gallbladder to the common bile duct, allowing bile to be released into the duodenum when needed for digestion.


Question 9:

Which of these cells secrete hormones?

A. parietal cells

B. mucous neck cells

C. enteroendocrine cells

D. chief cells

The Correct Answer is C.

c) enteroendocrine cells

- Correct: Enteroendocrine cells are specialized cells located in the epithelium of the gastrointestinal tract that secrete hormones. These hormones play various roles in the regulation of digestion, nutrient absorption, and other physiological processes. Examples of hormones secreted by enteroendocrine cells include gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin (CCK), and ghrelin.

a) parietal cells

- Incorrect: Parietal cells are found in the gastric glands of the stomach and secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and intrinsic factor, but they do not secrete hormones.

b) mucous neck cells

- Incorrect: Mucous neck cells are found in the gastric glands of the stomach and secrete mucus, which helps protect the stomach lining from the acidic environment, but they do not secrete hormones.

d) chief cells

- Incorrect: Chief cells are found in the gastric glands of the stomach and secrete pepsinogen, the precursor to the enzyme pepsin, which plays a role in protein digestion. Chief cells do not secrete hormones.


Question 10:

The pancreas, liver, and gallbladder help digestion in these ways, respectively:

A. making enzymes; making bile and processing nutrients; and storing bile

B. producing saliva; digesting carbohydrates; and eliminating waste

C. producing hormones; producing enzymes; and eliminating waste

D. making acids; producing digestive juices; and storing enzymes

The Correct Answer is A.

a. making enzymes; making bile and processing nutrients; and storing bile

- Correct: The pancreas, liver, and gallbladder help digestion in the following ways:

1. The pancreas produces and secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine to aid in the breakdown of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. These enzymes include amylase (for carbohydrates), proteases (for proteins), and lipases (for fats).

2. The liver produces bile, a digestive fluid that emulsifies fats by breaking them down into smaller droplets, which increases the surface area for enzymes to act upon. The liver also processes nutrients absorbed from the small intestine, including carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.

3. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. When needed for digestion, the gallbladder releases bile into the small intestine via the common bile duct to aid in the emulsification and digestion of fats.

Therefore, option a accurately describes the roles of the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder in digestion.