Review Questions

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

a mouth

b salivary glands

c pancreas

d liver

 

2. 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

 

3. Which of the following membranes covers the stomach?

a falciform ligament

b mesocolon

c parietal peritoneum

d visceral peritoneum

 

4. Which of these processes occurs in the mouth?

a ingestion

b mechanical digestion

c chemical digestion

d all of the above

 

5. Which of these processes occurs throughout most of the alimentary canal?

a ingestion

b propulsion

c segmentation

d absorption

 

6. Which of the following stimuli activates sensors in the walls of digestive organs?

a breakdown products of digestion

b distension

c pH of chyme

d all of the above

 

7. 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.

 

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

a mucus

b phosphate ions

c chloride ions

d urea

 

9. Which of these statements about the pharynx is true?

a It extends from the nasal and oral cavities superiorly to the esophagus anteriorly.

b The oropharynx is continuous superiorly with the nasopharynx.

c The nasopharynx is involved in digestion.

d The laryngopharynx is composed partially of cartilage.

 

10. Which structure is located where the esophagus penetrates the diaphragm?

a esophageal hiatus

b cardiac orifice

c upper esophageal sphincter

d lower esophageal sphincter

 

11. 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

 

12. Which of these cells secrete hormones?

a parietal cells

b mucous neck cells

c enteroendocrine cells

d chief cells

 

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

a fundus and body

b cardia and fundus

c body and pylorus

f body

14. During gastric emptying, chyme is released into the duodenum through the ________.

a esophageal hiatus

b pyloric antrum

c pyloric canal

d pyloric sphincter

 

15. Parietal cells secrete ________.

a gastrin

b hydrochloric acid

c pepsin

d pepsinogen

 

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

a stomach

b proximal small intestine

c distal small intestine

d ascending colon

 

17. Which of these is most associated with villi?

a haustra

b lacteals

c bacterial flora

d intestinal glands

 

18. What is the role of the small intestine’s MALT?

a secreting mucus

b buffering acidic chyme

c activating pepsin

d preventing bacteria from entering the bloodstream

 

19. Which part of the large intestine attaches to the appendix?

a cecum

b ascending colon

c transverse colon

d descending colon

 

20. Which of these statements about bile is true?

a About 500 mL is secreted daily.

b Its main function is the denaturation of proteins.

c It is synthesized in the gallbladder.

d Bile salts are recycled.

 

21. Pancreatic juice ________.

a deactivates bile.

b is secreted by pancreatic islet cells.

c buffers chyme.

d is released into the cystic duct.

 

22. Where does the chemical digestion of starch begin?

a mouth

b esophagus

c stomach

d small intestine

 

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

a pancreatic amylase

b trypsin

c sucrase

d pancreatic nuclease

 

24. Where are most fat-digesting enzymes produced?

a small intestine

b gallbladder

c liver

d pancreas

 

25. Which of these nutrients is absorbed mainly in the duodenum?

a glucose

b iron

c sodium

d water