Question 1

Elizabeth suffers from a gastric ulcer.She experiences pain during the times when acid is released into the stomach.Which of the following times is Elizabeth likely to experience the most pain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Elizabeth suffers from a gastric ulcer.She experiences...

Question 2

Elizabeth has been diagnosed with a gastric ulcer.Carl has been diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer.Both of them are

Accepted Answer

Gastric and duodenal ulcers are both caused by hypersecretion of gastric acid. Therefore, they are both treated by interventions that inhibit acid secretion, such as proton pump inhibitors and H2 receptor blockers. Inhibition of digestive enzymes may be used as an adjunctive therapy, but the primary approach is to reduce acid secretion. Removal of the gallbladder and presence in the large intestine are not related to gastric or duodenal ulcers.

Question 3

Bicarbonate is

Accepted Answer

Bicarbonate is secreted into the interstitial fluid by gastric epithelial cells to protect the stomach lining from acidic damage. It is also secreted into the lumen by pancreatic duct cells to neutralize the acidic chyme entering the small intestine from the stomach, facilitating digestion.

Question 4

In which region(s)of the GI tract do peristaltic contractions occur?

Accepted Answer

Peristaltic contractions occur throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, to move food and waste through the system.

Question 5

Which of the following breakfasts would likely remain in the stomach longest?

Accepted Answer

Breakfasts high in protein and fat, such as fried eggs, bacon, and hash browns, tend to remain in the stomach longer due to their slower digestion time. Toast and juice do not provide enough substance to slow down the process of gastric emptying.

Question 6

Which of the following would be most likely to cause metabolic alkalosis?

Accepted Answer

Severe vomiting can lead to metabolic alkalosis due to the loss of stomach acid (hydrochloric acid), which decreases the amount of hydrogen ions in the body, leading to an increase in blood pH.

Question 7

A person without a gallbladder

Accepted Answer

The gallbladder's main function is to store bile, which is produced by the liver. Without a gallbladder, bile will still be produced but it will not be stored. This can lead to some digestive issues, particularly when consuming large, fat-rich meals because the body may not be able to release enough bile quickly enough to properly digest the fat. However, the person will still be able to secrete bile and digest fats with the help of bile that is produced and released directly from the liver. Lipase, an enzyme involved in fat digestion, is not stored in the gallbladder, so its absence would not be a factor in someone without a gallbladder.

Question 8

There is an E.coli outbreak in the town of Springfield when almost all the Springfield residents contracted food poisoning at a town hall meeting.E.coli causes severe diarrhea.The local Springfield pharmacy is ordering supplies to stock its shelves as its customers work their way through the outbreak.Which of the following would be helpful for the pharmacy to stock?

Accepted Answer

E. coli infection primarily causes diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and acidosis due to the loss of fluids and electrolytes. Antacids can help manage the symptoms of acidosis by neutralizing stomach acid, providing some relief. Acidic foods, diuretic drugs, and vitamin B12 supplements are not directly beneficial for treating the symptoms or consequences of an E. coli infection.

Question 9

The primary kind of motility in the stomach during digestion of a meal is

Accepted Answer

Peristalsis is the coordinated contraction and relaxation of smooth muscles in the stomach wall that propels food through the digestive tract, and it is the primary type of motility in the stomach during the digestion of a meal. Segmentation is a type of motility seen primarily in the small intestine, where it mixes and breaks down food particles, but it is not a primary type of motility in the stomach. Relaxation of the pyloric sphincter and regurgitation are not types of motility. Mass movement is a type of motility in the large intestine that propels fecal matter towards the rectum.

Question 10

Which is TRUE about gastric motility?

Accepted Answer

The basic electrical rhythm of the gastric smooth muscle remains constant at three depolarizations per minute even in the absence of food.

Answer: B
 Gastric contractions are stronger in the antrum (lower part) of the stomach, which helps to churn and mix the food with gastric juices.

Answer: C
 Gastrin increases the force of contraction while enterogastrones decrease it.

Answer: D
 When the wave of excitation reaches the pyloric sphincter, the action potentials become inhibitory, and the sphincter narrows to regulate the exit of chyme into the duodenum.

Answer: E
 The term “slow waves” refers to the electrical activity of smooth muscles in the stomach, while “pacemaker” refers to interstitial cells of Cajal that generate electrical activity for slow waves.

Question 11

Kim had her gallbladder removed last month and has been experiencing some changes to her digestion.One thing that is particularly noticeable is that she has noticed

Accepted Answer

The gallbladder is responsible for storing bile, which helps in the digestion of fats. Without a gallbladder, bile flows directly into the intestine, which can affect the digestion and absorption of dietary fats, leading to changes in the color of feces. Difficulty digesting high-protein or high-carbohydrate foods, feeling more energetic, and an increase in appetite are not directly related to gallbladder removal.

Question 12

The primary kind of motility in the small intestine during digestion of a meal is

Accepted Answer

During the digestion of a meal, the primary kind of motility in the small intestine is segmentation. This involves contractions of small segments of the intestine that help to mix and churn the contents, aiding in the absorption of nutrients. Peristalsis is a secondary type of motility that propels food through the digestive tract in a wave-like fashion. Receptive relaxation is a relaxation of the stomach that occurs in response to food intake. Migrating motility complex and mass movement both refer to motility in the large intestine, not the small intestine.

Question 13

Following diagnosis with pancreatic cancer,Neil had a large portion of his pancreas removed.All of the following will now be found in lower amounts in Neil's GI tract,except one.Which of the following will NOT be affected?

Accepted Answer

Bile salts are produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder, not the pancreas. Therefore, the removal of a portion of the pancreas would not affect the amount of bile salts in the GI tract. The other options (Bicarbonate ions, Amylase, Trypsinogen, and Lipase) are all produced by the pancreas and would be found in lower amounts following its partial removal.

Question 14

Julia comes to see her doctor with a variety of symptoms.Her doctor eventually diagnoses her with gallstones.Which of the following was NOT one of Julia's symptoms?

Accepted Answer

Lactose intolerance is not a symptom of gallstones. Gallstones typically cause symptoms like abdominal pain, difficulty digesting high-fat meals, nutritional deficiencies, and jaundice due to the blockage of bile flow, but they do not cause lactose intolerance. Lactose intolerance is a separate condition related to the inability to digest lactose due to a deficiency in the enzyme lactase.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about pancreatic enzymes is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

This statement is false as all pancreatic proteolytic enzymes, including trypsinogen, are secreted in an inactive form and require activation by enterokinase.

Question 16

Segmentation of the small intestine

Accepted Answer

Segmentation of the small intestine refers to the muscular contractions that mix chyme with digestive enzymes and bring it close to the intestinal wall for absorption. These contractions occur at a rate of 8-12 contractions per minute throughout the small intestine and are responsible for slowly moving the contents of the small intestine towards the cecum. Therefore, choice E is the correct answer.

Question 17

Which of the following is the most potent inhibitor (directly or indirectly)of gastric motility and emptying?

Accepted Answer

Fat in the duodenum is the most potent inhibitor of gastric motility and emptying. When fat enters the duodenum, the duodenal mucosa releases regulatory peptides which cause relaxation of the pyloric sphincter, inhibition of gastric motility, and reduction in gastric emptying. This allows time for the stomach to mix and macerate the lipids and for the duodenum to emulsify and digest them.

Question 18

Bile is synthesized and secreted by the

Accepted Answer

Bile is synthesized and secreted by the liver.

Question 19

You are working for an educational video company and you've been asked to go to the hospital imaging center to obtain video of segmentation.The imaging center technician asks you where in the GI tract she should image and when during digestion? You tell her that to obtain the best video of segmentation she should record

Accepted Answer

Segmentation is the back and forth movement of chyme in the small intestine to mix it with digestive juices and facilitate absorption. Therefore, the best location to record it would be in the small intestine as chyme moves past the pyloric sphincter. Recording the esophagus during swallowing or the stomach during digestion of a meal would not show segmentation, and recording the large intestine during fecal compaction would show a different process.

Question 20

Following diagnosis with pancreatic cancer,Neil had a large portion of his pancreas removed.Which of the following hormones will now be found in lower amounts?

Accepted Answer

The pancreas is an important endocrine gland that secretes insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Removal of a large portion of the pancreas would reduce the amount of insulin produced by the body. Therefore, choice E, insulin, is the best answer. The other hormones listed are not produced by the pancreas, and would not be affected by its removal. Vasopressin is produced by the pituitary gland, thyroid hormone by the thyroid gland, CCK by the small intestine, and oxytocin by the pituitary gland.

Quiz 15: The Digestion and Absorption of Food