Digestive system Multiple Choice Quiz

1Which of the following is NOT a function of the digestive system?

A)
ingest food
B)
digest food to small molecules
C)
absorb nutrient molecules
D)
eliminate non-digestible wastes
E)
transport nutrients to other organs
2"Digestion" of food refers to
A)
allowing the liver to produce bile for digestion.
B)
allowing the pancreas to release digestive enzymes.
C)
allowing small molecules to cross cell membranes and be absorbed by the tract
lining.
D)
allowing large molecules to cross cell membranes and be absorbed by the tract
lining.
E)
allowing the meat that is eaten to nourish our body.
3Strictly speaking, ____ refers to the breakdown of food by enzymatic action.
A)
ingestion
B)
digestion
C)
excretion
D)
metabolism
E)
mastication
4Which of the following statements is NOT correct?
A)
Digestion only takes place within the digestive tract.
B)
The digestive tract begins with the mouth and ends with the anus.
C)
Digestion of food in humans is a process that occurs inside of cells.
D)
Digestive enzymes are secreted into the tract by glands located either in the tract
or nearby.
E)
Food is never found within accessory glands, only within the tract itself.
5Taste is due solely to stimulation of receptors in the nose.
A)
True
B)
False
6Which of the following sequences does NOT trace the path of food through the digestive tract in
the correct order?
A)
mouth, esophagus, stomach
B)
esophagus, stomach, duodenum
C)
stomach, large intestine, small intestine
D)
stomach, duodenum, large intestine
E)
ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon
7____ are chisel-shaped teeth used for biting.
A)
Incisors
B)
Canines
C)
Premolars
D)
Molars
E)
Wisdom teeth
8Nerves and blood vessels are found within the ____ of a tooth.
A)
enamel
B)
dentin
C)
pulp

D)
E)

crown
periodontal membrane

9Which of the following comparisons is NOT correct?

A)
caries--tooth decay
B)
gingivitis--inflammation of the gums
C)
periodontitis--inflammation of the periodontal membrane
D)
mumps--viral infection of the tonsils
E)
heartburn--stomach acid in the esophagus
10Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following comparisons is NOT correct?

stomach--food storage and grinding
esophagus--food conduction
pharynx--voice box
small intestine--nutrient absorption
large intestine--water and salt absorption

11Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following comparisons is NOT correct?

bolus--food mixed with saliva in the mouth
chyme--food mixed with gastric secretions leaving the stomach
gastric juice--secretions from intestinal glands
feces--nondigestible remains, bile, and bacteria
peristalsis--rhythmic contractions to move food

12Sphincters are muscles that encircle tubes and act as valves.

A)
True
B)
False
13Which of the following hormones will cause the stomach to churn and increase secretory
activity of the gastric glands?
A)
GIP
B)
gastrin
C)
secretin
D)
CCK
E)
insulin
14Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following hormones is/are produced by cells of the duodenal wall?

gastrin alone
GIP alone
secretin alone
CCK alone
secretin and CCK

15If hydrochloric acid penetrates the mucus on the stomach wall, autodigestion of the wall
begins, and an ulcer results.
A)
True
B)
False
16Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following substances will cause the release of secretin from the duodenal wall?
carbohydrates
fats
partially digested protein
hydrochloric acid in chyme
sodium hydroxide in chyme

17What allows chyme to enter the small intestine?

A)
a sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach
B)
a sphincter between the stomach and the small intestine
C)
the anal sphincter
D)
lacteal
E)
ileocecal valve
18Which organ will secrete sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the acidity of chyme in the small
intestine?
A)
pancreas
B)
gallbladder
C)
duodenum
D)
esophagus
E)
stomach
19Where are the brush-border enzymes found?
A)
villi
B)
microvilli
C)
columnar epithelial cells
D)
goblet cells
E)
lacteal
20The end products of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate digestion enter the blood capillaries of the
villi.
A)
True
B)
False
21Which of the following statements is NOT correct?
A)
Microvilli increase the surface area of the small intestine for absorption of nutrients.
B)
Enzymes located on the brush-border finish the digestion of chyme.
C)
Absorption is an active process in the small intestine.
D)
Sugars and amino acids cross columnar epithelial cells to enter the lacteal.
E)
Fat components rejoin in epithelial cells and are packaged as lipoprotein droplets,
which enter the lacteals.
22Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs will contain villi?

esophagus
stomach
small intestine
liver
pancreas

23Most bacteria that live in the colon are facultative bacteria.

A)
True
B)
False
24Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs is NOT part of the large intestine?

cecum
colon
rectum
anal canal
duodenum

25Which of the following organs functions to absorb water, salts, and store nondigestible
material?
A)
esophagus

B)
C)
D)
E)

stomach
small intestine
large intestine
liver

26The ____ is the blind end of the ascending colon.

A)
cecum
B)
vermiform appendix
C)
transverse colon
D)
anal canal
E)
rectum
27Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following comparisons is NOT correct?

constipation--hard and dry feces
ulcer--open sore in the wall of the stomach
peritonitis--inflammation of the cecum
cirrhosis--liver first becomes fatty and then replaced by fibrous scar tissue
jaundice--abnormally large amount of bilirubin in the skin and the whites of the eyes

28Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

A)
A high coliform bacterial count indicates a significant amount of feces has entered
the water.
B)
When the appendix bursts, a generalized infection of the serosa of the abdominal
cavity can occur.
C)
If colon cancer is detected while still confined to a polyp, the outcome is expected
to be a complete cure.
D)
Fiber in the diet promotes the development of colon cancer.
E)
Bacteria in the colon break down nondigestible material and produce some vitamins
that can be absorbed and used by our bodies.
29Which of the following statements is false?
A)
Diarrhea can be caused by eating contaminated food, which causes the intestinal
wall to become irritated and peristalsis to increase.
B)
In nervous diarrhea, the nervous system stimulates the intestinal wall and diarrhea
results.
C)
Prolonged diarrhea can lead to constipation.
D)
Constipation can be alleviated by increasing water intake.
E)
Constipation can be alleviated by increasing the fiber content of our diet.
30In diarrhea, too little water has been absorbed by the large intestine; in constipation, too much
water has been absorbed.
A)
True
B)
False
31Milk of magnesia acts as a laxative because it makes the colon slippery.
A)
True
B)
False
32Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs is considered an accessory organ of digestion?

liver
stomach
esophagus
ascending colon
rectum

33Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs has both an endocrine and an exocrine function?

pancreas
liver
stomach
duodenum
esophagus

34Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs produces bile?

gallbladder
liver
duodenum
stomach
large intestine

35Which component in bile helps to emulsify fat in the duodenum?

A)
bilirubin
B)
biliverdin
C)
bile salts
D)
cholesterol
36Which blood vessel will transport nutrient molecules that have been absorbed by the small
intestine to the liver?
A)
hepatic artery
B)
renal vein
C)
hepatic portal artery
D)
hepatic portal vein
E)
inferior vena cava
37Which of the following organs functions to remove poisonous substances and works to keep
the contents of blood constant?
A)
esophagus
B)
stomach
C)
duodenum
D)
pancreas
E)
liver
38Before amino acids can be converted to glucose molecules in the liver, deamination must take
place.
A)
True
B)
False
39Which of the following is NOT a function of the liver?
A)
converts hemoglobin from red blood cells to bile pigments that are excreted along
with bile salts in bile
B)
detoxifies blood by removing poisonous substances
C)
produces urea from the breakdown of amino acids
D)
produces enzymes for digestion of food in the duodenum
E)
makes plasma proteins from amino acids
40In which of the following diseases will liver tissue be replaced by inactive fibrous scar tissue?
A)
hemolytic jaundice
B)
obstructive jaundice
C)
viral hepatitis
D)
cirrhosis
E)
lactose intolerance

41Red blood cells are broken down in abnormally large amounts in ____.
A)
hemolytic jaundice
B)
obstructive jaundice
C)
viral hepatitis
D)
cirrhosis
E)
lactose intolerance
42Which of
A)
B)
substrate.
C)
D)
E)

the following statements is NOT true about digestive enzymes?

Digestive enzymes are hydrolytic enzymes.
Digestive enzymes are carbohydrates that have a particular shape that fits their

43Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following organs will NOT produce any digestive enzymes?

salivary glands
stomach
esophagus
duodenum
pancreas

44Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following enzymes will have an optimum pH that is acidic?

salivary amylase
pepsin
pancreatic amylase
trypsin
lipase

Digestive enzymes have an optimum pH which maintains their shape.

Digestive enzymes speed up a chemical reaction.
Each digestive enzyme speeds up a specific reaction.

45Which of the following statements is NOT correct about fat digestion?

A)
Bile salts are needed to emulsify fat into fat droplets.
B)
Lipase digests the fat droplets into glycerol and fatty acid molecules while removing
water molecules.
C)
Glycerol and fatty acids enter the cells of the villi.
D)
Glycerol and fatty acids, after entering the cells of the villi, rejoin and are packaged
as lipoprotein droplets.
E)
Lipoprotein droplets, which are formed in the cells of the villi, enter the lacteals.
46Pepsinogen is converted to pepsin in the stomach when exposed to ____.
A)
trypsin
B)
hydrochloric acid
C)
peptides
D)
peptidases
E)
lipase
47Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following enzymes is found on the mucosa of the intestinal villi?

amylase
trypsin
peptidase
lipase
pepsin

48Which of the following enzymes is released from the gastric glands to break down proteins into
peptides?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

lipase
pancreatic amylase
trypsin
pepsin
peptidase

49Which enzyme breaks down starch to maltose in the duodenum?

A)
lipase
B)
trypsin
C)
maltase
D)
salivary amylase
E)
pancreatic amylase
50Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following relationships is NOT correct?

pepsin--gastric glands
maltase--pancreas
salivary amylase--salivary glands
trypsin--pancreas
peptidases--villi of small intestine

51When starch is broken down by pancreatic amylase, ____ will be formed.

A)
glycerol + fatty acids
B)
amino acids
C)
peptides
D)
maltose
E)
glucose
52When peptides are broken down by peptidases, ____ will be formed.
A)
amino acids
B)
fatty acids and glycerol
C)
glucose
D)
proteins
E)
maltose
53Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following substances is NOT a product formed in the small intestine?

glucose
maltose
amino acids
peptides
proteins

54Which enzyme is missing in the small intestine if a person has lactose intolerance?
A)
pancreatic amylase
B)
dipeptidase
C)
lipase
D)
lactase
E)
maltase
55When fats are broken down by lipase, ____ will be formed.
A)
amino acids
B)
fatty acids and glycerol
C)
glucose
D)
proteins
E)
maltose
56Which of the following comparisons is NOT correct?

A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

fats -- lipase
starch -- salivary amylase
maltose -- lactase
protein -- trypsin
peptides -- dipeptidases

57Which of the following enzymes would NOT be used to break down spaghetti into its end
products for absorption?
A)
salivary amylase
B)
pancreatic amylase
C)
maltase
D)
lipase
58Five test tubes, listed below, were incubated at body temperature for one hour. Which of the
following test tubes would have the appropriate environmental conditions for digestion to occur?
A)
H2O + a small sliver of egg white (protein)
B)
Pepsin + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
C)
HCl + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
D)
Pepsin + HCl + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
E)
Pepsin + NaOH + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
59Five test tubes, listed below, were incubated at body temperature for one hour. Which of the
following test tubes would be considered the control?
A)
H2O + a small sliver of egg white (protein)
B)
Pepsin + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
C)
HCl + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
D)
Pepsin + HCl + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
E)
Pepsin + NaOH + H2O + a small sliver of egg white
60Which of the following statements is NOT correct about protein nutrition?
A)
Foods rich in protein include red meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, legumes, nuts,
and cereals.
B)
Ordinarily, amino acids are not used as an energy source but are incorporated into
structural proteins.
C)
Each vegetable or grain alone is an incomplete protein source.
D)
Because some amino acids are not produced in the body, a daily supply is needed.
E)
We should derive all of our dietary protein from meat.
61The quickest, most readily available source of energy for the body is ____.
A)
protein
B)
carbohydrate
C)
lipid
D)
vitamins
E)
minerals
62Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)

the following is NOT considered to contain simple carbohydrates?

regular (non-diet) soft drinks
ice cream
candy
bread

63Some dieticians label _____ as "empty calories."

A)
simple carbohydrates
B)
complex carbohydrates
C)
fats

D)
E)
64Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

essential amino acids

proteins
the following types of food may reduce the risk of colon cancer?
simple carbohydrates
polyunsaturated fats
fiber
cholesterol
protein

65Which of the following statements is NOT correct?

A)
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) carries cholesterol from cells to the liver.
B)
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) protects against the development of clogged arteries.
C)
A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol decreases the blood cholesterol level in
some individuals.
D)
White fish, poultry, and shellfish are recommended protein sources to lower blood
cholesterol levels; cheese, egg yolks, and liver are not.
E)
Soluble fiber is believed to combine with cholesterol in the digestive tract and carry
it out of the body.
66____ are organic compounds (other than carbohydrate, fat, and protein) that the body is unable
to produce but uses for metabolic purposes.
A)
High-density lipoproteins
B)
Low-density lipoproteins
C)
Minerals
D)
Vitamins
E)
Soluble fibers
67Which vitamin is a part of the coenzyme NAD?
A)
vitamin D
B)
riboflavin
C)
niacin
D)
vitamin K
E)
vitamin A
68Citrus fruits and other fresh fruits and vegetables are natural sources of ____.
A)
vitamin A
B)
vitamin C
C)
vitamin D
D)
vitamin B
69Sunshine
A)
B)
C)
D)

and irradiated milk are primary sources of ____.

vitamin A
vitamin C
vitamin D
vitamin B

70Too much
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

of ____ can cause kidney stones.

vitamin C
vitamin A
vitamin B
vitamin D
niacin

71Vitamin D deficiency can lead to ____.

A)
scurvy

B)
C)
D)

fissures of lips
dermatitis
rickets (decalcification and weakening of bone)

72Vitamin C deficiency can lead to ____.

A)
scurvy
B)
fissures of lips
C)
dermatitis
D)
rickets
73Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)
E)

the following is NOT considered a macromineral?

sodium
magnesium
potassium
calcium
iron

74Which of the following macrominerals is needed for the construction of bones and teeth and
for nerve conduction and muscle contraction?
A)
sodium
B)
magnesium
C)
potassium
D)
calcium
E)
chlorine
75Which of
A)
B)
C)
D)

the following statements is NOT correct in regards to calcium and bone disease?
Osteoporosis affects more older women than men.
In osteoporosis, the bones break easily because they lack sufficient calcium.
Calcium supplements and estrogen help prevent osteoporosis.
In older individuals, osteoblasts are more active than osteoclasts.

76Which of the following statements is NOT correct about dieting?

A)
Weight loss occurs if the caloric intake is reduced while the same level of activity is
maintained.
B)
The best way to lose weight is to modify behavior and to lose the weight rapidly.
C)
Physical activity firms up the body, puts you in the mood to keep the weight off, and
burns calories.
D)
Heavy individuals may have many more fat cells than normal, and dieting merely
causes the fat cells to get smaller.
E)
In order to keep unwanted pounds off, a long-term program should include regular
exercise and a balanced diet that avoids fatty foods.
77Which of the following disorders is characterized by an individual that is extremely thin but still
claims to "feel fat"?
A)
obesity
B)
bulimia
C)
anorexia nervosa
D)
rickets
E)
pellagra
78Which of the following disorders is characterized by an individual who has the habit of eating
to excess and then purging by vomiting?
A)
obesity
B)
bulimia
C)
anorexia nervosa

D)
E)

rickets
pellagra

79High-density lipoproteins protect you more from clogged arteries more than low-density
lipoproteins.
A)
True
B)
False
80High sodium intake has been linked to hypotension in some people.
A)
True
B)
False
81Obesity is defined as a body weight of more than 20% above the ideal weight.
A)
True
B)
False
82A nutrient is a substance in food that is used by the body for the maintenance of health.
A)
True
B)
False
83A U.S.D.A.-recommended American diet emphasizes the importance of including grains in the
diet and the desirability of eating fats, oils, and sweets sparingly.
A)
True
B)
False
84Essential amino acids are those that are required in the diet because the body is unable to
produce them.
A)
True
B)
False
85It is necessary to maintain a constant level of glucose in the blood because brain cells cannot
metabolize other energy sources.
A)
True
B)
False
86Most of the calories in the diet come from carbohydrates.
A)
True
B)
False
87Fats should be avoided in the diet.
A)
True
B)
False