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Example Questions
Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following enzymes does NOT directly contribute to protein digestion?
Gastrin
Chymotrypsin
Pepsin
Trypsin
Gastrin
Gastrin is secreted in the stomach, and stimulates the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells. The other three enzymes directly aid in the digestion of proteins. Trypsin and chymotrypsin are released from the pancreas into the duodenum, and pepsin digests proteins located in the stomach. Each of these has different cleavange targets within protein sequences and can be used as a restriction enzyme in experimental procedures.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following functions is NOT accomplished by the liver?
Blood filtration
Antibody creation
Glycogen storage
Vitamin storage
Antibody creation
The liver is a very important organ with many interrelated functions, however, the liver is not responsible for the creation of antibodies. This is done by plasma cells, a key cell type in the immune system.
Example Question #2 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following statements about the hormone secretin is false?
It stimulates bicarbonate secretion in the pancreas
It inhibits motility in the stomach
All of these choices are correct
It is released when acid enters the duodenum, where it is secreted
All of these choices are correct
Secretin is a hormone released by the duodenum in response to an influx of acid. The hormone targets the stomach, to reduce the amount of acid that can pass through to the small intestine, and the pancreas, to increase secretion of bicarbonate, which neutralizes the acidity.
Example Question #3 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following statements about cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin is true?
Both hormones target the stomach, but for different functions
Both hormones target the gall bladder to release bile
Both hormones target the pancreas, but for different functions
Both hormones are secreted only by the duodenum
Both hormones target the stomach, but for different functions
Cholecystokini (CCK) targets the stomach to inhibit motility, while gastrin targets the stomach to increase motility. Gastrin is secreted by the duodenum and the stomach, but targets only the stomach. CCK, however, targets the stomach, pancreas, and gall bladder.
Example Question #4 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which enzyme operates at the lowest pH?
Carboxypeptidase
Amylase
Pepsin
Lipase
Trypsin
Pepsin
Pepsin is the only enzyme out of the given choices that functions in the stomach, where the pH is very low (acidic). Trypsin, carboxypeptidase, and lipase all function within the small intestine, where the pH is usually more basic to neutralize the pH of chyme as food is digested. Amylase is found in saliva and functions in the mouth, where pH is about neutral.
Example Question #5 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
One of the functions of the liver is __________.
to physically digest food
to secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
to produce insulin in its specialized beta cells
to produce bile, triglycerides, and cholesterol
to act as the main storage center for bile
to produce bile, triglycerides, and cholesterol
The liver has a large number of functions, including metabolizing toxins, synthesizing proteins, and storing glucose in the form of glycogen. The only answer choice that describes liver functions is the production of bile, triglycerides, and cholesterol.
The pancreas produces insulin from beta cells, the gall bladder stores bile, and the adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine. Physical digestion takes place mainly in the mouth and stomach, not the liver.
Example Question #6 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following statements about the pancreas is incorrect?
The pancreas is the body's main site of glycogen storage
The pancreas secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon
The pancreas secretes bicarbonate to neutralize chyme
The pancreas secretes hydrolytic enzymes through the pancreatic duct and into the small intestine
The pancreas is the body's main site of glycogen storage
Glycogen is stored primarily in cells of the liver and muscles. The pancreas is responsible for secreting hydrolytic enzymes into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct. Along with these digestive enzymes the pancreas releases bicarbonate, which reacts in an acid-base reaction with acidic stomach chyme to pervent it from damaging the intestine. The pancreas also releases insulin and glucagon, among other hormones.
Example Question #7 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
What macromolecule is digested first by chemical means?
Fats
Proteins
Carbohydrates
Nucleic acids
Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates begin their digestion in the mouth, where salivary amylase is produced.
Fats are emulsified by bile and digested by lipase in the small intestine. Nucleic acids are also digested in the small intestine by nucleases. Proteins begin their digestion in the stomach, where the low pH of gastric juice begins the breakdown process and pepsin begins to cleave peptide bonds. Protein digestion continues in the small intestine with other protease enzymes.
Example Question #8 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Which of the following is a true statement with regard to digestive enzymes?
Proteases only exist in the small intestine
Lipases digest fats
Most water absorption is performed in the stomach
Amylase breaks down amino acids
Proteases only exist in the mouth
Lipases digest fats
Amylase breaks down starch in the mouth and small intestine. Proteases are found in the stomach and small intestine. Water absorption occurs in the intestines (mostly the large intestine). Lipases break down lipids; fats are a type of lipid.
Example Question #9 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology
Ammonia is a byproduct of digestive absorption. It is converted to urea by the liver and expelled in the urine.
Which macromolecule is responsible for the presence of the ammonia byproduct during digestion and absorption?
Carbohydrates
Fatty acids
All macromolecules create an ammonia byproduct
Proteins
Proteins
In order to answer this question, visualize the macromolecules as their monomers. The chemical formula for ammonia is , so the monomer will need to include nitrogen. Carbohydrates are chains of monosaccharides and are only composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Fatty acids are nonpolar molecules, and are composed of only carbon and hydrogen. Proteins are composed of amino acid monomers. Amino acids have an amino terminus, which includes a nitrogen atom. As a result, only proteins have the nitrogen atom which can be used in the byproduct of ammonia.
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