Digestive Processes: A Comprehensive Guide to Digestion and Absorption

Question 1

Enzymes play a crucial role in digestion. Explain how enzyme specificity and optimal pH requirements contribute to this process.

Accepted Answer

Enzymes are highly specific, each catalyzing a specific reaction, and have optimal pH levels for maximum activity.

Answer

Enzymes are non-specific and can catalyze any type of reaction, regardless of pH conditions.

Answer

Enzymes are only active in acidic pH environments and lack specificity in their catalytic abilities.

Question 2

What are the main jobs of the large intestine?

Accepted Answer

Getting rid of waste and absorbing water and electrolytes

Answer

Absorbing nutrients and getting rid of waste

Answer

Absorbing vitamins and minerals, and getting rid of toxins

Answer

Storing waste and controlling blood sugar levels

Question 3

How do gastrin and cholecystokinin affect digestion differently?

Accepted Answer

Gastrin increases stomach acid, while cholecystokinin slows stomach movement.

Answer

Cholecystokinin increases stomach acid, while gastrin slows stomach movement.

Answer

Both gastrin and cholecystokinin increase stomach movement and acid.

Answer

Both gastrin and cholecystokinin decrease stomach movement and acid.

Question 4

How does the pancreas contribute to both chemical and mechanical digestion?

Accepted Answer

Secretes enzymes for chemical digestion and bicarbonate ions to neutralize stomach acid.

Answer

Absorbs nutrients from digested food and secretes hormones to regulate digestion.

Answer

Stores bile and releases it into the small intestine, and produces hydrochloric acid for protein digestion.

Answer

Secretes enzymes for chemical digestion and absorbs water from undigested food.

Question 5

Which enzyme is responsible for initiating protein digestion in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Lactase

Question 6

Identify the hormone that stimulates the secretion of gastric juices.

Accepted Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Secretin

Answer

Insulin

Question 7

What is the primary function of the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Absorption of nutrients from digested food

Answer

Physical breakdown of food

Answer

Elimination of solid waste

Answer

Production of digestive enzymes

Question 8

Which part of the large intestine is primarily responsible for water absorption?

Accepted Answer

Colon

Answer

Cecum

Answer

Rectum

Answer

Appendix

Question 9

What is the primary role of bile in the digestive process?

Accepted Answer

Emulsification of fats

Answer

Neutralization of stomach acid

Answer

Digestion of carbohydrates

Answer

Stimulation of gastric secretions

Question 10

What is the main purpose of villi in the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Increasing surface area for absorption of nutrients

Answer

Secreting digestive enzymes

Answer

Producing hormones

Answer

Storing bile

Question 11

Which of the following is a characteristic of mechanical digestion?

Accepted Answer

Breaking down food into smaller particles

Answer

Converting nutrients into energy

Answer

Releasing hormones

Answer

Absorbing nutrients

Question 12

Identify the primary waste product resulting from protein metabolism.

Accepted Answer

Urea

Answer

Bilirubin

Answer

Carbon dioxide

Answer

Ammonia

Question 13

Explain how peristalsis contributes to the movement of food and waste through the digestive system.

Accepted Answer

Rhythmic muscle contractions that move food and waste in one direction

Answer

Uncoordinated muscle contractions that move food randomly

Answer

Voluntary muscle movements that mix and break down food

Question 14

How does bile contribute to the digestion and absorption of fats?

Accepted Answer

Bile emulsifies fats, increasing their surface area for enzyme action and absorption.

Answer

Bile contains enzymes that break down fats into smaller molecules.

Answer

Bile stores undigested fats and prevents their absorption.

Answer

Bile is produced by the small intestine and stored in the gallbladder.

Question 15

How does mechanical digestion break down food?

Accepted Answer

Chewing and stomach contractions

Answer

Enzymes breaking down food

Answer

Bile emulsifying fats

Answer

Peristalsis moving food through the digestive tract

Question 16

Which enzyme primarily initiates protein digestion in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Lactase

Answer

Amylase

Question 17

What is the main function of the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Nutrient absorption

Answer

Elimination of waste

Answer

Mechanical digestion of food

Answer

Production of enzymes

Question 18

Which hormone triggers the release of gastric juices?

Accepted Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Epinephrine

Answer

Insulin

Answer

Glucagon

Question 19

What substance is the waste product of protein metabolism?

Accepted Answer

Urea

Answer

Glucose

Answer

Carbon Dioxide

Answer

Oxygen

Question 20

Which organ is responsible for storing bile?

Accepted Answer

Gallbladder

Answer

Liver

Answer

Small intestine

Answer

Stomach

Question 21

What is the primary purpose of villi in the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Enhancing surface area for nutrient absorption

Answer

Secreting digestive enzymes

Answer

Transporting food

Answer

Storing nutrients

Question 22

Which of the following is NOT a recognised stage of the digestive process?

Accepted Answer

Oxidation

Answer

Absorption

Answer

Ingestion

Answer

Digestion

Question 23

What term describes the muscular contractions that propel food through the digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Peristalsis

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Absorption

Answer

Villi

Question 24

What is the primary function of the large intestine?

Accepted Answer

Water absorption and waste formation

Answer

Nutrient absorption

Answer

Enzyme production

Answer

Hormone secretion