Digestion and Absorption: A Comprehensive Guide for Nursing Students

Question 1

What is the liver's main role in the digestive process?

Accepted Answer

Producing bile that helps digest fats

Answer

Absorbing nutrients from the small intestine

Answer

Secreting enzymes that break down carbohydrates

Answer

Storing and releasing glucose into the bloodstream

Question 2

Which of the following factors does NOT typically affect the rate of gastric emptying?

Accepted Answer

Blood glucose levels

Answer

Volume of food ingested

Answer

pH of stomach contents

Answer

Presence of fat in food

Question 3

The process by which nutrients are transported from the small intestine into the bloodstream is called:

Accepted Answer

Epithelial transport

Answer

Peristalsis

Answer

Microvilli

Answer

Diffusion

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT typically a consequence of malabsorption?

Accepted Answer

Improved immune function

Answer

Weight loss

Answer

Nutrient deficiencies

Answer

Increased risk of infection

Question 5

What is the main function of the small intestine in digestion?

Accepted Answer

Absorbing nutrients

Answer

Storing food

Answer

Mixing and churning food

Answer

Secreting digestive enzymes

Question 6

Which hormone triggers the release of pancreatic juices?

Accepted Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Insulin

Answer

Glucagon

Question 7

What is the opening through which food exits the stomach and enters the small intestine called?

Accepted Answer

Pyloric valve

Answer

Ileocecal valve

Answer

Anal sphincter

Answer

Esophageal sphincter

Question 8

Which organ produces and secretes bile?

Accepted Answer

Liver

Answer

Gallbladder

Answer

Pancreas

Answer

Appendix

Question 9

Which nutrient type is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol?

Accepted Answer

Fats

Answer

Carbohydrates

Answer

Proteins

Answer

Vitamins

Question 10

What is the term for the process by which nutrients cross the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream?

Accepted Answer

Absorption

Answer

Assimilation

Answer

Ingestion

Answer

Digestion

Question 11

In the stomach, which enzyme initiates the breakdown of proteins?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Lactase

Question 12

Which enzyme is primarily responsible for breaking down proteins into amino acids in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Sucrase

Question 13

Which of the following enzymes begins the breakdown of proteins in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Trypsin

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Absorb nutrients

Answer

Secrete digestive enzymes

Answer

Transport oxygen

Answer

Produce hormones

Question 15

Which type of chemical digestion is characteristic of the large intestine?

Accepted Answer

Bacterial fermentation

Answer

Proteolysis

Answer

Lipolysis

Answer

Carbohydrate digestion

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT a role of the liver in digestion?

Accepted Answer

Secretion of insulin

Answer

Production of bile

Answer

Storage of nutrients

Answer

Metabolism of carbohydrates

Question 17

What is the main function of the gallbladder?

Accepted Answer

Stores and concentrates bile

Answer

Produces bile

Answer

Filters blood

Answer

Secretes enzymes

Question 18

Which enzyme kicks off protein digestion in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Trypsin

Question 19

Which enzyme, produced by the stomach's chief cells, starts protein digestion by breaking down peptide bonds?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Trypsin

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Trypsin

Question 21

Which of the following initiates the chemical breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Amylase

Answer

Proteases

Answer

Lipases

Answer

Nucleases

Question 22

Gastric juices are primarily stimulated by which hormone?

Accepted Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Secretin

Answer

Insulin

Question 23

The primary function of villi in the small intestine is to:

Accepted Answer

Increase surface area for nutrient absorption

Answer

Produce digestive enzymes

Answer

Secrete hormones

Answer

Transport food to the stomach

Question 24

The key function of the liver in the context of digestion is to:

Accepted Answer

Produce bile

Answer

Store glucose

Answer

Absorb nutrients

Answer

Secrete gastric juices

Question 25

The stomach normally maintains a pH level of approximately:

Accepted Answer

1-2

Answer

5-6

Answer

7-8

Answer

10-11

Question 26

Which of the following is not a function of the pancreas in digestion?

Accepted Answer

Absorbing nutrients

Answer

Producing digestive enzymes

Answer

Secreting bicarbonate ions

Answer

Regulating blood glucose levels

Question 27

The primary role of bile in digestion is to:

Accepted Answer

Break down fats

Answer

Neutralize stomach acid

Answer

Absorb nutrients

Answer

Stimulate the release of gastric juices

Question 28

Which of the following is not a function performed by the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Chemical digestion of fats

Answer

Temporary storage of food

Answer

Mechanical breakdown of food

Answer

Initial digestion of carbohydrates

Question 29

Which enzyme is responsible for initiating the breakdown of carbohydrates in saliva?

Accepted Answer

Amylase

Answer

Protease

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Pepsin

Question 30

In which part of the digestive system are nutrients primarily absorbed?

Accepted Answer

Small intestine

Answer

Stomach

Answer

Large intestine

Answer

Esophagus

Question 31

Villi in the small intestine are characterized by which feature?

Accepted Answer

Microscopic finger-like projections that increase surface area for absorption

Answer

Production of enzymes for digestion

Answer

Secretion of mucus to lubricate the intestinal lining

Answer

Responsible for propelling food through the digestive tract

Question 32

Which of the following is the primary mechanism by which nutrients are transported across the intestinal epithelium into the bloodstream?

Accepted Answer

Active transport

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Passive transport

Question 33

Which of the following is the primary role of the pancreas in digestion?

Accepted Answer

Secretion of enzymes that break down food

Answer

Regulation of blood sugar levels

Answer

Production of bile for fat digestion

Answer

Absorption of nutrients

Question 34

The primary function of the large intestine is to:

Accepted Answer

Absorb water and electrolytes

Answer

Synthesize vitamins

Answer

Digest carbohydrates

Answer

Absorb proteins

Question 35

Which of the following is NOT a function of the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Absorption of digested nutrients

Answer

Mechanical breakdown of food

Answer

Chemical breakdown of proteins

Answer

Storage of ingested food and liquids

Question 36

The primary enzyme involved in the initial digestion of proteins in the stomach is:

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Trypsin

Question 37

Which hormone stimulates the parietal cells of the stomach to secrete hydrochloric acid?

Accepted Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Secretin

Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Insulin

Question 38

The villi and microvilli in the small intestine serve to:

Accepted Answer

Increase surface area for nutrient absorption

Answer

Secrete hormones that regulate digestion

Answer

Aid in the mechanical breakdown of food

Answer

Transport electrolytes across the intestinal wall

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a function of the salivary glands?

Accepted Answer

Neutralize stomach acid

Answer

Lubricate the oral cavity

Answer

Aid in the bolus formation

Answer

Initiate the breakdown of carbohydrates

Question 40

Which enzyme is responsible for the initial breakdown of proteins in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Lactase

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Question 41

What is the name of the muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract?

Accepted Answer

Peristalsis

Answer

Segmentation

Answer

Villi

Answer

Microvilli

Question 42

Which of the following organs is primarily responsible for the absorption of nutrients?

Accepted Answer

Small intestine

Answer

Stomach

Answer

Large intestine

Answer

Pancreas

Question 43

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

Accepted Answer

To increase the surface area for absorption

Answer

To secrete enzymes for digestion

Answer

To transport food through the digestive tract

Answer

To store bile

Question 44

Which of the following substances is NOT absorbed in the small intestine?

Accepted Answer

Fiber

Answer

Glucose

Answer

Amino acids

Answer

Vitamins

Question 45

What hormone stimulates the release of bile from the gallbladder?

Accepted Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Secretin

Answer

Insulin

Question 46

What is the name of the passive transport process by which water is reabsorbed from the large intestine?

Accepted Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Filtration

Answer

Active transport

Question 47

Which enzyme initiates protein digestion in the stomach?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Trypsin

Answer

Chymotrypsin

Answer

Lipase

Question 48

What is the main function of the ileocecal valve?

Accepted Answer

Preventing backflow of contents from the large intestine into the small intestine

Answer

Regulating the flow of bile into the small intestine

Answer

Producing digestive enzymes

Answer

Absorbing water and electrolytes

Question 49

Where does carbohydrate digestion primarily occur?

Accepted Answer

Small intestine

Answer

Stomach

Answer

Large intestine

Answer

Esophagus

Question 50

Which hormone inhibits gastric secretion and motility?

Accepted Answer

Somatostatin

Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Answer

Secretin

Question 51

Within the stomach, which specific enzyme initiates the digestion of proteins?

Accepted Answer

Pepsin

Answer

Amylase

Answer

Lipase

Answer

Lactase

Question 52

Which hormone plays a crucial role in stimulating the pancreas to release its digestive juices?

Accepted Answer

Cholecystokinin

Answer

Gastrin

Answer

Secretin

Answer

Insulin

Question 53

Describe the primary function of bile acids in the digestive process.

Accepted Answer

Emulsifying fats

Answer

Neutralizing stomach acid

Answer

Digesting carbohydrates

Answer

Stimulating peristalsis

Question 54

Among the listed functions, which one is NOT performed by the liver during digestion?

Accepted Answer

Secreting digestive enzymes

Answer

Producing bile

Answer

Storing glucose

Answer

Detoxifying waste products

Question 55

Define the process by which digested food particles enter the bloodstream.

Accepted Answer

Absorption

Answer

Diffusion

Answer

Osmosis

Answer

Filtration