The Digestive System Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the digestive system?

To absorb nutrients

To store food

To eliminate waste

To convert large food molecules into smaller substances (correct)

Which of the following is NOT a major structure of the digestive system?

Esophagus

Liver (correct)

Mouth

Large intestine

What is the term used to describe the extent to which the digestive tract absorbs a nutrient and how well the body uses it?

Gastrointestinal function

Nutrient absorption

Digestive efficiency

Bioavailability (correct)

What is the purpose of cooking food?

To make food more digestible and safe to eat Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an accessory organ of the digestive system?

Liver Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus?

Gastrointestinal tract Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that converts large food molecules into smaller substances?

Digestion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following nutrients do not need to undergo digestion?

Water Signup and view all the answers

What is the medical term for the complete loss of taste?

Ageusia Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the esophagus?

To transfer a bolus of swallowed food into the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a condition characterized by having difficulty swallowing or being unable to swallow?

Dysphagia Signup and view all the answers

Why do children often reject strong-flavored foods?

Because they have more taste buds than adults Signup and view all the answers

What is the flap of tough tissue that prevents food from entering the larynx and trachea during swallowing?

Epiglottis Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for waves of muscular activity that help propel material through the digestive tract?

Peristalsis Signup and view all the answers

Why do people with dysphagia often experience weight loss and dehydration?

Because they are unable to swallow properly Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a distorted sense of taste?

Dysgeusia Signup and view all the answers

What happens to breathing when you swallow?

It stops automatically Signup and view all the answers

What is the sense that contributes to your ability to sense the taste of food?

Smell Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the salivary glands in the digestive system?

To produce mucus and enzymes for chemical digestion Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the enzyme that breaks down starch in the mouth?

Salivary amylase Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the tongue has more taste buds than the center?

The edges Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the sense of taste?

To stimulate appetite and detect nutrients or toxic substances Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the taste associated with the presence of amino acids?

Umami Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the inability to smell odors?

Anosmia Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the tongue in the digestion process?

To form bits of food into a rounded mass (bolus) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the partial or complete loss of the sense of smell?

Hyposmia Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the enzyme that breaks down fat in the stomach?

Lingual lipase Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary benefit of being able to detect various tastes?

To stimulate appetite and detect nutrients or toxic substances Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical capacity of the stomach after a meal?

4-6 cups Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the lower esophageal sphincter?

To constrict and close the opening between the esophagus and the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of hydrochloric acid (HCl) in the stomach?

To convert pepsinogen to its active form pepsin and kill disease-causing microorganisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of the mechanical and chemical activity in the stomach?

Some of the protein and fat in food breaks down Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the mucus layers in the stomach?

To protect the stomach from its acid and digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the pyloric sphincter?

To control the rate of gastric emptying Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of fatty meals on gastric emptying?

Fatty meals delay gastric emptying Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of the small intestine on average?

11 feet Signup and view all the answers

What is the diameter of the small intestine?

1 inch Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of burping?

To expel air from the stomach Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the alkaline fluids secreted by the pancreas, gallbladder, and the duodenum?

To neutralize the acidity of chyme and enable enzymes to work Signup and view all the answers

What is the main function of the small intestine's segmentation?

To mix chyme within a short portion of the small intestine Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of microvilli in the small intestine?

To release enzymes that break down carbohydrates and proteins Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the watery fluids secreted by the small intestine?

To lubricate the intestinal walls and facilitate the passage of chyme Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the hollow space in an organ or structure that is surrounded by walls?

Lumen Signup and view all the answers

How do some nutrients enter the absorptive cells of the small intestine?

Through diffusion Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the reactions that occur during digestion involving water?

Hydrolytic reactions Signup and view all the answers

Where do absorbed water-soluble nutrients enter after being absorbed by the small intestine?

The villus's capillary Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the mucus layer produced by the cells lining the small intestine?

To protect the tissue from being damaged by chyme Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the circular folds in the lining of the small intestine?

To increase the surface area of the lumen Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary location where bezoars are most likely to develop in the human gastrointestinal tract?

Stomach Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage of feces that consists of bacteria that normally live in the large intestine?

46% Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of mucus in the large intestine?

To protect and lubricate the walls of the colon and rectum Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the consumption of nonfood items, including stones and clay?

Pica Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the collective term for viruses, fungi, and bacteria in the large intestine?

Gut microbiota Signup and view all the answers

How long does it take for any remaining undigested material to move through the large intestine and become semisolid feces?

30 to 40 hours Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary way that feces are expelled from the body?

Through the anus Signup and view all the answers

What is the age by which healthy children are typically able to voluntarily control their external anal sphincter?

4 years Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the process of swallowing?

Deglutition Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the external anal sphincter?

To allow feces to be expelled Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the pancreas in digestion?

Secretion of digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cholecystokinin in digestion?

Stimulating the release of digestive enzymes from the pancreas Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the liver in digestion?

Making cholesterol and producing bile Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of a gallstone lodging in the common bile duct?

Bile backs up into the liver or pancreas Signup and view all the answers

What is the cause of impaired digestion in people with cystic fibrosis?

Blocked pancreatic ducts Signup and view all the answers

What is the treatment for malabsorption in people with cystic fibrosis?

Taking capsules of pancreatic enzymes with meals Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a tightly tangled bit of fur that becomes trapped in the digestive tract?

Trichobezoar Signup and view all the answers

What is the risk factor for developing gallstones?

Having excess body fat Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the bile flow after the removal of the diseased gallbladder?

Bile flows from the liver directly into the small intestine Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a type of bezoar that contains fibrous indigestible plant material?

Phytobezoar Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the hepatic portal vein?

To deliver nutrient-rich blood directly to the liver Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of Peyer's patches in the ileum?

To produce antibodies to fight infection Signup and view all the answers

What happens to older absorptive cells in the small intestine?

They are shed into the lumen and digested along with chyme Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the pancreas in the digestive process?

To produce and secrete digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a lack of nutrients needed for cell division in the small intestine?

Decreased absorption of nutrients Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of chylomicrons in the transport of fat-soluble nutrients?

To coat fat-soluble nutrients with a protein layer Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of inflammation in the intestines?

Pain, tissue redness and swelling, loss of function, and fever Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the lymphatic system in the transport of fat-soluble nutrients?

To transport chylomicrons to the lymphatic system Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of bicarbonate ions secreted by the pancreas?

To neutralize HCl in chyme Signup and view all the answers

What is malabsorption?

A condition where the body is unable to absorb nutrients from food Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of yeast in the production of beer, wine, and liquor?

To ferment sugars, forming ethanol Signup and view all the answers

What can occur when a person takes antibiotics to treat bacterial infections?

Intestinal dysbiosis occurs, leading to yeast overpopulation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the condition where yeast ferment sugars in the colon, producing alcohol as a by-product?

Gut fermentation syndrome Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of probiotics?

To promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut Signup and view all the answers

What are prebiotics?

Forms of dietary fiber that support the growth of probiotics Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of probiotics in treating people with IBS?

They can reduce the symptoms of IBS Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium in probiotics?

They are bacterial groups that are most often used in probiotics Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of washing hands after having bowel movements?

To reduce the risk of spreading harmful microbes to others Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which the gut microbiota is influenced by a person's diet?

Diet-microbiota interaction Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the organisms that can digest and absorb nutrients from plants, animals, fungi, and bacteria?

Omnivores Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the digestive system in response to dietary changes?

To increase the production of various digestive enzymes Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated number of adult Americans who have either ulcerative colitis (UC) or Crohn's disease (CD)?

3 million Signup and view all the answers

What is thought to trigger an abnormal response by the intestinal tract's immune cells and lead to IBD?

A change in the gut's microbiota Signup and view all the answers

What is a common symptom of ulcerative colitis (UC)?

Diarrhea Signup and view all the answers

What is the typical Western diet high in?

Animal protein Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the inflammatory bowel disease that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract?

Crohn's disease Signup and view all the answers

What is the recommended diet for people with ulcerative colitis during flares?

A low-fiber diet Signup and view all the answers

What is the increased risk for people with ulcerative colitis?

Colon cancer Signup and view all the answers

What is the name of the section of the small intestine that is often inflamed in Crohn's disease?

Ileum Signup and view all the answers

What is the treatment for Crohn's disease similar to?

The treatment for ulcerative colitis Signup and view all the answers

What happens to people with Crohn’s disease?

They have an increased risk of colon cancer Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Alicia Anne's treatment with prednisone?

To reduce inflammation in the large intestine Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of using frequent enemas?

Depletion of vital minerals such as sodium and potassium Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the gastroenterologist in Alicia's diagnosis?

To diagnose and treat intestinal diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of removing badly damaged portions of the intestinal tract?

Surgery is necessary to remove damaged portions Signup and view all the answers

What is Alicia's condition characterized by?

Ulcers throughout the large intestine and chronic inflammation Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of Alicia's monitoring of food choices?

To identify foods that cause flares Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of Alicia's treatment with medication?

She feels better and is strong enough to resume her work schedule Signup and view all the answers

What is the consequence of having Crohn's disease?

Increased risk of colon cancer Signup and view all the answers

What is the importance of Alicia's regular check-ups with her physician?

To monitor her food choices and identify foods that cause flares Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the gut microbiota in the human body?

To maintain a balance with each other that benefits the host Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of an imbalance of the normal diversity of microbial populations in the GI tract?

Intestinal inflammation and diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the appendix in the human body?

It has immune system function and produces an antibody called immunoglobulin A (IgA) Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of eating a high-fiber diet?

It reduces the level of protein fermentation in the gut Signup and view all the answers

What is gut microbiota transplantation (GMT) used to treat?

Clostridioides difficile (C-diff) infection Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of antibiotic use on the gut microbiota?

It kills most of the bacteria in the colon Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the gut microbiota in producing vitamins?

They produce vitamin K, thiamin, and biotin Signup and view all the answers

What is the link between gut microbiota and diseases?

A person's risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, liver diseases, and obesity has been linked to the diversity of his or her intestinal bacteria Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the condition characterized by the imbalance of the normal diversity of microbial populations in the GI tract?

Dysbiosis Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the appendix as a 'storage facility'?

It stores various kinds of bacteria that can be added to the colon's microbiota Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Digestive System

The digestive system, also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is a hollow, muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus, approximately 16 feet long.
The major structures of the digestive system are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines.

Organs of Digestion

The teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas are accessory organs of the digestive system that assist in food digestion, nutrient absorption, and waste elimination.

Mouth

Digestion begins in the mouth, where teeth mechanically break down food into smaller chunks.
The tongue helps form a bolus of food and directs it to the back of the mouth for swallowing.
Saliva from salivary glands contains mucus and enzymes, such as salivary amylase and lingual lipase, which break down carbohydrates and fats.
Taste buds on the tongue detect sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami tastes.

Esophagus

The esophagus is a muscular tube that transfers a bolus of food into the stomach.
The primary function of the esophagus is to propel food into the stomach using peristalsis, a wave of muscular contractions.
The epiglottis, a flap of tissue, prevents food from entering the larynx and trachea.

Stomach

The stomach is a muscular sac that expands to hold 4-6 cups of food after a meal.
Gastric juice, containing hydrochloric acid (HCl) and enzymes, is secreted by the stomach to break down proteins and fats.
The stomach churns and mixes food with gastric juice, breaking down proteins and fats, and absorbing some nutrients.

Small Intestine

The small intestine is a tightly-coiled hollow tube, approximately 11 feet long, where most digestion and nutrient absorption occur.
The small intestine has three sections: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.
The duodenum is the first section, where acidic stomach contents mix with alkaline fluids from the pancreas, gallbladder, and duodenum.
The jejunum and ileum are the middle and last sections, where most digestion and nutrient absorption occur.

Nutrient Absorption in the Small Intestine

The small intestine relies on peristalsis and segmentation to mix chyme and facilitate nutrient absorption.
The lining of the small intestine is covered with villi, which increase the surface area for absorption.
Absorptive cells in the villi have microvilli, which release enzymes to complete the digestion of carbohydrates and proteins.
Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream through the portal venous system and eventually reach the liver for processing.

Large Intestine

The large intestine is where water and electrolytes are absorbed, and the remaining waste is formed into feces.
The large intestine is also home to the gut microbiota, which plays a crucial role in health.

Malabsorption

Malabsorption occurs when the small intestine is unable to absorb nutrients, often due to a lack of nutrients needed for cell division.
This can lead to a range of health problems, including nutrient deficiencies and gastrointestinal disorders.### Intestinal Tract and Immune Function
The intestinal tract produces mucus, which forms a barrier to reduce the likelihood of absorption of agents of infection
Peyer's patches in the ileum have immune system cells that produce antibodies to combat harmful agents
Antibodies recognize and bind to harmful agents, helping to destroy them before they enter the bloodstream

Pancreas, Liver, and Gallbladder

The pancreas produces and secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions to neutralize stomach acid
The liver processes and stores nutrients, makes cholesterol, and produces bile to prepare fats and fat-soluble vitamins for digestion
Bile is stored in the gallbladder and released into the small intestine when fat is present

Formation of Gallstones

Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form in the gallbladder
They are usually composed of cholesterol and can cause pain and blockage of the bile ducts
Having excess body fat increases the risk of developing gallstones

Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that affects the production of mucus and digestive enzymes
Thick, sticky mucus blocks passageways in the respiratory and digestive systems
The disease impairs digestion and nutrient absorption

Bezoars

Bezoars are dense masses of undigested material that can form in the digestive tract
They can be classified according to their contents, such as phytobezoars (plant material) and trichobezoars (hair)
Bezoars can cause symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and weight loss

Large Intestine

The large intestine is shorter than the small intestine but has a wider diameter
Cells in the large intestine produce mucus to protect and lubricate the walls
The large intestine has no villi, so little additional absorption occurs in this structure
Feces are formed in the large intestine and consist of bacteria, undigested fiber, and small amounts of water, protein, and fat

Elimination

Feces are stored in the rectum until they are eliminated through the anus
The external anal sphincter is under voluntary control, allowing individuals to determine when to have a bowel movement

Microbes in the Digestive Tract

The large intestine is home to a diverse community of microbes, known as gut microbiota
Gut microbiota play a crucial role in breaking down undigested food, producing vitamins, and maintaining a balance with each other
An imbalance of gut microbiota, known as dysbiosis, can lead to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease

Probiotics and Prebiotics

Probiotics are live, beneficial microbes that can be found in fermented foods or taken as dietary supplements
Prebiotics are forms of dietary fiber that support the growth of probiotics in the colon
Probiotics and prebiotics may help prevent diarrhea and treat certain intestinal disorders

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic diseases that cause inflammation and swelling of the intestines
The two most common forms of IBD are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease
IBD is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and dietary factors
The typical Western diet, which is high in animal protein and low in fiber, may contribute to the development of IBD### Ulcerative Colitis (UC)
People with UC must take medication for the rest of their lives, unless their large intestine is severely diseased and needs to be surgically removed.
Patients with UC have an increased risk of colon cancer, especially when their entire colon is affected and they have had the disease for 8 or more years.
Managing inflammation with medication and having regular screening can reduce the risk of colon cancer.

Crohn's Disease (CD)

More than 500,000 Americans have CD, a form of IBD that can affect the entire gastrointestinal tract, including the mouth.
The last section of the small intestine (ileum) and the beginning of the colon are most commonly inflamed in CD.
CD damages deeper layers of the intestines than UC.
Symptoms of CD include diarrhea, painful abdominal cramps, loss of appetite, and weight loss.
Treatment for CD is similar to that of UC, involving medication to reduce inflammation and promote healing, as well as avoiding foods that cause "flares".
Surgery may be necessary in severe cases to remove badly damaged portions of the intestinal tract.
People with CD have an increased risk of colon cancer.

Alicia's Story

Alicia Anne, a young woman, was diagnosed with CD at 25 years old.
She experienced weight loss, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, and eventually discovered blood in her stools.
She was diagnosed with an inflamed ileum and CD, and was prescribed prednisone to treat her condition.
Alicia now takes multiple medications to manage her CD, and monitors her diet to avoid "flares".

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Description

Test your knowledge of the human digestive system, including major organs, accessory organs, digestion, absorption, and waste elimination processes.