Question 1

In a liver biopsy from a long-time drug user which of the following hepatocyte organelles would be expected to be more extensive than normal?&#10;A) Rough endoplasmic reticulum&#10;B) Golgi apparatus&#10;C) Lysosomes&#10;D) Peroxisomes&#10;E) Smooth endoplasmic reticulum

Accepted Answer

The smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER) is involved in detoxification processes, including drug metabolism. In long-time drug users, the SER becomes more extensive to increase the liver's capacity to metabolize and detoxify drugs.

Question 2

Which description is true of pancreatic zymogens?&#10;A) Are packaged for secretion in the SER&#10;B) Are synthesized on free ribosomes&#10;C) Are inactive until they reach the duodenal lumen&#10;D) Are stored in the basal cytoplasm of acinar cells&#10;E) Are produced by cuboidal cells lining the pancreatic duct

Accepted Answer

Pancreatic zymogens are inactive enzyme precursors that are activated in the duodenal lumen to prevent autodigestion of the pancreas.

Question 3

Which process increases in response to parasympathetic stimulation of the salivary glands?&#10;A) Volume of secretion&#10;B) Cell division in secretory acini&#10;C) Mucus content of saliva&#10;D) Inorganic salts content of saliva&#10;E) Cell division in interlobular ducts

Accepted Answer

Parasympathetic stimulation increases the volume of secretion in the salivary glands, leading to the production of a larger amount of watery saliva.

Question 4

Which feature is unique to the exocrine pancreas?&#10;A) Insulin-secreting $\beta$ cells&#10;B) Centroacinar cells&#10;C) Predominately serous secretory cells&#10;D) Striated interlobular ducts&#10;E) Striated intralobular ducts

Accepted Answer

Centroacinar cells are unique to the exocrine pancreas and are part of the ductal system, playing a role in the secretion of pancreatic juices.

Question 5

Which description is true of the bile canaliculi?&#10;A) Are bordered directly by endothelial cells&#10;B) Are part of the portal triad&#10;C) Are surrounded by the hepatic sinusoids&#10;D) Lumens are entirely sealed by junctional complexes&#10;E) Normally contain some blood plasma

Accepted Answer

Bile canaliculi are small ducts between hepatocytes that collect bile. Their lumens are sealed by tight junctions between hepatocytes, preventing leakage.

Question 6

Which description is true of the gallbladder?&#10;A) Dilutes bile&#10;B) Absorbs bile&#10;C) Secretes mucus&#10;D) Has a thick submucosa&#10;E) Is covered entirely by serosa

Accepted Answer

The gallbladder secretes mucus to protect its lining and aid in the storage and concentration of bile.

Question 7

Which description is true for the hepatic space of Disse?&#10;A) Is surrounded by the hepatic sinusoid&#10;B) Contents flow toward the central vein&#10;C) Is directly contacted by hepatocytes&#10;D) Lumen sealed by junctional complexes&#10;E) Contents empty into canals of Hering lined by cholangiocytes

Accepted Answer

The space of Disse is a perisinusoidal space located between the endothelial cells of the hepatic sinusoids and the hepatocytes, allowing direct contact with hepatocytes.

Question 8

A 50-year-old woman presents to the family medicine clinic. She admits to drinking a six-pack of beer each day with a little more intake on weekends. Laboratory tests show elevated alanine aminotransferase/serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (AST/SGOT). Her sclerae appear jaundiced and her serum bilirubin is $2.5 \mathrm{mg} / \mathrm{dL}$ (normal 0.3-1.9 mg/dL). A biopsy shows hepatic fibrosis with significant loss of normal lobular structure. Jaundice is most likely to result when the proper location or orientation of what hepatic structures is disrupted?

A) Central veins
B) Spaces of Disse
C) Kupffer cells
D) Hepatocytes
E) Merging sinusoids

Accepted Answer

Jaundice results from the disruption of hepatocytes, which are responsible for processing and excreting bilirubin. Damage to these cells impairs bilirubin metabolism, leading to its accumulation and resulting in jaundice.

Question 9

A 48-year-old woman is referred to an allergy and rheumatology specialist with itching eyes, dryness of the mouth, difficulty swallowing, loss of the sense of taste, hoarseness, fatigue, and swollen parotid glands. She reports increasing joint pain over the past 2 years. She complains of frequent mouth sores. Laboratory tests show a positive antinuclear antibody (ANA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels of $70 \mathrm{U} / \mathrm{mL}$ (normal $<60 \mathrm{U} / \mathrm{mL}$ ) by the nephelometric method. A parotid gland biopsy shows inflammatory infiltrates in the interlobular connective tissue with damage to the acinar cells and striated ducts. In this case, resorption of which of the following will be most altered by destruction of those ducts?

A)

\mathrm{Na}^{+}

B)

\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}

C)

\mathrm{HCO}_{3}^{-}

D)

\mathrm{Cl}^{-}

E)

\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}

Accepted Answer

The striated ducts of salivary glands are primarily responsible for the reabsorption of sodium ($\mathrm{Na}^{+}$) from the saliva. Destruction of these ducts, as seen in conditions like Sjögren's syndrome, would most significantly alter the resorption of sodium.

Question 10

A young child presents with hepatomegaly and renomegaly, failure to thrive, stunted growth, and hypoglycemia. A deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase is identified and the diagnosis of von Gierke disease is made. What cellular structures would be expected to accumulate in hepatocytes during progression of this disorder?

A) Chylomicrons
B) Glycogen granules
C) Mitochondria
D) Zymogen granules
E) Ribosomes

Accepted Answer

In von Gierke disease, there is a deficiency in glucose-6-phosphatase, leading to an inability to convert glycogen to glucose. This results in the accumulation of glycogen granules in hepatocytes.

Deck 16: Organs Associatedwith the Digestivetract