Question 1

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder in which the body's white blood cells attack and destroy exocrine glands,specifically the salivary glands.What could a patient with this syndrome expect?

Accepted Answer

Patients with Sjögren's syndrome have decreased or absent saliva production, which can lead to an increased risk of dental cavities or caries due to a lack of protective saliva.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

The manufacturing of blood cells is primarily the job of the skeletal system, specifically the bone marrow. The digestive system is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food, as well as fluid and electrolyte balance and acid-base homeostasis. Ingestion of vitamins and minerals is also a major job of the digestive system.

Question 3

What separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity?

Accepted Answer

The hard palate and soft palate separate the oral and nasal cavities. The hard palate is the bony portion that forms the roof of the mouth and separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity, while the soft palate is a muscular flap that extends posteriorly from the hard palate and also separates the two cavities. This separation is important to facilitate breathing, speaking, and eating without interference from each other.

Question 4

What is the main job of the pharynx?

Accepted Answer

The main job of the pharynx is propulsion, as it serves as a passageway for food and liquids to move from the mouth to the esophagus and for air to move from the nose and mouth to the larynx and trachea.

Question 5

The portion of a tooth that is visible above the gum line is known as the:

Accepted Answer

The crown of a tooth is the part that is visible above the gum line, whereas the root, cementum, and pulp are parts of the tooth that are typically not visible as they are located below the gum line or within the tooth.

Question 6

Which of the following catalyzes carbohydrates in the mouth?

Accepted Answer

Salivary amylase is an enzyme present in saliva that catalyzes the breakdown of carbohydrates, particularly starch, into simpler sugars. Bicarbonate ions help neutralize acid in the mouth, secretory IgA is an immunoglobulin that helps protect the mouth against bacteria and viruses, and lysozyme is an enzyme that breaks down bacterial cell walls.

Question 7

The sympathetic nervous system:

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body for action. This includes inhibiting nonessential processes like digestion, as the body needs to direct its resources towards other activities like running or fighting.

Question 8

Damage to the enteric nervous system that innervates the digestive organs could affect:

Accepted Answer

The enteric nervous system is responsible for regulating the motility of the digestive organs, so damage to it could affect the normal movement of food through the digestive tract. Damage to the enteric nervous system would not necessarily affect deglutition (swallowing), mastication (chewing), or salivation.

Question 9

From deep (innermost)to superficial (outermost),the layers of the organs of the alimentary canal are: 
1)mucosa
2)muscularis externa
3)serosa (adventitia)
4)submucosa

Accepted Answer

The correct order from deep (innermost) to superficial (outermost) layers of the organs of the alimentary canal is: mucosa (innermost lining), submucosa, muscularis externa (muscle layer), and serosa or adventitia (outermost layer), which corresponds to option D (1,4,2,3).

Question 10

Jerry had an ulcer affecting the innermost epithelium of the stomach facing the lumen.Which layer of the alimentary canal was ulcerated?

Accepted Answer

The mucosa is the innermost layer of the alimentary canal, consisting of epithelium, lamina propria, and muscularis mucosae. Jerry's ulcer affected the innermost epithelium, which implies that the lesion was located in the mucosa.

Question 11

Which tongue papillae lack taste buds?

Accepted Answer

Filiform papillae, unlike the other types listed, do not contain taste buds. They are primarily involved in the mechanical aspect of tasting, helping to move food around in the mouth.

Question 12

The crown of a tooth is covered by:

Accepted Answer

The crown of a tooth is covered by enamel, which is the hardest substance in the human body and protects the tooth from decay and other damage. Pulp, cementum, and dentin are all found within the tooth, but do not cover the crown.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a process occurring in the oral cavity?

Accepted Answer

Segmentation (the mixing of food with digestive enzymes and moving it back and forth in the digestive tract) does not occur in the oral cavity. The other three processes (chemical digestion, ingestion, and propulsion) all occur in the oral cavity.

Question 14

Absorption is best described as the:

Accepted Answer

Absorption refers to the movement of food particles, nutrients, and water through the wall of the alimentary canal (mainly the small intestine) into the bloodstream and lymphatic vessels for distribution and use by the body.

Question 15

Which nervous system primarily controls and increases salivation?

Accepted Answer

The parasympathetic nervous system, especially the facial and glossopharyngeal nerves, primarily control and increase salivation. The sympathetic nervous system can decrease salivation. The enteric and submucosal nervous systems are primarily involved in regulating gastrointestinal functions rather than salivation specifically.

Question 16

Rolita had the mumps as a child and experienced swelling in the parotid glands.What do these glands secrete?

Accepted Answer

The parotid glands are located in front of and below the ears and secrete saliva into the mouth. Swelling of these glands is a common symptom of mumps, a viral infection.

Question 17

Splanchnic circulation involves the blood supply that feeds and drains:

Accepted Answer

Splanchnic circulation involves the blood supply that feeds and drains abdominal digestive organs.

Question 18

What is the first process to occur in the digestive system?

Accepted Answer

The first process in the digestive system is ingestion, which is the act of taking in food through the mouth.

Question 19

A disease that attacks and disables the myenteric plexus would:

Accepted Answer

The myenteric plexus is responsible for regulating the contractions of the muscularis externa layer of the gastrointestinal tract, which is necessary for peristalsis and the movement of contents through the digestive tract. If the myenteric plexus were disabled, the motility of the muscularis externa would decrease, impairing the movement of food through the digestive system.

Question 20

What creates the mesentery?

Accepted Answer

The mesentery is formed by the folding and fusion of the visceral peritoneum, which encases and suspends the organs of the digestive tract within the abdominal cavity.

Quiz 22: The Digestive System