Question 1

Which organ is not part of the gastrointestinal tract?

Accepted Answer

The liver is not part of the gastrointestinal tract. It is an accessory organ that produces bile to aid in the digestion and absorption of fats in the small intestine. The gastrointestinal tract includes the oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine.

Question 2

Digestion of carbohydrates begins in the

Accepted Answer

Digestion of carbohydrates begins in the oral cavity. Salivary glands secrete an enzyme called amylase which starts breaking down carbohydrates by breaking the bonds between glucose molecules.

Question 3

Churning movements called mixing take place in the

Accepted Answer

Mixing or churning movements occur in the small intestine, which is responsible for further breaking down food and mixing it with enzymes and other substances for digestion and absorption. The other options, such as the gall bladder, esophagus, large intestine, and rectum, do not play a significant role in mixing movements.

Question 4

Which salivary gland empties into the oral vestibule at the level of the second upper molar?

Accepted Answer

The parotid gland empties into the oral vestibule at the level of the second upper molar through the Stensen's duct.

Question 5

Peristalsis

Accepted Answer

Peristalsis is a wave of muscular contraction that propels contents through hollow organs. It is not under voluntary control, does not involve the opening and closing of muscular sphincters, and does not involve back-and-forth movement for mixing. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 6

What type of epithelium lines the majority of the oral cavity?

Accepted Answer

The majority of the oral cavity is lined by nonkeratinized stratified squamous epithelium, which provides protection and resistance to mechanical forces. This type of epithelium lacks a layer of dead, keratin-containing cells found in the keratinized stratified squamous epithelium found on the surface of the skin. The oral cavity often experiences exposure to acidic and abrasive substances, making the nonkeratinized epithelium necessary for effective protection.

Question 7

Which bones form the hard palate?

Accepted Answer

The hard palate is formed by the palatine bones and the maxillae.

Question 8

Which is not correct regarding saliva?

Accepted Answer

Saliva is typically slightly acidic to neutral, with a pH range generally between 6.2 and 7.6, making the statement that its pH is slightly alkaline incorrect.

Question 9

Which term is not correctly paired with an alternate name?

Accepted Answer

The uvula is a part of the soft palate, not an alternate name for it. The soft palate is the muscular posterior (back) portion of the palate, while the uvula is the conical projection from its lower surface.

Question 10

Which is not considered to be an accessory digestive organ?

Accepted Answer

Appendix is not an accessory digestive organ. It is a vestigial organ with no known digestive function. The other options - pancreas, tongue, salivary gland, and gall bladder - are all considered to be accessory digestive organs as they assist in the process of digestion.

Question 11

Late one night,while studying for your anatomy class,you open a box of saltine crackers to do a little snacking.After chewing on a starchy morsel for a few minutes,you begin to notice a sweet taste in your mouth.What accounts for this?

Accepted Answer

Salivary amylase breaks down the starch in the crackers into simpler sugars, which taste sweet.

Question 12

Which is not a function of the digestive system?

Accepted Answer

Micturition, also known as urination, is not a function of the digestive system. It is a function of the urinary system, specifically the bladder and urethra, which are responsible for the storage and elimination of urine.

Question 13

The projections on the superior surface of the tongue,some of which house taste buds,are the

Accepted Answer

The projections on the superior surface of the tongue that house taste buds are called papillae. The other choices listed are not related to taste buds on the tongue.

Question 14

During mastication,the tongue is limited in its movement by its attachment to the

Accepted Answer

The lingual frenulum is a small fold of mucous membrane that attaches the tongue to the floor of the mouth, limiting its movement during mastication. The other structures listed do not directly limit the movement of the tongue during chewing.

Question 15

What is mastication?

Accepted Answer

Mastication refers to the process of chewing and mixing food with saliva.

Question 16

Where are the transverse palatine folds located?

Accepted Answer

The transverse palatine folds are located on the hard palate.

Question 17

Which term describes the opening from the oral cavity to the oropharynx?

Accepted Answer

Fauces refers to the opening from the oral cavity to the oropharynx. Choana refers to the opening from the nasal cavity to the nasopharynx, conchae are the bony projections in the nasal cavity, fossae are the depressions in bones, and glossus refers to the tongue.

Question 18

The initial site of both mechanical and chemical digestion is the

Accepted Answer

The initial site of both mechanical and chemical digestion is the oral cavity, where the teeth and tongue mechanically break down food and saliva chemically breaks down carbohydrates through the enzyme amylase. The stomach is responsible for further mechanical digestion through churning and chemical digestion through gastric juices, but it is not the initial site. The small intestine is primarily responsible for absorption rather than digestion, and the esophagus and pharynx are mainly involved in swallowing and transporting food to the stomach.

Question 19

Which cranial nerves innervate the salivary glands?

Accepted Answer

Cranial nerve VII, the facial nerve, innervates the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands, while cranial nerve IX, the glossopharyngeal nerve, innervates the parotid salivary gland. Therefore, choice C, which includes both cranial nerves VII and IX, is the most accurate answer.

Question 20

Which salivary glands produce the largest volume of saliva?

Accepted Answer

The submandibular glands are responsible for producing the largest volume of saliva, contributing around 60-70% of the total saliva produced.

Quiz 26: Digestive System