Human Physiology Multiple Choice Questions on

“Digestion – Human Digestive Glands”.

1. Which of the following is the largest gland ?

A. Liver
B. Thymus
C. Pancreases
D. Thymus
Answer: A
Clarification: Liver is the largest gland of human body. It is
present on the right side of the body.

2. Part of bile juice useful in digestion is __________

A. Bile pigments
B. Bile salts
C. Bile matrix
D. All of the mentioned
Answer: B
Clarification: Bile salts help in the absorption and digestion of
fats. Many waste products are eliminated from the body by
secretion into bile and elimination in feces.

3. Bile helps in __________

A. Digestion of proteins B. Breaking down of nucleic acids
C. Emulsification of fats D. Phagocytosis
Answer: C
Clarification: Bile is produced by liver. It helps in breaking
down of large molecule of fats into smaller parts and this
process is known as emulsification.

4. Name the digestive juice that lacks enzyme but helps in

digestion .
A. Bile juice B. Pancreatic juice
C. Ptyalin D. Pepsin
Answer: A
Clarification: Bile juice doesn’t contain any enzyme. It helps in
digestion of fats.
5. Stores liver’s digestive juice until they are needed by the
intestines.
A. Pancreas
B. Gall bladder
C. Villi
D. Stomach
Answer: B
Clarification: Gall bladder stores the livers digestive juice. It is
present under the liver. Gall bladder delivers bile into the small
intestine.

6. RBC’s are broken down in abnormally large amounts in

. __________
A. Cirrhosis
B. Viral hepatitis
C. Hemolytic jaundice
D. Obstructive jaundice
Answer: C Clarification:
Hemolytic jaundice is caused due to increase in hemolysis.
Unconjugated bIllirubin comes from the breakdown of the heme
pigment found in RBC.

7. When starch is broken down by pancreatic amylase

. is formed.
A. Glucose B. Maltose
C. Peptides D. Amino acids
Answer: B Clarification:

Maltose is a disaccharide formed from two units of glucose.

When starch is broken down maltose is formed in the pancreas.
8. Which is the readily available source of energy in the body?
A. Protein
B. Carbohydrates
C. Lipids
D. Vitamins
Answer: B
Clarification: Carbohydrates is the readily available source of
 energy in the body. The simplest carbohydrate is glucose. It
undergoes glycolysis to give energy.

9. Essential amino acids are those required in diet because body

cannot produce it.
A. True
B. False
Answer: A
Clarification: Essential amino acids are those which are
required in diet. Body is unable is produce it. It must come from
food. There are 9 essential amino acids.

10 . Which of the following is characteristic of the segmenting

movements in the small intestine?
A. It decreases particle size, which increases the surface area for digestion.
B. It brings the products of digestion to the mucosal surface for absorption.
C. It results in the mixing of the luminal contents in front of the propulsive
. segments (i.e. in the receiving segments)
D. All of the above.

11 . Which of the following is NOT involved in swallowing?

A. Contracture of the upper esophageal sphincter.
B. Coordination by the swallowing center in the medulla oblongata.
C. The approximation of the vocal cords to close the glottis.
D. The raising of the larynx to close its entrance.
12. Choose the correct listing of the anatomical divisions of the
stomach in the direction food normally passes.
A. Corpus, fundus, antrum. B. Fundus, antrum, corpus.
C. Antrum, corpus, fundus. D. Fundus, corpus, antrum.

13 . Which of the following salivary components continues to be

active in the acidic environment of the stomach?
A. Alpha-amylase
B. Lingual lipase.
14.. Which of the following is true Pancreatic secretions?
A. A higher rate of pancreatic secretion results in increased bicarbonate and
sodium ion. Plasma has
less bicarbonate and more sodium.
B. A higher rate of pancreatic secretion results in increased bicarbonate
and decreased chloride ion.
Plasma has less bicarbonate and more chloride.
C. A higher rate of pancreatic secretion increases its osmolarity and pH.
Plasma has a lower osmolarity
as pancreatic secretions.
D. A higher rate of pancreatic secretion results in increased bicarbonate and
potassium ion. Plasma
has lower levels of both ions.

15 . Which of the following has little effect on pancreatic

secretion or it's components?
A. Acetylcholine. B. Sympathetic stimulation. C. Secretin
D. Cholecystokinin E. VIP

16 . Defective parietal cells would result in malabsorption of

which vitamin?
A. Vitamin B1 B. Vitamin B2 C. Niacin
D. Vitamin B12 E. Folic acid.

17 . Which of the following is absorbed primarily by passive

diffusion powered by a concentration gradient?
A. Sodium B. Potassium C. Calcium

18 . Of the approximately 9 liters of water that go through the

GI tract daily, how much makes it out in the feces?
A. 100 ml B. 1000 ml C. 2000 ml
D. 1500 ml E. 500 ml

19 . The progressive wave of muscle contractions that proceeds along the

esophagus, compressing the lumen and forcing food ahead of it is called:
A. primary peristalsis B. segmentation
C. the migrating myoelectric complex D. mass movement

20 . Vitamin B12 is absorbed mainly in the:

A. stomach B. ileum
C. colon D. jejunum

21 . Saliva contains the carbohydrate-digesting enzyme:

A. pepsin B. carboxypeptidase C. amylase
D. trypsin E. lipase
22. Which is the primary absorptive organ of the digestive system?
A) small intestine B) stomach
C) colon D) pancreas

23. Which tissue layer provides for primary digestive motility?

A) Mucosa B) submucosa
C) mesentery D) muscularis mucosa

24. during swallowing :

A) All processes are consciously controlled
B) the swallowing center located in the medulla oblongata inhibits the
. medullary respiratory center
c) the food bolus is forced down the esophagus by gravity .

25. Proteins are primarily digested to and absorbed as...

A) amino acids B) monosaccharides
C) nucleic acids D) fatty acids & glycerol

26 . HCL secretion by the stomach...

A) Is triggered by chewing B) denatures proteins
C) activates enzymes that digest proteins D) all of these

27. What prevents food from entering the nasal passages during
swallowing?
A) elevation of uvula B) contraction of pharyngeal muscles
C) apposition of vocal folds D) elevation of epiglottis
28 . The serosa is...
A) abdominal cavity containing the stomach inner lining of the digestive tract
B) outer connective tissue covering of the digestive tract

29 . Some absorption occurs in the large intestine, but this is

mostly limited to...
A) amino acids B) water & electrolytes C) fatty acids

30. The major chemical digestive activity that takes place in the
stomach is...
A) breakdown of starch B) breakdown of proteins
C) digestion of fats D) neutralization of acid by buffers & mucous

31. Bile acts on...

A) distention in the stomach B) acid in the stomach
C) fat in the stomach D) fat in the duodenum
32 . Chief cells of gastric mucosa secrete...
A) Trypsin B) bicarbonate ions
C) pepsinogen D) HCL

33. Which of the following is true about pancreatic secretions?

A) CCK causes release of bicarbonate
B) secretin causes release of enzymes
C) gastrin stimulates release of enzymes
D) CCK stimulates release of enzymes while secretin stimulates release of
bicarbonate

34. The hormone that inhibit gastric secretion and motility is...
A) Gastrin B) histamine
C) secretin D) Pepsin

35. Intrinsic factor is...

A) secreted by parietal cells and is responsible for vitamin B12 absorption
B) not necessary for normal body function
C) abundant in pernicious anemia
D) an aminopeptidase
36 . Which tissue layer provides for primary digestive motility?
a) Mucosa b) Submucosa c) Muscularis Mucosa
d) Mesentery (a fold of tissue that attaches organs to the body wall)

36. What occurs during swallowing?

a) All the processes of Deglutition are under voluntary control.
b) The vocal folds are relaxed allowing the food to travel down the
oesophagus
c) The swallowing centre located within the medulla oblongata
inhibits the medullary respiratory centre
d) The food bolus travels down the oesophagus due to gravity
37. Amylase secreted by the salivary glands into the oral cavity
starts the digestion of:
a) Proteins b) Lipids
c) Starch d) Amino acids

38. Where does the production of bile occur?

a) Gallbladder b) Liver
c) Pancreas d) Hepatic Ducts

39. Select the true statement regarding the control of gastric

secretion:
a) Gastric acid is secreted by parietal cells of the gastric glands in response to
hormonal stimulation.
b) Most of the secretion of acid and pepsinogen occurs during the intestinal
phase.
c) Gastric secretion does not begin until food enters the stomach.
d) Secretin secreted by the duodenum stimulates gastric secretion.
=============================================================================
Digestive Apparatus – Mouth, Esophagus & Stomach”.
40. How many types of teeth are present?
A. 3 B. 4 C. 5 D. 2
Answer: B
 Clarification: Permanent teeth of man are 4 types. They are
incisors, canines premolars and molars.

41. Which structure closes the internal nares during

swallowing of food bolus?
A. Uvula B. Tongue
C. Palate D. Larynx
Answer: A
Clarification: During solling the soft palate and the uvula moves
up close off the nasopharynx preventing food from entering nasal
cavity. When this process fails it results in nasal regurgitation.

42. Crown of teeth is covered by ________

A. Dentine B. Enamel
C. Pinocytic D. Muscles
Answer: b
Clarification: Enamel is the hardest and most highly
mineralized substance of the body. It covers the outer layer of
each tooth. Enamel is made up of minerals primarily
hydroxyapatite.

43. ph of saliva is ___________

A. 6 B. 6.8
C. 7.5 D. 9.6
Answer: B
Clarification: ph of saliva is slightly alkaline range. The ph of
saliva is around 6.8 to 7.1.

44. Salivary amylase is also known as _________

A. Gastrin B. Glyoxylase
C. Pepsin D. Ptyalin
Answer: d
Clarification: Digestion of carbohydrates begins from the
mouth itself. It breaks starch into maltose and dextrin.

45. The esophagus connects _________

A. Mouth to throat B. Throat to stomach
C. Mouth to stomach D. Stomach to large intestine
Answer: b
Clarification: The esophagus is a muscular tube connecting the
throat with a stomach. It is about 8 inches long.

46. The esophagus is also known as ________

A. Food pipe B. Wind pipe
C. Stomach D. Voice box
Answer: a
Clarification: It is also known as gullet. It is an organ through
which food passes. It is aided by peristaltic contractions.

47. The esophagus is ____________ to the trachea.

A. Posterior B. Anterior
C. Lateral D. Dorsal
View Answer

Answer: A
Clarification: Esophagus is located posterior to trachea in neck
and thoracic regions of the body and passes through the
esophageal hiatus of diaphragm on its way to the stomach.

48. An opening in the diaphragm called __________ hiatus

allows the esophagus to pss through and connects to the
stomach.
A. Esophageal B. Diaphragmatic
C. Mediastinal D. None
Answer: A
Clarification: Esophageal hiatus is an opening in the diaphragm
through esophagus and the vagus nerve pass. It connects
diaphragm to the spine.

49. The stomach is formed of __________ parts.

A. 3 B. 4 C. 2 D. 1
Answer: A
Clarification: The stomach is formed of 3 parts. They are the
cardiac stomach, phyloric antrum and fundic part.
50. Inner mucosa of the stomach is raised into large number
of folds called as _________
A. Villi B. Cilia
C. Rugae D. Capillaries
Answer: C
Clarification: Inner mucosa of the stomach is raised into large
number longitudinal of folds called as gastric rugae. These rugae
dilate the stomach to store food and also increase the surface
area of digestion.

51 . Enzyme rennin used in digestion is secreted from.?

__________
A. Stomach B. Liver
C. Intestine D. Mouth
Answer: a
Clarification: Stomach is a muscular organ located on the left
side of the upper abdomen. It receives food from e esophagus.
Rennin is found in the stomach. It is an enzyme.

52. Which of the following hormone helps in secretion of

HCL from stomach?
A. Renin B. Gastrin
C. Secretin D. Pepsin
Answer: B
Clarification: Gastrin is a hormone that is produced by g cells
in the lining of the stomach and upper small intestine. Gastrin
stimulates the stomach to release gastric acid.

53. Gastric juice has a ph of about ___________

A. 6 B. 10 C. 7 D. 2
Answer: d
Clarification: The ph of gastric juice is acidic.
They range between 1.5 to 2.5 .
54 . ___________ sphincter prevents regurgitation of food from
. the stomach.
A. Cardiac B. Sphincter of oddi
C. Bimitral valve D. Villi
Answer: A
Clarification: Cardiac sphincter prevents acidic content of the
stomach from moving upward into the food pipe. It is found at
the lower end of the esophagus.
56. The stomach is divided into how many major portions?
a) One b) Two
c) Three d) Four
Answer: d Clarification:
The stomach is divided into four major portions namely-Fundus,
Cardiac, Body, and Pyloric.
The given figure represents the anatomical regions of the
human stomach:

57 . Which of the following is incorrect regarding the shapes

of the three portions of the small intestine?
a) Duodenum-C shape b) Duodenum-J shape
c) Ileum-highly coiled d) Jejunum-long coiled
Answer: b
Clarification: Small intestine is distinguishable into three
regions, a ‘C’ shaped duodenum, a long coiled middle portion
jejunum, and highly coiled ileum.

58 . Vermiform appendix arises from which part of the large

intestine?
a) Transverse colon b) Sigmoid colon
c) Caecum d) Rectum
Answer: c
Clarification: Vermiform appendix is a narrow finger-like
tubular projection that arises from the caecum of the large
intestine. The vermiform appendix is a vestigial organ in the
human body.
59 . Which type of micro-organisms does caecum hosts .
a) Symbiotic b) Saprophytic
c) Detrivorous d) Parasitic
Answer: a
Clarification: Large intestine consists of the caecum, colon, and
rectum.
 The ileum is a part of the small intestine which opens into the
large intestine.
The caecum is a blind sac which hosts some symbiotic micro-
organisms.
60 . The colon is divided into how many parts ?
a) One b) Three
c) Four d) Five
Answer: c
Clarification: Colon is divided into four parts- an ascending, a
transverse, descending part, and a sigmoid colon.
The descending part opens into the rectum which opens out
through the anus .

61) The mucosa is the outermost layer of the alimentary .

canal
a) True b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: The serosa is the outermost layer of the
alimentary canal. The alimentary canal is made up of four
different layers namely-serosa, muscularis, sub-mucosa and
mucosa. Mucosa is the innermost layer of the alimentary canal

62 ) In which layer of the alimentary canal, goblet cells ‫؟‬.

are present .
a) Serosa b) Mucosa
c) Muscularis d) Sub-mucosa
Answer: b
Clarification: Mucosal epithelium has goblet cells which
secrete mucus that helps in lubrication. All four layers show
modifications in different parts of the alimentary canal.

63 ) Muscularis layer is made up of which of the following .

a) Cardiac muscles b) Skeletal muscles
c) Smooth muscles d) Connective tissue sheath
Answer: c Clarification:
 Muscularis layer is formed by smooth muscles which are
usually arranged into an inner circular and an outer longitudinal
layer. An oblique muscle layer may be present in some regions .

64 ) In which layer of the alimentary canal, the glands are .

‫؟‬present in duodenum
a) Sub-mucosa b) Muscularis
c) Mucosa d) Serosa
Answer: a Clarification :
In the duodenum, glands are present in the sub-mucosa. The
sub-mucosal layer is formed of loose connective tissue
containing nerves, blood, and lymph vessels.

65) What does the question mark represents in the given .

diagram?
a) Inner circular mucosa layer
b) Outer circular mucosa layer
c) Inner circular muscularis layer
d) The outer longitudinal mucosal layer
Answer: c
Clarification: The correct labelling of the given diagram is as
follows:
Muscularis layer is further made up Inner circular layer and
.outer longitudinal layer
 Inner circular muscularis layer diagram

66 ) Innermost layer mucosa forms rugae in the stomach .

a) True b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: The mucosal layer of the alimentary forms irregular folds
or rugae in the stomach and small finger-like projections-villi in the small
intestine. The cells lining the villi produce numerous microscopic
projections called microvilli giving a brush bordered appearance

67 ) Which layer of the alimentary canal forms gastric glands .

a) Sub-mucosa b) Mucosa
c) Muscularis d) Serosa
Answer: b Clarification :
The mucosa layer of the alimentary canal forms gastric glands in the
stomach and crypts in between the bases of villi in the intestine which are
also known as Crypts of Lieberkuhn
.
68 ) Which of the following is not a digestive gland .
a) Salivary gland b) Testis
c) Liver d) Pancreas
Answer: b
Clarification: The digestive glands associated with the alimentary canal
include the salivary glands, the liver, and the pancreas. The testis is not a
digestive gland
69 ) Saliva is produced by how many salivary glands ‫؟‬.
a) Three b) Four c) Five d) Six
Answer: d
Clarification: Saliva is mainly produced by three pairs of salivary glands
which are the parotids, the sub-maxillary or sub-mandibular, and the sub-
lingual
70. Gastrin:
A. is only made in gastric antral G cells B. is inactivated in
liver
C. stimulates insulin secretion after protein meal
D. secretion reduces with gastric distention E. All of the above
71. CCK does NOT:
A. stimulates gall bladder contraction B. inhibits gastric emptying
C. stimulate secretion of pancreatic juice rich in enzymes
D. stimulates insulin secretion E. None of the above
72. Which of the following is TRUE?
A. Parotid gland provides most of the saliva produced daily.
B. pH of saliva at rest is 7.0
C. Lingual lipase is produced by salivary gland
D. Reflex salivary secretion upon eating is mediated by vagus nerve
E. Peristalsis is a gravity dependent process.

73. Which of the foIlowing pairing is TRUE?

A. Parietal cells - secretes HCl & intrinsic factor
B. Chief cells - secretes pepsinogen
C. Mucous cells - secretes bicarbonate
D. G cells - secretes gastrin
E. All of the above
74 . pH of stomach is:
A. 1-2 B. 4-5 C. 7.4
D. 8-10 E. None of the above
75. Which of the following causes increased gastric secretion by
stimulating vagus nerve?
A. Alcohol B. Hypoglycemia
C. Caffeine D. All of the above
E. None of the above
76. pH of duodenum
A. 1-2 B. 4-5 C. 6-7
D. 8-9 E. None of the above
77. Volume of pancreatic juice produced daily is:
A. 500 ml B. 1000 ml C. 1500 ml
D. 2000 ml E. 2500 ml

78. Which of the following is TRUE?

A. Trypsin can activates all pancreatic enzymes
B. Pancreas normally has trypsin inhibitor to prevent autolysis
C. Secretin stimulates pancreatic duct to increase alkaline content of
pancreatic juice
D. CCK stimulates pancreatic acinar to increase enzyme content of
pancreatic juice
E. All of the above

79. Amount of bile secreted daily:

A. 500 ml B. 1000 ml C. 1500 ml
D. 2000 ml E. 2500 ml
80 . Which of the following is TRUE?
A. 50% of bile salts are reabsorped in enterohepatic circulation through
Na/bile acid
cotransport.
B. Primary bile salts are converted to secondary bile salts in the colon
C. Conjugation of bilirubin render it more fat soluble
D. Unconjugated bilirubin is partly excreted in urine
E. All of the above