16 Digestive System
CHAPTER PRETEST
Have the students answer these questions prior to covering this chapter to understand where they stand
in relation to the content.
1) The principal structure of the digestive system is an irregular tube, open at both ends, that is
called the
a) alimentary canal.
b) oral cavity.
c) colon
d) esophagus.
2) Which of the following is not a layer of the digestive tract?
a) Mucosa
b) Muscularis
c) Lumen
d) Serosa
3) Which of the following is not a main organ of the digestive system?
a) Liver
b) Stomach
c) Cecum
d) Colon
4) Which of the following classification of teeth have a cutting function during mastication?
a) Canines
b) Incisors
c) Premolars
d) Molars
5) Which of the following is an accurate description of the salivary glands?
a) There are four pairs of salivary glands.
b) Salivary amylase begins the chemical digestion of carbohydrates.
c) They are located within the digestive tube.
d) The submandibular glands are those involved when a person has mumps.
6) The act of swallowing moves a mass of food called a ____________ from the mouth to the
stomach.
a) dentin
b) bolus
c) chyme
d) frenulum
7) Stomach muscle contractions result in
a) rugae.
b) peristalsis.
c) plicae.
d) ulcers.
8) The stomach sphincter that keeps food from reentering the esophagus when the stomach
contracts is known as the
a) hiatal.
b) pyloric.
c) cardiac.
d) fundus.
9) Most of the chemical digestion occurs in the
a) stomach.
b) liver.
c) duodenum.
d) jejunum.
10) The pancreas
a) is both an endocrine and an exocrine gland. c) contains an acid substance that
b) contains enzymes that digest proteins elevates the pH of gastric juice.
and fats only. d) isn’t a vital organ in the body.
CHAPTER PRETEST ANSWERS
1) a
The principal structure of the digestive system is an irregular tube, open at both ends, called the
alimentary canal.
2) c
The wall of the digestive tract is fashioned of four layers of tissue. The inside, or hollow space within
the tube, is called the lumen.
3) a
The liver is considered an accessory organ in the digestive system.
4) b
Note that whereas the incisors have very sharp cutting edges, the canine or cuspid teeth have more
pointed ends well suited for piercing and tearing. The flat premolars (bicuspids) and molars
(tricuspids) with their two or three grinding “cusps” provide large surface areas to effectively crush
ingested food material. Together, the teeth provide for effective chewing or mastication of a wide
variety and size of ingested food.
5) b
Very little digestion of carbohydrates (starches and sugars) occurs before food material reaches the
small intestine. Salivary amylase usually has little time to do its work because so many of us swallow
our food so fast.
6) b
First, mastication involves voluntary movements that result in formation of a ball or bolus of food in
the mouth that is then moved involuntarily through the oropharynx and into the esophagus and,
finally, into the stomach.
7) b
Stomach muscle contractions result in peristalsis, which propels food down the digestive tract.
8) c
The lower esophageal sphincter, or cardiac sphincter, normally prevents backflow of acidic stomach
contents.
9) c
Most of the chemical digestion occurs in the first subdivision of the small intestine or duodenum.
10) a
The pancreas is both an exocrine gland that secretes pancreatic juice into ducts and an endocrine
gland that secretes hormones into the blood.