What is the primary function of the digestive system?
To filter waste from the bloodstream
To break down food, release nutrients, and absorb them into the body
To produce hormones and enzymes
To circulate blood throughout the body
The Correct Answer is B
A. To filter waste from the bloodstream: This is the primary function of the renal system via the nephrons. While the liver processes some bloodborne wastes, the digestive system as a whole focuses on external intake. It does not filter blood.
B. To break down food, release nutrients, and absorb them into the body: This encompasses the collective processes of ingestion, mechanical and chemical digestion, and absorption. It provides the essential building blocks and energy for all metabolic activities. This is the definitive biological purpose.
C. To produce hormones and enzymes: While the digestive system does produce these molecules, they are tools to facilitate its primary goal. Hormone and enzyme production are secondary mechanisms rather than the ultimate function. They support the process of digestion.
D. To circulate blood throughout the body: This is the primary role of the cardiovascular system. The digestive system relies on the heart and vessels for nutrient transport but does not generate the pressure for circulation. It is a recipient of systemic flow.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Variable:While the pH of the gastrointestinal tract changes between segments, the specific secretion of the intestinal crypts is consistently maintained. It does not fluctuate randomly under normal physiological conditions. It remains within a specific alkaline range.
B. Neutral:A pH of 7.0 would not provide the necessary buffering capacity against the highly acidic chyme arriving from the stomach. Intestinal juice must be slightly higher than neutral. This alkalinity is essential for neutralizing gastric protons.
C. Basic:Intestinal juice typically has a pH ranging from 7.4 to 7.8 due to its high bicarbonate content. This alkaline fluid protects the duodenal mucosa from acid-induced injury. It creates the optimal environment for pancreatic enzyme activity.
D. Acidic:An acidic secretion would exacerbate the low pH of the incoming gastric chyme. The intestinal mucosa is not designed to withstand prolonged acid exposure without neutralization. Acidic secretions are characteristic of the stomach, not the crypts.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Ferment:Fermentation of undigested carbohydrates primarily occurs in the large intestine via anaerobic bacteria. The stomach is an acidic environment unsuitable for significant bacterial fermentation. Its primary role is mechanical and initial chemical breakdown.
B. Secrete:Secretion of gastric juice is a function of the mucosal glandular epithelium, not the muscularis externa. While muscle contraction helps mix secretions, the muscles themselves do not produce acid or enzymes. Secretion is an epithelial process.
C. Churn:The stomach possesses an inner oblique muscle layer in addition to circular and longitudinal layers. This allows for complex, multi-directional contractions that physically break down food into chyme. This vigorous mechanical mixing is unique to gastric physiology.
D. Absorb:The stomach has a limited capacity for absorption, primarily taking in lipid-soluble substances like alcohol and aspirin. Absorption is mainly a function of the villi in the small intestine. The muscular layers do not facilitate the absorptive process.
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