NCLEX Questions Gastrointestinal System Related

Review NCLEX Questions Gastrointestinal System related questions and content

The low pH of the stomach activates enzymes that digest ______ while inactivating enzymes that digest ______.

  • A. lipids; proteins
  • B. proteins; starch
  • C. starch; proteins
  • D. nucleic acids; starch
Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B because the low pH of the stomach activates pepsin, an enzyme that digests proteins, while inactivating salivary amylase, an enzyme that digests starch. Pepsin works optimally in an acidic environment, breaking down proteins into peptides. Salivary amylase, on the other hand, works best at a neutral pH and is denatured in the acidic stomach, leading to its inactivation. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect because lipids are primarily digested in the small intestine, and nucleic acids are not directly affected by the stomach's pH.