What is the main function of the small intestine?
- A. To store food and break it down into smaller pieces
- B. To absorb nutrients into the bloodstream
- C. To produce enzymes that help digest food
- D. To eliminate waste products from the body
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The small intestine is a crucial part of the digestive system responsible for absorbing nutrients into the bloodstream. This absorption primarily occurs through the villi lining the small intestine, which increases the surface area available for nutrient absorption. Nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals are absorbed into the bloodstream to support various bodily functions such as energy production, growth, and repair. Choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately depict the primary function of the small intestine, which is nutrient absorption.
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Which of the following epithelial tissues lines the stratified squamous epithelium of the esophagus, providing a protective barrier against abrasion from food passage?
- A. Simple squamous epithelium
- B. Stratified squamous epithelium
- C. Simple cuboidal epithelium
- D. Stratified cuboidal epithelium
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is stratified squamous epithelium. This type of epithelium is found in areas subjected to mechanical and chemical stresses, such as the lining of the esophagus. The multiple layers of cells provide protection against abrasion from the passage of food. Simple squamous epithelium (choice A) is a single layer of flat cells and is not well-suited for protection against abrasion as it lacks the multiple layers. Simple cuboidal epithelium (choice C) is found in areas where secretion and absorption occur, such as kidney tubules, and is not typically found in the esophagus where protection against abrasion is necessary. Stratified cuboidal epithelium (choice D) is rare in the body and is not a characteristic tissue type of the esophagus, which requires stratified squamous epithelium for its protective function.
What type of molecule forms the cell membrane and controls what enters and exits the cell?
- A. Proteins
- B. Carbohydrates
- C. Lipids
- D. Nucleic acids
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The cell membrane is primarily composed of lipids, specifically phospholipids, which form a lipid bilayer. This lipid bilayer controls what enters and exits the cell, providing a barrier that is selectively permeable. While proteins are also important components of the cell membrane and play various roles, lipids are the main structural component responsible for the membrane's permeability and function. Carbohydrates and nucleic acids are not the primary components of the cell membrane and do not have the same structural role as lipids.
What is the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach?
- A. Pharynx
- B. Esophagus
- C. Trachea
- D. Larynx
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: Esophagus. The esophagus is indeed the muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. Food is transported down the esophagus via peristalsis, a series of muscle contractions. The pharynx is the area behind the mouth and nasal cavity, the trachea connects the larynx to the bronchi in the lungs, and the larynx is the voice box located in the throat. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect in the context of the question.
What is the half-life of a radioactive isotope, and how does it relate to its decay rate?
- A. The time it takes for half of the initial sample to decay.
- B. The time it takes for all of the sample to decay.
- C. The rate at which new isotopes are created.
- D. The energy released during decay.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The half-life of a radioactive isotope is the time it takes for half of the initial sample to decay. After one half-life, half of the radioactive atoms have decayed. The decay rate, however, refers to the rate at which radioactive atoms decay, which is not directly related to the half-life. Choice B is incorrect because it does not correctly define the half-life. Choice C is incorrect as it refers to the creation of new isotopes, not the decay process. Choice D is incorrect as it describes the energy released during decay, which is not the same as the concept of half-life.
Which of the following organs is responsible for churning and mechanically breaking down food?
- A. Small intestine
- B. Large intestine
- C. Stomach
- D. Esophagus
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The correct answer is C, the stomach. The stomach is responsible for churning and mechanically breaking down food. It contains muscles that contract and relax to mix food with digestive juices, breaking it down into smaller particles. This mechanical digestion process helps prepare the food for further digestion and absorption in the small intestine. The small intestine is primarily responsible for the absorption of nutrients, not for mechanical digestion. The large intestine absorbs water and salts, and the esophagus is a muscular tube that transports food from the mouth to the stomach, not involved in churning or breaking down food.
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