MCAT Biology Practice Test 9: The Digestive System

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1. Which of the following associations correctly matches a gastric cell with a compound it secretes?

  • A. G cells—HCl
  • B. Chief cells—pepsinogen
  • C. Parietal cells—alkaline mucus
  • D. Mucous cells—intrinsic factor

2. Which of the following is NOT part of the small intestine?

  • A. Ileum
  • B. Cecum
  • C. Jejunum
  • D. Duodenum

3. In an experiment, enteropeptidase secretion was blocked. As a direct result, levels of all of the following active enzymes would likely be affected EXCEPT:

  • A. trypsin.
  • B. aminopeptidase.
  • C. chymotrypsin.
  • D. carboxypeptidase A.

4. Which of the following INCORRECTLY pairs a digestive hormone with its function?

  • A. Trypsin—hydrolyzes specific peptide bonds
  • B. Lactase—hydrolyzes lactose to glucose and galactose
  • C. Pancreatic amylase—hydrolyzes starch to maltose
  • D. Lipase—emulsifies fats

5. Which of the following correctly lists two organs in which proteins are digested?

  • A. Mouth and stomach
  • B. Stomach and large intestine
  • C. Stomach and small intestine
  • D. Small intestine and large intestine

6. Which of the following choices INCORRECTLY pairs a digestive enzyme with its site of secretion?

  • A. Sucrase—salivary glands
  • B. Carboxypeptidase—pancreas
  • C. Trypsin—pancreas
  • D. Lactase—duodenum

7. A two-week-old male infant is brought to the emergency room. His mother reports that he has been unable to keep any milk down; shortly after he nurses, he has sudden projectile vomiting. During exam, an olive-shaped mass can be felt in his upper abdomen. It is determined that there is a constriction in the digestive system that prevents food from reaching the small intestine from the stomach. Which structure is most likely the site of the problem?

  • A. Cardiac sphincter
  • B. Pyloric sphincter
  • C. Ileocecal valve
  • D. Internal anal sphincter

8. Many medications have anticholinergic side effects, which block the activity of parasympathetic neurons throughout the body. Older individuals may be on many such medications simultaneously, exacerbating the side effects. Which of the following would NOT be expected in an individual taking medications with anticholinergic activity?

  • A. Dry mouth
  • B. Diarrhea
  • C. Slow gastric emptying
  • D. Decreased gastric acid production

9. The two graphs below show the relative activities of two enzymes in solutions of varying pH. Which of the following choices correctly identifies the two enzymes?

  • A. 1—chymotrypsin; 2—pepsin
  • B. 1—pepsin; 2—carboxypeptidase B
  • C. 1—lactase; 2—aminopeptidase
  • D. 1—enteropeptidase; 2—amylase

10. Which of the following would NOT likely lead to elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood?

  • A. Cholangiocarcinoma, a cancer of the bile ducts that can ultimately lead to full occlusion of the duct lumen
  • B. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia, a disease in which the red blood cells are attacked by antibodies and are lysed
  • C. Ménétrier's disease, in which rugae thicken and overlying glands lose secretory ability
  • D. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose, in which the accumulation of toxic metabolites can cause rapid liver failure

11. Which of the following correctly pairs the molecule with its primary site of absorption?

  • A. Chylomicrons—lacteals
  • B. Amino acids—large intestine
  • C. Vitamins A and E—stomach
  • D. Cholesterol—ascending colon

12. Starch is hydrolyzed into maltose by enzymes from the:

salivary glands.

brush border.

pancreas.

  • A. I only
  • B. I and III only
  • C. II and III only
  • D. I, II, and III

13. Which of the following biomolecules does NOT drain to the liver before arriving at the right side of the heart?

  • A. Cholecalciferol (Vitamin D)
  • B. Threonine (an amino acid)
  • C. Fructose (a monosaccharide)
  • D. Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)

14. Which of the following hormones increases feeding behavior?

  • A. Leptin
  • B. Cholecystokinin
  • C. Ghrelin
  • D. Gastrin

15. Which of the following is likely to be seen in a patient with liver failure?

  • A. High concentrations of urea in the blood
  • B. High concentrations of albumin in the blood
  • C. Low concentrations of ammonia in the blood
  • D. Low concentrations of clotting factors in the blood