AP Biology : Systems Physiology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #4 : Digestive Physiology

The high concentration of __________ present in the stomach activates pepsinogen, allowing it to become active pepsin.

Possible Answers:

hydrochloric acid

bile

ATP

saliva

undigested food

Correct answer:

hydrochloric acid

Explanation:

Hydrochloric acid, produced by the parietal cells of the stomach, activates the zymogen pepsinogen. 

Example Question #31 : Systems Physiology

The __________ cell of the stomach are responsible for secreting the __________ that lines the stomach and protects its epithelial cells from its highly acid contents.

Possible Answers:

chief . . . bile

pariental . . . lipase

goblet . . . bile

parietal . . . mucous

goblet . . . mucous

Correct answer:

goblet . . . mucous

Explanation:

The surface mucous cells secrete mucous, which covers the cells that line the stomach. Without proper mucous secretion, the stomach can become damaged or even perforated. 

Example Question #32 : Systems Physiology

The parietal cells of the stomach secrete acid through the use of a __________.

Possible Answers:

None of these

hydrochloric acid channel

proton pump

sodium-potassium pump

ATP synthase

Correct answer:

proton pump

Explanation:

The parietal cells use a proton pump to release hydrogen ions into the stomach in the form of hydrochloric acid. This pump is the target of PPI (proton pump inhibitor) medications that work to reduce stomach acid.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Emulsification

A patient is admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain. A scan reveals that the gall bladder has multiple stones in it, and one is blocking the cystic duct.

Which of the following molecules would be inadequately absorbed during gall bladder obstruction?

Possible Answers:

Amino acids

All molecule types will be inadequately absorbed

Fatty acids

Monosaccharides

Correct answer:

Fatty acids

Explanation:

The gall bladder is important because of its storage and release of bile during digestion. Bile is important in the emulsification (or breaking up) of nonpolar fats in the aqueous small intestinal fluid. Cystic duct obstruction would result in bile being unable to reach the small intestine, and triglycerides would be unable to be properly emulsified and absorbed.

Example Question #2 : Understanding Emulsification

Where is bile stored when digestion is not occurring?

Possible Answers:

Appendix

Spleen

Kidney

Gall bladder

Adrenal glands

Correct answer:

Gall bladder

Explanation:

The liver produces bile, which travels down the bile duct to be released into the small intestine, specifically the duodenum. When the duct is not open, bile backs up and gets stored in the gall bladder. Once the duct is open, when the small intestine senses the presence of food, the gall bladder will release the bile to emulsify fats during digestion.

Example Question #1001 : Ap Biology

Which of the following does NOT play a role in the emulsification of dietary lipids?

Possible Answers:

Small intestine motility

Lipase

Bile salts

Phospholipids

Correct answer:

Lipase

Explanation:

Both bile salts and phospholipids are excreted from the bile duct into the upper small intestine (duodenum) to emulsify lipids. They are both amphipathic molecules, which means they have non-polar/lipophilic ends that can bind to lipids and polar/hydrophilic ends that can bind to water, thus emulsifying the lipids that they contact.

As these compounds are excreted from a single duct, small intestine motility allows them to mix with the contents of the small intestine and emulsify more lipids than they would be able to in a still environment. Small intestine motility also helps to break up large globules of dietary fat.

Once emulsified, dietary fat can be broken down by lipase, but lipase itself does not enhance emulsification.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Emulsification

Which organ stores the compound responsible for emulsifying lipids during digestion?

Possible Answers:

Gall bladder

Small intestine

Pancreas

Liver

Correct answer:

Gall bladder

Explanation:

Fats are generally composed of nonpolar lipids, making them hydrophobic and insoluble. In order to digest fats, they must be grouped together to increase their surface area and allow for enzyme interaction, digestion, and absorption.

Fat emulsification is the process of increasing the surface area of fats in the small intestine by grouping them into small clusters. This is the responsibility of bile, a liquid created by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. Actual digestion of the fats is then accomplished by lipase, an enzyme from the pancreas. Digested lipids are then transported into the lacteals of the microvilli for transportation through the lymphatic system before entering the blood.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Emulsification

Bile is produced in the __________, stored in the __________, and released into the __________.

Possible Answers:

kidneys . . . gallbladder . . . small intestine

liver . . . gallbladder . . . large intestine

gallbladder . . . gallbladder . . . small intestine

liver . . . gallbladder . . . small intestine

Correct answer:

liver . . . gallbladder . . . small intestine

Explanation:

The liver is responsible for synthesizing bile salts; these salts are transferred into the gallbladder as bile. The gallbladder stores bile, which it then secretes into the small intestine. Bile contributes to digestion by breaking up large fat globules, a process known as emulsification. Fats are insoluble in water, so emulsification provides pancreatic lipase with more surface area on which to act. 

Neither the spleen nor the large intestine are relevant answers to this sentence. The large intestine helps remove undigested waste from the body, absorbs water from waste, and produces/absorbs vitamins (due to colonies of beneficial bacteria that live in the large intestine). The spleen is an organ responsible for filtering the blood and housing white blood cells; it is not involved in digestion.

Example Question #1 : Understanding Emulsification

Bile salts are amphipathic and essential for fat absorption. Which of the following nutrients will be difficult to absorb in a patient with an inability to secrete bile salts into the stomach?

I. Vitamin A

II. Vitamin B

III. Vitamin C

Possible Answers:

I and III

All of these

I and II

I only

II only

Correct answer:

I only

Explanation:

Bile salt emulsifies fat into chylomicrons to allow for absorption. Of the choices, only vitamin A is fat-soluble. Vitamins B and C are both water-soluble.

Example Question #3 : Understanding Emulsification

Bile salts emulsify dietary fats by breaking them down into smaller clusters and creating a molecule called a __________.

Possible Answers:

chylomicron

globule 

micelle

bolus

cluster

Correct answer:

micelle

Explanation:

Bile salts surround fat droplets in order to create micelles. These micelles are more accessible to the enzymes that have the ability to break them down further. Chylomicrons are lipoproteins that are important in transport and metabolism of lipids.

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