AP Biology : Systems Physiology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Biology

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : Understanding Other Digestive Physiology

Ammonia is a byproduct of digestive absorption. It is converted to urea by the liver and expelled in the urine.

Which macromolecule is responsible for the presence of the ammonia byproduct during digestion and absorption?

Possible Answers:

Proteins

Carbohydrates

All macromolecules create an ammonia byproduct

Fatty acids

Correct answer:

Proteins

Explanation:

In order to answer this question, visualize the macromolecules as their monomers. The chemical formula for ammonia is , so the monomer will need to include nitrogen. Carbohydrates are chains of monosaccharides and are only composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Fatty acids are nonpolar molecules, and are composed of only carbon and hydrogen. Proteins are composed of amino acid monomers. Amino acids have an amino terminus, which includes a nitrogen atom. As a result, only proteins have the nitrogen atom which can be used in the byproduct of ammonia.

Example Question #51 : Systems Physiology

Which of the following does not take place in the small intestine?

Possible Answers:

Fats are emulsified into smaller particles by bile

Fats are broken down into glycerol by pancreatic lipase

Proteins are broken down into amino acids by pepsin

Carbohydrates are broken down into simple sugars by pancreatic amylase

Fats are broken down into fatty acids by pancreatic lipase

Correct answer:

Proteins are broken down into amino acids by pepsin

Explanation:

Complete digestion takes place in the small intestine, but pepsin is present in the stomach where it breaks down proteins to peptides. The pH in the stomach is very low, and pepsin, like all enzymes, has an optimal temperature and pH at which it functions best. For pepsin, this pH happens to be very low. The other enzymes mentioned that function in the small intestine have optimal pH's close to the pH of the small intestine (which is slightly alkaline due to the pancreas secreting bicarbonate).

Example Question #52 : Digestive System

Which of the following enzymes breaks down starches and carbohydrates?

Possible Answers:

Amylase

Lipase

Nuclease

Peptidase

Trypsin

Correct answer:

Amylase

Explanation:

Amylase is the enzyme that breaks down starches and carbohydrates. There are two types, salivary amylase and pancreatic amylase. Salivary amylase is produced in the mouth by the salivary glands and it is one of the first enzymes that begins the process of food digestion.

Example Question #53 : Digestive System

Which organ secretes proteolytic zymogens (inactive enzymes) that are present in small intestine?

Possible Answers:

The liver

The pancreas

The large intestine

The stomach

The small intestine

Correct answer:

The pancreas

Explanation:

The pancreas is responsible for secreting proteolytic zymogens, such as trypsinogen, into the small intestine. This is triggered by the presence of undigested food (chyme) in the duodenum.

Example Question #54 : Digestive System

The __________ synthesizes bile while the __________ stores and secretes it into the small intestine.

Possible Answers:

small intestine . . . pancreas

pancreas . . . liver

stomach . . . gallbladder

liver . . . gallbladder

liver . . . stomach

Correct answer:

liver . . . gallbladder

Explanation:

Bile is synthesized in the liver and secreted by the gallbladder into the small intestine upon the appearance of acidic chyme in the duodenum. Bile contains salts that emulsify (solubilize) fats, which is a necessary step in their digestion. If the gallbladder is removed, the liver can take over both roles.

Example Question #55 : Digestive System

What is the major enzyme in saliva that acts on carbohydrates?

Possible Answers:

Lingual pepsin

Lingual lipase

Salivary trypsin

Lingual amylase

Salivary amylase

Correct answer:

Salivary amylase

Explanation:

Salivary amylase in the mouth targets large starch molecules and begins the digestion process to a monosaccharide (i.e. glucose). Salivary amylase secretion is stimulated by the recognition of starch on sweet taste receptors, and is carried out by the salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, and sublingual). 

Example Question #56 : Digestive System

Zymogens are excreted in the digestive system in order to __________.

Possible Answers:

Be more resilient to the low pH of the stomach

Prevent accidental digestion of the body's proteins rather than dietary protein

Be more active than enzymes and break down food quickly

Be more specific to digestion

To save energy by producing an effective, but less costly enzyme

Correct answer:

Prevent accidental digestion of the body's proteins rather than dietary protein

Explanation:

Zymogens are inactive forms of enzymes that are secreted in order to prevent the accidental digestion of the body's important proteins (i.e. other enzymes, structural proteins). These zymogens are then activated through further processing in the compartments in which they are meant to work.

Example Question #52 : Systems Physiology

Enzymes such as trypsin and chymotrypsin in the small intestine break __________ into __________.

Possible Answers:

carbohydrates . . . diasaccharides

nucleic acids . . . nucleotides

carbohydrates . . . monosaccharides

fats . . . lipids

proteins . . . amino acids

Correct answer:

proteins . . . amino acids

Explanation:

Trypsin and chymotrypsin belong to a family of enzymes that are "proteolytic". This means that they target proteins and break them down into their building blocks called amino acids.

Example Question #53 : Systems Physiology

Amylase is a digestive enzyme responsible for breaking down which macromolecules found in food?

Possible Answers:

Proteins

Carbohydrates

None of these

Nucleic acids

Lipids

Correct answer:

Carbohydrates

Explanation:

The correct answer is carbohydrates because amylase is the enzyme that is able to break these macromolecules down into smaller parts. There are two kinds of amylase found in the body, salivary amylase in the mouth and pancreatic amylase in the pancreas. Both of these are involved in the breakdown of carbohydrates in digestion.

Example Question #59 : Digestive System

Which digestive system organ secretes enzymes vital for lipid digestive, and where are these enzymes introduced into the digestive tract?

Possible Answers:

Enzymes from the liver are introduced into the colon

Enzymes from the pancreas are introduced into the duodenum

Enzymes from the liver are introduced into the stomach

Enzymes from the pancreas are introduced into the stomach

Correct answer:

Enzymes from the pancreas are introduced into the duodenum

Explanation:

Lipase is synthesized and secreted from the pancreas into the duodenum of the small intestine. Lipase plays a key role in the digestion of lipids.

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