ATI RN
Gastrointestinal System Nursing Exam Questions Questions
Question 1 of 5
The term gastrointestinal (GI) tract refers to the
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Step 1: The GI tract starts from the oral cavity where digestion begins. Step 2: It then moves to the pharynx, esophagus for food transport. Step 3: Next, the food enters the stomach for further digestion. Step 4: The small intestine is where most digestion and absorption occur. Step 5: Lastly, the large intestine absorbs water and prepares waste for elimination. Step 6: Thus, answer A includes all the structures involved in the entire digestive process, making it the correct choice. Summary: Choice B is incorrect as it omits the oral cavity. Choice C excludes the pharynx. Choice D is incorrect as it misses the oral cavity, pharynx, and esophagus.
Question 2 of 5
The salivary gland which is mixed but produces more serous than mucous secretions and whose duct opens inferiorly in the floor of the oral cavity next to the frenulum of the tongue is the ______ salivary gland.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: submandibular gland. This gland is mixed but predominantly serous, with a duct opening in the oral cavity floor near the frenulum of the tongue. The sublingual gland (B) is primarily mucous, not mixed. Palatine glands (C) are located in the roof of the mouth and are minor salivary glands. The parotid gland (D) is serous but opens into the oral cavity through the parotid duct, not near the frenulum.
Question 3 of 5
The stomach produces acids, which denature protein, and popsin that digests protein. The cell membranes of the epithelial cells lining the stomach contain protein. The protein in the epithelial cells are not denatured or digested because
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The correct answer is B: mucus coats the epithelium. The mucus layer acts as a protective barrier that prevents the acid and pepsin from coming into direct contact with the epithelial cells. This physical barrier helps to shield the cell membranes from denaturation and digestion. Choice A is incorrect because the type of protein in the cell membranes does not determine their resistance to denaturation and digestion. Choice C is incorrect because cell membranes are not destroyed, and mitotic activity does not play a role in protecting the cell membranes. Choice D is incorrect because hormones do not directly protect the cell membranes from acid and pepsin; rather, it is the mucus layer that provides the necessary protection.
Question 4 of 5
Bacteria and other foreign material absorbed by the small intestine are destroyed by ______ cells found lining the hepatic sinusoids.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: Kupffer cells. Kupffer cells are specialized macrophages found in the liver that play a crucial role in immune defense. They are responsible for destroying bacteria and foreign material absorbed by the small intestine as they pass through the hepatic sinusoids. Kupffer cells phagocytize these pathogens, preventing their entry into the bloodstream. The other choices, B: hepatic, C: endothelial, and D: acinar, do not have the specific function of destroying bacteria in the hepatic sinusoids. Hepatic cells are liver cells, endothelial cells line blood vessels, and acinar cells are found in exocrine glands.
Question 5 of 5
You have the following symptoms: sudden abdominal pain, slight fever, loss of appetite, and nausea. You may have
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A: appendicitis. Sudden abdominal pain, fever, loss of appetite, and nausea are classic symptoms of appendicitis. The pain often starts near the belly button and migrates to the lower right abdomen, where the appendix is located. Appendicitis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention to prevent complications like a burst appendix. Heartburn (B) typically presents with a burning sensation in the chest, and diarrhea (C) presents with loose, watery stools. Hemorrhoids (D) are swollen blood vessels in the rectum that cause discomfort but do not typically present with the symptoms described.