GNM 1st Year | Anatomy & Physiology
Practice these multiple-choice questions on the digestive system to revise important concepts for nursing examinations.
MCQs on Digestive System
These questions cover the alimentary canal, digestive organs, digestion, absorption, digestive glands and movement of food through the gastrointestinal tract. Each question is followed by the correct answer and a brief explanation.
1. What is the main function of the digestive system?
A. Exchange of gases
B. Digestion and absorption of nutrients
C. Production of urine
D. Pumping blood
Answer: B. Digestion and absorption of nutrients
Explanation: The digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients and water, and eliminates undigested material.
2. Which is the first part of the alimentary canal?
A. Oesophagus
B. Mouth
C. Stomach
D. Pharynx
Answer: B. Mouth
Explanation: Digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and mixing of food with saliva.
3. Which enzyme begins the digestion of starch in the mouth?
A. Pepsin
B. Salivary amylase
C. Lipase
D. Trypsin
Answer: B. Salivary amylase
Explanation: Salivary amylase begins the breakdown of starch in the oral cavity.
4. Which of the following is NOT a major salivary gland?
A. Parotid
B. Submandibular
C. Sublingual
D. Pancreatic
Answer: D. Pancreatic
Explanation: The major salivary glands are parotid, submandibular and sublingual.
5. What is the main function of the oesophagus?
A. Absorb nutrients
B. Transport swallowed food to the stomach
C. Produce bile
D. Store faeces
Answer: B. Transport swallowed food to the stomach
Explanation: The oesophagus transports food from the pharynx to the stomach mainly through peristalsis.
6. The muscular movement that propels food through the digestive tract is called:
A. Diffusion
B. Peristalsis
C. Filtration
D. Respiration
Answer: B. Peristalsis
Explanation: Peristalsis consists of coordinated muscular contractions that move gastrointestinal contents forward.
7. Which organ temporarily stores and mixes food?
A. Stomach
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Large intestine
Answer: A. Stomach
Explanation: The stomach stores food, mixes it with gastric secretions and forms chyme.
8. Which substance provides the acidic environment of the stomach?
A. Bile
B. Hydrochloric acid
C. Saliva
D. Bicarbonate only
Answer: B. Hydrochloric acid
Explanation: Hydrochloric acid is an important component of gastric juice and creates the acidic environment required for pepsin activity.
9. Which enzyme begins significant protein digestion in the stomach?
A. Pepsin
B. Amylase
C. Lipase only
D. Lactase
Answer: A. Pepsin
Explanation: Pepsin is active in the acidic environment of the stomach and begins protein digestion.
10. Which is the longest major part of the gastrointestinal tract?
A. Oesophagus
B. Small intestine
C. Stomach
D. Rectum
Answer: B. Small intestine
Explanation: The small intestine is a long, highly folded part of the gastrointestinal tract and is the principal site of nutrient absorption.
11. Which is the first part of the small intestine?
A. Ileum
B. Jejunum
C. Duodenum
D. Colon
Answer: C. Duodenum
Explanation: The small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum in that order.
12. Which is the second part of the small intestine?
A. Duodenum
B. Jejunum
C. Ileum
D. Caecum
Answer: B. Jejunum
Explanation: The jejunum lies between the duodenum and ileum.
13. Which is the final part of the small intestine?
A. Duodenum
B. Jejunum
C. Ileum
D. Rectum
Answer: C. Ileum
Explanation: The ileum is the final section of the small intestine and joins the large intestine.
14. What is the main site of nutrient absorption?
A. Stomach
B. Small intestine
C. Oesophagus
D. Rectum
Answer: B. Small intestine
Explanation: Most nutrient absorption occurs through the lining of the small intestine.
15. What are the finger-like projections in the small intestine called?
A. Alveoli
B. Villi
C. Nephrons
D. Bronchioles
Answer: B. Villi
Explanation: Villi increase the surface area of the small intestine and contain blood capillaries and lymphatic lacteals.
16. What is the main function of intestinal villi?
A. Pump blood
B. Increase the surface area for absorption
C. Produce bile
D. Store faeces
Answer: B. Increase the surface area for absorption
Explanation: The numerous villi provide a large surface area for efficient absorption of nutrients.
17. Which organ produces bile?
A. Gallbladder
B. Liver
C. Pancreas
D. Stomach
Answer: B. Liver
Explanation: Bile is produced by the liver and transported to the gallbladder and intestine through the biliary system.
18. Which organ stores and concentrates bile?
A. Liver
B. Gallbladder
C. Pancreas
D. Duodenum
Answer: B. Gallbladder
Explanation: The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile before releasing it into the small intestine.
19. What is the main role of bile in digestion?
A. Digest proteins directly
B. Emulsify fats
C. Digest starch in the mouth
D. Absorb glucose
Answer: B. Emulsify fats
Explanation: Bile salts emulsify fats into smaller droplets, increasing their surface area for enzyme action.
20. Which statement about bile is correct?
A. It contains pepsin
B. It contains digestive enzymes that digest proteins
C. It helps with fat digestion but does not contain digestive enzymes
D. It is produced by the pancreas
Answer: C. It helps with fat digestion but does not contain digestive enzymes
Explanation: Bile salts aid fat digestion and absorption by emulsification, but bile itself does not contain digestive enzymes.
21. Which organ produces pancreatic digestive enzymes?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Spleen
Answer: B. Pancreas
Explanation: The exocrine pancreas produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate-rich fluid that enter the duodenum.
22. Which organ has both digestive and endocrine functions?
A. Pancreas
B. Gallbladder
C. Oesophagus
D. Rectum
Answer: A. Pancreas
Explanation: The pancreas produces digestive secretions through its exocrine function and hormones such as insulin and glucagon through its endocrine function.
23. Which part of the digestive system mainly absorbs water and electrolytes and helps form faeces?
A. Large intestine
B. Oesophagus
C. Stomach
D. Mouth
Answer: A. Large intestine
Explanation: The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes and helps form and store faecal material.
24. Which part of the large intestine follows the caecum?
A. Colon
B. Rectum
C. Anus
D. Ileum
Answer: A. Colon
Explanation: The colon forms the major portion of the large intestine after the caecum.
25. What is chyme?
A. Undigested food in the colon
B. Semi-fluid mixture of food and gastric secretions
C. Bile stored in the gallbladder
D. Saliva mixed with food
Answer: B. Semi-fluid mixture of food and gastric secretions
Explanation: Food becomes a semi-fluid mixture called chyme after being mixed with gastric secretions in the stomach.
26. Which structure is the terminal part of the digestive tract?
A. Ileum
B. Rectum
C. Anus
D. Colon
Answer: C. Anus
Explanation: The anus is the terminal opening through which faeces are expelled from the body.
27. Which substance is mainly absorbed through intestinal lacteals?
A. Dietary fat products
B. Oxygen
C. Sodium chloride only
D. Water only
Answer: A. Dietary fat products
Explanation: Lacteals are lymphatic vessels in intestinal villi that help transport many products of fat digestion.
28. Which of the following is NOT an accessory digestive organ?
A. Liver
B. Pancreas
C. Gallbladder
D. Oesophagus
Answer: D. Oesophagus
Explanation: The oesophagus is part of the alimentary canal. The liver, pancreas and gallbladder are accessory digestive organs.
29. What is absorption?
A. Taking food into the mouth
B. Movement of digested nutrients into blood or lymph
C. Mechanical chewing
D. Removal of faeces
Answer: B. Movement of digested nutrients into blood or lymph
Explanation: Absorption is the movement of digested nutrients, water and electrolytes from the gastrointestinal tract into blood or lymph.
30. Which sequence correctly represents the main pathway of food through the alimentary canal?
A. Mouth → stomach → pharynx → oesophagus → intestine
B. Mouth → pharynx → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine → rectum → anus
C. Mouth → trachea → stomach → intestine
D. Mouth → liver → gallbladder → anus
Answer: B. Mouth → pharynx → oesophagus → stomach → small intestine → large intestine → rectum → anus
Explanation: This is the normal pathway followed by food through the gastrointestinal tract.
Quick Revision
- Digestion begins: Mouth.
- Stomach: Stores and mixes food and begins significant protein digestion.
- Small intestine: Main site of digestion and nutrient absorption.
- Villi: Increase absorptive surface area.
- Liver: Produces bile.
- Gallbladder: Stores and concentrates bile.
- Pancreas: Produces digestive secretions and important hormones.
- Large intestine: Absorbs water and helps form faeces.
- Peristalsis: Moves gastrointestinal contents forward.
- Lacteals: Help transport many products of fat digestion.
Related Study Resources
Before attempting these MCQs, review the Digestive System theory notes for GNM 1st Year.
You can also revise the Important Questions on Digestive System for GNM 1st Year before testing yourself.