,NURS 251 Pharmacology Module Exam 7 | Portage Learning /
nursing / Geneva College | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. What type of gastric acid is released by the parietal cells of the stomach?
A) Pepsin
B) Gastrin
C) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
D) Bicarbonate
Correct Answer: Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Rationale: Parietal cells located in the stomach lining are responsible for releasing hydrochloric acid
(HCl). HCl creates the acidic environment necessary for the breakdown of food and activation of
digestive enzymes. Pepsin is the primary digestive enzyme, not an acid, while gastrin is a hormone that
stimulates acid release.
2. Which substance is a major stimulator for the release of gastric juices?
A) Acetylcholine (ACh)
B) Serotonin
C) Substance P
D) HCl
Correct Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
Rationale: Acetylcholine (ACh) is a major stimulator that binds to receptors on gastric cells, triggering
the release of gastric juices including pepsin, gastrin, histamine, and HCl. HCl is the acid product
released, not the stimulator; serotonin and substance P are not primary stimulators of gastric secretion.
3. Describe the role of gastrin in the release of gastric acid.
A) Gastrin directly produces hydrochloric acid
,B) Gastrin binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like cells and parietal cells, stimulating histamine
release and HCl secretion
C) Gastrin breaks down proteins into polypeptides
D) Gastrin neutralizes stomach acid
Correct Answer: Gastrin binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like cells and parietal cells, stimulating
histamine release and HCl secretion
Rationale: Gastrin is a hormone that binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells and parietal
cells. This binding stimulates the release of histamine from ECL cells and directly promotes hydrochloric
acid secretion from parietal cells, thereby increasing gastric acid production.
4. Name the type of bacteria that is the primary cause of peptic ulcers.
A) Escherichia coli
B) Staphylococcus aureus
C) Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
D) Streptococcus pyogenes
Correct Answer: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
Rationale: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the primary bacterial cause of peptic ulcers. This bacterium
enters the body through contaminated food or water, triggers an inflammatory response, and increases
stomach acid secretions, leading to ulcer formation. NSAID use is another major cause, but H. pylori is
the leading infectious agent.
5. What is the primary function of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?
A) To filter waste from the blood
B) To regulate body temperature
C) To digest food and absorb nutrients
D) To produce hormones for growth
, Correct Answer: To digest food and absorb nutrients
Rationale: The primary function of the gastrointestinal system is to digest food and absorb nutrients,
which are then used by the body for energy, growth, and cellular repair. The organs of the upper GI tract
work together to break down food mechanically and chemically.
6. Which organ of the upper gastrointestinal tract is primarily responsible for releasing hydrochloric acid
(HCl) and pepsin?
A) Mouth
B) Esophagus
C) Stomach
D) Duodenum
Correct Answer: Stomach
Rationale: The stomach is the primary organ responsible for releasing gastric juices, including
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the enzyme pepsin. HCl is released by parietal cells, and pepsin is the main
digestive enzyme for protein breakdown. The mouth, esophagus, and duodenum have other digestive
functions.
7. Which enzyme is the primary digestive enzyme found in the stomach responsible for breaking down
proteins?
A) Lipase
B) Amylase
C) Pepsin
D) Trypsin
Correct Answer: Pepsin
Rationale: Pepsin is the primary digestive enzyme in the stomach responsible for the catabolism
(breaking down) of proteins into polypeptides. It works optimally in the acidic environment created by
hydrochloric acid. Lipase digests fats, amylase digests carbohydrates, and trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme.
nursing / Geneva College | 2026 Edition (PDF)
1. What type of gastric acid is released by the parietal cells of the stomach?
A) Pepsin
B) Gastrin
C) Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
D) Bicarbonate
Correct Answer: Hydrochloric acid (HCl)
Rationale: Parietal cells located in the stomach lining are responsible for releasing hydrochloric acid
(HCl). HCl creates the acidic environment necessary for the breakdown of food and activation of
digestive enzymes. Pepsin is the primary digestive enzyme, not an acid, while gastrin is a hormone that
stimulates acid release.
2. Which substance is a major stimulator for the release of gastric juices?
A) Acetylcholine (ACh)
B) Serotonin
C) Substance P
D) HCl
Correct Answer: Acetylcholine (ACh)
Rationale: Acetylcholine (ACh) is a major stimulator that binds to receptors on gastric cells, triggering
the release of gastric juices including pepsin, gastrin, histamine, and HCl. HCl is the acid product
released, not the stimulator; serotonin and substance P are not primary stimulators of gastric secretion.
3. Describe the role of gastrin in the release of gastric acid.
A) Gastrin directly produces hydrochloric acid
,B) Gastrin binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like cells and parietal cells, stimulating histamine
release and HCl secretion
C) Gastrin breaks down proteins into polypeptides
D) Gastrin neutralizes stomach acid
Correct Answer: Gastrin binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like cells and parietal cells, stimulating
histamine release and HCl secretion
Rationale: Gastrin is a hormone that binds to receptors on enterochromaffin-like (ECL) cells and parietal
cells. This binding stimulates the release of histamine from ECL cells and directly promotes hydrochloric
acid secretion from parietal cells, thereby increasing gastric acid production.
4. Name the type of bacteria that is the primary cause of peptic ulcers.
A) Escherichia coli
B) Staphylococcus aureus
C) Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
D) Streptococcus pyogenes
Correct Answer: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
Rationale: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the primary bacterial cause of peptic ulcers. This bacterium
enters the body through contaminated food or water, triggers an inflammatory response, and increases
stomach acid secretions, leading to ulcer formation. NSAID use is another major cause, but H. pylori is
the leading infectious agent.
5. What is the primary function of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?
A) To filter waste from the blood
B) To regulate body temperature
C) To digest food and absorb nutrients
D) To produce hormones for growth
, Correct Answer: To digest food and absorb nutrients
Rationale: The primary function of the gastrointestinal system is to digest food and absorb nutrients,
which are then used by the body for energy, growth, and cellular repair. The organs of the upper GI tract
work together to break down food mechanically and chemically.
6. Which organ of the upper gastrointestinal tract is primarily responsible for releasing hydrochloric acid
(HCl) and pepsin?
A) Mouth
B) Esophagus
C) Stomach
D) Duodenum
Correct Answer: Stomach
Rationale: The stomach is the primary organ responsible for releasing gastric juices, including
hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the enzyme pepsin. HCl is released by parietal cells, and pepsin is the main
digestive enzyme for protein breakdown. The mouth, esophagus, and duodenum have other digestive
functions.
7. Which enzyme is the primary digestive enzyme found in the stomach responsible for breaking down
proteins?
A) Lipase
B) Amylase
C) Pepsin
D) Trypsin
Correct Answer: Pepsin
Rationale: Pepsin is the primary digestive enzyme in the stomach responsible for the catabolism
(breaking down) of proteins into polypeptides. It works optimally in the acidic environment created by
hydrochloric acid. Lipase digests fats, amylase digests carbohydrates, and trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme.
