UPDATED ACTUAL Exam Questions and
CORRECT Answers
essential nutrients - CORRECT ANSWER - component of food deemed to be essential for
life and physiological functions.
- Energy
- certain fatty acids and amino acids
- vitamins
- minerals
diets inadequate in or devoid of essential nutrients result in... - CORRECT ANSWER -
physiological dysfunction, impaired growth, impaired reproduction and/or organismal demise
metabolism - CORRECT ANSWER - All of the chemical reactions that occur within an
organism. "the chemistry of life"
non-essential nutrients - CORRECT ANSWER - some influence physiology & health
some may be inert, toxins
ATP contains... - CORRECT ANSWER - 2 high energy phosphate bonds that can be
hydrolyzed, releasing energy to fuel chemical reactions and perform work
macromolecules - CORRECT ANSWER - ○ Lipids
○ Proteins
○ Nucleic Acids
○ Carbohydrates
,We cannot synthesize these macromolecules from nothing. food/nutrition provides the raw
materials then our cells/organs can biotransform compounds found in foods to other molecules
needed by the cell/body
■ e.g. proteins that are in animal and plant foods are broken down to provide theraw amino
acids, nitrogen, and carbon skeletons needed to maintain the bodiespool of amino acids for
protein synthesis and non-protein functions
our body cannot ...... certain essential fatty acids, amino acids - CORRECT ANSWER -
synthesize at all or cannot synthesize enough
why does the body require additional accessory factors (vitamins, minerals)? - CORRECT
ANSWER - for use as cofactors and substrates in metabolic reactions, act as important
signaling molecules, and influence cellular homeostasis through several mechanisms
Foods contain 1000s of... - CORRECT ANSWER - compounds that we consume that can
be absorbed and metabolized, exert influence on physiology, be unabsorbed or potentially
interact with gut microbiota
The nutrients within food are rarely in an immediately absorbable form. They are in the form... -
CORRECT ANSWER - - needed by the plant or animal cell
- most stable/palatable added during product formulation
● Our digestive tracts have to be able to break down the food components into their minimally
absorbable forms to be absorbed and used by our cells
dysphagia - CORRECT ANSWER - difficulty swallowing
Digestion - CORRECT ANSWER - physical & chemical -> reduce size of molecules&
repackage to facilitate absorption
absorption - CORRECT ANSWER - movement from GI tract to blood or lymph
,secretion - CORRECT ANSWER - movement into lumen of GI tract
motility - CORRECT ANSWER - muscles mix & move contents via peristalsis
GI tract layers - CORRECT ANSWER - 1. Mucosa
2. Submucosa
3. Muscularis
4. Adventitia (esophagus) or Serosa (stomach,intestine) Inner (facing lumen) to outer
oral cavity - CORRECT ANSWER - Goal = Food bolus
Functions
● Chewing (mastication)
● Initiate digestion
● Swallowing
salivary glands - CORRECT ANSWER - Goal = Food bolus
Functions
● Chewing
● Initiate digestion
● Swallowing
The interior of the mouth is covered in a mucous membrane that contains many minor salivary
glands that produce ~7% of saliva
saliva - CORRECT ANSWER - ● Produce around 500mL/day
○ Water in saliva moistens food
○ Glycoproteins (mucin) in saliva lubricate and prevent abrasion
○ Salivary amylase initiates digestion of starch
, ○ Antimicrobial agents reduce risk of infection
○ Acts as a pH buffer (protein, phosphate and bicarbonate buffering systems)
xerostomia - CORRECT ANSWER - Dry mouth from inadequate saliva production
Causes discomfort, can dramatically impact swallowing capacity
Common causes:
■ Numerous medications
■ Autoimmune diseases (e.g. Sjogren's)
■ Radiation exposure
■ Nerve damage
peristalsis - CORRECT ANSWER - smooth muscle cells rhythmically contract to generate
peristaltic waves
○ contraction is controlled by input from mechanical, chemical and electrical (entericnervous
system) stimuli
esophageal atresia - CORRECT ANSWER - congenital absence of part of the esophagus.
Food cannot pass from the baby's mouth to the stomach
● Continuity of the esophagus and its connection to the stomach is essential to facilitate
digestion
○ esophageal function can be disrupted in structural (e.g.hernias, diverticula, tumors) as well as
congenital disorders
● various types of EA that lead to the esophagus not reaching the stomach, resulting from fusion
failures between the proximal and distal esophagus in development
● can be diagnosed in the intrauterine period or shortly after birth: excess salivation, gagging,
vomiting, inability to swallow