Dallas College
BIOL 2401 Exam 4: Digestion and Urinary
System Functions Questions and Answers
2026 Latest Update
Ingestion Ans: The process of taking in food.
Propulsion Ans: Swallowing and peristalsis; peristalsis is the
rhythmic contraction of longitudinal smooth muscle.
Mechanical digestion Ans: Chewing, churning, mixing, and
segmentation; segmentation is the contraction of circular smooth
muscle on the food.
Chemical digestion Ans: Catalytic (enzyme) breakdown of food.
Absorption Ans: The process of nutrients being taken from the GI
tract into blood or lymphatic vessels.
Defecation Ans: Elimination of waste.
Salivary Glands Ans: Glands that secrete saliva, which includes
salivary amylase for starch breakdown and the IgA antibody.
Mumps Ans: Inflammation of parotid glands caused by the mumps
virus (Myxovirus); a common children's disease.
Mastication Ans: The chewing of food.
Deglutition Ans: The swallowing of broken down food.
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, Esophagus Ans: Muscular tube from the laryngopharynx to the
cardiac orifice of the stomach.
Cardiac sphincter Ans: A valve or gate that controls the opening
between the esophagus and stomach to prevent acidic contents
from returning to the esophagus.
Stomach Ans: An organ with anatomical regions including the
cardiac region, fundus, body, and pyloric region.
Pyloric sphincter Ans: The valve that joins the pyloric region of the
stomach to the duodenum of the small intestine.
Mucous neck cells Ans: Cells that secrete mucus to buffer acid and
protect the stomach wall.
Parietal cells Ans: Cells that secrete HCl acid and Intrinsic Factor.
Chief cells Ans: Cells that secrete Pepsinogen, which is converted
to active Pepsin by HCl to begin protein digestion.
Intrinsic Factor Ans: A substance produced in the stomach that
aids in the absorption of vitamin B12 into the blood.
pH of stomach Ans: Approximately 2.0, indicating an extremely
acidic environment.
Heartburn Ans: Caused by stomach acid regurgitating back up into
the esophagus; the first symptom of Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD).
Hiatal Hernia Ans: A structural abnormality where part of the
stomach protrudes above the diaphragm, which can lead to
esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, or esophageal cancer.
© 2025 All rights reserved
BIOL 2401 Exam 4: Digestion and Urinary
System Functions Questions and Answers
2026 Latest Update
Ingestion Ans: The process of taking in food.
Propulsion Ans: Swallowing and peristalsis; peristalsis is the
rhythmic contraction of longitudinal smooth muscle.
Mechanical digestion Ans: Chewing, churning, mixing, and
segmentation; segmentation is the contraction of circular smooth
muscle on the food.
Chemical digestion Ans: Catalytic (enzyme) breakdown of food.
Absorption Ans: The process of nutrients being taken from the GI
tract into blood or lymphatic vessels.
Defecation Ans: Elimination of waste.
Salivary Glands Ans: Glands that secrete saliva, which includes
salivary amylase for starch breakdown and the IgA antibody.
Mumps Ans: Inflammation of parotid glands caused by the mumps
virus (Myxovirus); a common children's disease.
Mastication Ans: The chewing of food.
Deglutition Ans: The swallowing of broken down food.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, Esophagus Ans: Muscular tube from the laryngopharynx to the
cardiac orifice of the stomach.
Cardiac sphincter Ans: A valve or gate that controls the opening
between the esophagus and stomach to prevent acidic contents
from returning to the esophagus.
Stomach Ans: An organ with anatomical regions including the
cardiac region, fundus, body, and pyloric region.
Pyloric sphincter Ans: The valve that joins the pyloric region of the
stomach to the duodenum of the small intestine.
Mucous neck cells Ans: Cells that secrete mucus to buffer acid and
protect the stomach wall.
Parietal cells Ans: Cells that secrete HCl acid and Intrinsic Factor.
Chief cells Ans: Cells that secrete Pepsinogen, which is converted
to active Pepsin by HCl to begin protein digestion.
Intrinsic Factor Ans: A substance produced in the stomach that
aids in the absorption of vitamin B12 into the blood.
pH of stomach Ans: Approximately 2.0, indicating an extremely
acidic environment.
Heartburn Ans: Caused by stomach acid regurgitating back up into
the esophagus; the first symptom of Gastroesophageal Reflux
Disease (GERD).
Hiatal Hernia Ans: A structural abnormality where part of the
stomach protrudes above the diaphragm, which can lead to
esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, or esophageal cancer.
© 2025 All rights reserved
