Chapter 36: Alterations of Digestive Function
Huether: Understanding Pathophysiology, First Canadian Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following types of diarrhea would most likely occur with a bacterial GI infection?
a. Osmotic
b. Secretory
c. Hypotonic
d. Motility
ANS: B
Bacterial infections lead to secretory diarrhea. A nonabsorbable substance in the intestine leads to osm
diarrhea is not a form of diarrhea. Food is not mixed properly, digestion and absorption are impaired, a
leading to motility diarrhea.
REF: p. 923
2. A 20-year-old recently diagnosed with lactose intolerance eats an ice cream cone and develops diarrhe
classified as _____ diarrhea.
a. osmotic
b. secretory
c. hypotonic
d. motility
ANS: A
A nonabsorbable substance in the intestine leads to osmotic diarrhea. Infections lead to secretory diarrh
not a form of diarrhea. Food is not mixed properly, digestion and absorption are impaired, and motility
motility diarrhea.
REF: p. 923
3. Assuming that midline epigastric pain is caused by a stimulus acting on an abdominal organ, the pain f
a. visceral.
b. somatic.
c. parietal.
d. referred.
ANS: A
Visceral pain arises from a stimulus (distension, inflammation, and ischemia) acting on an abdominal o
parietal pain. Parietal pain, from the parietal peritoneum, is more localized and intense than visceral pa
organs themselves. Referred pain is visceral pain felt at some distance from a diseased or affected orga
REF: p. 924
4. What is the most common disorder associated with upper GI bleeding?
a. Diverticulosis
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Esophageal varices
d. Cancer
ANS: C
Esophageal varices are the most common disorder associated with upper GI bleeding. Diverticulosis co
would be lower GI rather than upper. Hemorrhoids can lead to bleeding, but they would be lower GI. C
bleeding, but peptic ulcers and varices are identified as more common.
REF: p. 924
5. The presence of bright red stools is referred to as:
, 7. A 45-year-old male complains of heartburn after eating and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms su
a. Pyloric stenosis
b. Gastric cancer
c. Achalasia
d. Hiatal hernia
ANS: D
Regurgitation, dysphagia, and epigastric discomfort after eating are common in individuals with hiatal
manifested by projectile vomiting. Gastric cancer is not manifested by heartburn. Achalasia is a form o
caused by loss of esophageal innervation.
REF: p. 927
8. What is a serious complication of paraesophageal hiatal hernia?
a. Hemorrhage
b. Strangulation
c. Peritonitis
d. Ascites
ANS: B
Strangulation of the hernia is a major complication. Neither hemorrhage, peritonitis, nor ascites is asso
hiatal hernia complications.
REF: p. 927
9. Tests reveal narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the duodenum. This condition is referr
a. ileocecal obstruction.
b. hiatal hernia.
c. pyloric obstruction.
d. hiatal obstruction.
ANS: C
The pylorus is the opening between the esophagus and the duodenum; the obstruction is pyloric. Ileoce
small intestine. Hiatal hernia is related to the esophagus. Hiatal obstruction is related to the esophagus.
REF: p. 927
10. What are the signs and symptoms of large bowel obstruction?
a. Abdominal distension and hypogastric pain
b. Diarrhea and excessive thirst
c. Dehydration and epigastric pain
d. Abdominal pain and rectal bleeding
ANS: A
Large intestine obstruction usually presents with hypogastric pain and abdominal distension. Neither d
rectal bleeding occurs.
REF: p. 929
11. Chronic gastritis is classified according to the:
a. severity.
b. location of lesions.
c. patient’s age.
d. signs and symptoms.
ANS: B
Chronic gastritis is classified as type A (fundal) or type B (antral), depending on the pathogenesis and
Gastritis is not classified by severity, age, or symptoms, but by location.
REF: p. 931
Huether: Understanding Pathophysiology, First Canadian Edition
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Which of the following types of diarrhea would most likely occur with a bacterial GI infection?
a. Osmotic
b. Secretory
c. Hypotonic
d. Motility
ANS: B
Bacterial infections lead to secretory diarrhea. A nonabsorbable substance in the intestine leads to osm
diarrhea is not a form of diarrhea. Food is not mixed properly, digestion and absorption are impaired, a
leading to motility diarrhea.
REF: p. 923
2. A 20-year-old recently diagnosed with lactose intolerance eats an ice cream cone and develops diarrhe
classified as _____ diarrhea.
a. osmotic
b. secretory
c. hypotonic
d. motility
ANS: A
A nonabsorbable substance in the intestine leads to osmotic diarrhea. Infections lead to secretory diarrh
not a form of diarrhea. Food is not mixed properly, digestion and absorption are impaired, and motility
motility diarrhea.
REF: p. 923
3. Assuming that midline epigastric pain is caused by a stimulus acting on an abdominal organ, the pain f
a. visceral.
b. somatic.
c. parietal.
d. referred.
ANS: A
Visceral pain arises from a stimulus (distension, inflammation, and ischemia) acting on an abdominal o
parietal pain. Parietal pain, from the parietal peritoneum, is more localized and intense than visceral pa
organs themselves. Referred pain is visceral pain felt at some distance from a diseased or affected orga
REF: p. 924
4. What is the most common disorder associated with upper GI bleeding?
a. Diverticulosis
b. Hemorrhoids
c. Esophageal varices
d. Cancer
ANS: C
Esophageal varices are the most common disorder associated with upper GI bleeding. Diverticulosis co
would be lower GI rather than upper. Hemorrhoids can lead to bleeding, but they would be lower GI. C
bleeding, but peptic ulcers and varices are identified as more common.
REF: p. 924
5. The presence of bright red stools is referred to as:
, 7. A 45-year-old male complains of heartburn after eating and difficulty swallowing. These symptoms su
a. Pyloric stenosis
b. Gastric cancer
c. Achalasia
d. Hiatal hernia
ANS: D
Regurgitation, dysphagia, and epigastric discomfort after eating are common in individuals with hiatal
manifested by projectile vomiting. Gastric cancer is not manifested by heartburn. Achalasia is a form o
caused by loss of esophageal innervation.
REF: p. 927
8. What is a serious complication of paraesophageal hiatal hernia?
a. Hemorrhage
b. Strangulation
c. Peritonitis
d. Ascites
ANS: B
Strangulation of the hernia is a major complication. Neither hemorrhage, peritonitis, nor ascites is asso
hiatal hernia complications.
REF: p. 927
9. Tests reveal narrowing of the opening between the stomach and the duodenum. This condition is referr
a. ileocecal obstruction.
b. hiatal hernia.
c. pyloric obstruction.
d. hiatal obstruction.
ANS: C
The pylorus is the opening between the esophagus and the duodenum; the obstruction is pyloric. Ileoce
small intestine. Hiatal hernia is related to the esophagus. Hiatal obstruction is related to the esophagus.
REF: p. 927
10. What are the signs and symptoms of large bowel obstruction?
a. Abdominal distension and hypogastric pain
b. Diarrhea and excessive thirst
c. Dehydration and epigastric pain
d. Abdominal pain and rectal bleeding
ANS: A
Large intestine obstruction usually presents with hypogastric pain and abdominal distension. Neither d
rectal bleeding occurs.
REF: p. 929
11. Chronic gastritis is classified according to the:
a. severity.
b. location of lesions.
c. patient’s age.
d. signs and symptoms.
ANS: B
Chronic gastritis is classified as type A (fundal) or type B (antral), depending on the pathogenesis and
Gastritis is not classified by severity, age, or symptoms, but by location.
REF: p. 931
