NCM 116 Exam Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025-2026
1. Upper GI Tract
2. Small intestine
3. Lower GI Tract - Answers 3 Sections of GIT
Accessory structures - Answers peritoneum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
Digestion and distribution of food - Answers Primary function of GI System
Mouth - Answers Food is masticated before swallowed
Esophagus - Answers Found in the base of pharynx - opening to the stomach
Striated muscle tissue - Answers Proximal esophagus is made up of...
Striated and smooth muscle - Answers Mid-esophagus is made up of...
Smooth muscle - Answers Lower esophagus is made up of...
Coordinated muscle movement - Answers Propels food (peristalsis)
Upper Esophageal Sphincter (hypopharyngeal) - Answers Prevents food or fluids from re-
entering the pharynx
Stomach - Answers Holds ingested food (temporary) and prepares it by mechanical and
chemical action.
Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) - Answers Also called cardiac sphincter. It is the opening
between esophagus and stomach.
Pyloric Sphincter - Answers Opening between stomach and duodenum sphincters
Contracted - Answers Keep stomach contents confined
Relaxed - Answers Contents flow to duodenum
Contractions - Answers Mix food with the gastric secretions and move (peristalsis) mixture of
semi-liquid food (chyme) to the small intestine
Amount and composition of food. - Answers Time required for the stomach to empty depends
on the __________ and __________.
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum - Answers 3 portions of the small intestine
Duodenum - Answers (approx. 10") - bile and pancreatic enzymes enter; chyme to alkaline.
,Jejunum and Ileum - Answers (approximately 23 ft.) • Primary function - absorb nutrients from
chyme.
Ileocecal valve - Answers small intestine's distal end - Regulates flow of intestinal contents
(liquid) into the large intestine - Prevents the reflux of bacteria from the large intestine.
Large intestine - Answers approx.. 4 - 5 ft. long; 2" diameter - Receives waste from small
intestine; propels toward anus - Absorbs water, some electrolytes, and bile acids
Cecum - Answers pouchlike structure (beginning of large intestine)
Appendix - Answers narrow blind tube at the tip of the cecum
Colon - Answers Unabsorbed material becomes fecal matter - Water is reabsorbed (diffusion)
across intestinal membrane
Rectum - Answers holds and retains fecal matter
Older adult - Answers May have less control of the rectal sphincter because of age-related
changes in innervation, diminished awareness of the filling reflex, and decreased muscle tone
Removal of large intestine - Answers Result to passage of loose stools and potential fluid and
electrolyte imbalance.
Bile salts - Answers Liquid stool contains...
Peritoneum - Answers a membrane that lines the inner abdomen, encloses the viscera and the
serous fluid that it secretes - Allows abdominal organs frictionless movement
Peritonitis - Answers severe inflammation and infection of the peritoneum
Liver - Answers Largest glandular organ in the body; RUQ, just under the diaphragm - Involved in
many vital, complex metabolic activities - Forms and releases bile; processes vitamins, proteins,
fats, and carbohydrates; stores glycogen; contributes to blood coagulation; metabolizes and
biotransforms many chemicals (including drugs), bacteria, and foreign matter; and forms
antibodies and immunizing substances (gamma globulin)
Gallbladder - Answers attached to the midportion of the under- surface of the liver - Contraction,
triggered by ingested food (especially fats), causes bile to be released into the duodenum
Bile - Answers aids in the absorption of fats, fatsoluble vitamins, iron, and calcium. Activates
pancreas to release digestive enzymes and an alkaline fluid (neutralizes stomach acids)
Pancreas - Answers endocrine organ - produces hormones insulin and glucagon - Exocrine
organ - produces various protein, fat, and carbohydrate-digesting enzymes.
Pancreatic enzymes - Answers are released in inactive forms and transported to the duodenum
, (activated)
Present Health History - Answers Quality of the client's appetite; • Problems associated with
chewing or swallowing • What and how much the client eats each day; • Discomfort before,
during, or after food consumption; nutritional supplements • Weight gain or loss; • Bowel
elimination patterns
Past Health History - Answers • Medical and surgical disorders and treatment • Family history of
illnesses and causes of death • Work history • Allergy history • Medication history
supine, knees flexed - Answers Position for abdominal examination
shape, color and consistency - Answers Stool characteristics
Barium Swallow - Answers -fluoroscopic observation of the client by swallowing a flavored
barium solution
-only until the duodenum
-to identify structural abnormalities in the esophagus
upper gastrointestinal series - Answers -radiographic observation of barium moving into
stomach and the first part of the small intestine
-more on duodenum
-approx. an hour for this procedure
Small bowel series - Answers x-ray examination of the small intestine
-identify tumors, inflammation, or obstruction in the jejunum or ileum
-more barium must be swallowed for small intestine to be well-visualized
-5-6 hours
methylglucamine diatrozoate - Answers -water soluble contrast medium
-used if suspect of obstruction or fistula
enterocylsis - Answers -if small bowel series fails, this is used
- "double contrast test"
- requires oral placement of flexible feeding tube
What are the two contrast media in Enteroclysis? - Answers - 750-1000ml of thin barium
- 750-1000ml of methylcellulose
1. Upper GI Tract
2. Small intestine
3. Lower GI Tract - Answers 3 Sections of GIT
Accessory structures - Answers peritoneum, liver, gallbladder, pancreas
Digestion and distribution of food - Answers Primary function of GI System
Mouth - Answers Food is masticated before swallowed
Esophagus - Answers Found in the base of pharynx - opening to the stomach
Striated muscle tissue - Answers Proximal esophagus is made up of...
Striated and smooth muscle - Answers Mid-esophagus is made up of...
Smooth muscle - Answers Lower esophagus is made up of...
Coordinated muscle movement - Answers Propels food (peristalsis)
Upper Esophageal Sphincter (hypopharyngeal) - Answers Prevents food or fluids from re-
entering the pharynx
Stomach - Answers Holds ingested food (temporary) and prepares it by mechanical and
chemical action.
Lower Esophageal Sphincter (LES) - Answers Also called cardiac sphincter. It is the opening
between esophagus and stomach.
Pyloric Sphincter - Answers Opening between stomach and duodenum sphincters
Contracted - Answers Keep stomach contents confined
Relaxed - Answers Contents flow to duodenum
Contractions - Answers Mix food with the gastric secretions and move (peristalsis) mixture of
semi-liquid food (chyme) to the small intestine
Amount and composition of food. - Answers Time required for the stomach to empty depends
on the __________ and __________.
duodenum, jejunum, and ileum - Answers 3 portions of the small intestine
Duodenum - Answers (approx. 10") - bile and pancreatic enzymes enter; chyme to alkaline.
,Jejunum and Ileum - Answers (approximately 23 ft.) • Primary function - absorb nutrients from
chyme.
Ileocecal valve - Answers small intestine's distal end - Regulates flow of intestinal contents
(liquid) into the large intestine - Prevents the reflux of bacteria from the large intestine.
Large intestine - Answers approx.. 4 - 5 ft. long; 2" diameter - Receives waste from small
intestine; propels toward anus - Absorbs water, some electrolytes, and bile acids
Cecum - Answers pouchlike structure (beginning of large intestine)
Appendix - Answers narrow blind tube at the tip of the cecum
Colon - Answers Unabsorbed material becomes fecal matter - Water is reabsorbed (diffusion)
across intestinal membrane
Rectum - Answers holds and retains fecal matter
Older adult - Answers May have less control of the rectal sphincter because of age-related
changes in innervation, diminished awareness of the filling reflex, and decreased muscle tone
Removal of large intestine - Answers Result to passage of loose stools and potential fluid and
electrolyte imbalance.
Bile salts - Answers Liquid stool contains...
Peritoneum - Answers a membrane that lines the inner abdomen, encloses the viscera and the
serous fluid that it secretes - Allows abdominal organs frictionless movement
Peritonitis - Answers severe inflammation and infection of the peritoneum
Liver - Answers Largest glandular organ in the body; RUQ, just under the diaphragm - Involved in
many vital, complex metabolic activities - Forms and releases bile; processes vitamins, proteins,
fats, and carbohydrates; stores glycogen; contributes to blood coagulation; metabolizes and
biotransforms many chemicals (including drugs), bacteria, and foreign matter; and forms
antibodies and immunizing substances (gamma globulin)
Gallbladder - Answers attached to the midportion of the under- surface of the liver - Contraction,
triggered by ingested food (especially fats), causes bile to be released into the duodenum
Bile - Answers aids in the absorption of fats, fatsoluble vitamins, iron, and calcium. Activates
pancreas to release digestive enzymes and an alkaline fluid (neutralizes stomach acids)
Pancreas - Answers endocrine organ - produces hormones insulin and glucagon - Exocrine
organ - produces various protein, fat, and carbohydrate-digesting enzymes.
Pancreatic enzymes - Answers are released in inactive forms and transported to the duodenum
, (activated)
Present Health History - Answers Quality of the client's appetite; • Problems associated with
chewing or swallowing • What and how much the client eats each day; • Discomfort before,
during, or after food consumption; nutritional supplements • Weight gain or loss; • Bowel
elimination patterns
Past Health History - Answers • Medical and surgical disorders and treatment • Family history of
illnesses and causes of death • Work history • Allergy history • Medication history
supine, knees flexed - Answers Position for abdominal examination
shape, color and consistency - Answers Stool characteristics
Barium Swallow - Answers -fluoroscopic observation of the client by swallowing a flavored
barium solution
-only until the duodenum
-to identify structural abnormalities in the esophagus
upper gastrointestinal series - Answers -radiographic observation of barium moving into
stomach and the first part of the small intestine
-more on duodenum
-approx. an hour for this procedure
Small bowel series - Answers x-ray examination of the small intestine
-identify tumors, inflammation, or obstruction in the jejunum or ileum
-more barium must be swallowed for small intestine to be well-visualized
-5-6 hours
methylglucamine diatrozoate - Answers -water soluble contrast medium
-used if suspect of obstruction or fistula
enterocylsis - Answers -if small bowel series fails, this is used
- "double contrast test"
- requires oral placement of flexible feeding tube
What are the two contrast media in Enteroclysis? - Answers - 750-1000ml of thin barium
- 750-1000ml of methylcellulose
