Lactose, a sugar found in milk, can only be digested by lactase, a brush border enzyme. All babies produce lactase, but only some adults do. Adults who do not produce lactase are referred to as lactose intolerant, as the presence of undigestible lactose can lead to uncomfortable digestive side effects such as gas and diarrhea. Based on your understanding of the small intestine, where would you expect to find the most lactase in babies and those adults that can digest lactose?

Match the letter of the digestive organ shown in the figure with its function.

___ segmentation occurs here

Regional movements that occur in the small intestine and function to churn and fragment the digestive material are called:

(a) Segmentation

(b) Pendular movements

(c) Peristalsis

(d) Mass movements

(e) Mastication

Where are bile salts reabsorbed in the small intestine?

How does absorption of lipids differ from absorption of carbohydrates and proteins in the small intestine?

a. Lipids are absorbed into a capillary; carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed into a lacteal.

b. Lipids are not absorbed in the small intestine.

c. Lipids are absorbed into a lacteal; carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed into a capillary.

d. They are all absorbed into the same structure.

Celiac disease is a condition where the body has an abnormal immune response to the protein gluten found in wheat and other grains. A result of this, the body’s immune response can cause damage to the villi. Based on your knowledge of the small intestine, what function would this this most directly affect?

Mark the following statements as true or false. If a statement is false, correct it to make a true statement.

e. During eating, the small intestine exhibits motion in the migrating motor complex pattern.