23. The Digestive System

As a treatment for certain diagnoses, a section of the small intestine may be removed from a patient. Based on your understanding of their respective functions, a portion of which section of intestine do you think could be removed with the fewest adverse side effects and why?

Where are bile salts reabsorbed in the small intestine?

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?

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.

A lacteal can be found within each:

Which of the following statements is true?

The most numerous type of epithelial cells in the small intestine are the

What are the three folds of the small intestine called? What is their purpose?