Nursing Elites

1. Proteins are absorbed primarily in the form of:

• A. fatty acids.
• B. disaccharides.
• C. amino acids.
• D. polypeptides.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: amino acids. Proteins are broken down by digestive enzymes into amino acids before being absorbed in the small intestine. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and are the form in which they are primarily absorbed. Choice A (fatty acids) is incorrect as fatty acids are the end products of fat digestion, not protein digestion. Choice B (disaccharides) is incorrect because disaccharides are sugars that are broken down into monosaccharides, not proteins. Choice D (polypeptides) is incorrect as proteins are broken down into amino acids and not absorbed as polypeptides.

2. Which enzyme is produced by the parotid gland?

• A. Salivary amylase
• B. Sucrase
• C. Maltase
• D. Lactase

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A, Salivary amylase. Salivary amylase is an enzyme produced by the parotid gland that initiates starch digestion in the mouth. It helps break down starch into maltose, a simpler sugar. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect because sucrase, maltase, and lactase are enzymes involved in the digestion of disaccharides like sucrose, maltose, and lactose, respectively, in the small intestine, not in the saliva.

3. One characteristic of an essential fatty acid is that it:

• A. comes from a plant source.
• B. comes from an animal source.
• C. is not manufactured by the body.
• D. is manufactured by the body.

Correct answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C because essential fatty acids are not manufactured by the body and must be obtained through the diet. Choice A is incorrect because essential fatty acids can come from plant sources as well. Choice B is incorrect as essential fatty acids are primarily derived from plant sources. Choice D is incorrect because essential fatty acids cannot be produced by the body. Therefore, the only accurate statement is that essential fatty acids are not manufactured by the body.

4. What is the function of chylomicrons?

• A. Produced in the hepatic system.
• B. Composed of triglycerides and cholesterol only.
• C. Absorbed in the large intestine.
• D. Cleared from the blood by lipoprotein lipase.

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Chylomicrons are particles that transport dietary fats from the small intestine to cells in the body. They are cleared from the bloodstream by lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down triglycerides in chylomicrons into fatty acids and glycerol. This process allows fats to be absorbed by the body. Choices A, B, and C are incorrect because chylomicrons are not formed in the hepatic system, they are composed of various lipids including triglycerides and cholesterol, and they are absorbed in the small intestine, not the large intestine.

5. Which monosaccharide only occurs naturally in foods in combination with another sugar as a disaccharide?

• A. Fructose.
• B. Galactose.
• C. Sucrose.
• D. Maltose.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, galactose. Galactose naturally occurs in foods only when it is combined with glucose to form lactose, a disaccharide found in milk. Fructose is a monosaccharide found in fruits and honey. Sucrose is a disaccharide composed of glucose and fructose, commonly known as table sugar. Maltose is a disaccharide formed by the combination of two glucose molecules.

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