what is the role of the small intestine in the digestive system
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HESI A2

HESI A2 Anatomy and Physiology Practice Test 2023

1. What is the primary function of the small intestine in the digestive system?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: To absorb nutrients. The small intestine's main role in the digestive system is to absorb nutrients from digested food. It has specialized structures, such as villi and microvilli, that increase its surface area for efficient absorption of nutrients into the bloodstream. Choice A is incorrect because the small intestine does not primarily secrete digestive enzymes; that role is mainly carried out by the pancreas and other digestive organs. Choice C is incorrect because the small intestine primarily absorbs nutrients rather than breaking down food. Choice D is incorrect because the absorption of water primarily occurs in the large intestine, not the small intestine.

2. A tissue examined under the microscope exhibits the following characteristics: cells found on the internal surface of the stomach, no extracellular matrix, cells tall and thin, and no blood vessels in the tissue. What type of tissue is this?

Correct answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is 'Epithelial.' Epithelial tissue is characterized by cells that cover internal and external surfaces, such as the lining of the stomach. It lacks an extracellular matrix, has tall and thin cells, and does not contain blood vessels. The other choices are incorrect because connective tissue typically has an extracellular matrix, muscle tissue is composed of contractile cells, and cartilage is a type of connective tissue with a specific extracellular matrix and cell arrangement.

3. Which of the heart's four chambers is the largest and the strongest?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The left ventricle is the largest and strongest chamber of the heart. It pumps oxygenated blood to the body, making it vital for systemic circulation. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body, the right ventricle pumps this blood to the lungs, and the left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs.

4. Which of the following is not part of the body’s secondary defense system?

Correct answer: D

Rationale: Cilia are not part of the body's secondary defense system. They are hair-like structures primarily involved in movement and transporting substances across cell surfaces, such as in the respiratory tract for debris and pathogen removal. However, cilia do not play a direct role in the immune response mechanisms characteristic of the body's secondary defense system. Macrophages, leukocytes, and T cells are immune cells that actively participate in the secondary defense system by targeting and eliminating pathogens.

5. The epidermis is classified as which of the following?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The epidermis is classified as a tissue, more specifically as a layer of cells that form the outermost part of the skin. It is composed of multiple layers of cells that protect underlying tissues and regulate various functions related to the skin. Choice A, Cell, is incorrect because the epidermis is not just a single cell but rather a collection of cells. Choice C, Organ, is incorrect because the epidermis is not an organ on its own but rather a part of an organ, the skin. Choice D, System, is incorrect because the epidermis is not a system but rather a component of the integumentary system.

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