101. A major function of the large intestine is the absorption of:
ⓐ. water and some minerals
ⓑ. amino acids and glucose in large amounts
ⓒ. bile pigments into the liver
ⓓ. pepsin and trypsin into the blood
Correct Answer: water and some minerals
Explanation: The large intestine plays an important role in absorbing water and some minerals from the undigested residue that enters it. This process helps in the consolidation of waste into a more solid form. Unlike the small intestine, it is not the main site for absorption of most digested nutrients such as glucose and amino acids. Its function is more related to water balance and preparation of faeces. This makes the large intestine essential in the final stages of digestion and waste handling. Understanding this function is central to the unit.
102. The secretion that mainly helps the passage of faecal matter through the large intestine is:
ⓐ. bile
ⓑ. saliva
ⓒ. mucus
ⓓ. pancreatic juice
Correct Answer: mucus
Explanation: The large intestine secretes mucus, which helps lubricate its contents and facilitates the smooth passage of faecal matter. This is especially important because the material in the large intestine becomes progressively drier as water is absorbed. Mucus reduces friction and helps protect the lining from injury. It does not digest food in the same way as enzymes, but it plays a vital supportive role. Bile, saliva, and pancreatic juice are secretions of other digestive organs. Therefore, mucus is the correct secretion associated with this function.
103. The rectum mainly serves as the:
ⓐ. first site of starch digestion
ⓑ. chamber for temporary storage of faeces
ⓒ. organ that secretes bile salts
ⓓ. main region for protein absorption
Correct Answer: chamber for temporary storage of faeces
Explanation: The rectum is the terminal storage region of the alimentary canal where faeces are held temporarily before elimination. It does not carry out major digestion or nutrient absorption. Its role is important because it allows controlled egestion rather than continuous release of waste. This function makes it different from the colon, which is more involved in water absorption and movement of contents. The rectum is therefore best understood as a storage chamber in the final part of the digestive tract. This is one of the core ideas of the unit.
104. The anus is the:
ⓐ. opening between the stomach and duodenum
ⓑ. blind sac at the beginning of the large intestine
ⓒ. final opening of the alimentary canal
ⓓ. middle region of the large intestine
Correct Answer: final opening of the alimentary canal
Explanation: The anus is the final opening of the alimentary canal through which faeces are expelled from the body. It marks the terminal end of the digestive tract. This structure is different from the rectum, which stores faeces before elimination. The anus is therefore associated with the act of egestion rather than storage. Understanding this distinction between rectum and anus is important for clear anatomical and functional knowledge. The anus completes the digestive pathway that begins at the mouth.
105. The process of elimination of faeces through the anus is called:
ⓐ. ingestion
ⓑ. assimilation
ⓒ. absorption
ⓓ. egestion
Correct Answer: egestion
Explanation: Egestion is the process by which undigested and unabsorbed waste material is removed from the body through the anus. It is the final step in the handling of food by the digestive system. This process should not be confused with ingestion, which is the taking in of food, or absorption, which is the entry of nutrients into blood or lymph. Assimilation refers to the use of absorbed substances by body cells. Egestion is therefore specifically related to faecal elimination. It is a key term in the study of the digestive tract.
106. Which of the following is not a major function of the large intestine?
ⓐ. Absorption of water
ⓑ. Secretion of mucus
ⓒ. Temporary handling of waste before elimination
ⓓ. Extensive enzymatic digestion of food
Correct Answer: Extensive enzymatic digestion of food
Explanation: The large intestine is not a major site of extensive enzymatic digestion. By the time material reaches it, most digestion has already been completed earlier in the alimentary canal, especially in the small intestine. The large intestine mainly absorbs water and some minerals, secretes mucus, and helps prepare and move waste toward elimination. This makes its role more related to consolidation and removal of undigested material. The question helps students separate digestive roles from waste-handling roles. So extensive enzymatic digestion is the incorrect function for the large intestine.
107. Which structure directly follows the colon in the terminal part of the alimentary canal?
ⓐ. Caecum
ⓑ. Ileum
ⓒ. Rectum
ⓓ. Appendix
Correct Answer: Rectum
Explanation: In the terminal part of the alimentary canal, the colon is followed by the rectum. The rectum then leads to the anus, through which faeces are expelled. This sequence is important for tracing the final movement of digestive waste. The caecum lies earlier at the beginning of the large intestine, and the ileum belongs to the small intestine. The appendix is attached to the caecum and is not the next major passage after the colon. Therefore, the rectum is the correct structure that follows the colon.
108. A blockage occurs at the point where the small intestine opens into the large intestine. Which structure of the large intestine is most directly affected first?
ⓐ. Rectum
ⓑ. Appendix
ⓒ. Caecum
ⓓ. Anus
Correct Answer: Caecum
Explanation: The caecum is the first part of the large intestine and lies at the junction where the ileum opens into it. Because it is the entry region of the large intestine, any blockage at that junction would affect the caecum before the rest of the large intestine. The rectum and anus are far later in the route, while the appendix is only a narrow projection attached to the caecum. This question applies structural knowledge rather than simple memorization. It helps students trace the actual path followed by intestinal contents. Understanding such positional relationships is important in digestive anatomy.
109. Which option correctly compares the rectum and the anus?
ⓐ. The rectum stores faeces temporarily, while the anus is the final opening for egestion
ⓑ. The rectum absorbs most nutrients, while the anus secretes digestive enzymes
ⓒ. The rectum is the first part of the large intestine, while the anus is its middle region
ⓓ. The rectum produces mucus, while the anus forms bile salts
Correct Answer: The rectum stores faeces temporarily, while the anus is the final opening for egestion
Explanation: The rectum and anus are closely related but perform different roles. The rectum acts mainly as a temporary storage chamber for faeces before elimination. The anus, on the other hand, is the final opening through which faeces leave the body. Students often confuse these two because they occur near the end of the alimentary canal, but their functions are not the same. The rectum is associated with holding waste, while the anus is associated with expelling it. This distinction is a core concept in understanding the terminal digestive tract.
110. A student says, “The vermiform appendix is a main passage through which faecal matter normally travels.” Which statement best corrects this idea?
ⓐ. The appendix is the final opening of the large intestine
ⓑ. The appendix is the widest part of the colon
ⓒ. The appendix replaces the rectum during egestion
ⓓ. The appendix is a narrow projection from the caecum, not the usual route of faecal passage
Correct Answer: The appendix is a narrow projection from the caecum, not the usual route of faecal passage
Explanation: The vermiform appendix is attached to the caecum as a narrow finger-like structure. It is anatomically associated with the beginning of the large intestine, but it is not a major passage through which faeces normally move. The main route continues through the colon, rectum, and anus. This question targets a misconception by distinguishing an attached structure from the actual pathway of intestinal contents. Knowing the appendix as a projection rather than a passage is important for accurate anatomical understanding. It also helps students avoid confusing nearby structures with functional channels.
111. If absorption of water in the large intestine decreases markedly, the faecal matter is most likely to become:
ⓐ. drier and harder
ⓑ. more watery and less formed
ⓒ. richer in bile salts and enzymes
ⓓ. completely digested into nutrients
Correct Answer: more watery and less formed
Explanation: One of the important functions of the large intestine is the absorption of water from the undigested residue. When this absorption decreases, less water is removed, so the faecal matter remains more fluid and less formed. This application-based question shows how structure and function are related in a practical way. The large intestine does not completely digest food or enrich faeces with digestive enzymes. Instead, its work helps convert intestinal residue into a more solid form. Reduced water absorption therefore leads to looser waste rather than harder waste.
112. A person has severely reduced mucus secretion in the large intestine. Which effect is most directly expected?
ⓐ. Loss of taste sensation in the tongue
ⓑ. Failure of bile production in the liver
ⓒ. Difficult passage of faecal matter due to reduced lubrication
ⓓ. Complete stoppage of protein digestion in the stomach
Correct Answer: Difficult passage of faecal matter due to reduced lubrication
Explanation: Mucus in the large intestine helps lubricate the intestinal contents and makes the passage of faecal matter smoother. If mucus secretion is greatly reduced, the contents may move with more difficulty and friction. This does not mainly affect taste, bile formation, or stomach digestion, because those functions belong to other organs. The question applies the role of mucus to a practical situation rather than simply asking for its name. It shows that some digestive secretions have supportive protective roles rather than direct enzymatic action. This is an important functional concept in the large intestine.
113. Assertion: The large intestine is called “large” mainly because of its greater diameter rather than its length.
Reason: It is broader but shorter than the small intestine.
ⓐ. Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion
ⓑ. Both Assertion and Reason are true, but the Reason does not explain the Assertion
ⓒ. Assertion is true, but the Reason is false
ⓓ. Assertion is false, but the Reason is true
Correct Answer: Both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion
Explanation: The large intestine is not called large because it is longer than the small intestine. In fact, it is shorter, but it has a wider diameter. That is why the name “large intestine” is based mainly on width rather than length. The reason directly explains the assertion and removes a common misunderstanding. This question is valuable because many students incorrectly assume “large” must mean longer. Understanding this comparison helps clarify the structural distinction between the two intestinal regions.
114. Which pair correctly shows a storage structure followed by an elimination structure in the terminal part of the alimentary canal?
ⓐ. Caecum and colon
ⓑ. Colon and appendix
ⓒ. Ileum and caecum
ⓓ. Rectum and anus
Correct Answer: Rectum and anus
Explanation: In the terminal part of the alimentary canal, the rectum acts as the main storage site for faeces before elimination. The anus follows it and serves as the final opening for egestion. This pair therefore represents a storage structure followed by an elimination structure. The other options include regions involved in passage or attachment, but not the final storage-and-exit sequence. This question is useful because it combines structure with function in a simple applied way. It helps students visualize the last stages of waste handling in the digestive tract.
115. A surgeon says that the broad middle part of the large intestine remains intact, but the blind sac at its beginning is affected. Which structure is being referred to?
ⓐ. Rectum
ⓑ. Caecum
ⓒ. Anus
ⓓ. Ileum
Correct Answer: Caecum
Explanation: The broad middle part of the large intestine is the colon, while the blind sac at its beginning is the caecum. So if the beginning blind pouch is affected, the structure referred to must be the caecum. This question compares two regions of the large intestine without directly repeating a sequence question. It helps students distinguish between the initial sac-like part and the longer middle passage. The ileum belongs to the small intestine, and the anus lies at the terminal opening. Such comparison-based questions strengthen structural clarity.
116. If the rectum loses its normal function while the anus remains structurally present, which problem would be most directly expected?
ⓐ. Inability to begin starch digestion in the mouth
ⓑ. Failure to absorb most amino acids in the intestine
ⓒ. Loss of temporary storage of faeces before elimination
ⓓ. Absence of bile reaching the digestive tract
Correct Answer: Loss of temporary storage of faeces before elimination
Explanation: The rectum mainly serves as a temporary storage chamber for faeces before they are expelled. If its function is lost, the body would have difficulty holding faecal matter properly before elimination, even if the anus is still present. This question highlights the difference between storage and exit in the terminal digestive tract. The other options involve functions of completely different organs such as the mouth, small intestine, and liver. By focusing on the consequence of loss of rectal function, the item tests real conceptual understanding. It also reinforces the special role of the rectum within the large intestine and terminal canal.
117. Which digestive gland mainly secretes bile in humans?
ⓐ. Pancreas
ⓑ. Gall bladder
ⓒ. Liver
ⓓ. Salivary gland
Correct Answer: Liver
Explanation: The liver is the digestive gland that secretes bile. Bile is an important digestive secretion even though it does not contain digestive enzymes. It helps in the processing of fats and supports the action of lipases in the small intestine. The gall bladder is closely associated with bile, but it stores and concentrates bile rather than producing it. This distinction is very important in the study of digestive glands. Therefore, the liver is the correct organ responsible for bile secretion.
118. The main function of the gall bladder is to:
ⓐ. store and concentrate bile
ⓑ. secrete pancreatic enzymes
ⓒ. absorb digested proteins
ⓓ. produce hydrochloric acid
Correct Answer: store and concentrate bile
Explanation: The gall bladder is a small sac-like organ associated with the liver. Its main role is to store bile secreted by the liver and concentrate it before it is released into the small intestine. It does not produce bile, nor does it secrete pancreatic enzymes or gastric acid. By storing bile until it is needed, the gall bladder helps make digestion of fats more effective. This storage function is the key foundational role of the gall bladder in digestion. So the correct answer is storage and concentration of bile.
119. The pancreas is called a mixed gland because it:
ⓐ. stores two kinds of food in the abdomen
ⓑ. has only exocrine secretory tissue
ⓒ. releases bile and saliva together
ⓓ. has both exocrine and endocrine parts
Correct Answer: has both exocrine and endocrine parts
Explanation: The pancreas is described as a mixed gland because it performs both exocrine and endocrine functions. Its exocrine part secretes pancreatic juice into the duodenum to help digestion. Its endocrine part, formed by the islets of Langerhans, secretes hormones such as insulin and glucagon into the blood. This dual role makes the pancreas special among digestive glands. The term mixed gland therefore refers to the presence of two kinds of secretion pathways. That is why the pancreas is correctly identified as having both exocrine and endocrine parts.
120. The exocrine portion of the pancreas is mainly formed by:
ⓐ. villi
ⓑ. acini
ⓒ. nephrons
ⓓ. alveoli
Correct Answer: acini
Explanation: The exocrine portion of the pancreas is composed mainly of acini, which are clusters of secretory cells. These acinar cells produce pancreatic juice and send it through ducts into the small intestine. This exocrine secretion helps in the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids. The islets of Langerhans belong to the endocrine part, not the exocrine part. Structures like villi, nephrons, and alveoli belong to other organs. Therefore, acini are the correct structural units of the exocrine pancreas.
