Chapter 17 - Digestive System: Glands

Question 1

An 18-year-old man feels faint. Symptoms include constant hunger, thirst, and excessive urination. The probable diagnosis is
(A) viral hepatitis A.
(B) type 1 diabetes mellitus.
(C) type 2 diabetes mellitus.
(D) cirrhosis.
(E) mumps.

Answer 1

B. The three classic signs of type 2 diabetes (juvenile onset) are polyphagia (excessive eating), polyuria (excessive urination), and polydipsia (excessive drinking). The condition occurs in young individuals, usually before 20 years of age (see Chapter 17 III B 3 Clinical Considerations).

Question 2

Which of the following statements concern­ ing liver sinusoids is true?
(A) They are continuous with bile canaliculi.
(B) They are surrounded by a well-developed
basal lamina.
(C) They are lined by nonfenestrated endothelial cells.
(D) They deliver blood to the central vein.
(E) They deliver blood to the portal vein.

Answer 2

D. Liver sinusoids are lined by fenestrated endothelial cells, lack a basal lamina, and deliver blood directly to the central vein (see Chapter 17 IV B 1 b).

Question 3

A woman has yellow sclera and yellowish pallor. Blood test results indicate a low red blood cell count. The probable diagnosis is
(A) viral hepatitis A.
(B) viral hepatitis B.
(C) cirrhosis.
(D) hemolytic jaundice.
(E) type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Answer 3

D. Yellow skin and yellow sclera are indicative of jaundice. Because the patient had a low red blood cell count, the most probable diagnosis is hemolytic jaundice (see Chapter 17 IV E 6 Clinical Considerations).

Question 4

Which of the following statements concerning the gallbladder is true?
(A) It synthesizes bile.
(B) It is lined by a simple columnar epithelium.
(C) Bile leaves the gallbladder via the common bile duct.
(D) It has no muscle cells in the walls.
(E) It is affected by the hormone secretin.

Answer 4

B. The gall bladder is lined by a simple columnar epithelium (see Chapter 17 V).

Question 5

A patient complains to her physician about sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, and back pain. Because the patient’s sclera and skin have a yellowish pallor, the doctor suspects
(A) type 2 diabetes.
(B) gallstones.
(C) pancreatic cancer. (D) viral hepatitis A.
(E) viral hepatitis B.

Answer 5

C. Pancreatic cancer has all of the symptoms listed, namely, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, weakness, back pain, and jaundice. Although jaundice is noted in hepatitis A and B and in the presence of obstructive jaundice caused by gallstones, sudden weight loss, loss of appetite, and weakness are not diagnostic of these diseases. Diabetes mellitus does not cause jaundice, loss of appetite, or weight loss (see Chapter 17 III B 3 Clinical Considerations).

Question 6

Acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas secrete:
(A) glucagon.
(B) lysozyme.
(C) insulin.
(D) plasma proteins.
(E) proteases.

Answer 6

E. Several proteases are synthesized by pancreatic acinar cells and are delivered via the pancreatic duct to the duodenum (see Chapter 17 III A 3).

Question 7

Pancreatic alpha-cells secrete
(A) glucagon.
(B) lysozyme.
(C) insulin.
(D) plasma proteins.
(E) proteases.

Answer 7

A. Glucagon is produced by a-cells of the islets of Langerhans. They are the second most abundant secretory cells of the endocrine pancreas (see Chapter 17 III B 3).

Question 8

Pancreatic beta-cells secrete
(A) glucagon.
(B) lysozyme.
(C) insulin.
(D) plasma proteins.
(E) proteases.

Answer 8

C. Insulin is produced by pancreatic beta-cells, which are the most abundant cell type of the islets of Langerhans (see Chapter 17 III B 3).

Question 9

Submandibular acinar cells secrete
(A) glucagon.
(B) lysozyme.
(C) insulin.
(D) plasma proteins.
(E) proteases.

Answer 9

B. Lysozyme, an enzyme with antibacterial activity, is produced primarily by the submandibular salivary gland acinar cells (see Chapter 17 II B 1 ).

Question 10

Hepatocytes secrete
(A) glucagon.
(B) lysozyme.
(C) insulin.
(D) plasma proteins.
(E) proteases.

Answer 10

D. Hepatocytes synthesize several plasma proteins, including fibrinogen, prothrombin, and albumin (see Chapter 17 IV E 2).