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Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition
All textbooksUrry 11th EditionCh. 41 - Animal NutritionProblem 4
Chapter 41, Problem 4

Which of the following is not a major activity of the stomach?
a. Storage
b. HCl production
c. Nutrient absorption
d. Enzyme secretion

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1
Identify the major functions of the stomach in the digestive system. The stomach primarily serves as a site for storage, mechanical digestion, and chemical digestion.
Understand that the stomach produces hydrochloric acid (HCl), which helps in breaking down food and activating digestive enzymes. This is a key function of the stomach.
Recognize that the stomach secretes enzymes, such as pepsinogen, which is converted to pepsin in the presence of HCl to aid in protein digestion.
Consider the process of nutrient absorption. The stomach's primary role is not nutrient absorption; this function is mainly carried out by the small intestine.
Based on the above analysis, determine which option does not align with the major activities of the stomach. The correct answer is the one that does not match the primary functions of the stomach.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Stomach Function: Storage

The stomach serves as a temporary storage site for food, allowing it to be released gradually into the small intestine. This function is crucial for regulating the pace of digestion and ensuring that the small intestine can efficiently process nutrients. The stomach's muscular walls help mix and hold the ingested food.
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Stomach Function: HCl Production

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is produced by the parietal cells in the stomach lining. It plays a vital role in digestion by creating an acidic environment that denatures proteins, activates digestive enzymes like pepsin, and helps kill harmful bacteria. This acidic pH is essential for the proper breakdown of food.
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Stomach Function: Nutrient Absorption

Unlike the small intestine, the stomach is not primarily involved in nutrient absorption. Its main roles are mechanical digestion, chemical digestion through enzyme and acid secretion, and food storage. Most nutrient absorption occurs in the small intestine, where the surface area is maximized for this purpose.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Fat digestion yields fatty acids and glycerol. Protein digestion yields amino acids. Both digestive processes

a. Occur inside cells in most animals

b. Add a water molecule to break bonds

c. Require a low pH resulting from HCl production

d. Consume ATP

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Textbook Question

The mammalian trachea and esophagus both connect to the

a. Pharynx

b. Stomach

c. Large intestine

d. Rectum

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Textbook Question

Which of the following organs is incorrectly paired with its function?

a. Stomach—protein digestion

b. Large intestine—bile production

c. Small intestine—nutrient absorption

d. Pancreas—enzyme production

3218
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Textbook Question

If you put the following events in the order they occur in the human digestive system, the third event in the series would be

a. Cells in gastric pits secrete protons.

b. Pepsin activates pepsinogen.

c. HCl activates pepsinogen.

d. Partially digested food enters the small intestine.

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Textbook Question

After surgical removal of the gallbladder, a person might need to limit his or her dietary intake of

a. Starch

b. Protein

c. Sugar

d. Fat

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Textbook Question

If you were to jog 1 km a few hours after lunch, which stored fuel would you probably tap?

a. Muscle proteins

b. Muscle and liver glycogen

c. Fat in the liver

d. Fat in adipose tissue

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