61 past paper MCQs from Biology unit 14, Digestion, across 1 topic. They are arranged topic by topic; bigger topics show a sample here and link to their full set and to study notes. Tap “Show answer” for the correct option and a short solution.
1.Digested food from the intestine is carried to the liver by the: (MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (c) hepatic portal vein
The hepatic portal vein takes the absorbed food straight from the gut to the liver.
2.Which is an enzyme activator secreted by the Intestinal glands: (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Enterokinase
Enterokinase of the intestinal glands turns trypsinogen into active trypsin.
3.An enzyme used to decompose the lipids into fatty acids in our alimentary canal is (UHS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Lipase
Lipase splits triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol.
4.Intrinsic factor secreted by parietal cells is essential for: (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Absorption of vitamin B12 in the intestine
Intrinsic factor from the parietal cells binds vitamin B12 so the ileum can absorb it.
5.The δ (delta) cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete: (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Somatostatin
The delta cells make somatostatin, which damps down both insulin and glucagon.
6.Identify the main function of duodenum: (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Digestion of food
Bile and pancreatic juice pour into the duodenum, so most digestion is completed there.
7.Which stage of the swallowing process prevents food or liquid from being aspirated to the lungs? (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Pharyngeal
In the pharyngeal stage the epiglottis closes the larynx and breathing stops for a moment.
8.A patient with pancreatic insufficiency shows reduced activity of an enzyme that hydrolyzes the first peptide bond at the carboxyl end of proteins and peptides. Which enzyme is deficient? (KMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (c) Carboxypeptidase
Carboxypeptidase of the pancreas removes amino acids from the carboxyl end of a peptide.
9.Which of the following acts as an enzyme activator in human digestive system? (NUMS MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Enterokinase
Enterokinase of the intestinal juice activates trypsinogen, which then activates the rest.
10.Which part of small intestine is responsible for nutrient absorption? (SIBA MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Jejunum
Most of the absorption happens in the jejunum, over its villi.
11.The appendix is attached to which part of large intestine? (SIBA MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Caecum
The appendix is a blind tube hanging from the caecum.
12.Which specialized cells of liver perform phagocyte function? (SIBA MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (a) Kupffer cells
The Kupffer cells lining the liver sinusoids engulf bacteria and worn out red cells.
13.Digestion of protein started when food enters in: (SIBA MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (b) Stomach
Pepsin of the gastric juice makes the first cut in a protein.
14.The digestive secretions from different parts of GIT have the ability to kill microbe present in the food. Which of the following best describes this role? (SZABMU MDCAT 2025)
Correct answer: (a) Antiseptics
They kill the microbes on living tissue, which is what an antiseptic does.
15.Which enzyme is secreted in the active form? (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (a) Amylase
Salivary amylase is poured out ready to work; the protein digesting enzymes are secreted as inactive precursors.
16.Which hormone stimulates the secretion of gastric juice? (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (b) Gastrin
Gastrin from the stomach lining calls out the gastric juice.
17.Which is true about the cells found in gastric glands lining the stomach wall? (KMU MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) Mucus cells secrete mucin
The mucus cells make mucin, which protects the lining from the acid.
18.Activation of all of the following enzymes need a regulatory molecule except: (NUMS MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (c) Erepsin
Erepsin is secreted ready to work; the other three are zymogens needing activation.
19.A person with a removed gall bladder experiences difficulty in fat digestion due to: (NUMS MDCAT 2024)
Correct answer: (b) Uncontrolled release of Bile
Without the gall bladder the bile trickles in continuously instead of being stored and released with a meal.
20.Digested food from intestine is carried to the liver by? (UHS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Hepatic portal vein
The hepatic portal vein carries the absorbed food straight from the gut to the liver.
21.When food reaches stomach, the action of which of the following come to an end due to acidic PH? (UHS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (b) Amylase
Salivary amylase works at a slightly alkaline pH and is destroyed by the acid of the stomach.
22.What is the contribution of hormone cholecystokinin? (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (a) Facilitates bile release from gall bladder
Cholecystokinin from the duodenum makes the gall bladder contract and empty its bile.
23.Which of the following is not a component of bile? (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (a) Digestive enzymes
Bile emulsifies fat but carries no enzyme of its own.
24.The first chemical digestion of proteins takes place in the: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Stomach
Pepsin of the gastric juice makes the first cut in a protein.
25.Select the hormone which increases the activity of parietal and chief cells: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Gastrin
Gastrin drives the parietal cells to make acid and the chief cells to make pepsinogen.
26.Enzyme trypsinogen is activated by: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Enterokinase
Enterokinase of the intestinal juice converts trypsinogen into trypsin.
27.Emulsification of large fat globules is facilitated by: (SZABMU MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (b) Bile salts
Bile salts break the large fat globules into a fine emulsion for the lipase to work on.
28.Pepsinogen is converted into its active form pepsin by: (NUMS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (d) Hydrochloric acid
The hydrochloric acid of the gastric juice strips a length off pepsinogen and leaves active pepsin.
29.Intrinsic factor is secreted by: (NUMS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Stomach
The parietal cells of the stomach make intrinsic factor along with the acid.
30.Digestion of which food component starts from oral cavity? (NUMS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (c) Carbohydrates
Salivary amylase begins to break starch down in the mouth.
31.After the digestion & before absorption the product of the protein is: (UHS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (a) Amino Acid and small polypeptide
Peptidases leave a mixture of amino acids and short peptides for the villi to absorb.
32.Which enzyme is different from others? (UHS MDCAT 2023)
Correct answer: (d) Lactase
Lactase splits a sugar; the other three are protein digesting enzymes.
33.Hunger contractions are of which type? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) Peristalsis
The empty stomach contracts in waves of peristalsis, which is felt as hunger.
34.The salivary glands are present in: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (c) Buccal cavity
The three pairs of salivary glands open into the mouth.
35.Incomplete or Imperfect digestion Is called: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia is indigestion, food imperfectly broken down.
36.Which of the following enzymes is absent in pancreatic juice? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) erepsin
Erepsin is made by the intestinal glands, not by the pancreas.
37.Concentration of bile Is the function of which body part? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) Gall bladder
The gall bladder stores the bile and concentrates it between meals.
38.A condition characterized by bouts of over eating fattening food is called: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (c) bulimia nervosa
Bulimia nervosa is bouts of overeating, often followed by purging.
39.Which cells protect the stomach wall by producing mucus? (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) mucus cells
The mucus cells make the mucin that keeps the acid off the stomach lining.
40.Function of insulin: (PMC MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) reduces blood glucose level
Insulin drives glucose into the cells and stores it as glycogen, so the blood level falls.
41.Which one is NOT a function of the large intestine: (NUMS MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (d) Absorption of amino acids
Amino acids are absorbed in the small intestine; the large intestine takes water, salts and the vitamins its bacteria make.
42.Which type of enzyme would be most active in your gut after eating the loaf of bread? (NUMS MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (a) Amylase
Bread is starch, and amylase is the enzyme that breaks starch down.
43.Enzymatic portion of the gastric juices secreted by which mucosal cells? (NUMS MDCAT 2022)
Correct answer: (b) Chief cells
The chief cells of the gastric glands make pepsinogen.
44.The semi-solid mass in stomach is known as: (PMC Practice 2021)
Correct answer: (b) Chyme
The semi-fluid mixture leaving the stomach is chyme.
45.Pancreatic zymogens are only activated when they reach the _________. (PMC Practice 2021)
Correct answer: (c) Small intestine
Enterokinase of the intestinal juice starts them off; in the pancreas they would digest the gland itself.
46.The term “Loss of appetite” refers to disease: (UHS MDCAT 2018)
Correct answer: (b) Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is the refusal of food and the loss of appetite that goes with it.
47.The first part of the large intestine is: (UHS MDCAT 2018)
Correct answer: (c) Caecum
The caecum is the pouch at the beginning of the large intestine.
48.Number of salivary glands found in the human oral cavity. (UHS MDCAT 2018)
Correct answer: (c) 6
There are three pairs of salivary glands, six in all.
49.Salivary Amylase begins to digest Starch to shorter polysaccharides and then to: (UHS MDCAT 2018)
Correct answer: (b) Maltose
Amylase breaks starch to dextrins and then to the disaccharide maltose.
50.In the oral cavity, the main function of sodium bicarbonate is: (UHS MDCAT 2017)
Correct answer: (b) To stabilize the pH of food
Sodium hydrogen carbonate in the saliva keeps the mouth near neutral.
51.Identify the cells which secretes HCl: (UHS MDCAT 2017)
Correct answer: (d) Both Parietal cells and Oxyntic cells
The parietal, or oxyntic, cells of the gastric glands make the hydrochloric acid.
52.Name the structure from which appendix is formed: (UHS MDCAT 2017)
Correct answer: (b) Caecum
The appendix is a blind tube growing from the caecum.
53.The site where the most absorption takes place: (UHS MDCAT 2017)
Correct answer: (c) Illium
Most of the absorption happens in the ileum, over its villi.
54.___________ are the part of a gastric gland which produce hydrochloric acid. (UHS MDCAT 2016)
Correct answer: (a) Parietal Cells
The parietal, or oxyntic, cells make the hydrochloric acid.
55.Digestive System consists of different layers, the innermost is known as: (UHS MDCAT 2016)
Correct answer: (b) Mucosa
The mucosa lines the lumen; the submucosa, muscularis and serosa lie outside it.
56.Protein components of food are digested by the enzymatic secretion of: (UHS MDCAT 2016)
Correct answer: (c) Zymogen Cells
The zymogen, or chief, cells make pepsinogen.
57.Food enters from stomach into small intestine through: (UHS MDCAT 2016)
Correct answer: (a) Pyloric Sphincter
The pyloric sphincter lets the chyme through into the duodenum a little at a time.
58.Digestion of __________ starts in oral cavity due to the action of enzyme present in saliva. (UHS MDCAT 2016)
Correct answer: (a) Starch
Salivary amylase begins the digestion of starch in the mouth.
59.The hormone which inhibits the secretion of pancreatic juice is: (UHS MDCAT 2015)
Correct answer: (a) Secretin
Secretin calls out the alkaline pancreatic juice but damps down the enzyme secretion of the gastric glands.
60.Trypsinogen is activated to trypsin by: (UHS MDCAT 2015)
Correct answer: (b) Enterokinase
Enterokinase of the intestinal juice converts trypsinogen into trypsin.
61.The emulsification of fats is the role of: (UHS MDCAT 2015)
Correct answer: (d) Bile www.PakLearningSpot.com UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES, LAHORE Entrance Test – 2015 PakLearningSpot.com
Bile salts break the fat into a fine emulsion for the lipase.
Human Digestive System notes →