Chapter 22, Problem 1MCQ

Food moves down the GI tract through the action of

1. a. cilia.
2. b. peristalsis.
3. c. Gravity.
4. d. microorganisms.

Summary Introduction

Introduction:

Gastrointestinal tract or digestive tract is responsible for ingesting and digesting the food, absorbing the nutrients and eliminating the waste. Alimentary canal is the passage through which the food passes in our body. This includes mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, rectum, and anus.

Answer to Problem 1MCQ

Correct answer:

The food moves down the gastrointestinal tract through the action of peristalsis. Therefore, option (b) is correct.

Option (b) is given as “peristalsis”.

Explanation of Solution

Justify reason for the correct statement:

Peristalsis refers to the movement of food in gastrointestinal tract. It takes place by the contraction of peristaltic muscles that are located within the walls of digestive tract. It begins within the oesophagus after swallowing of food from mouth to the stomach. In stomach, muscular movement is initiated for digestion of food and its movement is more in small and large intestine because the process of absorption and digestion takes place in the large intestine.

Hence, option (b) is correct.

Justify reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option (a) is given as “cilia”.

Cilia are found in intestine and involved in absorption of nutrients from food. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (c) is given as “gravity”.

Gravity is a force that attracts body to center of the Earth and it has no role in gastrointestinal tract. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Option (d) is given as “microorganisms”.

Microorganisms play an important role in digestion as they are involved in breakdown of indigestible carbohydrates into absorbable forms. Hence, it is a wrong answer.

Hence, options (a), (c), and (d) are incorrect.

Conclusion

The movement of food in gastrointestinal tract is due to movement of peristaltic muscles that are located in walls of digestive tract.