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NUR 1172 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL 2026/2027 |
Nutritional Principles in Nursing | Complete Test
Bank | Grade A Verified Answers | Rasmussen
University | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Foundations of Nutrition & Digestion (Q1-12)
Q1. Which category of nutrients must be obtained from the diet because the body
cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities? A. Nonessential nutrients B. Essential
nutrients C. Trace elements D. Metabolic byproducts
Correct Answer: B. Essential nutrients [CORRECT] Rationale: Essential nutrients
cannot be synthesized endogenously in amounts sufficient to meet metabolic needs
and must be consumed; nonessential nutrients can be manufactured by the body.
Correct Answer: B
Q2. During digestion, salivary amylase begins the chemical breakdown of which
macronutrient in the oral cavity? A. Protein B. Lipid C. Carbohydrate D. Nucleic acid
**Correct Answer: C. Carbohydrate [CORRECT] Rationale: Salivary amylase initiates
polysaccharide hydrolysis in the mouth; pepsin acts on protein in the stomach and
lipase primarily works in the small intestine. Correct Answer: C
Q3. In the stomach, which enzyme is responsible for denaturing proteins and
activating pepsinogen to pepsin? A. Hydrochloric acid B. Bile C. Trypsin D. Pancreatic
amylase
**Correct Answer: A. Hydrochloric acid [CORRECT] Rationale: Gastric HCl denatures
proteins and converts pepsinogen to active pepsin; bile emulsifies fats in the
duodenum and trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme. Correct Answer: A
,2
Q4. Which pancreatic enzyme completes protein digestion by breaking peptide
bonds into single amino acids in the small intestine? A. Pepsin B. Pancreatic amylase
C. Trypsin D. Carboxypeptidase
**Correct Answer: D. Carboxypeptidase [CORRECT] Rationale: Carboxypeptidase (a
pancreatic exopeptidase) cleaves terminal amino acids from peptides; trypsin breaks
interior peptide bonds and pepsin acts in the stomach. Correct Answer: D
Q5. Brush border enzymes such as lactase, sucrase, and maltase are located on the
microvilli of which intestinal region? A. Duodenum B. Jejunum C. Ileum D. Colon
**Correct Answer: B. Jejunum [CORRECT] Rationale: Brush border enzymes are
concentrated on jejunal enterocyte microvilli where final carbohydrate digestion
occurs; the duodenum receives chyme and bile, and the ileum absorbs B12 and bile
acids. Correct Answer: B
Q6. Which absorption mechanism moves glucose and amino acids against their
concentration gradients using energy? A. Passive diffusion B. Facilitated diffusion C.
Active transport D. Endocytosis
**Correct Answer: C. Active transport [CORRECT] Rationale: Active transport (e.g.,
sodium-glucose linked transporter SGLT1) requires ATP to move nutrients against
gradients; facilitated diffusion uses carriers without energy and passive diffusion
follows concentration gradients. Correct Answer: C
Q7. Bile is produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the
duodenum to perform which primary function? A. Emulsify lipids for enzymatic
digestion B. Activate pepsinogen C. Neutralize stomach acid D. Synthesize intrinsic
factor
**Correct Answer: A. Emulsify lipids for enzymatic digestion [CORRECT] Rationale:
Bile salts emulsify large lipid globules into micelles for pancreatic lipase action;
bicarbonate from pancreas neutralizes acid and intrinsic factor is produced by gastric
parietal cells. Correct Answer: A
Q8. Intrinsic factor is required for the absorption of which nutrient in the terminal
ileum? A. Folate B. Vitamin B12 C. Iron D. Vitamin D
**Correct Answer: B. Vitamin B12 [CORRECT] Rationale: Intrinsic factor binds vitamin
B12 (cobalamin) to prevent degradation and enable ileal absorption; folate is
absorbed in the jejunum and iron in the duodenum. Correct Answer: B
, 3
Q9. Long-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides are re-esterified into triglycerides,
packaged into chylomicrons, and initially enter which transport system after
absorption? A. Hepatic portal vein B. Lymphatic system via lacteals C. Systemic
arterial circulation D. Biliary circulation
**Correct Answer: B. Lymphatic system via lacteals [CORRECT] Rationale:
Chylomicrons are too large for portal capillaries and enter lymphatic lacteals before
draining into systemic circulation; short-chain fatty acids enter the portal vein
directly. Correct Answer: B
Q10. Which organ is primarily responsible for water absorption and electrolyte
balance in the final stages of digestion? A. Stomach B. Small intestine C. Large
intestine D. Esophagus
**Correct Answer: C. Large intestine [CORRECT] Rationale: The colon absorbs
remaining water, sodium, and chloride, forming feces; the small intestine absorbs
most nutrients and water, while the stomach and esophagus have minimal absorptive
roles. Correct Answer: C
Q11. A patient is prescribed a medication that requires an acidic environment for
absorption. The nurse understands that most drug and nutrient absorption occurs
primarily in which section of the GI tract? A. Stomach B. Duodenum and jejunum C.
Ileum D. Cecum
**Correct Answer: B. Duodenum and jejunum [CORRECT] Rationale: The proximal
small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) is the primary site for nutrient and most
drug absorption due to extensive surface area and villi; the stomach absorbs alcohol
and some drugs, and the ileum has selective absorption. Correct Answer: B
Q12. Which substance secreted by the pancreas raises the pH of chyme entering the
duodenum from the stomach? A. Hydrochloric acid B. Bicarbonate C. Mucus D.
Pepsin
**Correct Answer: B. Bicarbonate [CORRECT] Rationale: Pancreatic bicarbonate
neutralizes gastric acid to protect intestinal mucosa and optimize enzyme activity;
HCl and pepsin are gastric secretions and mucus is protective but does not alter pH
significantly. Correct Answer: B
NUR 1172 FINAL EXAM ACTUAL 2026/2027 |
Nutritional Principles in Nursing | Complete Test
Bank | Grade A Verified Answers | Rasmussen
University | Pass Guaranteed - A+ Graded
Section 1: Foundations of Nutrition & Digestion (Q1-12)
Q1. Which category of nutrients must be obtained from the diet because the body
cannot synthesize them in sufficient quantities? A. Nonessential nutrients B. Essential
nutrients C. Trace elements D. Metabolic byproducts
Correct Answer: B. Essential nutrients [CORRECT] Rationale: Essential nutrients
cannot be synthesized endogenously in amounts sufficient to meet metabolic needs
and must be consumed; nonessential nutrients can be manufactured by the body.
Correct Answer: B
Q2. During digestion, salivary amylase begins the chemical breakdown of which
macronutrient in the oral cavity? A. Protein B. Lipid C. Carbohydrate D. Nucleic acid
**Correct Answer: C. Carbohydrate [CORRECT] Rationale: Salivary amylase initiates
polysaccharide hydrolysis in the mouth; pepsin acts on protein in the stomach and
lipase primarily works in the small intestine. Correct Answer: C
Q3. In the stomach, which enzyme is responsible for denaturing proteins and
activating pepsinogen to pepsin? A. Hydrochloric acid B. Bile C. Trypsin D. Pancreatic
amylase
**Correct Answer: A. Hydrochloric acid [CORRECT] Rationale: Gastric HCl denatures
proteins and converts pepsinogen to active pepsin; bile emulsifies fats in the
duodenum and trypsin is a pancreatic enzyme. Correct Answer: A
,2
Q4. Which pancreatic enzyme completes protein digestion by breaking peptide
bonds into single amino acids in the small intestine? A. Pepsin B. Pancreatic amylase
C. Trypsin D. Carboxypeptidase
**Correct Answer: D. Carboxypeptidase [CORRECT] Rationale: Carboxypeptidase (a
pancreatic exopeptidase) cleaves terminal amino acids from peptides; trypsin breaks
interior peptide bonds and pepsin acts in the stomach. Correct Answer: D
Q5. Brush border enzymes such as lactase, sucrase, and maltase are located on the
microvilli of which intestinal region? A. Duodenum B. Jejunum C. Ileum D. Colon
**Correct Answer: B. Jejunum [CORRECT] Rationale: Brush border enzymes are
concentrated on jejunal enterocyte microvilli where final carbohydrate digestion
occurs; the duodenum receives chyme and bile, and the ileum absorbs B12 and bile
acids. Correct Answer: B
Q6. Which absorption mechanism moves glucose and amino acids against their
concentration gradients using energy? A. Passive diffusion B. Facilitated diffusion C.
Active transport D. Endocytosis
**Correct Answer: C. Active transport [CORRECT] Rationale: Active transport (e.g.,
sodium-glucose linked transporter SGLT1) requires ATP to move nutrients against
gradients; facilitated diffusion uses carriers without energy and passive diffusion
follows concentration gradients. Correct Answer: C
Q7. Bile is produced in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the
duodenum to perform which primary function? A. Emulsify lipids for enzymatic
digestion B. Activate pepsinogen C. Neutralize stomach acid D. Synthesize intrinsic
factor
**Correct Answer: A. Emulsify lipids for enzymatic digestion [CORRECT] Rationale:
Bile salts emulsify large lipid globules into micelles for pancreatic lipase action;
bicarbonate from pancreas neutralizes acid and intrinsic factor is produced by gastric
parietal cells. Correct Answer: A
Q8. Intrinsic factor is required for the absorption of which nutrient in the terminal
ileum? A. Folate B. Vitamin B12 C. Iron D. Vitamin D
**Correct Answer: B. Vitamin B12 [CORRECT] Rationale: Intrinsic factor binds vitamin
B12 (cobalamin) to prevent degradation and enable ileal absorption; folate is
absorbed in the jejunum and iron in the duodenum. Correct Answer: B
, 3
Q9. Long-chain fatty acids and monoglycerides are re-esterified into triglycerides,
packaged into chylomicrons, and initially enter which transport system after
absorption? A. Hepatic portal vein B. Lymphatic system via lacteals C. Systemic
arterial circulation D. Biliary circulation
**Correct Answer: B. Lymphatic system via lacteals [CORRECT] Rationale:
Chylomicrons are too large for portal capillaries and enter lymphatic lacteals before
draining into systemic circulation; short-chain fatty acids enter the portal vein
directly. Correct Answer: B
Q10. Which organ is primarily responsible for water absorption and electrolyte
balance in the final stages of digestion? A. Stomach B. Small intestine C. Large
intestine D. Esophagus
**Correct Answer: C. Large intestine [CORRECT] Rationale: The colon absorbs
remaining water, sodium, and chloride, forming feces; the small intestine absorbs
most nutrients and water, while the stomach and esophagus have minimal absorptive
roles. Correct Answer: C
Q11. A patient is prescribed a medication that requires an acidic environment for
absorption. The nurse understands that most drug and nutrient absorption occurs
primarily in which section of the GI tract? A. Stomach B. Duodenum and jejunum C.
Ileum D. Cecum
**Correct Answer: B. Duodenum and jejunum [CORRECT] Rationale: The proximal
small intestine (duodenum and jejunum) is the primary site for nutrient and most
drug absorption due to extensive surface area and villi; the stomach absorbs alcohol
and some drugs, and the ileum has selective absorption. Correct Answer: B
Q12. Which substance secreted by the pancreas raises the pH of chyme entering the
duodenum from the stomach? A. Hydrochloric acid B. Bicarbonate C. Mucus D.
Pepsin
**Correct Answer: B. Bicarbonate [CORRECT] Rationale: Pancreatic bicarbonate
neutralizes gastric acid to protect intestinal mucosa and optimize enzyme activity;
HCl and pepsin are gastric secretions and mucus is protective but does not alter pH
significantly. Correct Answer: B
