Test Bank - Focus on Nursing Pharmacology (8th Edition by Karch)
1. What is a unique characteristic of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?
a. It contains multiple organs that work together.
b. It is lined with epithelial tissue.
c. It is the only system open to the external environment.
d. The GI tract is sterile and contains no bacteria.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The GI system is the only system that is open to the external environment. The
definition of a system is multiple organs working together to perform a function or
functions. Many systems are lined with epithelial tissue. The GI tract is not sterile and
does contain bacteria.
2. What is the purpose of the peritoneum?
a. Help propel the GI contents down the tract
b. Help keep the GI tract in place and prevent friction with movement
c. Decrease the muscle tone to slow the GI tract from moving too fast
d. Serve as a supportive layer and helps the tube maintain its shape
Ans: B
Feedback:
The peritoneum lines the abdominal wall and viscera and helps keep the GI tract in
place and prevents a buildup of friction with movement. The muscularis mucosa layer
helps propel the GI contents downward. The nerve plexus helps to slow the GI tract
when digestion is not a priority or stimulates it for digestion. The adventitia serves as
a supportive layer and helps the tube maintain its shape.
3. A patient complains of frequent acid indigestion. The nurse instructs the patient to
increase intake of what to reduce stimulation of acid production?
a. Protein
b. Calcium
c. Fiber
d. Alcohol
Ans: C
Feedback:
Fiber does not promote acid production so it would be a safe food for patients to eat to
, avoid stimulating more acid in the stomach. Acid production in the stomach is
stimulated by gastrin which increases in the presence of protein, calcium, caffeine, or
alcohol in the stomach.
4. When the nurse administers a medication that stimulates the parasympathetic
nervous system the drug will have what impact on the GI system?
a. Decrease sphincter tone
b. Decrease muscle tone
c. Decrease contractions
d. Decrease secretions
Ans: A
Feedback:
The effect of the parasympathetic nervous system is that of rest and digest. It
stimulates the GI tract causing increased muscle tone, secretions and contractions, and
decreased sphincter tone allowing for easy movement.
5. What reflex causes an increase in small intestine activity when the stomach is
stimulated by stretching, the presence of food, or cephalic stimulation?
a. Duodenalcolic
b. Gastroenteric
c. Gastrocolic
d. Ileogastric
Ans: B
Feedback:
The gastroenteric reflex is stimulation of the stomach, which causes an increase in
activity in the small intestine. The duodenalcolic reflex stimulates colon activity and
mass movement. The gastrocolic reflex is stimulation in the stomach, which increases
activity in the colon. The ileogastric reflex is the introduction of chyme or stretch to
the large intestine and slow stomach activity.
6. The nurse expects to find that the major activities of the GI tract decrease in a
patient experiencing what?
a. A stress reaction
b. A medication regimen including cholinergic drugs
c. A local irritation of the small intestine
d. Thoughts of food
Ans: A
Feedback:
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system will decrease all activity in the GI
tract, and stress is a trigger for stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.
Parasympathetic stimulation caused by cholinergic drugs, local irritation of the
1. What is a unique characteristic of the gastrointestinal (GI) system?
a. It contains multiple organs that work together.
b. It is lined with epithelial tissue.
c. It is the only system open to the external environment.
d. The GI tract is sterile and contains no bacteria.
Ans: C
Feedback:
The GI system is the only system that is open to the external environment. The
definition of a system is multiple organs working together to perform a function or
functions. Many systems are lined with epithelial tissue. The GI tract is not sterile and
does contain bacteria.
2. What is the purpose of the peritoneum?
a. Help propel the GI contents down the tract
b. Help keep the GI tract in place and prevent friction with movement
c. Decrease the muscle tone to slow the GI tract from moving too fast
d. Serve as a supportive layer and helps the tube maintain its shape
Ans: B
Feedback:
The peritoneum lines the abdominal wall and viscera and helps keep the GI tract in
place and prevents a buildup of friction with movement. The muscularis mucosa layer
helps propel the GI contents downward. The nerve plexus helps to slow the GI tract
when digestion is not a priority or stimulates it for digestion. The adventitia serves as
a supportive layer and helps the tube maintain its shape.
3. A patient complains of frequent acid indigestion. The nurse instructs the patient to
increase intake of what to reduce stimulation of acid production?
a. Protein
b. Calcium
c. Fiber
d. Alcohol
Ans: C
Feedback:
Fiber does not promote acid production so it would be a safe food for patients to eat to
, avoid stimulating more acid in the stomach. Acid production in the stomach is
stimulated by gastrin which increases in the presence of protein, calcium, caffeine, or
alcohol in the stomach.
4. When the nurse administers a medication that stimulates the parasympathetic
nervous system the drug will have what impact on the GI system?
a. Decrease sphincter tone
b. Decrease muscle tone
c. Decrease contractions
d. Decrease secretions
Ans: A
Feedback:
The effect of the parasympathetic nervous system is that of rest and digest. It
stimulates the GI tract causing increased muscle tone, secretions and contractions, and
decreased sphincter tone allowing for easy movement.
5. What reflex causes an increase in small intestine activity when the stomach is
stimulated by stretching, the presence of food, or cephalic stimulation?
a. Duodenalcolic
b. Gastroenteric
c. Gastrocolic
d. Ileogastric
Ans: B
Feedback:
The gastroenteric reflex is stimulation of the stomach, which causes an increase in
activity in the small intestine. The duodenalcolic reflex stimulates colon activity and
mass movement. The gastrocolic reflex is stimulation in the stomach, which increases
activity in the colon. The ileogastric reflex is the introduction of chyme or stretch to
the large intestine and slow stomach activity.
6. The nurse expects to find that the major activities of the GI tract decrease in a
patient experiencing what?
a. A stress reaction
b. A medication regimen including cholinergic drugs
c. A local irritation of the small intestine
d. Thoughts of food
Ans: A
Feedback:
Stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system will decrease all activity in the GI
tract, and stress is a trigger for stimulating the sympathetic nervous system.
Parasympathetic stimulation caused by cholinergic drugs, local irritation of the
