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A disorder of the digestive system that can cause severe dehydration is known as

A. appendicitis

B. gallstones

C. constipation

D. diarrhea

Answer Explanation:

D) diarrhea

- Correct: Diarrhea is a disorder of the digestive system that can cause severe dehydration. Diarrhea is characterized by frequent, loose, or watery bowel movements, often accompanied by abdominal cramps, bloating, and urgency. It occurs when the intestines fail to properly absorb water or when excess fluid is secreted into the intestines. Diarrhea can lead to significant fluid loss and electrolyte imbalance, resulting in dehydration, particularly if not promptly treated by replenishing lost fluids and electrolytes.

A) appendicitis

- Incorrect: Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch located near the junction of the small and large intestines. While appendicitis can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, it is not directly associated with dehydration.

B) gallstones

- Incorrect: Gallstones are hardened deposits that form in the gallbladder and can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, and jaundice. While gallstones can lead to complications such as obstruction of the bile duct, they are not directly associated with dehydration.

C) constipation

- Incorrect: Constipation refers to infrequent bowel movements or difficulty passing stool, often characterized by hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass. While severe constipation can cause discomfort and complications such as fecal impaction, it is not directly associated with dehydration.

Therefore, the Correct Answer is D.

More Questions on TEAS 7 Science

  • Q #1: Which of these statements about reflexes in the GI tract is false?

    A. Short reflexes are provoked by nerves near the GI tract.

    B. Short reflexes are mediated by the enteric nervous system.

    C. Food that distends the stomach initiates long reflexes.

    D. Long reflexes can be provoked by stimuli originating outside the GI tract.

    Answer Explanation

    c) Food that distends the stomach initiates long reflexes.

    - False: This statement is false. Food that distends the stomach initiates short reflexes, not long reflexes. Short reflexes are local reflexes that are mediated by the enteric nervous system, which consists of a network of neurons within the walls of the digestive tract. When food stretches or distends the stomach, sensory neurons in the stomach wall detect this mechanical stimulus and initiate short reflexes that regulate local gastrointestinal functions, such as gastric motility and secretion.

  • Q #2: Where does the chemical digestion of starch begin?

    A. mouth

    B. esophagus

    C. stomach

    D. small intestine

    Answer Explanation

    a) mouth

    - Correct: The chemical digestion of starch begins in the mouth. Salivary amylase, an enzyme secreted by the salivary glands, initiates the breakdown of starch molecules into maltose and other smaller carbohydrate molecules. This process begins as soon as food enters the mouth and continues as it is mixed with saliva during chewing and swallowing.

    b) esophagus

    - Incorrect: The esophagus is not directly involved in the chemical digestion of starch. It serves primarily as a conduit for the passage of food from the mouth to the stomach via peristaltic contractions.

    c) stomach

    - Incorrect: While some minor digestion may occur in the stomach due to the presence of salivary amylase from swallowed saliva, the stomach is not the primary site of starch digestion. Its acidic environment inhibits the activity of salivary amylase, so significant starch digestion does not occur there.

    d) small intestine

    - Incorrect: Starch digestion continues in the small intestine, primarily in the duodenum, but it does not begin there. Enzymes such as pancreatic amylase and brush border enzymes further break down starch into simpler sugars in the small intestine.

  • Q #3: Which part of the large intestine attaches to the appendix?

    A. cecum

    B. ascending colon

    C. transverse colon

    D. descending colon

    Answer Explanation

    Cecum attaches to the appendix