URMC / Encyclopedia / Content Search Encyclopedia What Do You Know About the Digestive System? What happens to that cheeseburger and fries (or, we hope, that whole-wheat bread and green salad) you had for lunch? During the digestive process, food is converted into energy that's used by your body. Take this quiz to see how much you know about how digestion works. 1. How does food move through your digestive tract? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is These contractions move food from the esophagus to the stomach, then through the intestine. A. By gravityB. By wavelike muscle contractionsC. By ciliaD. By chemical absorption 2. Where does most of the digestive process take place? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Food is broken down and transported through the intestinal wall to other parts of the body. A. Small intestineB. Large intestineC. StomachD. All of the above 3. What does the liver do to help digestion? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is This substance breaks down fats in the intestine. The gallbladder stores bile until it's needed, then releases it to the small intestine. A. Makes important enzymesB. Neutralizes stomach acidC. Produces bileD. Regulates insulin 4. Which of these can harm the intestinal lining? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Talk with your healthcare provider if you take these medicines and have questions about gastrointestinal problems. A. AspirinB. AntibioticsC. CaffeineD. A and B 5. Which of these best maintains intestinal health? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Based on the age and gender of a person, the Institute of Medicine recommends 21 to 38 grams of fiber daily, with at least 3 servings of whole-grain foods. Most Americans eat about 14 grams of fiber per day. A. StarchesB. VitaminsC. FiberD. Fat 6. Which of these can cause heartburn? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Heartburn results when the acid in the stomach comes up into the esophagus. All of these can relax the muscle that should keep the stomach opening closed. A. Being overweightB. Lying down soon after eating a large mealC. Eating high-fat foodsD. All of the above 7. Which of these causes ulcers? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is Ulcers can be caused by the bacterial infection Helicobacter pylori and anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin. When infection is the cause, antibiotics can cure the condition. A. Bacterial infection in the stomachB. Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory medicinesC. Chronic stressD. A and B 8. Food poisoning is caused by eating contaminated food. How can it be prevented? You didn't answer this question. You answered The correct answer is You should also keep kitchen utensils and cutting boards clean and wash your hands before handling food. Do not use the same cutting board for meats and poultry, and for fruits or salads that will not be cooked. A. Cooking meat and poultry thoroughlyB. Washing fruits and vegetables before eating or cooking themC. Storing food properlyD. All of the above Your score was: Medical Reviewers: Felson, Sabrina, MD Sather, Rita, RN Wojcik, Stacey, MBA, BSN