Question at position 9 In celiac disease, the immune system reacts to the presence of gluten and attacks the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this immune attack destroys the villi in the small intestine. Without the villi in the small intestine,the small intestine can't break down lipids from foodthe small intestine functions better than normalthe small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it shouldthe small intestine can't physically break food pieces into smaller piecesClear my selectionSingle choice
A
the small intestine can't break down lipids from food
B
the small intestine functions better than normal
C
the small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it should
D
the small intestine can't physically break food pieces into smaller pieces

Question

Question at position 9 In celiac disease, the immune system reacts to the presence of gluten and attacks the lining of the small intestine. Over time, this immune attack destroys the villi in the small intestine. Without the villi in the small intestine,the small intestine can't break down lipids from foodthe small intestine functions better than normalthe small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it shouldthe small intestine can't physically break food pieces into smaller piecesClear my selectionSingle choice

A

the small intestine can't break down lipids from food

B

the small intestine functions better than normal

C

the small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it should

D

the small intestine can't physically break food pieces into smaller pieces

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Villi increase the small intestine's surface area for nutrient absorption, so when villi are destroyed the intestine cannot absorb nutrients effectively.

Relevant knowledge points:
- Villi (and microvilli) provide a large absorptive surface for amino acids, monosaccharides, fatty acids/monoglycerides, vitamins and minerals.
- Digestion (chemical breakdown) of lipids is performed largely by bile and pancreatic lipase in the lumen; absorption of digestion products occurs across enterocytes of the villi.
- Mechanical breakdown of food is primarily the role of chewing and stomach churning, not villi.

Step-by-step reasoning:
1. Exposure to gluten in celiac disease triggers an immune-mediated destruction of the intestinal villi (villous atrophy).
2. Loss of villi reduces the effective absorptive surface area and the number of enterocytes available to transport nutrients into the bloodstream.
3. With fewer enterocytes and less surface area, uptake of sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals is impaired → malabsorption.
4. Although lipid digestion (emulsification, lipase activity) can still occur in the lumen, the damaged mucosa cannot absorb the resulting fatty acids and monoglycerides efficiently, leading to fat malabsorption (steatorrhea) and nutrient deficiencies.

Why the correct answer is correct:
- "The small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it should" directly describes the consequence of villous atrophy: reduced absorptive capacity due to decreased surface area and fewer functional enterocytes.

Why the other options are incorrect:
- "The small intestine can't break down lipids from food": lipid breakdown is mainly a luminal process (bile + pancreatic lipase); villi destruction impairs absorption, not the lumen’s enzymatic breakdown.
- "The small intestine functions better than normal": destruction of villi impairs, not enhances, function.
- "The small intestine can't physically break food pieces into smaller pieces": mechanical fragmentation is done in the mouth and stomach; the small intestine’s role is chemical digestion and absorption.

Conclusion: The correct answer is that the small intestine can't absorb as many nutrients from food as it should, which matches the provided answer.

Similar Questions

Question at position 10 Food is chemically broken down when it passes through the pancreas.TrueFalse

What is the term for the process by which the body breaks down food into smaller molecules for absorption?

Match the structures to the correct description for each. 1: Collapsible muscular tube connecting the laryngopharynx to the stomach 2: Produces insulin and glucagon 3: Produces bile and detoxifies blood

The large intestine is the main site of nutrient absorption.

Peristalsis refers to the churning action of the stomach only.

The main function of the stomach is to:

In the stomach, hydrochloric acid

Which nutrient passes through the GI tract mostly undigested and unabsorbed?

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