what is the primary role of the liver in the body
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HESI A2

Anatomy HESI A2 Practice Test

1. What is the primary role of the liver in the body?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Detoxifying harmful substances. While the liver does produce bile for digestion and stores nutrients like glycogen, its primary function is to filter and detoxify blood coming from the digestive tract before passing it to the rest of the body. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect. Producing insulin is mainly done by the pancreas, digesting food is primarily the role of the stomach and intestines, and storing energy is a function of various organs like muscles and fat cells.

2. What is the function of the stomach in digestion?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To break down food.' The stomach's primary function in digestion is to break down food mechanically and chemically. It accomplishes this by mixing food with gastric acid and digestive enzymes, resulting in the formation of chyme, a semi-liquid mixture that moves on to further digestion in the small intestine. Choice A is incorrect because the absorption of nutrients occurs mainly in the small intestine, not in the stomach. Choice C is incorrect because while the stomach does secrete digestive enzymes like pepsin, its primary role is not just limited to enzyme secretion. Choice D is incorrect because the storage of glucose primarily occurs in the liver and muscles, not in the stomach.

3. What role does the liver play in metabolism?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To detoxify harmful substances.' The liver is primarily responsible for detoxifying harmful substances present in the blood as part of its role in metabolism. While the liver does produce bile to aid in digestion and stores glucose for energy regulation, its main function in metabolism is detoxification. The liver does not produce insulin; insulin is produced by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar levels.

4. Which hormone is released during the body's fight-or-flight response?

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is released during the body's fight-or-flight response. This hormone prepares the body for rapid action by increasing heart rate, dilating airways, and redirecting blood flow to essential organs in response to stress or danger. Insulin is not released during the fight-or-flight response; its primary role is to regulate blood sugar levels. Thyroxine is a hormone produced by the thyroid gland that regulates metabolism, and cortisol is released in response to stress to regulate various bodily functions, but adrenaline is the hormone specifically associated with the fight-or-flight response.

5. The shoulder is _________ to the elbow.

Correct answer: B

Rationale: Proximal refers to a position closer to the point of attachment or origin. In this case, the shoulder is closer to the point of attachment to the body compared to the elbow, making it proximal to the elbow. 'Posterior' refers to the back side of the body, 'distal' means farther away from the point of attachment, and 'medial' refers to the middle of the body. These terms do not accurately describe the relationship between the shoulder and the elbow in this context.

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