Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Intestinal juice secreted by the small intestine.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Digestive physiology uses several Latin or Latin based terms for different digestive juices and structures. Succus entericus is one such term that frequently appears in exam questions. Knowing exactly what this term refers to helps you match textbook terminology with real anatomical and physiological concepts. This question asks you to identify what Succus entericus means in the context of human digestion.
Given Data / Assumptions:
• The term in question is Succus entericus.
• Options include intestinal juice, appendix, ileum large intestine junction, none of these, and pancreatic juice.
• You are assumed to know the main digestive secretions and parts of the small and large intestines.
• Only one option matches the textbook definition of Succus entericus.
Concept / Approach:
Succus entericus is the Latin term for intestinal juice. It is the mixture of secretions produced by glands in the walls of the small intestine, particularly the crypts of Lieberkuhn. This juice contains various enzymes that continue the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acids, and it also contributes to a suitable environment for nutrient absorption. It is different from pancreatic juice, which comes from the pancreas, and from bile, which is produced by the liver. It also does not describe anatomical structures like the appendix or the ileocecal junction. Therefore, Succus entericus refers specifically to intestinal juice.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the small intestine has glands that secrete a watery, enzyme rich fluid into its lumen.
Step 2: This fluid is known as intestinal juice and helps complete digestion of food after partial digestion in the stomach and by pancreatic enzymes.
Step 3: The traditional Latin term for this intestinal juice is Succus entericus.
Step 4: Consider the appendix, which is a small blind tube attached to the caecum; it is a structure, not a juice or secretion.
Step 5: The junction between the ileum and the large intestine is called the ileocecal junction or valve, again a structural location rather than a fluid.
Step 6: Pancreatic juice is secreted by the pancreas and contains enzymes like trypsin and lipase, but it is not called Succus entericus.
Step 7: Therefore, the only option that correctly names Succus entericus is intestinal juice.
Verification / Alternative check:
Standard human physiology texts list digestive juices under headings for saliva, gastric juice, pancreatic juice, bile, and intestinal juice. In sections describing the small intestine, they often mention that the intestinal glands secrete Succus entericus, which contains enzymes such as maltase, sucrase, and peptidases. No textbook uses Succus entericus to describe the appendix, junctions, or pancreatic secretions. This consistent usage confirms that the term refers to intestinal juice.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Appendix: An anatomical structure, not a secreted juice.
Junction between ileum and large intestine: The ileocecal junction is a location, not a fluid.
None of the above: Incorrect because one of the options does match the correct meaning.
Pancreatic juice: A separate digestive secretion produced by the pancreas, not called Succus entericus.
Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may confuse Succus entericus with pancreatic juice because both are involved in digestion in the small intestine. Another source of confusion is the Latin sounding name, which can make it sound like an anatomical structure rather than a fluid. To avoid errors, remember that Succus means juice and entericus refers to the intestine, so together they clearly mean intestinal juice.
Final Answer:
Succus entericus is the name given to intestinal juice secreted by the small intestine.
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