An individual with advanced cystic fibrosis experiences recurring lung infections that damage the pancreas. Which effect dominates their digestive system due to enzyme insufficiency?

💡 Explanation

Cystic fibrosis leads to pancreatic damage, impairing the secretion of lipase, which is essential for fat digestion. Because fat absorption relies heavily on lipase-mediated breakdown and micelle formation, enzyme insufficiency causes impaired fat absorption. Therefore, the answer is D, rather than A, B, or C, which involve different digestive processes or locations.

• A sedentary individual experiences persistent swelling in their lower extremities. Which mechanism explains why decreased physical activity causes edema in this scenario?
• A cancer cell has a mutation causing constitutive activation of a growth factor receptor. If a drug inhibits a key protein in the apoptosis pathway, which consequence follows?
• A patient with advanced liver cirrhosis experiences significantly impaired detoxification. Which effect dominates because the liver's ability to perform phase I and phase II biotransformation reactions is compromised?
• If a dorsal horn neuron is continuously bombarded by substance P from C-fiber nociceptors, which consequence affecting descending modulation is most probable?
• Why does signal transduction in a demyelinated neuron slow down action potential propagation following an initial stimulus?
• A neurologist observes that a patient with multiple sclerosis has slower nerve conduction velocity. Which mechanism explains this phenomenon within myelinated neurons?