Which description applies to digestion in which food enters and waste leaves through the same opening?

Prepare for the GMAS Biology Test with multiple choice questions, detailed explanations, and innovative study techniques to excel. Boost your confidence and get ready for success!

Multiple Choice

Which description applies to digestion in which food enters and waste leaves through the same opening?

Explanation:
Two-way digestion describes a system where a single opening serves as both mouth and anus. In this setup, food is taken in and digestion occurs in a gastrovascular cavity; enzymes break down the food inside, nutrients are absorbed by the lining, and undigested material is expelled back through the same opening. This type is typical of simpler animals like cnidarians and some flatworms. The other terms don’t fit: an alimentary canal is a digestive tube with two openings (mouth and anus) for one-way processing, while coelom and pseudocoelom refer to body cavities rather than how digestion opens to the outside.

Two-way digestion describes a system where a single opening serves as both mouth and anus. In this setup, food is taken in and digestion occurs in a gastrovascular cavity; enzymes break down the food inside, nutrients are absorbed by the lining, and undigested material is expelled back through the same opening. This type is typical of simpler animals like cnidarians and some flatworms. The other terms don’t fit: an alimentary canal is a digestive tube with two openings (mouth and anus) for one-way processing, while coelom and pseudocoelom refer to body cavities rather than how digestion opens to the outside.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy