Blockage of the common bile duct would be expected to affect


lipid digestion.

protein digestion.

carbohydrate digestion.

nucleotide digestion.

cellulose digestion.

lipid is the only common sense one?

Yes, you are correct. Blockage of the common bile duct would primarily affect lipid digestion.

To understand why this is the case, let's first discuss the role of the common bile duct in digestion. The common bile duct is responsible for carrying bile, a yellowish-green fluid produced by the liver, into the small intestine. Bile aids in the digestion and absorption of fats.

When you eat a meal that contains fats, the liver produces bile, and it is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder. Upon the release of certain hormones, the gallbladder contracts and squeezes bile into the common bile duct, which then transports it to the small intestine.

Once in the small intestine, bile helps to break down large fat molecules into smaller droplets through a process called emulsification. This is important because it increases the surface area of fats, allowing enzymes called lipases to act on them more effectively. Lipases break down fats into smaller components called fatty acids and glycerol, which can be easily absorbed by the body.

However, if there is a blockage in the common bile duct, bile cannot flow into the small intestine, leading to impaired lipid digestion. Without sufficient bile, fat digestion becomes difficult, and as a result, the absorption of dietary fats is compromised. This can lead to symptoms such as greasy stools, weight loss, and nutrient deficiencies due to malabsorption.

Therefore, because the common bile duct plays a crucial role in the digestion and absorption of fats, a blockage in this duct would primarily affect lipid digestion. The digestion of proteins, carbohydrates, nucleotides, and cellulose would not be directly impacted by this specific blockage.