Activated enzymes begin to digest pancreas cells; severe pain result.

• A. Chyme
• B. Autodigestion
• C. Exocrine
• D. Colostomy

Answer: (B)

Autodigestion is the process at work here. When pancreatic enzymes are activated within the pancreas itself, they begin digesting the pancreatic tissue instead of remaining inactive and directed toward the intestine. This self-digestion causes inflammation, tissue injury, and the severe abdominal pain typical of pancreatitis. Normally, enzymes like trypsinogen are secreted in inactive forms to prevent this; premature activation or leakage into the pancreatic tissue triggers autodigestion. The other terms don’t describe this destructive self-digestion: chyme is just the digested food in the GI tract, exocrine refers to a gland’s secretion capability (not the tissue-damaging process), and colostomy is a surgical procedure.