digestive system

Question 1

the digestive system is made up of

Answer 1

Alimentary Canal (GI tract):
 Tube extending from mouth to anus
 Includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach,
small & large intestine

Question 2

Accessory organs of digestion

Answer 2

Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas

Question 3

the 6 basic processes in digestion

Answer 3

 Ingestion
 Secretion
 Mixing and propulsion
 Digestion - mechanical and chemical
 Absorption
 Defecation

Question 4

Digestive system function

Answer 4

1. Digestion: “the process of physically and chemically breaking
   down food into nutrients that can be absorbed for use by the cells
   (mechanical digestion and chemical digestion)
2. Eliminate solid wastes from the body

Question 5

The 7 big steps of digestive process

Answer 5

1. Food enters the oral cavity where it is broken down by the teeth
2. Food formed into a bolus which is pushed into the pharynx by the tongue
   (swallowed)
3. Food is broken down into smaller pieces in the stomach
4. Peristalsis pushes
   food from stomach into
   small intestine
5. Remaining chyme, undigested
   nutrients, and waste move into the colon (large bowel, large intestine)
6. Peristalsis will push the feces from the colon to the rectum
7. feces will leave the body through the anus

Question 6

what is the function of the liver?

Answer 6

1. Metabolizes (breaks down) fats, proteins, and
   carbohydrates
2. Detoxifies blood
3. Stores fat-soluble vitamins
4. Produces bile, cholesterol, and bilirubin
    Bile helps digest fat, absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and
   gives stool it’s brown color
    Bile is stored in the gall bladder until needed for
   digestion

Question 7

what is the function of the pancreas

Answer 7

adds other digestive juices
insulin is produced by beta cells of pancreas, vital role in regulating blood sugar levels
it also produces amylase - break down of carbohydrates

Question 8

what can we observe and report about the digestive system as an hca

Answer 8

appetite
ability to chew and swallow
pain/dyspepsia
 emesis
 bloating
 bowel sounds (sounds as peristalsis occurs)
 BM – frequency, amount, shape/consistency, colour, odour

Question 9

normal changes of digestive system with aging

Answer 9

-Decrease in
saliva
production
-Difficulty
swallowing
-Decrease in
appetite
-Decrease in
secretion of
digestive juices
-ingestion

Question 10

what is fecal incontinence

Answer 10

Inability to control the passage of feces and gas through anus
* Many causes: intestinal or nervous system disease;
diarrhea, medications, or delayed help in getting to the
bedpan, commode

Question 11

what is colitis

Answer 11

Inflammation of the colon

Question 12

what is crohns disease

Answer 12

• Chronic, inflammatory bowel
  condition
• Episodic
• Exact cause unknown; no cure
• May affect any part of the GI tract;
  mostly lower small intestine/colon

Question 13

what is ostomy

Answer 13

Part of the intestines may be removed
surgically for a number of reasons (disease
of bowel, cancer, trauma)
Ostomy: surgical creation of a stoma
(artificial opening in the body)

Question 14

causes of liver disease (hepatitis)

Answer 14

infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic)
alcohol or drug use
toxins
mismatch during blood transfusion

Question 15

What is cirrhosis

Answer 15

Occurs because of chronic or persistent liver disease
Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue → liver function is
impaired
Causes: alcoholism (most common)
No cure but treatment can prevent more damage

Question 16

what are the 3 parts of the small intestine

Answer 16

duodenum
jejunum
ileum