the digestive system is made up of
Alimentary Canal (GI tract):
Tube extending from mouth to anus
Includes the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach,
small & large intestine
Accessory organs of digestion
Teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder,
pancreas
the 6 basic processes in digestion
Ingestion
Secretion
Mixing and propulsion
Digestion - mechanical and chemical
Absorption
Defecation
Digestive system function
- 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) - Eliminate solid wastes from the body
The 7 big steps of digestive process
- Food enters the oral cavity where it is broken down by the teeth
- Food formed into a bolus which is pushed into the pharynx by the tongue
(swallowed) - Food is broken down into smaller pieces in the stomach
- Peristalsis pushes
food from stomach into
small intestine - Remaining chyme, undigested
nutrients, and waste move into the colon (large bowel, large intestine) - Peristalsis will push the feces from the colon to the rectum
- feces will leave the body through the anus
what is the function of the liver?
- Metabolizes (breaks down) fats, proteins, and
carbohydrates - Detoxifies blood
- Stores fat-soluble vitamins
- 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
what is the function of the pancreas
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
what can we observe and report about the digestive system as an hca
appetite
ability to chew and swallow
pain/dyspepsia
emesis
bloating
bowel sounds (sounds as peristalsis occurs)
BM – frequency, amount, shape/consistency, colour, odour
normal changes of digestive system with aging
-Decrease in
saliva
production
-Difficulty
swallowing
-Decrease in
appetite
-Decrease in
secretion of
digestive juices
-ingestion
what is fecal incontinence
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
what is colitis
Inflammation of the colon
what is crohns disease
- Chronic, inflammatory bowel
condition - Episodic
- Exact cause unknown; no cure
- May affect any part of the GI tract;
mostly lower small intestine/colon
what is ostomy
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)
causes of liver disease (hepatitis)
infection (viral, bacterial, parasitic)
alcohol or drug use
toxins
mismatch during blood transfusion
What is cirrhosis
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
what are the 3 parts of the small intestine
duodenum
jejunum
ileum
