Digestive System
Adult Nursing
Anatomy and physiology
•Mouth
•Mechanical and chemical digestion
originates here.
•Tongue and teeth are accessory
organs of digestion.
•Salivary glands secrete saliva,
which combines with food during
mastication.
• Esophagus
• This organ provides for the transfer
food from the oropharynx to the
stomach.
• The closure of the epiglottis prevents
food from entering the trachea.
• Closure of the cardiac sphincter
prevents reflux of gastric contents.
• Stomach
• Is a hollow, one-liter muscular
pouch.
• Secrete pepsin, rennin, lipase,
mucus, hydrochloric acid, and
intrinsic factor for digestion.
• Mixes and stores chime.
• Small intestine
• Small intestine consists of duodenum, jejunum, and
ileum.
• Chyme, in liquid or semiliquid form, enters the
duodenum through the pyloric sphincter.
• Bile and pancreatic secretions enter the duodenum
through the common bile duct at the ampulla of Vater.
• Small intestine digests food.
• Small intestine absorbs nutrients
• Small intestine is lined with villi that contain capillaries
and lymphatic.
• Motor activity of the small intestine includes mixing and
peristalsis.
Large intestine
Large intestine consists of the cecum, colon, rectum, and
anus.
Segments of the colon are the cecum, ascending colon,
transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon.
Chyme enters the cecum through the ileocecal valve.
Large intestine has several functions.
Absorption of fluid and electrolytes.
Synthesis of vitamin K by intestinal bacteria.
Storage of fecal material.
Chyme becomes more solid as water is absorbed through
the intestinal wall of the colon.
Defecation is the movement of feces from the rectum
through anal sphincter.
• Risk factors for developing GI disorders
• Diet: low fiber
• Smoking
• Alcohol consumption
• Inactivity
• Stress
• Contaminated water and food
• Anger, fear, or anxiety
• Family history
• History of previous GI dysfunction
• Culturally based reluctance to discuss personal hygiene
and health habits.
• Signs and symptoms of digestive disease
• Inadequate diet
• Change in bowel habits
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Flatus
• Complaints of indigestion
• Change in weight
• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain
• Difficulty in swallowing
• Loss of appetite
• Dysphagia
• Abnormal color and consistency of stool
• a-Melina
• b- clay
• c-frothy
• d-steatorrhea
• e-occult blood in stool
• Abnormal bowel sounds
• Abnormal distention
• Rectal bleeding
• Jaundice
• Edema
• Hematemesis
• Anorexia
• Diagnostic tests and procedures
• 1- Upper GI series
• Definition and purpose
• Fluoroscopic procedure using barium as a contrast
medium
• Examination of the esophagus, stomach, duodenum,
and other portions of the small bowel after swallowing
barium.
•
• 2-Lower GI series (Barium enema)
• Definition and purpose
• Fluoroscopic procedure using barium as a contrast
medium
• Examination of the large intestine after administration of
barium. Via an enema
• 3- Endoscopy
• Procedure using an endoscope
• Direct visualization of the esophagus and stomach.
• 4- Fecal occult blood test.
• Laboratory test using a reagent.
• Analysis of stool for blood.
• 5- Fecal fat
• Laboratory test using a stain.
• Analysis of stool for fat.
• 6- Proctosigmoidoscopy
• Procedure using a lighted scope.
• Direct visualization of the sigmoid colon, rectum, and anal
canal.
• 7- Barium swallow
• Procedure using barium as a contrast medium.
• Fluoroscopic examination of the pharynx and esophagus
after administration of barium.
• 8- Gastric analysis
• Procedure that aspirates the contents of the stomach
through nasogastric (NG) tube.
• Fasting analysis to measure the acidity of gastric
secretions.
• 9- Ultrasonography
• Noninvasive procedure examination that uses echoes
from sound waves.
• Visualization of body organs.
• Blood chemistry
• Laboratory test of a blood sample.
• Analysis for potassium, sodium, calcium,
phosphorus, glucose, bicarbonate, blood urea
nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, protein, albumin,
osmolality, amylase, lipase, alkaline phosphataes,
ammonia, bilirubin, lactic dehydrogenates, (LDH),
bromsulphalein (BSP) test, serum aspartate
aminotransferase (AST), formerly serum glutamic
oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT), serum alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), formerly serum glutamic
pyruvic transaminase (SGPT),
• Hematologic studies
• Laboratory test of a blood sample.
• Analysis for red blood cells (RBCs), white
blood cells (WBCs), platelets, prothrombin
time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT),
hemoglobin (Hgb), hematocrit ( Hct).
