Assignment: Function of Gastrointestinal System
Assignment: Function of Gastrointestinal System
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Topic 1: Case Study
Case Study Posting Requirements
- Make sure all of the topics in the case study have been addressed.
- Cite at least three sources; journal articles, textbooks or evidenced-based websites to support the content.
- All sources must be within five years.
- Do not use .com, Wikipedia, or up-to-date, etc., for your sources.
Case Study 1
Structure and Function of the Gastrointestinal System
Amy is a small, but active, eight-year-old. When Amy was approaching two, her mother took her to a pediatrician because Amy was “failing to thrive.” She was small for her age and got tired easily. She was having difficulty with her meals, often developing colicky pain, abdominal distension, and diarrhea after eating. After a series of tests, Amy was diagnosed with celiac disease, a condition involving an abnormal immune response in the small intestine to foods containing the protein gluten. Her mother reminds Amy that in order for her to grow healthy and strong, it is important for her to eat her “special” food that is made at home, or has the words “gluten free” on the package.
- What anatomical features of the small intestine lend it to the digestion and absorption of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins?
- Sometimes individuals with celiac disease experience steatorrhea (fatty stools) after eating foods containing gluten. What are the chemical components that normally digest fats in the small intestine, and how are the fats absorbed?
- Celiac disease involves an inflammatory response in the small intestine. How do inflammatory conditions affect small intestine motility?
