Gastrointestinal Questions
How will normal gastrointestinal
function be affected in someone with:
1. nonfunctioning
salivary glands – this person will have trouble moistening food and may have a
tiny decrease in digestion of carbohydrates.
2. no zymogenic (enzyme-secreting) cells in the stomach - this person would not produce pepsinogen and pepsinogen will
not be converted to pepsin, which is needed for protein digestion. However, trypsin from the pancreas can digest much of the protein
when it reaches the duodenum.
3. no parietal
cells in the stomach – this person would not produce HCl
or intrinsic factor. Without HCL, pepsinogen will not
be converted to pepsin, which is needed for protein digestion. However, trypsin from the pancreas can digest much of the protein
when it reaches the duodenum. Without intrinsic factor, Vit B12 cannot be
absorbed from the diet and the person’s RBCs will not mature properly.
4. no mucous
cells in the duodenum – the duodenum would not be protected from the stomach
acids and would develop ulcers
5. no brush
border enzymes – the final stages of digestion would not occur and much of the
person’s food would remain in the GI tract and go out in the stools. It would
probably cause water to enter the stools by osmosis, leading to osmotic
diarrhea.
6. a blocked
bile duct – bile from the gall bladder could not enter the duodenum and
emulsify fats. Fats would go out in the stool and would probably cause water to
enter the stools by osmosis, leading to osmotic diarrhea.
7. a blocked
pancreatic duct – pancreatic enzymes could not enter the duodenum, so none of
the food groups could be completely digested and all would pass out in the
stools. They would probably cause water to enter the stools by osmosis, leading
to osmotic diarrhea.
8. a blocked
duodenal papilla- pancreatic enzymes and bile could not enter the duodenum, so
none of the food groups could be completely digested and all would pass out in
the stools. They would probably cause water to enter the stools by osmosis,
leading to osmotic diarrhea.
9. a complete
colostomy – the colon is responsible for water and ion reabsorbtion. The person
would lose water that is normally reabsorbed from the stools.
10. a complete
gastrectomy – the stomach is responsible for the
first steps of protein digestion and for absorbtion of Vit B12. However, trypsin from the pancreas can digest much of the protein
when it reaches the duodenum. If Vit B12 cannot be absorbed from the diet, the
person’s RBCs will not mature properly.
11. hyperperistalsis – food will move through the gut too
quickly to be completely digested and absorbed, and will go out in the stools.
It would probably cause water to enter the stools by osmosis, leading to
osmotic diarrhea.
12. hypoperistalsis – food would stay in the intestines
too long, allowing excess water to be reabsorbed. Constipation would result.
13. A vagotomy
(cut vagus nerve) – the vagus
is the PNS nerve responsible for beginning GI activity in the cephalic phase of
digestion. The cephalic phase would not start as quickly, but after eating the
presence of food in the gut would cause the GI tract to turn on as normal.
14. inability
to secrete Gastrin – the stomach would not be able to use positive feedback to
increase its secretions while it contained food. It would do less digestion.
15. too much gastrin – the stomach would secrete too much acid and might
develop ulcers.
16. too little
cholecystokinin – the gall bladder would not be
stimulated to release bile and the pancreas would not send digestive enzymes to
the duodenum. None of the food groups could be completely digested and all
would pass out in the stools. They would probably cause water to enter the
stools by osmosis, leading to osmotic diarrhea.
17. too little
secretin – the pancreas would not send bicarbonate to
the duodenum. The duodenum would not be protected from the stomach acids and
would develop ulcers