Homestasis for digestive system

Peritonitis

• Inflammation of peritoneum

• Can be caused by piercing abdominal wound, perforating ulcer, or ruptured appendix

• Peritoneal coverings stick together, which helps localize infection

• Dangerous and lethal if it becomes widespread

• Treatment: debris removal and megadoses of antibiotics

Ankyloglossia:

• Often referred to as “tongue-tied” or “fused tongue”

congenital condition in which children are born with an extremely short lingual frenulum

• Restricted tongue movement distorts speech

• Treatment: surgical snipping of frenulum

Heartburn

Caused by stomach acid regurgitating into esophagus

• First symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

• Can be caused by excess food/drink, extreme obesity, pregnancy, running

• Also can be caused by hiatal hernia: structural abnormality where part of stomach protrudes above diaphragm

  • Can lead to esophagitis, esophageal ulcers, or even esophageal cancer

Gastritis;

Inflammation caused by anything that breaches stomach’s mucosal barrier

Peptic or gastric ulcers

• Can cause erosions in stomach wall

  • If erosions perforate wall, can lead to peritonitis and hemorrhage

• Most ulcers caused by bacterum Helicobacter pylori 

• Can also be caused by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin

Appendicitis:

acute inflammation of appendix; usually results from a blockage by feces that traps infectious bacteria

• Most common in adolescence when entrance to appendix is at widest

• Venous drainage can be impaired, leading to ischemia and necrosis (tissue death)

• Ruptured appendix can cause peritonitis

• Symptoms: pain in umbilical region, moving to lower right abdominal quadrant

  • loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting are also seen

• Treatment: surgical removal (appendectomy), or in some cases, with antibiotics.

ileostomy

• If colon is removed, terminal ileum can be brought out through abdominal wall in this procedure

Low-fiber diet can

• Can result in diverticula, herniations of mucosa

narrow colon and cause strong contractions that increase pressure on walls

Diverticulosis:

presence of diverticula

• Common in sigmoid colon

• Affects half of people > 70 years

Diverticulitis

• Inflamed diverticula that may rupture and leak into peritoneal cavity

  • May be life threatening

Diarrhea;

• , watery stools, results when large intestine does not have sufficient time to absorb remaining water

  • Causes include irritation of colon by bacteria or jostling of digestive viscera (occurs in marathon runners)

  • Prolonged diarrhea may result in dehydration and electrolyte imbalance (acidosis and loss of potassium)

Constipation

• can occur when food remains in colon for extended periods of time and too much water is absorbed

  • Stool becomes hard and difficult to pass

  • May result from insufficient fiber or fluid in the diet, improper bowel habits, lack of exercise, or laxative abuse

Cleft palate and cleft lip result when

palatine bones or palatine processes of maxillae (or both) fail to fuse

• Dangerous because makes child unable to suck properly

Cystic fibrosis;

• Genetic disease that produces thick mucus that can block pancreatic duct 

Gastroenteritis:

inflammation of GI tract

Cholecystitis,

ulcers: problems of middle age 

Aging and the digestive system

• GI tract activity declines with age

• GI produces less digestive juice; absorption is less efficient; peristalsis slows, causing decline in frequency of bowel movements

• Taste/smell becomes less acute; periodontal disease often develops

• Diverticulosis, fecal incontinence, and cancer of GI tract are fairly common

Vomiting (emesis) is caused by:

• Extreme stretching

• Intestinal irritants, such as bacterial toxins, excessive alcohol, spicy food, certain drugs

• Chemicals and sensory impulses stimulate emetic center of medulla

• Excessive vomiting can lead to dehydration and electrolyte and acid-base imbalances (alkalosis)

Homeostatic imbalance of liver

• Hepatitis

Usually viral infection, drug toxicity, wild mushroom poisoning

Homeostatic imbalance of liver

Cirrhosis

• Progressive, chronic inflammation from chronic hepatitis or alcoholism

• Liver → fatty, fibrous → portal hypertension

• Liver transplants successful, but livers are scarce

  • Liver can regenerate to its full size in 6–12 months after 80% removal

Gallbladder

• Gallstones (biliary calculi):

caused by too much cholesterol or too few bile salts

• Can obstruct flow of bile from gallbladder

• Painful when gallbladder contracts against sharp crystals

• Obstructive jaundice: blockage can cause bile salts and pigments to build up in blood, resulting in jaundiced (yellow) skin

  • Jaundice can also be caused by liver failure

• Gallstone treatment: crystal-dissolving drugs, ultrasound vibrations (lithotripsy), laser vaporization, or surgery