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Chapter 8

An Overview of the Gastrointestinal System: Anatomy, Physiology, and Assessment

Chapter 8

An Overview of the Gastrointestinal System: Anatomy, Physiology, and Assessment

Anatomy of the Gastrointestinal System
The human digestive system is an intricate and essential network for nutrient absorption and waste elimination. It encompasses the gastrointestinal (GI) …
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System I: Ingestion and Propulsion
The physiology of the gastrointestinal system starts with ingestion as food enters the mouth. Mechanical digestion begins with mastication, involving both …
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System II: Digestion and Absorption
The gastrointestinal tract extends from the mouth to the anus, facilitating both mechanical and chemical digestion. Digestion starts by chewing food in …
Physiology of the Gastrointestinal System III: Elimination
Elimination begins with digestion, where food is broken down for absorption, and indigestible parts are expelled. The last stage of digestion occurs in …
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System I: Subjective Data
Assessing the gastrointestinal or GI system involves gathering subjective data through patient interviews, including health history, family history, and …
Assessment of the Gastrointestinal System II: Health Perception Pattern
Assessing the gastrointestinal or GI system begins with gathering subjective data through patient interviews, providing vital insights into health …
Assessment of the Mouth
The oral cavity assessment starts with the lips, checking for symmetry, moisture, color, and overall appearance. Healthy lips are usually pink, smooth, …
Assessment of the Abdomen I: Inspection and Auscultation
To assess the gastrointestinal system, explain the procedure to the patient and obtain consent. Position the patient on their back with knees bent to …
Assessment of the Abdomen II: Percussion
Examining the abdomen involves percussion, a vital technique for detecting the presence of air-filled, fluid-filled, or solid masses and assessing the …
Assessment of the Abdomen III: Palpation
Examining the abdomen involves palpation, a technique to assess abdominal organs for tenderness, distention, masses, or fluid. Palpation is performed by …
Assessment of the Rectum and Anus
Rectum and anus assessments are performed through inspection and palpation techniques. Ensure proper lighting and have water-soluble lubrication, gloves, …
Coordinate Mapping of Hyolaryngeal Mechanics in Swallowing
Characterizing hyolaryngeal movement is important to dysphagia research. Prior methods require multiple measurements to obtain one kinematic measurement …
Subcellular Fractionation from Fresh and Frozen Gastrointestinal Specimens
The purpose of this protocol is to fractionate human intestinal tissue obtained by endoscopy into nuclear and cytoplasmic compartments for the …
Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) Exam: Image Acquisition
Over the past twenty years, the Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (FAST) exam has transformed the care of patients presenting with a …