NR 228 Week 1 Discussion Question: Digestive System
Let’s follow the path of a delicious ham and cheese sandwich with lettuce and pickles as it is
... [Show More] eaten and digested! Start at the beginning and discuss the anatomical parts as well as the biochemical roles that contribute to this sandwich being turned into chemical energy. Be sure to include mechanical and chemical mechanisms, along with how they are metabolized in the body!
What happens if one part does not function? For example, what happens to digestion if the person is missing many teeth but can't afford dentures or perhaps has a digestive disorder?
1. What stress factors may cause issues in the digestive tract for some people?
2. How can a regular exercise program aid in the development of a healthy digestive tract?
3. How might digestion and metabolism be different over the life span?
Answer
Hi class,
The digestion of the ham and cheese sandwich, starts in the mouth. The mouth breaks up the food into particles along with the salivary glands that produces saliva to help moisten the food which then becomes a bolus. According to Grodner (2016), “Chemical digestion occurs through the action of saliva that not only moistens the foods we chew but also contains amylase, an enzyme that begins the digestive process of starches. Another digestive process that occurs in the mouth is mechanical digestion, which depends on teeth.” The teeth help with mastication and the tongue help with the formation and movement of the bolus. The bolus travels down the esophagus to the stomach. In the stomach the bolus mixes with gastric secretions. The contents of the stomach (chyme) are then emptied into the small intestine. The small intestines absorb nutrients but mostly water. All contents are then moved to the large intestine where some water, ions, and vitamins are reabsorbed. The liquid is then formed and stored into feces where it is then ready for elimination.
If a person is missing many teeth it would be difficult for the patient to break down their food. According to Xu (2016),” increasing chewing difficulty due to the impaired dental functions is an major problem affecting the ability of food intake for many older people.” They would have to eat foods that are softer and easier to break down such as mashed potatoes and oatmeal.
Stress such as work, substance abuse, and anxiety which alters the fight or flight response can lead to problems in the digestive tract. Stress can lead to inflammation, peptic ulcers, and irritable bowel syndrome.
A regular exercise program can help aid in moving the food down the digestive tract. Exercise will help with peristalsis which is the movement of food in the stomach. It will also help with elimination and decrease the chances of being constipated.
According to Grodner (2016), “Metabolic changes are most noticeable later in life as the amount of food energy required decreases in relation to lowered metabolic rates. Nutrient needs, however, remain constant. As we enter the middle years and beyond, our challenge is to meet nutrient needs while maintaining or reducing our kcal needs to equal actual metabolic use. Recognition of this change can forestall the unexpected weight gain that appears to accompany aging in the United States.”
Grodner, M., Escott-Stump, S., Dorner, S. (2016) Nutritional Foundations and Clinical Applications: A Nursing Approach. [VitalSource]. Retrieved from https://online.vitalsource.com/#/books/9780323242103/
Xu, X. (2016). On the Oral Health and Chewing Enjoyment of the Elderly: A Review from the Point of Mechanics. Journal of Texture Studies, 47(4), 323–341. https://doi-org.chamberlainuniversity.idm.oclc.org/10.1111/jtxs.12206 [Show Less]