Digestive Case Study

"Cancer of the pancreas is a genetic disease that is the fifth most common cause of death in both men and women. Pancreatic cancer affects approximately 28,000 Americans each year, or five out of 100,000 people" (Mayo Clinic, 1998). According to physicians at Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, "pancreatic cancer is the challenge of the twenty-first century." So, where exactly is the pancreas located in our bodies, and what does it do? The pancreas is a gland found behind the stomach that is shaped somewhat like a fish. The pancreas is about six inches long and less than two inches wide, and it extends across the abdomen. The pancreas consists of two separate glands inside the same organ, the exocrine gland and the

The pancreas, located behind the stomach, is a long, thin organ about the length of the hand. It

Acute Pancreatitis: Acute inflammation of the pancreas.The most common pathogenic mechanism is autodigestion of the pancreas. The etiological factor injures pancreatic cells or activates the pancreatic enzymes in the pancreas rather than in the intestine which may be due to reflux of bile acids into the pancreatic duct through an open or distended sphincter of Oddi. The result may also be caused by blockage created by a gallstone. Obstruction of pancreatic ducts results in pancreatic ischemia.The pathophysiology involvement of acute pancreatitis is

3. Name the structure that is a double fold of peritoneum and holds the small intestine to the

The pancreas is responsible for secreting digestive enzymes into the duodenum. These enzymes then break down protein, fats and carbohydrates. The pancreas is also responsible for making insulin and secreting it directly into the bloodstream. The livers main function within the digestive system is to process the nutrients which are absorbed from the small intestine. Bile is secreted

5. Explain why proteases are secreted in an inactive state and describe the means by which proteases are activated in the stomach and small intestine. – The enzymes protease, amylase and lipase, are potent enzymes that are capable of digesting the pancreatic cells- a process called autodigestion. To protect themselves from autodigestion in case the digestive enzymes accidentally get turned on, pancreatic cells produce enzymes in inactive form called zymogens, which are stored in membrane-bound sacks called zymogen granules. Enteropeptidase (also called enterokinase) is an enzyme produced by cells of the duodenum

gall bladder liver hepatic portal region cystic duct bile duct hepatic pancreatic sphincter accessory pancreatic duct hepatic flexure jejunum ascending colon ileum rectum illiocecal vavle anal canal cecum appendix anus transverse colon decsending colon sigmond colon pancreas cardiac sphincter

Response: The epigastric region is of the abdominals that is superior to the transverse colon. It goes up to just about the xiphoid process of the sternum. The width of a person’s neck is the approximate width of the epigastric region, so if someone were to draw two lines starting at both ear lobes going straight down the body and then draw a line horizontally that would line the top of the transverse colon and another line that would horizontally line up with the xiphoid process, that square made would be the epigastric region. The organs associated with digestion located in that region are the liver, gallbladder, stomach, and pancreas.

Once again my mini-sub and I will be miniaturized (8 microns long) and witnessing another ‘Fantastic Voyage’ in a human body. This time I will be swallowed by George, a 55 years old man, while he is eating his meal consisting of a hamburger, French fries and a soda. I will pilot my mini-sub through George’s GI (gastrointestinal tract), which is the tube that starts with the mouth and proceeds to the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large intestine (or colon), rectum and, finally, the anus (Pansky, 2007). Along this pathway I will describe the digestion of George’s meal and the major structures that I will encounter. Arrived to the distal

The process of digestion first begins in the mouth by in taking food (bolus). The teeth help with masticating (chewing and breaking food particles down) allowing for swallowing and increasing surface area for chemical digestion. Enzymes found in saliva also facilitates with the chemical break down of food primarily starches and fats. The food swallowed then enters into the esophagus (a tube connecting the mouth and stomach). Peristalsis helps the esophagus to push the food in the direction of the stomach. The stomach contents are highly acidic (doesn’t affect the stomach mucosa since cells secrete mucus allowing the stomach wall to be protected) with pH levels between 1.5-2.5 allowing microorganisms to be killed, breaking down of food, and activating digestive enzymes producing a thick substance known as chyme. However, breaking down of foods further occurs in the small intestine consisting of: bile created from the liver, enzymes formed from the small intestine, and the pancreas facilitate with further digestion as well as HCI denatures (unfolds proteins) allowing them to be available to attack by digestive enzymes (also responsible in breaking down the protein). The pyloric sphincter separates the stomach from the small intestine allowing the chime to drop into the small intestine. The small intestine is the primary site for

Consist of oral cavity, esophagus, gallbladder, liver, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, colon, cecum, appendix, jejunum, and rectum.

Inside the pancreas there are exocrine and endocrine glands. The exocrine glands make pancreatic "juice" that

The stomach is a sac-like organ with strong muscular walls that lies in the upper abdominal cavity just under the diaphragm. The stomach looks small after it is emptied, but it expands

The Liver the largest and heaviest organ makes bile then stores it in the gallbladder. Which stores the bile then squirts it into the small intestine to break down fatty foods if needed. Banana squeezes through the Duendom the beginning part of the small intestine connecting the small intestine to the stomach. The small intestine is a 600cm long tube, and does the most absorption in the whole digestive system through little finger like sponges called villi. Villi have capillaries located through them that absorb nutrients then leak the nutrients into the bloodstream. The nutrients are leaked into the bloodstream because cells need nutrients to be able to do their jobs for the body. Nutrients and

The pancreas is a digestive organ that lies below the stomach, it is mostly made up of exocrine and endocrine tissues. The exocrine parts form sacs known as Acini, which connect to ducts with empty into the first part of the intestine (The duodenum). Smaller parts of the exocrine glands are dispersed all throughout the pancreas which are known as islets of Langerhans (Anon, Unknown).