As nursing assistants, your responsibility of taking care of your patients/residents will incorporate many body systems. This part of learning is just to understand the basics and be observant to any changes in your patient or residents’ health. Reporting any changes to your team leaders so that your patients will get the proper care to maintain health and well-being.
The gastrointestinal tract also known as the GI tract, digestive tract or the alimentary canal. Is the main passageway of the digestive system. Leads from the mouth to the anus. It is the second largest body system. The cardiovascular system is the largest. The digestive system is responsible for the breakdown of large insoluble food compounds into smaller water-soluble components that can be absorbed into the blood plasma. The organs that are responsible for this digestive process starts at the mouth, the pharynx, then the esophagus, to the stomach passing through the small and large intestines and leaving the rectum through the anus. As the food is taken and broken down into its components the body extracts the nutrients and absorbs its energy.
The mouth is the cavity within the cheeks containing the tongue, teeth and is the communication center with the pharynx. As we all know the mouth plays an important role in eating, drinking and speaking. Some people also use it for mouth breathing if they have any obstructions to the nasal passageway. It is the first area part of the GI tract that accepts the food producing salvia and performing mastication (another word for chewing).
The pharynx moves the food from the mouth to the esophagus. It is also responsible to move air from the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx. It actually sits above the esophagus and trachea.
The esophagus is also known as the food pipe or food tube. Through peristaltic contractions of the smooth muscle helps the food pass from the pharynx to the stomach. The esophagus is about 10 inches long or 25 centimeters in adults. It sits behind the trachea and the heart. As the food is going down the esophagus it has to pass by the diaphragm and then empties into the stomach. The diaphragm is a c shaped muscular structure of fibrous tissue that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdomen.
As the food pass by the diaphragm, it then enters into the upper portion of the stomach. The stomach is a muscular hollow J shaped organ that has the capability to expand when it is being filled. The stomach is located between the esophagus and the small intestine; the stomach also temporarily stores food. It contracts and relaxes to mix and breakdown food. It secrets digestive enzymes and gastric acids to aid in food digestion. This process is the chemical breakdown of foods which is very important to the guiding of digestion and one’s overall health.
The small intestine is the part of the GI tract that is between the stomach and large intestines. It is about 18 feet long and folds many times to fit into the abdominal cavity. It is longer than the large intestines but is narrow in its diameter. Here is where most of the end absorption of food takes place. The food mixes with the digestive juices from the intestine, liver and pancreas. The intestinal wall than absorbs the nutrients and water from the food sending the waste products to the large intestine.
The large intestine is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and the digestive system. It loops around your belly and the small intestines near your right hip to your ribs. Moves across the body and down the left side of your belly. Measures the length of about 6 feet and 3 inches in diameter. Here the water is absorbed and the remaining waste products are stored as feces before being removed and defecated from the body through the rectum. The rectum is the lower part of your large intestine where the stool is stored until you have a bowel movement. The anus is the opening at the end of the digestive tract where the stool actually leaves the body. The anus is a muscular ring also known as a sphincter that keeps the anus closed. This is controlled by your autonomic nervous system.
Some definitions for the gastrointestinal system
Absorption – the transfer of nutrients from the intestines to the cells.
Catabolism – the destructive phase of metabolism. Complex substances are converted into simpler substances with the release of energy.
Constipation– inability to eliminate hard and dry fecal material. May be painful.
Diarrhea – frequent watery bowel movements. An increase of peristalsis. Liquid stools must be measured as part of the patient’s total output.
Dehydration – a serious condition resulting from inadequate fluid in the body.
Digestion– process of preparing food physically and chemically so that it can be absorbed into the cells.
Dysphagia– difficulty swallowing
Elimination– process of expelling waste products that are made up of food and fluid that are not absorbed by the cells.
Fecal Impaction– prolonged retention and buildup of feces in the rectum.
Fecal Incontinence– inability to control the bowels leading to involuntary passage of stool.
Flatus- is gas or air that is passed through the anus.
Metabolism- the physical or chemical process by which substances are broken down and transformed into energy by products used by the body.
Mechanical Digestion– physical process of breaking down foo into smaller pieces without altering its chemical composition.
Meconium– dark green to black tarry bowel movements.
So, the importance of your skills is to help maintain one’s health and well-being for this body system and to maintain their life balance. You would be responsible to monitor your patient’s intake and output. You will be responsible to know the frequency of bowel movements. As well as the color and consistency. You are helping to maintain their skin integrity related to any issues of incontinence and prevent breakdowns. While observing and recording as well as reporting any changes to the team leader. You will also be adding fall risk protocols as well. You will always use standard precautions. Your advocacy of your patient/resident can help their health maintenance more than you realize.
As a CNA student, I found this comprehensive overview of the gastrointestinal system to be incredibly informative and helpful in understanding the importance of our role in maintaining patients’ digestive health. The detailed explanations of each organ’s function and the definitions of key terms will definitely aid in my future practice as a nursing assistant. By grasping these concepts, I feel more confident in my ability to monitor patients’ intake and output, report changes, and provide high-quality care.