Question

1)How the absorption of nutrients is affected if food moved through the small intestine at a faster rate?

2)Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is a common treatment of gallstones that cause obstruction of bile flow from the gallbladder into the duodenum. a) Explain why taking vitamin supplements would be required in such case. b) List the affected vitamins. c) What adjustments to their daily routine might they have to perform in order to accommodate their loss? Explain your answer

3)It is 11:00 in the morning and Nairobi didn’t take her breakfast yet. Passing by the cafeteria, a piece of cake caught her eye and she starts to have some salivation. a) What type of physiological process is triggered? b) Which phase of the reflex is being activated? c) List two events/things that will stimulate this phase. d) What happens during this phase and what is the reason this is happening?

Answer 1

1. Improper digestion and poor absorption would occur if if food moved through the small intestine at a faster rate. Small intestine is hte major organ for chemical digestion with various enzymes and site for absoprtion facilitated with villi, toincrease the surface area for absorption. It could arise from improper functionin of vagus nerve or an overactive thyroid gland.

2. Gall bladder stores bile which aids digestion of fats by promoting emulsification of fat. In case of cholecystectomy,the ability to be able to digest and absorb fats and fat soluble vitamins is diminished. Absorption of vitamins affected by cholecystectomy are A, D, E, and K (fat soluble vitamins). The loss of fat souble vitamins are compensated by the multi vitamin supplement.

3.  Physiological response of saliva secretion while seeing food is the feed forward mechanism. An unconditioned reflex involves salivation from sight of food or gustatory-salivary reflex when taste the food. It occurs in cephalic phase of digestion which can be stimulated by smell of the food, mere sight or thought of the food. In cephalic phase, the sensory signals triggers the GI tract for optimal processing of ingested foods. Greater the appetite, more the stimulation intensity.