CASE STUDY 4 CELIAC DISEASE1

Case Study 4 Celiac Disease

Brandy Schnacker

Washburn University

Advanced Pathophysiology

NU 507

Sue T. Unruh, MSN, RN & Karen Fernengel, RN, PhD, ARNP-BC

November 25, 2010

CASE STUDY 4 CELIAC DISEASE1

Case Study 4 Celiac Disease

  1. What anatomic features of the small intestine contribute to the digestion and absorption of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins?

The villi are the anatomic features that contribute to the digestion and absorption of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins. In celiac disease results in damage to the villi. Not having the villi within the inner surface of the small intestine then the body is unable to absorb nutrients necessary for health and growth. Instead, nutrients such as fat, protein, vitamins and minerals are eliminated in the stool (Celiac Disease).

  1. Sometimes individuals with celiac disease experience steatorrhea (fatty stools) after eating food containing gluten. Identify the chemical components that normally digest fats in the small intestine and how the fats are absorbed.

Pancreatic enzymes split long-chain triglycerides into fatty acids and monoglycerides, which combine with bile acids and phospholipids to form micelles that pass through jejuna enterocytes (Gstrointestinal Disorders). Pancreatic lipase, bile salts and functioning lymphatic channels help break up fat if these are working properly then steatorrhea occurs (Porth & Matfin, 2009)(Page 942).

  1. Celiac disease involves an inflammatory response in the small intestine. How do inflammatory conditions affect small intestine motility? Note the neural pathways of autonomic innervations to the gut and contrast the effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic activity on gut motility.

Inflammatory conditions affect small intestine motility by slowing the motility down. The neural pathway of the sympathetic is from celiac nerve branch which in turn is from the great and small sphlanchnic nerve branch which comes from the thoracic portion of the spine (Sympathetic nervous system). The parasympathetic part of the small intestine comes from the cranial nerve X which is the Vagus nerve (Parasympathetic Nervous System). The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system are opposites of each other. The sympathetic part is for flight or fight response which slows down the motility of the gut and small intestine during an inflammatory response (Sympathetic nervous system). The parasympathetic is responsible for salivation, lacrimation, urination, digestion and defication which can be labeled as “rest and digest” (Parasympathetic Nervous System).

REFERENCES

Celiac Disease. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from MayoClinic:

Gstrointestinal Disorders. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from Merck Manual

Professional:

Parasympathetic Nervous System. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from Wikipedia:

Porth, C. M., & Matfin, G. (2009). Pathophysiology Concepts of Altered Health States. China:

Lippincot Williams & Wilkins.

Sympathetic nervous system. (n.d.). Retrieved November 25, 2010, from Wikipedia: