Overview of the Gastrointestinal Tract
Which information would the nurse share with a patient who has a loop colostomy?
- "After your bowels heal, they will be reattached." With a temporary colostomy, the bowels will be reattached after healing occurs.
Which factors can affect a patient's bowel movements? Select all that apply. Dietary intake Medication use Marital status Pain Recent surgery
- Dietary intake - Medication Use - Pain - Recent Surgery
Which function does defecation serve?
- Expels feces Defecation expels feces/stool from the body. The ultimate function of the large intestine and the final act of digestion to produce feces and expel it from the body. In nursing this is called a bowel movement or stool.
Which characteristics are typical of a loop colostomy? Select all that apply. Has two distinct stomas Has one stoma with two openings Has mucus drain from the distal end of the stoma Has stool drain from the proximal end of the stoma Is a permanent type of colostomy Is usually created in an emergency
- Has one stoma with two openings - Has mucus drain from the distal end of the stoma - Has stool drain from the proximal end of the stoma - Is usually created in an emergency
Which type of procedure creates no stoma on the patient's abdomen? Double-barrel colostomy Temporary colostomy Kock pouch Ileoanal pouch
- Ileoanal pouch An ileoanal pouch is a reservoir in the abdomen that collects stool. It does not have a stoma because it is connected to the anus.
Which type of ostomy is the nurse describing when using this image?
- Ileoanal pouch The image is an ileoanal pouch, a type of alternative procedure in which the pouch attaches to the anus so the patient can defecate through the anus.
Which type of ostomy causes the patient to lose a large amount of water, electrolytes, and digestive enzymes through a stoma? Ileostomy Sigmoid colostomy Descending colostomy Ileoanal pouch
- Ileostomy The patient with an ileostomy loses a high volume of water, electrolytes, and digestive enzymes through a stoma.
Which information is accurate regarding the structure and function of the esophagus? Select all that apply. Causes mechanical breakdown of food Is a collapsible tube that transports a food bolus Is located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen Connects the pharynx to the stomach Produces digestive juices, enzymes, and pepsin
- Is a collapsible tube that transports a food bolus The esophagus is a collapsible tube that transports a food bolus. - Connects the pharynx to the stomach The esophagus connects the pharynx to the stomach.
Which question addresses psychological factors that can affect a patient's bowel elimination? Has the patient ever had a problem with obesity? Does the patient have any food intolerances? What is the patient's religion? Is the patient experiencing stress?
- Is the patient experiencing stress? Stress is a psychological condition that can affect elimination. Stress can lead to diarrhea.
Which type of intestinal movement would a patient with paralytic ileus have?
- None If the intestines are manipulated during surgery, intestinal movement stops (none), causing a paralytic ileus. (Paralytic)
Which medications would increase the patient's risk for constipation? Select all that apply. Opioids Antacids Laxatives Cathartics Antibiotics Iron supplements
- Opiods - Antacids - Iron Supplements
Which processes are functions of the large intestine? Select all that apply. Digestion Secretion Elimination Metabolism Absorption
- Secretion Secretion is a function of the large intestine. The large intestine secretes bicarbonate in exchange for chloride. - Elimination Elimination is a function of the large intestine. The large intestine eliminates potassium, feces, and flatus. -Absorption Absorption is a function of the large intestine. The large intestine absorbs water continually from chyme, converting it to solid feces/stool.
From which area would the nurse observe stool draining in a double-barrel colostomy? Proximal end Distal opening Nonfunctional end Farthest opening from the small intestine
- The functional proximal end, closest to the small intestine, drains feces/stool.
Which structure is the primary organ that aids in defecation? Large intestine Small intestine Duodenum Jejunum
- The large intestine is the principal organ of bowel elimination and aids in defecation.
Place the types of ostomies in order based on the consistency of stool formed (from least formed/liquid to most formed/solid).
- The sequence for the most unregulated, liquid ostomy stool to the most regulated, solid ostomy stool is as follows: ileostomy, ascending colostomy, transverse colostomy, descending colostomy, and sigmoid colostomy. The longer the stool is in the lower gastrointestinal tract, the more regulated and solid the feces/stool becomes.
Which information regarding the frequency of bowel movements is accurate? Occurs once per day Happens after each meal Varies from person to person Is directly related to intake of water
- Varies from person to person The frequency of defecation, along with the characteristics of feces, will vary and differs from person to person.
Stool drainage from a sigmoid colostomy has which characteristics? Select all that apply. Liquid Well-formed Semi-formed Well-regulated Unregulated
- Well formed - Well regulated
The gastrointestinal tract has which function? Protection from bacteria Digestion of waste products Absorption of nutrients and fluids Production of potassium
-Absorption of nutrients and fluids
Which amount of fluid (in ounces) is recommended for an adult to maintain healthy bowel elimination?
64 oz
Place the organs of the gastrointestinal tract in the sequence through which a food item travels.
The food item travels in the following sequence: mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, rectum, and anus. This sequence is the normal anatomy of the gastrointestinal tract.
Place in order the segments of the small and large intestines.
The sequence is the small intestine segments followed by the large intestine segments in the following order: duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, and then rectum.
