NR 283: DIGESTIVE OUTLINE STUDY GUIDE
i. Definition, causes, symptoms, and risk factors for the following diseases:
• Cirrhosis: Gradual destruction of liver tissue with loss of function and ultimately
liver failure.
Causes: Chronic alcohol abuse, chronic viral hepatitis (hep. B and C), fat
accumulation in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Alcoholic liver
disease.
• Symptoms: Enlarged liver, anorexia, nausea, jaundice, and edema.
• Risk factor: Alcohol
• Ascites: Buildup of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Decreases circulating fluid.
• Causes: Cirrhosis most common and portal hypertension.
• Symptoms: abdominal distention, weight gain, dyspnea, and peripheral edema.
• Risk factor: Heart failure, infection, and liver failure.
• Portal hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure in the portal venous
system.
• Causes: Obstruction of blood flow and fibrosis of the liver. It can also lead to
varices and splenomegaly.
• Symptoms: Cirrhosis, heart failure
• Risk factor: Hematemesis and anemia
• Hepatitis: Viral infection of the liver by one or more of the hepatitis virus
group, causing inflammation and necrosis.
• Causes: Hepatitis A (fecal-oral), hepatitis B (blood, STD), and hepatitis C (blood,
STD)
, NR 283: DIGESTIVE OUTLINE STUDY GUIDE
• Symptoms: Increased liver enzymes
• Risk factor: Poor hygiene, unprotected sex, IV drug use.
ii. What is the normal function of the gallbladder?
• The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, and then releases it into the
duodenum to help absorb and digest fats.
iii. What is cholelithiasis and what causes it? Symptoms?
• Choleithiasis is the formation of gallstones, consisting of cholesterol or
bilirubin, which may obstruct the biliary tract.
• Causes: Impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile acids.
• Symptoms: Epigastric pain, heart burn, and food intolerance.
iv. What is the normal function of the pancreas?
• The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum, the first segment of
the small intestine. These enzymes break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
The pancreas also makes insulin, secreting it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin
is the chief hormone for metabolizing sugar.
v. What is pancreatitis? Symptoms? What causes it?
• Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas and surrounding tissues
associated with autodigestion by pancreatic enzymes.
• Causes: Obstruction (gallstones) and direct cell injury
• Symptoms: Severe epigastric or abdominal pain that radiates to the back, signs of
shock: low bp, pallor, sweating, rapid pulse, fever
vi. What are signs and symptoms of digestive dysfunction?
Anorexia, Nausea, Vomiting, and Bulimia
• Anorexia
o Anorexia (loss of appetite) often precedes nausea and vomiting. Often, increased
salivation, pallor, sweating, and tachycardia may occur with nausea and
i. Definition, causes, symptoms, and risk factors for the following diseases:
• Cirrhosis: Gradual destruction of liver tissue with loss of function and ultimately
liver failure.
Causes: Chronic alcohol abuse, chronic viral hepatitis (hep. B and C), fat
accumulation in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Alcoholic liver
disease.
• Symptoms: Enlarged liver, anorexia, nausea, jaundice, and edema.
• Risk factor: Alcohol
• Ascites: Buildup of fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Decreases circulating fluid.
• Causes: Cirrhosis most common and portal hypertension.
• Symptoms: abdominal distention, weight gain, dyspnea, and peripheral edema.
• Risk factor: Heart failure, infection, and liver failure.
• Portal hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure in the portal venous
system.
• Causes: Obstruction of blood flow and fibrosis of the liver. It can also lead to
varices and splenomegaly.
• Symptoms: Cirrhosis, heart failure
• Risk factor: Hematemesis and anemia
• Hepatitis: Viral infection of the liver by one or more of the hepatitis virus
group, causing inflammation and necrosis.
• Causes: Hepatitis A (fecal-oral), hepatitis B (blood, STD), and hepatitis C (blood,
STD)
, NR 283: DIGESTIVE OUTLINE STUDY GUIDE
• Symptoms: Increased liver enzymes
• Risk factor: Poor hygiene, unprotected sex, IV drug use.
ii. What is the normal function of the gallbladder?
• The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile, and then releases it into the
duodenum to help absorb and digest fats.
iii. What is cholelithiasis and what causes it? Symptoms?
• Choleithiasis is the formation of gallstones, consisting of cholesterol or
bilirubin, which may obstruct the biliary tract.
• Causes: Impaired metabolism of cholesterol, bilirubin, and bile acids.
• Symptoms: Epigastric pain, heart burn, and food intolerance.
iv. What is the normal function of the pancreas?
• The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the duodenum, the first segment of
the small intestine. These enzymes break down protein, fats, and carbohydrates.
The pancreas also makes insulin, secreting it directly into the bloodstream. Insulin
is the chief hormone for metabolizing sugar.
v. What is pancreatitis? Symptoms? What causes it?
• Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas and surrounding tissues
associated with autodigestion by pancreatic enzymes.
• Causes: Obstruction (gallstones) and direct cell injury
• Symptoms: Severe epigastric or abdominal pain that radiates to the back, signs of
shock: low bp, pallor, sweating, rapid pulse, fever
vi. What are signs and symptoms of digestive dysfunction?
Anorexia, Nausea, Vomiting, and Bulimia
• Anorexia
o Anorexia (loss of appetite) often precedes nausea and vomiting. Often, increased
salivation, pallor, sweating, and tachycardia may occur with nausea and
