Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition

Normal and Therapeutic Nutrition 3(2+1)

Lesson 20:Gastrointestinal diseases

Introduction

The digestive tract is a group of 6 separate and interrelated organ systems designed to digest food, absorb nutrients and eliminate metabolized products.

These organ systems are:

• The oesophagus
• The stomach
• The pancreas
• The hepatobiliary tract (liver and bile ducts, gall bladder)
• The small intestine
• The colon

These organ systems have individual and interrelated abnormalities requiring different methods to assess and evaluate.

The gastro intestinal tract converts foods to the form usable by the body for carrying out various functions. Any diseases of the gastro intestinal tract therefore will affect the availability of nutrients to the body and the nutritional status of the individual.