Unit 8C: Physiology of the Digestive system-
I am a student at Hereford Sixth Form college, and I have been given a project to write a report about and
to raise awareness of nutritional disorders. This report will contain information on the anatomy and
physiology of the digestive system, as well as discussing some important nutrients in our diets, linking to
the consequences of being deficient in them and how that can be treated. In addition to my report, I will
also be designing a PowerPoint presentation to show that I have completed a series of practical
investigations showing different nutritional content in lots of foods. All of my findings from this project will
be taken to Aylestone School to talk about.
One particular digestive disorder that has an impact on the normal functioning of the digestive system is
Ulcerative colitis. This can also lead to some nutritional deficiencies and a loss of good general health.
Ulcerative colitis causes an inflammation of the colon and the rectum, and this is a long-term condition.
The colon is known as the large intestine, or the bowel, and the rectum is the end of the bowel, where the
stool is stored. In some cases, small ulcers can develop on the lining of the colon, and this tends to bleed
and release pus. The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, however, through research, people have
found that the cause could be an immune system malfunction. This is when your immune system tries to
fight off a virus or bacteria, and if this goes wrong, the immune response can cause the immune system to
also begin attacking the cells in the digestive system as well. If you have UC, flare-ups are a common
consequence, and though there is no specific reasoning for a flare-up to occur, a gut infection is found to
sometimes be the case, and in addition to this, stress is another possible factor.
Symptoms of UC can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation, and where exactly this occurs.
Symptoms of this can include diarrhoea, which can contain blood, mucus or pus, stomach pains and
cramps, rectal bleeding and needing the toilet urgently. As well as this, people may also experience some
fatigue and weight loss. People can sometimes go an exceedingly long time experiencing only mild
symptoms or even no symptoms at all, however, in the case of a flare-up, the symptoms can then become
very extreme for periods of time. The symptoms already mentioned are also relevant here, though usually
more amplified, as well as some additional symptoms around the body. These are known as extra-intestinal
symptoms, and this can include painful swollen joints (arthritis), mouth ulcers, swollen fat under the skin,
irritated eyes, as well as some problems with bones, like osteoporosis.
The normal functioning of the digestive system can be greatly affected by these symptoms, and this can
lead to some more problems on top of it. This can include anaemia, so if the inflammation of the colon and
rectum lead to bleeding, enough blood could be lost to result in low numbers of red blood cells in your
body. Anaemia can lead to symptoms like fatigue, irregular heartbeat, cold hands and feet and headaches.
Another possible but rare problem from this disease is known as mega colon. This is where the
inflammation in your colon is so severely affected, that it causes it to swell. Once this has swollen, it will
completely stop working, and this can be very serious and life threatening, and surgery would then be
required.
There are some treatments used to help reduce the symptoms of UC and to prevent any flare-ups, and this
involves different types of medicines, and surgery sometimes needs to be required or is an option. One
medicine is amino salicylates, known as 5-ASAs, and this is used to help in reducing inflammation, which
then allows the damaged tissue to heal. This treatment is usually the first option in cases of mild to
moderate UC, and this is a short-term treatment to help flare-ups, but can also be used long-term in some
cases to prevent flare-ups ahead of time. There are some advantages to using this medicine for UC, for
example it can help in reducing the inflammation that is being caused, helping you to heal. As well as this,
there are very minimal side effects, so you have the opportunity to use this long-term without any different
issues arising. However, a disadvantage of using this medicine is that there is still a chance, though small for
you to experience some unpleasant side effects, for example, headaches, nausea, and cramping. Another
,option for medication is corticosteroids (for example, prednisolone), and this can be used with or instead of
5-ASAs to help in reducing inflammation if the 5-ASAs are not working effectively on their own. However,
this medication should not be used as a long-term treatment, as they can have some serious side effects.
Some advantages of using this medicine is that it works very quickly, and you will notice differences short-
term like the quick decrease in inflammation. In addition, corticosteroids are able to be taken as tablets,
which may be preferred my many patients rather than an injection, though this is also an option. However,
some disadvantages of taking this medicine are the serious side effects if taken long-term. These symptoms
can include easily bruising, weakened muscles, mood swings, as well as weakened bones which can lead to
osteoporosis. You can also use immunosuppressants instead (e.g., azathioprine), and this will help to
reduce the immune system’s activity. This can be used in the case of mild to moderate flare-ups or to
prevent further flare-ups if the other medicines have not worked. These may take some time to start having
an effect and can result in you being more vulnerable to other infections as your immune system is weaker.
In addition to this, you can become more prone to anaemia, due to less production of red blood cells.
However, despite these points there are some advantages to using this type of medicine. If the earlier
medicines mentions do not have a positive or any effect on you, this is still an option which will help reduce
the inflammation. Another major advantage to using this medicine is that it is purely focused on the
ulcerative colitis, as opposed to corticosteroids which affect all around your body.
If your case is more severe, then this will need to be treated in a hospital to prevent any dehydration or
possibly fatal complications, like the colon rupturing. The medicines provided may include a corticosteroid
or immunosuppressants (ciclosporin). This is given through infusion slowly for around a week. As this can
cause serious side effects, regular monitoring will be necessary during the treatment. This is advantageous
as it has been found to be very effective to reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. As well as this, some
may prefer to have this done through an infusion rather than have regular injections or need to remember
to take daily tablets, as an infusion is very strong, so it is done in long intervals. Biologic medicines may also
be given, and these reduce inflammation of the intestine by blocking the receptors for the proteins that the
immune system uses to cause inflammation. This is also given through an infusion every 4-12 weeks or
through an injection every 1-4 weeks. This medicine can make you more vulnerable to other infections as
well as it affects your immune system. Advantages of this is that biologic medicine have been proven to be
extremely effective. They also focus only on the ulcerative colitis, rather than around the body like the
immunosuppressants. JAK inhibitors are a new type of medicine used now to treat UC. These work by
blocking the proteins that the immune system uses to cause inflammation as well. These medications are
recommended if all the treatments already mentioned have not worked or are not suitable for the patient.
Advantages of using JAK inhibitors is that they effectively reduce the inflammation, but it also helps in
reducing other present symptoms cause from UC, like diarrhoea or abdominal pain. This type of medicine is
also taken as a tablet twice a day, which some may prefer in comparison to an injection. However, a
disadvantage is that there can be some negative side effects, including nausea, headaches, easily catching
colds etc. Ozanimod is also recommended if all the treatments discussed have not worked or are not
suitable. This would be taken as a daily tablet and is usually taken long-term. This medication also affects
your immune system, so may also increase the risk of other infections. Advantages of using ozanimod’s is
that it can decrease the effects of even severe ulcerative colitis. As well as this, it can be taken at home as a
tablet, which some may prefer to going to the doctors to get an injection. If the flare-ups are becoming
more frequent as is affecting your quality of life, or if your flare-ups stop responding to the treatments
provided, surgery may be the best option. The surgery for UC is a colectomy, which means the colon is
removed. In order for the waste products to pass out of the body once the colon is removed, the small
intestine will be used instead, by creating an ileostomy. This is where the small intestine is diverted out of a
hole through your abdominal wall, and a colostomy bag is used to collect the waste. Another option instead
of an ileostomy, is to have an ileoanal pouch. This is an internal pouch that is made of the part of the small
intestine, and this then connected to the anus, which then allows for normal toilet use. This is a very good
, solution if your ulcerative colitis is very severe, as it will get rid of all symptoms, and you will no longer have
to experience any flare-ups. It also allows you to go to the toilet like normal and without any pain, though
through your small intestine or the anus.
Rather than using medication or in conjunction with, you can adjust your diet to help reduce symptoms and
to reduce the risk of complications. For example, you could have smaller meals, so instead of three main
meals, eat more frequent smaller ones, Drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can cause dehydration, also
avoid caffeine, alcohol, and fizzy drinks as they can make the diarrhoea worse. Taking supplements as well
may improve your diet as you may not be absorbing enough nutrients from your food (vitamins and
minerals). As well as this, you can keep a food diary, which can be helpful as some food may make your
symptoms worse. However, make sure to not entirely exclude food groups from your diet without speaking
to an expert first. Another option is to eat a low-fibre diet when experiencing a flare-up, as this may help in
reducing symptoms. This diet helps as you will need to go to the toilet less, enabling time to heal. If you try
to reduce your stress levels as well, this can sometimes reduce your symptoms. To do this, you could
regularly exercise and use various relaxation techniques. This is a good option to try as you may be able to
reduce your major symptoms without the use of drugs, and it can be an easy and quick solution. As well as
this, it wouldn’t cause any negative side effects, so if you were to try it before going to look at any
medicines, there wouldn’t be any negative outcomes, unless your symptoms don’t get relieved.
A nutrient deficiency is likely to occur in the case that a person has decreased levels of one, or in some
cases multiple nutrients, and this will lead to the body being unable to function normally, which can then
lead to the risk diseases occurring. Examples of consequences that can occur as a result of this is diabetes,
cancer, and heart diseases.
When suffering from ulcerative colitis, various nutrient deficiencies may be another problem. Malnutrition
can be a concern for someone with UC. Not only can this affect your appetite and bathroom habits, but it
can also affect how well your body absorbs vitamins and minerals. This usually only occurs in the case of a
flare-up, as nutrients are mostly absorbed in the small intestine. As I had mentioned earlier, anaemia is also
another concern, as inflammation of the colon and rectum can lead to bleeding, leading to loss of red
blood cells faster than they can be replaced. In order to treat the iron deficiency, dietary changes or
supplements may be recommended. If the iron deficiency is specifically caused by another condition like
UC though, this should also be treated on top of that for more effective results. Supplements themselves
will not help in the case that there is bleeding, so this will need to be looked into at a hospital so the
bleeding can be stopped, or your loss of red blood cells will not stop. There are medicines that are
prescribed to stop or reduce the bleeding of the colon lining and other areas like the medicines already
mentioned, and this will consequently rid of or reduce your chance of getting anaemia. Diarrhoea can
cause dehydration, and not having enough fluids can lead to malnutrition as nutrients cannot be absorbed.
Signs that you have malnutrition include weight loss, fatigue, weakness, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies.
To help treat this, you should maintain a healthy diet, even if your diet is restricted by UC, get tested for
vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as taking supplements. For malnutrition, you could try having a
snack between meals to increase your calorie intake as well as drinking high calorie drinks. In addition, it
has been found that iron is easier to absorb from meat sources, as opposed to plant sources, so adding
meat to your diet may help increase your iron intake. This would result in your body being about to
produce more haemoglobin, so your body can transport more oxygen. This in turn, helps in respiration,
which would reduce tiredness. This is one of the main symptoms of anaemia. In some cases, your doctor
can prescribe medicines that can help your body to produce more red blood cells, or in other cases there
are also medicines that they can give to help treat an underlying condition that is causing the anaemia.
Examples of medicines given are antibiotics to treat any infections, or hormones, to treat heavy menstrual
bleeding in women. There are many different medications that can be given but these are two common
examples.
I am a student at Hereford Sixth Form college, and I have been given a project to write a report about and
to raise awareness of nutritional disorders. This report will contain information on the anatomy and
physiology of the digestive system, as well as discussing some important nutrients in our diets, linking to
the consequences of being deficient in them and how that can be treated. In addition to my report, I will
also be designing a PowerPoint presentation to show that I have completed a series of practical
investigations showing different nutritional content in lots of foods. All of my findings from this project will
be taken to Aylestone School to talk about.
One particular digestive disorder that has an impact on the normal functioning of the digestive system is
Ulcerative colitis. This can also lead to some nutritional deficiencies and a loss of good general health.
Ulcerative colitis causes an inflammation of the colon and the rectum, and this is a long-term condition.
The colon is known as the large intestine, or the bowel, and the rectum is the end of the bowel, where the
stool is stored. In some cases, small ulcers can develop on the lining of the colon, and this tends to bleed
and release pus. The exact cause of ulcerative colitis is unknown, however, through research, people have
found that the cause could be an immune system malfunction. This is when your immune system tries to
fight off a virus or bacteria, and if this goes wrong, the immune response can cause the immune system to
also begin attacking the cells in the digestive system as well. If you have UC, flare-ups are a common
consequence, and though there is no specific reasoning for a flare-up to occur, a gut infection is found to
sometimes be the case, and in addition to this, stress is another possible factor.
Symptoms of UC can vary depending on the severity of the inflammation, and where exactly this occurs.
Symptoms of this can include diarrhoea, which can contain blood, mucus or pus, stomach pains and
cramps, rectal bleeding and needing the toilet urgently. As well as this, people may also experience some
fatigue and weight loss. People can sometimes go an exceedingly long time experiencing only mild
symptoms or even no symptoms at all, however, in the case of a flare-up, the symptoms can then become
very extreme for periods of time. The symptoms already mentioned are also relevant here, though usually
more amplified, as well as some additional symptoms around the body. These are known as extra-intestinal
symptoms, and this can include painful swollen joints (arthritis), mouth ulcers, swollen fat under the skin,
irritated eyes, as well as some problems with bones, like osteoporosis.
The normal functioning of the digestive system can be greatly affected by these symptoms, and this can
lead to some more problems on top of it. This can include anaemia, so if the inflammation of the colon and
rectum lead to bleeding, enough blood could be lost to result in low numbers of red blood cells in your
body. Anaemia can lead to symptoms like fatigue, irregular heartbeat, cold hands and feet and headaches.
Another possible but rare problem from this disease is known as mega colon. This is where the
inflammation in your colon is so severely affected, that it causes it to swell. Once this has swollen, it will
completely stop working, and this can be very serious and life threatening, and surgery would then be
required.
There are some treatments used to help reduce the symptoms of UC and to prevent any flare-ups, and this
involves different types of medicines, and surgery sometimes needs to be required or is an option. One
medicine is amino salicylates, known as 5-ASAs, and this is used to help in reducing inflammation, which
then allows the damaged tissue to heal. This treatment is usually the first option in cases of mild to
moderate UC, and this is a short-term treatment to help flare-ups, but can also be used long-term in some
cases to prevent flare-ups ahead of time. There are some advantages to using this medicine for UC, for
example it can help in reducing the inflammation that is being caused, helping you to heal. As well as this,
there are very minimal side effects, so you have the opportunity to use this long-term without any different
issues arising. However, a disadvantage of using this medicine is that there is still a chance, though small for
you to experience some unpleasant side effects, for example, headaches, nausea, and cramping. Another
,option for medication is corticosteroids (for example, prednisolone), and this can be used with or instead of
5-ASAs to help in reducing inflammation if the 5-ASAs are not working effectively on their own. However,
this medication should not be used as a long-term treatment, as they can have some serious side effects.
Some advantages of using this medicine is that it works very quickly, and you will notice differences short-
term like the quick decrease in inflammation. In addition, corticosteroids are able to be taken as tablets,
which may be preferred my many patients rather than an injection, though this is also an option. However,
some disadvantages of taking this medicine are the serious side effects if taken long-term. These symptoms
can include easily bruising, weakened muscles, mood swings, as well as weakened bones which can lead to
osteoporosis. You can also use immunosuppressants instead (e.g., azathioprine), and this will help to
reduce the immune system’s activity. This can be used in the case of mild to moderate flare-ups or to
prevent further flare-ups if the other medicines have not worked. These may take some time to start having
an effect and can result in you being more vulnerable to other infections as your immune system is weaker.
In addition to this, you can become more prone to anaemia, due to less production of red blood cells.
However, despite these points there are some advantages to using this type of medicine. If the earlier
medicines mentions do not have a positive or any effect on you, this is still an option which will help reduce
the inflammation. Another major advantage to using this medicine is that it is purely focused on the
ulcerative colitis, as opposed to corticosteroids which affect all around your body.
If your case is more severe, then this will need to be treated in a hospital to prevent any dehydration or
possibly fatal complications, like the colon rupturing. The medicines provided may include a corticosteroid
or immunosuppressants (ciclosporin). This is given through infusion slowly for around a week. As this can
cause serious side effects, regular monitoring will be necessary during the treatment. This is advantageous
as it has been found to be very effective to reduce the symptoms of ulcerative colitis. As well as this, some
may prefer to have this done through an infusion rather than have regular injections or need to remember
to take daily tablets, as an infusion is very strong, so it is done in long intervals. Biologic medicines may also
be given, and these reduce inflammation of the intestine by blocking the receptors for the proteins that the
immune system uses to cause inflammation. This is also given through an infusion every 4-12 weeks or
through an injection every 1-4 weeks. This medicine can make you more vulnerable to other infections as
well as it affects your immune system. Advantages of this is that biologic medicine have been proven to be
extremely effective. They also focus only on the ulcerative colitis, rather than around the body like the
immunosuppressants. JAK inhibitors are a new type of medicine used now to treat UC. These work by
blocking the proteins that the immune system uses to cause inflammation as well. These medications are
recommended if all the treatments already mentioned have not worked or are not suitable for the patient.
Advantages of using JAK inhibitors is that they effectively reduce the inflammation, but it also helps in
reducing other present symptoms cause from UC, like diarrhoea or abdominal pain. This type of medicine is
also taken as a tablet twice a day, which some may prefer in comparison to an injection. However, a
disadvantage is that there can be some negative side effects, including nausea, headaches, easily catching
colds etc. Ozanimod is also recommended if all the treatments discussed have not worked or are not
suitable. This would be taken as a daily tablet and is usually taken long-term. This medication also affects
your immune system, so may also increase the risk of other infections. Advantages of using ozanimod’s is
that it can decrease the effects of even severe ulcerative colitis. As well as this, it can be taken at home as a
tablet, which some may prefer to going to the doctors to get an injection. If the flare-ups are becoming
more frequent as is affecting your quality of life, or if your flare-ups stop responding to the treatments
provided, surgery may be the best option. The surgery for UC is a colectomy, which means the colon is
removed. In order for the waste products to pass out of the body once the colon is removed, the small
intestine will be used instead, by creating an ileostomy. This is where the small intestine is diverted out of a
hole through your abdominal wall, and a colostomy bag is used to collect the waste. Another option instead
of an ileostomy, is to have an ileoanal pouch. This is an internal pouch that is made of the part of the small
intestine, and this then connected to the anus, which then allows for normal toilet use. This is a very good
, solution if your ulcerative colitis is very severe, as it will get rid of all symptoms, and you will no longer have
to experience any flare-ups. It also allows you to go to the toilet like normal and without any pain, though
through your small intestine or the anus.
Rather than using medication or in conjunction with, you can adjust your diet to help reduce symptoms and
to reduce the risk of complications. For example, you could have smaller meals, so instead of three main
meals, eat more frequent smaller ones, Drink plenty of fluids as diarrhoea can cause dehydration, also
avoid caffeine, alcohol, and fizzy drinks as they can make the diarrhoea worse. Taking supplements as well
may improve your diet as you may not be absorbing enough nutrients from your food (vitamins and
minerals). As well as this, you can keep a food diary, which can be helpful as some food may make your
symptoms worse. However, make sure to not entirely exclude food groups from your diet without speaking
to an expert first. Another option is to eat a low-fibre diet when experiencing a flare-up, as this may help in
reducing symptoms. This diet helps as you will need to go to the toilet less, enabling time to heal. If you try
to reduce your stress levels as well, this can sometimes reduce your symptoms. To do this, you could
regularly exercise and use various relaxation techniques. This is a good option to try as you may be able to
reduce your major symptoms without the use of drugs, and it can be an easy and quick solution. As well as
this, it wouldn’t cause any negative side effects, so if you were to try it before going to look at any
medicines, there wouldn’t be any negative outcomes, unless your symptoms don’t get relieved.
A nutrient deficiency is likely to occur in the case that a person has decreased levels of one, or in some
cases multiple nutrients, and this will lead to the body being unable to function normally, which can then
lead to the risk diseases occurring. Examples of consequences that can occur as a result of this is diabetes,
cancer, and heart diseases.
When suffering from ulcerative colitis, various nutrient deficiencies may be another problem. Malnutrition
can be a concern for someone with UC. Not only can this affect your appetite and bathroom habits, but it
can also affect how well your body absorbs vitamins and minerals. This usually only occurs in the case of a
flare-up, as nutrients are mostly absorbed in the small intestine. As I had mentioned earlier, anaemia is also
another concern, as inflammation of the colon and rectum can lead to bleeding, leading to loss of red
blood cells faster than they can be replaced. In order to treat the iron deficiency, dietary changes or
supplements may be recommended. If the iron deficiency is specifically caused by another condition like
UC though, this should also be treated on top of that for more effective results. Supplements themselves
will not help in the case that there is bleeding, so this will need to be looked into at a hospital so the
bleeding can be stopped, or your loss of red blood cells will not stop. There are medicines that are
prescribed to stop or reduce the bleeding of the colon lining and other areas like the medicines already
mentioned, and this will consequently rid of or reduce your chance of getting anaemia. Diarrhoea can
cause dehydration, and not having enough fluids can lead to malnutrition as nutrients cannot be absorbed.
Signs that you have malnutrition include weight loss, fatigue, weakness, vitamin, and mineral deficiencies.
To help treat this, you should maintain a healthy diet, even if your diet is restricted by UC, get tested for
vitamin and mineral deficiencies as well as taking supplements. For malnutrition, you could try having a
snack between meals to increase your calorie intake as well as drinking high calorie drinks. In addition, it
has been found that iron is easier to absorb from meat sources, as opposed to plant sources, so adding
meat to your diet may help increase your iron intake. This would result in your body being about to
produce more haemoglobin, so your body can transport more oxygen. This in turn, helps in respiration,
which would reduce tiredness. This is one of the main symptoms of anaemia. In some cases, your doctor
can prescribe medicines that can help your body to produce more red blood cells, or in other cases there
are also medicines that they can give to help treat an underlying condition that is causing the anaemia.
Examples of medicines given are antibiotics to treat any infections, or hormones, to treat heavy menstrual
bleeding in women. There are many different medications that can be given but these are two common
examples.
