BOWEL ELIMINATION EXAM SCRIPT
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● Upper esophageal sphincter
Answer: a circular muscle that prevents air from entering the esophagus
and food from refluxing into the throat
●● Cardiac/Lower esophageal sphincter
Answer: prevents reflux of stomach contents back into the esophagus;
lies between the esophagus and upper end of the stomach
●● Stomach
Answer: stores, mixes and empties content into small intestine
●● Duodenum
Answer: continues to process chyme from stomach; aprox. 8-10 in. (20-
28 cm) long
●● Jejunum
Answer: absorbs carbohydrates and proteins; aprox. 8 ft (2.5 m) long
●● Ileum
,Answer: absorbs water, fats, vitamins, iron, and bile salts; aprox. ft long
●● Large intestine
Answer: absorbs water, sodium, and chloride from digested food;
primary organ of bowel elimination
●● Cecum
Answer: the beginning of the large intestine
●● Colon
Answer: muscular tissue allows it to accommodate and eliminate large
quantities of waste and flatus; has three functions: absorption, secretion,
and elimination
●● Rectum
Answer: contains vertical and transverse folds of tissue that help to
temporarily hold fecal contents during defecation; each fold contains and
artery and vein (can become distended)
●● Physiological factors critical to bowel function and defecation
Answer: normal GI tract function, sensory awareness of rectal distention
and rectal contents, voluntary sphincter control, adequate rectal capacity
and compliance
, ●● Valsalva maneuver
Answer: pressure exerted to expel feces through a voluntary contraction
of the abdominal muscles while maintaining forced expiration against a
closed airway
●● Age-Related changes in GI tract: Mouth
Answer: decreased chewing and salivation, including oral dryness,
caused by degeneration of cells or medication
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Esophagus
Answer: reduced motility, especially in lower third, caused by
degeneration of neural cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Stomach
Answer: decrease in acid secretions, motor activity, and muscosal
thickness caused by degeneration of gastric mucosa, delayed gastric
emptying, loss of parietal cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Small intestine
Answer: decreased nutrient absorption caused by fewer absorbing cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Large intestine
Answer: increase in puches on the weakened intestinal wall,
constipation, missed defecation sign, increasing risk for fecal
COMPREHENSIVE STUDY GUIDE
●● Upper esophageal sphincter
Answer: a circular muscle that prevents air from entering the esophagus
and food from refluxing into the throat
●● Cardiac/Lower esophageal sphincter
Answer: prevents reflux of stomach contents back into the esophagus;
lies between the esophagus and upper end of the stomach
●● Stomach
Answer: stores, mixes and empties content into small intestine
●● Duodenum
Answer: continues to process chyme from stomach; aprox. 8-10 in. (20-
28 cm) long
●● Jejunum
Answer: absorbs carbohydrates and proteins; aprox. 8 ft (2.5 m) long
●● Ileum
,Answer: absorbs water, fats, vitamins, iron, and bile salts; aprox. ft long
●● Large intestine
Answer: absorbs water, sodium, and chloride from digested food;
primary organ of bowel elimination
●● Cecum
Answer: the beginning of the large intestine
●● Colon
Answer: muscular tissue allows it to accommodate and eliminate large
quantities of waste and flatus; has three functions: absorption, secretion,
and elimination
●● Rectum
Answer: contains vertical and transverse folds of tissue that help to
temporarily hold fecal contents during defecation; each fold contains and
artery and vein (can become distended)
●● Physiological factors critical to bowel function and defecation
Answer: normal GI tract function, sensory awareness of rectal distention
and rectal contents, voluntary sphincter control, adequate rectal capacity
and compliance
, ●● Valsalva maneuver
Answer: pressure exerted to expel feces through a voluntary contraction
of the abdominal muscles while maintaining forced expiration against a
closed airway
●● Age-Related changes in GI tract: Mouth
Answer: decreased chewing and salivation, including oral dryness,
caused by degeneration of cells or medication
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Esophagus
Answer: reduced motility, especially in lower third, caused by
degeneration of neural cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Stomach
Answer: decrease in acid secretions, motor activity, and muscosal
thickness caused by degeneration of gastric mucosa, delayed gastric
emptying, loss of parietal cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Small intestine
Answer: decreased nutrient absorption caused by fewer absorbing cells
●● Age-related changes in GI tract: Large intestine
Answer: increase in puches on the weakened intestinal wall,
constipation, missed defecation sign, increasing risk for fecal
