week: Bowel elimination Exam Questions
and Answers with Verified Solutions | Latest
Updated 2026
purpose small intestine • Food digestion
• Nutrient absorption
purpose Large intestine: Large intestine:
• Absorption of water
• Formation & expulsion of feces (stool)
• Bacterial action produces vitamin K and
B vitamins
Bowel system assessment History: • GI diagnoses, surgeries, meds
• Usual bowel pattern
• Character of stool: Color, consistency,
volume;
Melena (tarry), Hematachezia (bright red
blood)
• Aids in elimination - food, fluid, laxatives
• Change in bowel patterns
• Flatus- passing gas
• Incontinence
• Stress
Physical exam: • Abdominal assessment
• Inspection of stool: color, odor,
consistency,
volume, shape
• Perianal assessment: skin around anus
, Stool tests: • Fecal analysis- fat, rbc, wbc
• Stool culture- abnormal gut flora
• Stool for ova & parasites (O&P)- eggs
• Stool for occult blood - hidden blood
Collecting stool specimen • Standard precautions
• Void first to avoid urine contamination
• Have patient defecate into bedpan, BSC,
or hat
• Transfer two portions of stool to
appropriate
container
Testing for occult blood (AKA • Collect stool smear on card
guiac, • Apply developer
hemoccult) • Blue = positive
• High rate of false positive & false
negative results
Diagnostic procedures for bowels endoscopy: Direct visualization of GI tract
using
flexible camera (endoscope)r
EGD endoscopy Examines esophagus, stomach, upper
duodenum
(mouth → down)
Colonoscopy Examines entire large intestine to ileocecal
valve
(rectum → up)
Sigmoidoscopy examines rectum + sigmoid colon only
and Answers with Verified Solutions | Latest
Updated 2026
purpose small intestine • Food digestion
• Nutrient absorption
purpose Large intestine: Large intestine:
• Absorption of water
• Formation & expulsion of feces (stool)
• Bacterial action produces vitamin K and
B vitamins
Bowel system assessment History: • GI diagnoses, surgeries, meds
• Usual bowel pattern
• Character of stool: Color, consistency,
volume;
Melena (tarry), Hematachezia (bright red
blood)
• Aids in elimination - food, fluid, laxatives
• Change in bowel patterns
• Flatus- passing gas
• Incontinence
• Stress
Physical exam: • Abdominal assessment
• Inspection of stool: color, odor,
consistency,
volume, shape
• Perianal assessment: skin around anus
, Stool tests: • Fecal analysis- fat, rbc, wbc
• Stool culture- abnormal gut flora
• Stool for ova & parasites (O&P)- eggs
• Stool for occult blood - hidden blood
Collecting stool specimen • Standard precautions
• Void first to avoid urine contamination
• Have patient defecate into bedpan, BSC,
or hat
• Transfer two portions of stool to
appropriate
container
Testing for occult blood (AKA • Collect stool smear on card
guiac, • Apply developer
hemoccult) • Blue = positive
• High rate of false positive & false
negative results
Diagnostic procedures for bowels endoscopy: Direct visualization of GI tract
using
flexible camera (endoscope)r
EGD endoscopy Examines esophagus, stomach, upper
duodenum
(mouth → down)
Colonoscopy Examines entire large intestine to ileocecal
valve
(rectum → up)
Sigmoidoscopy examines rectum + sigmoid colon only
