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Ch. 22 The Digestive System
Amerman - Human Anatomy & Physiology 2nd Edition
Amerman2nd EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136873822Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksAmerman 2nd EditionCh. 22 The Digestive SystemProblem L3.2a
Chapter 22, Problem L3.2a

A surgical procedure known as gastric bypass involves removing all or part of the stomach.
Ms. Anthony has undergone gastric bypass, and her stomach has been removed entirely. She goes out to dinner and eats an extremely large meal. Explain what will happen in her small and large intestine following this meal.

Verified step by step guidance
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Understand the role of the stomach in digestion: The stomach is responsible for mechanical digestion (churning food) and chemical digestion (secreting gastric juices, including hydrochloric acid and enzymes like pepsin, to break down proteins). Without the stomach, food enters the small intestine in a less processed state.
Explain the impact on the small intestine: Since the stomach is removed, the small intestine will receive undigested or partially digested food directly. The pancreas and liver will need to compensate by secreting digestive enzymes (like amylase, lipase, and proteases) and bile to break down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. This may place additional strain on these organs.
Discuss the absorption process in the small intestine: The small intestine is the primary site for nutrient absorption. However, due to the lack of pre-digestion in the stomach, the efficiency of nutrient absorption may be reduced. Large meals may overwhelm the small intestine's capacity to process and absorb nutrients effectively.
Describe the role of the large intestine: Any undigested food that passes into the large intestine will undergo fermentation by gut bacteria, potentially leading to symptoms like bloating, gas, and diarrhea. The large intestine will also absorb water and electrolytes from the remaining food matter.
Conclude with the importance of meal size and frequency: Eating an extremely large meal after gastric bypass can overwhelm the digestive system, leading to discomfort and malabsorption. Ms. Anthony should eat smaller, more frequent meals to allow her small intestine to process food more effectively and avoid complications.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Gastric Bypass Surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is a weight-loss procedure that alters the digestive system by creating a small pouch from the stomach and connecting it directly to the small intestine. This limits food intake and reduces calorie absorption. In Ms. Anthony's case, with her stomach entirely removed, the bypass significantly impacts how her body processes food, as there is no longer a stomach to store or break down food before it enters the intestines.
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Small Intestine Function

The small intestine is crucial for digestion and nutrient absorption. It consists of three parts: the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. After gastric bypass, food enters the small intestine in a more undigested state, which can lead to rapid transit and malabsorption of nutrients, especially if a large meal is consumed, as the body may struggle to process the excess food efficiently.
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Large Intestine Role

The large intestine, or colon, is responsible for absorbing water and electrolytes from indigestible food matter and forming waste for excretion. Following a large meal after gastric bypass, the large intestine may receive undigested food more quickly, which can lead to diarrhea or other gastrointestinal issues due to the rapid passage of food and the body's inability to absorb nutrients effectively.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

A surgical procedure known as gastric bypass involves removing all or part of the stomach.

How would stomach removal affect absorption of vitamin B12? Explain.

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Textbook Question

Mr. Williams presents to your clinic with a complaint of abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. He says that the pain worsens when he eats, particularly when he eats fatty meals. He has noticed that his stool has been an unusual clay color recently. You perform an ultrasound of his abdomen and find that gallstones are blocking his common bile duct, preventing bile from entering the duodenum.

You test Mr. Williams's stool and find high amounts of undigested fats. Explain this finding.

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Textbook Question

The peritoneal cavity is located:

a. Around each of the digestive organs

b. Between layers of mesentery

c. Superior to the greater omentum

d. Between the parietal and visceral peritoneum

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Textbook Question

Drugs with anticholinergic side effects block ACh receptors in the peripheral nervous system, including those on digestive organs. Predict the effects such drugs would have on motility and secretion on the specific organs of the digestive system.

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Textbook Question

Individuals experiencing prolonged vomiting lose a great deal of hydrochloric acid with the vomitus. Predict the effect this loss of acid will have on the pH of the blood. How will the respiratory system respond to the change in pH?

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Textbook Question

Mr. Williams presents to your clinic with a complaint of abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant. He says that the pain worsens when he eats, particularly when he eats fatty meals. He has noticed that his stool has been an unusual clay color recently. You perform an ultrasound of his abdomen and find that gallstones are blocking his common bile duct, preventing bile from entering the duodenum.

Why are his symptoms worse when he consumes a high-fat meal? Would you expect his symptoms to worsen or lessen when he consumes a meal consisting only of carbohydrates? Explain.

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