ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

 Mouth- breaks up food particles

 Salivary glands- saliva moistens and lubricates foods. Amylase digests
polysaccharides
 Pharynx- swallows
 Esophagus- transports food
 Stomach- stores and churns food. Pepsin digests protein. HCl activates
enzymes, breaks up food, kills germs. Mucus protects stomach wall. Limited
absorption.
 Small intestine- completes digestion. Mucus protects gut wall. Absorbs nutrients,
most water. Peptidase digests proteins. Sucrases digest sugars. Amylase digests
polysaccharides.
 Large intestine- reabsorbs some water and ions. Forms and stores feces.
o Cecum-
o Appendix- its function are not certain, but some biologists believe that the
appendix serve as a sort of “breeding ground” for intestinal bacteria. Often
called simply the intestinal flora, a community of various bacterial
populations normally inhibits the colon. The predominance of non
pathogenic bacteria under normal conditions is thought to help prevent
disease. Some of the non pathogenic bacteria are also thought to aid in
the digestion or absorption of essential nutrients. Also, it blind extension of
posteromedial cecum. It contains many lymphoid nodules and serves as
bacterial reservoir of sorts.
o Ascending colon- watery stool
o Transverse colon- mushy stool
o Descending colon- semi-formed stool
o Sigmoid colon- feces are formed
 Rectum- stores and expels feces.
 Anus- opening for elimination of feces.
 Mouth

Salivary glands

Pharynx

Esophagus

Stomach

Small intestine

Large intestine

Cecum

Appendix

Ascending colon

Transverse colon

Descending colon

Sigmoid colon

Rectum

Anus
 PATHOPHYSIOLOGY

MODIFIABLE RISK FACTOR: NON-MODIFIABLE

Obstruction of appendix
RISK FACTORS:
 Nutritional intake lumen by fecalith
(less intake of high fiber  Age(13y.o.)
foods)  Sex(male)
Mucosa of
appendix secretes
fluid

Distention of
the appendix

Increase intra-
luminal pressure

Impaired
blood supply

edema infection
Inflammation ulceration

Antibodies (WBC, neutrophils)

fight against infection

Dead WBC, bacteria

and dead tissues

Formation of purulent exudate

Further distention of the appendix

Vomiting Pain (RLQ)

Loss of appetite