DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

By; Khin Si , Priscilla, Diana

FUNCTION OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Also known as gastrointestinal system.

The digestive system breaks down food, absorbs
nutrients and gets rid of waste.

Consist of mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach,
small intestine and large intestine.
Organs Within the Digestive
System
HOW DOES FOOD TRAVEL THROUGH THE
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?
1. The first major muscle movement is swallowing food or liquid.
The start of swallowing is voluntary, but once it begins, the
process becomes involuntary and continues under the control
of the nerve.

2. The esophagus, which connects the throat above with the
stomach below, is the first organ into which the swallowed
food goes.

3. Where the esophagus and stomach join, there is a ringlike
valve that closes the passage between the two organs. When
food nears the closed ring, the surrounding muscles relax and
allow the food to pass into the stomach and then it closes
again.

4. Stomach is the muscular holding pouch for food. The lower part
of the stomach mixes up the food, liquid, and digestive juices
produced by the stomach by muscle action. Then, the stomach
empties the contents into the small intestine.

5. The food is digested in the small intestine and dissolved by the
juices from the pancreas, liver and intestine, and the contents of
the intestine are mixed and pushed forward to allow further
digestion.

6. Last, the digested nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal
walls. The waste products, including undigested parts of the food,
known as fiber and older cells that have been shed from the
mucosa, move into the colon. Waste products usually remain in
the colon for a day or two until the feces are expelled by a bowel
movement.
CNA CARE TIPS
Beware of conditions such as malnutrition, elimination difficulties,
and complications due to infections.

The term NPO means no food or liquid by mouth.

Resident may receive fluids, nutrients or antibiotics through an IV
due to digestive problems, therefore, be careful to not pull on the
IV catheter, kink the IV tubing , or interrupt the IV flow.

Always be mindful of what is within your scope of practice.

Observe the amount, color, character, and consistency of the
patients bowel movement. Report to the nurse if the observations
are abnormal, or if there is blood, mucus / parasites in the stool.

Be tactful and do not show disgust in your facial
expressions when assisting with elimination.