Key Points
Key Points: Nutritional and Digestive Tract Disorders
- Nutritional disorders are linked to the quality and quantity of food intake (e.g., protein‑energy malnutrition like kwashiorkor and marasmus).
- Disorders of the digestive system arise from malfunctioning of digestive organs or glands (e.g., liver, stomach, intestine).
- Diarrhoea is defined as abnormally frequent bowel movements with increased liquidity of faeces, leading to poor absorption of nutrients.
- Constipation is the prolonged retention of faeces in the rectum, often with irregular or difficult bowel movements.
- Other common digestive disorders include jaundice (abnormal bilirubin metabolism), vomiting (forceful expulsion of stomach contents) and indigestion (improper digestion causing discomfort).
Concepts [8]
- Alimentary Canal
- Role of Digestive Enzymes and Gastrointestinal Hormones
- Peristalsis, Digestion, Absorption and Assimilation of Proteins, Carbohydrates and Fats
- Calorific Values of Proteins
- Calorific Values of Carbohydrates
- Calorific Values of Fats
- Egestion of Food
- Nutritional and Digestive Tract Disorders
