Question

1. Your patienr has evidence of malnutrition on exam, despite consuming a bealthy diet. on a cellular level, there is evidence of a reduction in hemoglobin, reduction in antibody production and other immune functions, and a decrease on nervous system function.

a) Testing reveals changes in the structure of the wall of the small intestine. How does this relate to malnutrition/ which process within the digestive system is abnormal?

b) Why have the cellular-level changes described above occured?

Answer 1

A. Structure of small intestine is specialised for absorption of food. It contains brush border enzymes, villi and microvilli, which help in absorption of food. Therefore any damage/change in structure of small intestine will lead to decrease in absorption of food and body will not get enough nutrition, which will lead to malnutrition.

• Absorption of food is abnormal

B. Cells/tissue need nutritions for energy, repair, growth, division. When body is not getting enough nutritions then these Cellular process are affected.

• Reduced Protein absorption - decrease in hemoglobin, decrease antibody
• Decreases in iron absorption - decrease in hemoglobin
• Decrease in vitamin B12 absorption - decrease in nervous system function.

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