Release Date: 2023-10-09

Gastrointestinal System

Zeliha Tulek (Author), Kimya Kilicaslan (Author)

Release Date: 2023-10-09

The gastrointestinal tract is a canal that starts from the mouth and extends to the anus and contains many organs. The gastrointestinal system is responsible for digestion and absorption in the body. Cells in the body need energy and certain nutrients to maintain their functions. The gastrointestinal system is the system in which food is [...]

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Work TypeBook Chapter
Published inHealth Assessment & Physical Examination in Nursing
First Page113
Last Page133
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.69860/nobel.9786053359135.7
ISBN978-605-335-913-5 (PDF)
LanguageENG
Page Count21
Copyright HolderNobel Tıp Kitabevleri
Licensehttps://nobelpub.com/publish-with-us/copyright-and-licensing

The gastrointestinal tract is a canal that starts from the mouth and extends to the anus and contains many organs. The gastrointestinal system is responsible for digestion and absorption in the body. Cells in the body need energy and certain nutrients to maintain their functions. The gastrointestinal system is the system in which food is broken down into nutrients and then absorbed to meet the body’s energy needs. The function of this system is to remove waste from the body at the end of the digestive process. It also plays a role in maintaining the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance. The gastrointestinal tract has a four-layered structure. Although it may have structural differences depending on the functions of the organs, from the inside to the outside, this channel consists of mucosa, submucosa, muscularis and serosa. The physical examination of the gastrointestinal system consists of five main steps: taking the patient’s history, inspection, palpation, auscultation, and percussion. In the first step, the nurse gathers information about the patient’s medical history, current complaints, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Next, during the inspection phase, the patient’s abdomen is examined for any discoloration, swelling, scars, or hernias. In the third step, palpation, the nurse gently examines the patient’s abdomen with hands, assessing for tenderness, rigidity, or masses. The fourth step, auscultation, involves using a stethoscope to listen to bowel sounds, evaluating their frequency, intensity, and pattern. Finally, in the percussion phase, the nurse lightly taps the abdomen with their fingertips to assess sounds, identifying any gas or fluid accumulation. This five-step process provides a thorough evaluation of the gastrointestinal system’s health and allows for the early detection of potential issues.

Zeliha Tulek (Author)
RN, PhD, Professor , Istanbul Cerrahpasa University
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8186-6698
3Zeliha Tulek, RN, PhD, Prof graduated from the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing at Istanbul University in 1995. After graduation, she started working in this nursing school as a research assistant in 1995 and is still working as a professor today. She earned her master’s degree in 1999 and her doctorate in 2006 from the Institute of Health Sciences, Istanbul University, Department of Medical Nursing. Her main interests are neurology nursing and geriatrics. She has conducted numerous researches on quality of life, caregiver burden, rehabilitation, nutrition, quality indicators, etc. She has published numerous articles in national and international journals. She has participated in many national and international conferences in the field of neurology as a speaker and member of the organizing committee. She is a founding member of the National Association of Neurology Nurses and a board member of the European Association of Neuroscience Nurses.

Kimya Kilicaslan (Author)
Istanbul Cerrahpasa University
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3641-8666
3Kimya Kilicaslan, RN, MSc graduated from Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Istanbul University-Cerrahpasa in 2015. She has been working as a research assistant in the Department of Medical Nursing at Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing since 2019. She is currently pursuing a PhD in medical nursing. Her research interests include neurology, geriatrics, and gastroenterology nursing.

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