Crohn's Disease Analysis

The digestive system is a series of hollow organs that form a long tube that extends from the mouth, through the abdominal cavity, and ends at the anus. It consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and accessory organs such as the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. The digestive tract contains food from the time it is consumed until it is either absorbed by the body or eliminated; muscular contractions of the digestive tract help to propel the food through all sections of the digestive system, and also work to help break the food into smaller particles. Several of the organs of the digestive system, and most of the accessory organs secrete various enzymes that help to break food particles down chemically into molecules that the body can use (Tortora and Derrickson 2014). …show more content…
This is a type of inflammatory bowel disease similar to ulcerative colitis or microscopic colitis, and usually symptoms begin gradually and worsen over time. The exact cause of this disease is still unknown, but scientists believe that it may be caused in part by autoimmune reactions, the environment, or genetic predisposition. Common symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramping, weight loss, nausea, lack of appetite, fever, and anemia. Complications that result from the disease include bowel obstructions, fistulas, anal fissures, ulcers, malnutrition and a susceptibility for colon cancer (NIDDK