Question

If part of the small intestine is removed, which of the following would the patient most likely experience? (2 points)

A. inflammation of the digestive tract
B. urinary tract infections and kidney failure
C. vitamin deficiency and malnutrition
D. weight gain due to lack of fat digestion

I was thinking it was C. because that is where the nutrient are absorbed. But how would that create malnutrition?

Thanks in advance! n_n

Answer 1

The small intestine is the part of the digestive system where nutrients are absorbed. So if there was less of the small intestine, there would be less surface area for nutrients to be absorbed across. And transit time of food through the small intestine would be faster so it would have less time to be absorbed.

I agree with you, the answer is C.

Answer 2

@blues: Thank you for your help! :)

But how does malnutrition occur?

Answer 3

No prob. Malnutrition is when the body does not have enough nutrients. It can be general, as in the body lacks many necessary nutrients, or specific as in iron-deficiency or vitamin D deficiency for example.

Normally the body stores some nutrients in it - enough in reserve to use if the person goes a short time without eating anything with selenium or vitamin A or whatever. Malnutrition results whenever the person uses more nutrients than they gain through eating for long enough to run through their store of it.

It occurs most often in starvation, where the person does not get enough food in general. But as this problem highlights, it can also occur after digestive surgery or in illness.

Answer 4

I think it would be because it has so much less room to adsorb, that it would be less time for their body to get the nutrients...

Answer 5

I agree.

Answer 6

Oops I typed before you finished typing...

Thanks so much, I understand it better! :)