Inflammatory bowel diseases affect millions of Americans every year. While their causation has been connected to the nervous system for quite some time, recent research has also suggested that these diseases may be caused by abnormalities in the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system is found in the intestines. It has more neurons than the entire spinal cord, and it provides neurological signaling between the central nervous system and the intestines. (Furness, 2011). Inflammatory bowel diseases include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. While their cause is generally disputed, they lead to painful sores in the intestines and last for a patient's lifetime. (Dugdale, & Longstreth, 2011). Inflammatory bowel diseases have no known cure. While many studies have taken place, the first step in finding a cure for inflammatory bowel diseases is deciding what their cause is. The study of the enteric nervous system may lead to the discovery of what this cause maybe.
The enteric nervous system is essentially the "brain" of the intestines. It consists of two layers of tissue and ganglia that cover the intestines and the rest of the gastrointestinal track. Ganglia are masses of nerve tissues found in the nervous system. They provide connections and communication not only within the enteric nervous system itself, but also between the central and enteric nervous systems. (Furness, 2011). Neurons in the enteric nervous system signal between each other and carry information throughout the enteric nervous system. The enteric nervous system has trillions of neurons, even more than the entire spinal cord. However, this is only one thousandth of the amount in the brain. (Furness, 2011). The enteric nervous system is located througho...
... middle of paper ...
...ervous system. New treatment methods of inflammatory bowel diseases include stem cell therapy, which has been shown to be successful in a few select cases.
Future research could explore the connection between white matter lesions and mononeuropathies in the brain to the enteric nervous system and white lesions found there. Additional research could also explore the development of the enteric nervous system and whether it may be a cause of inflammatory bowel diseases. The enteric nervous system is an interesting and vital system within the human body. Whereas inflammatory bowel diseases are painful and difficult afflictions that millions of people must live everyday with. The relationship between the two is significant, and can lead to the cure for inflammatory bowel diseases, as well as a deeper understanding of the complex and mysterious enteric nervous system.
Anxiety disorders are very highly linked to Crohn’s Disease (Crohn’s...2015). Even depression can result from having very visible surgical scarring Surgery...2014). Stress can aggravate the disease. It’s important for people with Crohn’s Disease to take care of their psychological well being. There are many different ways people deal with it. They may get massages to relax their body or take supplements that may elevate their mood. It may also be a good idea if needed to seek a professional for help. There is therapy readily available for people struggling with anxiety produced from Crohn’s disease (Crohn’s...2015). For example there are support services such as Crohn’s and Colitis Support (Surgery...2014), Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (...Treatment...2015) and other such foundations to help with the emotional impact Crohn’s
It is now becoming the focus of a growing number of research initiatives and new insights are rapidly emerging. Under normal physiological conditions, the human microbiome mediates the digestion of food and stimulates the development of the immune system. It prevents pathogens from invading tissues and organs as well as helping to strengthen it. There are numerous factors that contribute to the shaping of the human microbiome including genetics, mode of birth, infant feeding patterns and diet. Groundbreaking research has recently shown that the enteric nervous system plays a pivotal role in the overall assembly of our microbiome and has even been described at the ‘second brain’. The enteric nervous system is a subdivision of our nervous system and is found embedded in the lining of our
Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract, from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the end of the small bowel (the ileum) and the beginning of the colon. It can simultaneously involve different areas of the gastrointestinal tract with alternating diseased segments with normal segments. Crohn’s disease involves the full thickness of the bowel wall and can be complicated by fistulas and abscesses. Crohn’s disease may also have granuloma cells which is called granulomatous enteritis or granulomatous colitis (Warner & Barto, 2007).
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional GI disorder (FGID) characterized by abdominal pain in association with altered bowel habits in the absence of any identifiable structural or biochemical abnormalities. It is a very common disorder that can have a profound negative impact on a patient’s quality of life and constitutes a considerable social and economic burden on society. Extensive research over the last few decades has led to a better understanding of this complex syndrome and improvements in treatment. After a brief review of the clinical manifestations and diagnosis of IBS, the current understanding of the complex physiological mechanisms contributing to the syndrome will be addressed. The remainder of this paper will focus on a number of important topics at the interface of IBS and psychiatry, including psychiatric comorbidity in IBS, the complex role of psychosocial stressors in the onset and perpetuation of symptoms in IBS, and various considerations in the management of IBS from the perspective of psychiatry.
Digestive activities within the GI tract are triggered by mechanical and chemical stimuli (mechanoreceptors and chemoreceptors that respond to stretch, changes in osmolarity and pH, as well as the presence of substrate and end products of digestion). External stimuli (sight, smell, taste, thought of food). Controls of the digestive activity are both extrinsic (CNS centers and autonomic nerves) and intrinsic (nerve plexuses and local hormone producing
Ulcerative colitis progresses from the rectum and moves proximally. Distal disease refers to inflammation that is limited to the rectum (proctitis) or rectum and sigmoid colon. Here it is referred to as proctosigmioditis. If the disease is more extensive it includes the left side of the colon and can cover the splenic flexure. This occurs in 40% of patients. Extensive colitis occurs up to the hepatic flexure. Pan colitis affects the whole of the colon and this can affect up to 20% of patients. Some patients with pan colitis have involvement of the terminal ileum, this is caused by an incompetent ileocaecal valve.
The digestive system otherwise known as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is a long tube which runs from the mouth to the anus. It operates to break down the food we eat from large macromolecules such as starch, proteins and fats, which can’t be easily absorbed, into readily absorbable molecules such as glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. Once broken down, these molecules can cross the cells lining the small intestine, enter into the circulatory system and be transported around the body finally being used for energy, growth and repair.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder of the intestines that leads to crampy pain, gassiness, Bloating, and changes in bowel habits. Some people with IBS have constipation. Others have diarrhea or frequent loose stools, often with an urgent need to move the bowels and some people experience both. Sometimes the person with IBS has a crampy urge to move the bowels but cannot do so.
Two “solid” digestive organs, discussed in the latter units of this chapter are the liver and the pancreas, produce digestive juices that reach the intestine through small tubes called ducts. The gallbladder stores the liver 's digestive juices until they are needed in the intestine. Parts of the nervous and circulatory systems also play major roles in the digestive system.
I thought it was interesting that Crohn’s disease wasn’t named after Burrill Crohn particularly—he was just one of the authors who did research on the disease and his name was first due to his last name being in the beginning of the alphabet. Also, the different stages of Crohn’s disease and the different medications that can help with the symptoms of the disease. The research on Crohn’s disease is still going on today. At the end of this paper, there is an attachment that outlines major advances in Crohn’s research—from the very first description of Crohn’s disease in 1769 to the discovery of the first gene mutation in 2001. One day hopefully a cure will be in place for Crohn’s disease but until then lifestyle changes, medications, and support groups are available for those that need it or would like to know more about
In Left-sided colitis inflammation occurs in the rectum up through the sigmoid and descending colon, located on the left side of the abdomen. Common symptoms include bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain concentrated on the left side, and unintended weight loss.
Crohn's disease has been difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are similar to other intestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome and ulcerative colitis. “Crohn’s disease is usually located in the last portion of the person’s small intestine…however, develop anywhere in a person’s digestive tract- from the mouth to the anus”, according to Crohn’s disease information. There are several known types of crohn’s disease. “Ileocoltiis, Ileitis, Gastroduodenal Crohn’s Disease, Jejunoileitis and Crohns colitis” (CCFA) are the known types. Each of the types is categorized by which part of the intestine is affected and the symptoms that the person is diagnosed with. It’s important for a person that has crohn’s to find which part of their tract is affected and how it can be treated properly.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a life long disease, and it particularly targets the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract), which consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach small intestine, large intestine (appendix, cecum, colon (ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid), and rectum), and anus. The gastrointestinal tract is very important to the human body; some of its functions include mechanical and chemical digestion of food, the movement of food and waste from mouth to anus, secretion of enzymes and mucus, and the absorption of nutrients. These are some reason why it’s so destructive when this part of the body becomes impaired or even damaged.
The excretory system, which includes the rectum and anus helps the digestive system by getting rid of waste and the digestive system helps the excretory system by breaking down food to be eliminated from the body. Wow! The human body wouldn’t be able to work without one or the other. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed reading my journey throughout the human digestive system. I hope to write again from where my next journey from here will begin- perhaps it will be in the ocean or along Sydney Water pipes. Until next
The digestive system is a very important system in the human body. It is a group of organs that work together to turn food into energy and nutrients in the entire body. The food that was chewed in a humans’ mouth now passes through a long tube that is inside of the body that is known as the alimentary canal. The alimentary canal is made of the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. Those few things are not the only important accessories of the digestive system there is also the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas.