Editing Anatomy and Physiology – LPN Flashcards (section)

== Digestive, Urinary, and Electrolytes ==

;What is the main job of the small intestine?
:Absorption of nutrients. Its lining is covered with tiny projections called villi that greatly increase surface area for absorption.

;What is the main job of the large intestine?
:Reabsorption of water and electrolytes and the formation of stool. This is why prolonged diarrhea leads to dehydration and electrolyte loss.

;Name four functions of the liver.
:Producing albumin that keeps fluid inside blood vessels, producing clotting factors, breaking down medications and toxins, and converting ammonia from protein breakdown into urea. It also makes bile and stores glycogen.

;What does bile do, and where is it stored?
:Bile breaks up fat into small droplets so it can be digested and absorbed, along with the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K. It is made by the liver and stored and concentrated in the gallbladder.

;List four jobs of the kidneys.
:Removing waste products in urine, balancing fluid and electrolytes, helping control blood pressure, and producing erythropoietin, which tells the bone marrow to make red blood cells. The kidneys also help activate vitamin D.

;About how much urine does the bladder hold before a person feels a strong urge to void?
:Roughly 300 to 500 mL. A patient who has not voided within about 6 to 8 hours after surgery or catheter removal, or who has a firm distended lower abdomen, may have urinary retention and should be reported.

;Which electrolyte most affects the heart rhythm, and what is its normal range?
:Potassium, normally 3.5 to 5.0 mEq/L in adults. Both low and high potassium can cause dangerous heart rhythms, so report abnormal values promptly. Potassium is never given by intravenous push.

;What is the normal serum sodium range, and what symptoms suggest a sodium problem?
:135 to 145 mEq/L. Because sodium controls where water goes in the body, sodium problems show up as brain symptoms: confusion, headache, restlessness, weakness, and in severe cases seizures. Report any new confusion.

;What symptoms suggest a low calcium level?
:Tingling around the mouth and in the fingertips, muscle twitching or cramping, and positive Chvostek and Trousseau signs. Report hoarseness or noisy breathing immediately, because severe low calcium can cause spasm of the airway. Normal total calcium is about 9.0 to 10.5 mg/dL.