A 45-year-old patient was admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver. The nurse is observing him closely for the possibility of gastrointestinal bleeding. Why is this considered a possible complication?
What will be an ideal response?
As scar tissue eventually shrinks, it obstructs blood flow throughout the hepatic portal system, causing portal hypertension. Some veins of the portal system anastomose with veins that drain into the venae cavae. However, these connecting veins are small and tend to burst when forced to carry large volumes of blood. Signs of their failure include vomiting blood.
You might also like to view...
The same chemical messenger may be either a hormone or a neurotransmitter, depending on its source and mode of delivery to the target tissue
Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Describe the role of regulatory neurons
A) Regulatory neurons act as part of the defense system to protect the presynaptic neurons from pathogens. B) Regulatory neurons block presynaptic neurons from drugs and other chemicals in the blood. C) Regulatory neurons assist in the repair of injured neurons. D) Regulatory neurons speed the propagation of action potentials between presynaptic neurons and postsynaptic neurons. E) Regulatory neurons facilitate or inhibit the activities of presynaptic neurons by affecting the membrane of the cell body or by altering the sensitivity of axon terminals.
The rotator cuff of the shoulder is composed mainly of
A. muscle tendons. B. epithelium and loose connective tissue. C. adipose and epithelial tissue. D. articular cartilage.
Why does peritonitis, inflammation of the peritoneal membrane, affect multiple digestive organs?
a) The peritoneal membrane surrounds many abdominal organs, so inflammation of the membrane will affect multiple organs rapidly. b) The peritoneal membrane surrounds the accessory organs of the digestive system so inflammation of the membrane will rapidly affect all the other abdominal organs. c) The peritoneal membrane does not surround the accessory organs of the digestive system and so inflammation of the membrane will spread to these organs rapidly. d) The peritoneal membrane surrounds the stomach only, so inflammation of the membrane will affect those not protected by it.