The epithelium uses absorptive cells mostly for
water absorption and goblet cells to produce mucous
for lubrication as waste passes through the large
intestine. The lamina propria is a layer of areolar
connective tissue which also includes individual
lymphatic nodules spread throughout and extending
into the muscularis mucosa. The muscularis mucosa
is a thin layer of smooth muscle that does not assist
in peristalsis, but is thought to make slight
adjustments in the position of absorptive and
lubricating cells in the epithelium. The mucosa is
most affected by ulcerative colitis due to the direct
contact with bacteria and waste products passing in
the lumen (or tubular opening).
Although researchers have not found out what is
causes the disease, it is very treatable. Physicians
will usually prescribe anti-inflammatories along with
anti-diuretics for re-hydration and antidiarrheal
medications. These medications may not cure the
disease, but they can keep the symptoms controlled,
which will make activities of daily living a little
easier on the patient. Since these medications do not
cure the disease the doctor will still need to keep up
on what’s going on in the colon with regular checkups. Depending on the severity of affliction and
how much of the colon has been affected, he or she
will set up the appropriate check-up schedule. These
schedules will most likely include one or more of
Colonoscopy is the endoscopic examination tool several options; a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5
used to examine the bowels by insertion through the years, a colonoscopy every 10 years, and/or a CT
anus. It can examine the large intestine and the distal colonograph every 5 years.
part of the small intestine. The instrument is usually If medical treatment doesn’t work then the last
equipped with a CCD camera or a fiber-optic camera option is surgery. The surgery options include a total
on a flexible tube that can pass through the anus colectomy with an ileostomy, total colectomy,
which will provide a visual diagnosis. With the ileoanal pouch reconstruction, or ileoanal
colonoscopy, physicians could also remove tissue for anastomosis. If it’s an emergency situation, a
a biopsy and remove any cancerous lesions. The subtotal colectomy, which is the complete removal
scope can be very precise, capable of removing of the colon and rectum, may be performed. So be
polyps smaller than 1 millimeter in diameter.
sure to get yourself checked out!
A Computed Tomography (CT) colonograph is a
diagnostic test that take multiple pictures of the
colon then sends them to a computer for review
using CT scan. The CT scan can provide much better
quality images than a conventional x-ray machine
can. Using the cross-section images, the computer
can produce a 3-D image of the colon.
CT uses higher doses of monitored radiation to view
and record the interior of the body. It is less invasive
then having to get a colonoscopy. The machine itself
is a large, box shaped machine with a hole at the
center. The way the CT works is the x-ray tube and
the electric x-ray detectors are located opposite each
other in a ring called the gantry. The x-ray detectors
measure how much radiation is being absorbed. In
some instances the examination table may move
causing the beams to go in a spiral path. The images
are called, “slices” in order to get a better detailed
resolution 3-D image after the scan. The 3-D image
recorded and reviewed from the scan can simulate
travel through the colon along the rest of the
abdomen and pelvis.
References
1:http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/16377
2.php
2:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonoscopy
3:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colectomy
4:http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/183084treatment
5:
http://users.atw.hu/blp6/BLP6/HTML/C0269780323
045827.htm