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My project is on Crohn’s disease and the course objective it covers is: “state the 4 functions and 6 steps of the digestive system”. I picked this one because Crohn’s disease affects the digestive system. This is an inflammatory bowel disease that is characterized by the inflammation and irritation of the mucosa tissues in the GI tract. It is a chronic autoimmune disease and cannot be cured, but it can be sent into remission. It can affect any part of the digestive tract from mouth to anus but it is most common in the end of the small intestine and the start of the large intestine. As the cause of this disease is one’s own body, it can not be transmitted from person to person like a viral disease (Baumgart 2009, Guo & Shen 2020, Mayo Clinic 2024).
The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown. The disease is a heterogeneous condition, which means there are many factors affecting your chance of developing the disease. There are at least 12 chromosomes that carry genes that alter the susceptibility of the holder. The pathogenesis of Crohnshas also been linked to ethnic heritage, where you live, and lifestyle factors. Lifestyle factors that increase risk include smoking and taking certain medicines. Due to the multiple factors, there is a fairly low chance of passing the disease on to your children (Baumgart 2009).
Diagnosis is attained through a study of various things including patient history, endoscopy, bowel imaging, lab tests, or a physical exam. There is no gold standard test for Crohn’s disease diagnosis. You can develop the condition at any age but a diagnosis is usually made before the age of 30 (Baumgart 2009, Mayo Clinic 2024)
There are many possible symptoms associated with Crohn’s disease, with some variance depending on which part of the digestive tract is affected. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, mouth sores, blood or mucus in the stool, mouth or anal sores, loss of appetite, fatigue, weight loss, malnutrition, fistulas, ulcers, skin disorders, an increased risk for colon cancer, or bowel obstruction. The constant damage to places like the intestines can cause strictures, a narrowing of the passage from the buildup of scar tissue, seen in more than 30% of cases. This deposition of fibrous tissue can also cause hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the smooth muscle, worsening the narrowing. The damaged tissue does not retain all of its flexibility, strength, and nutrient absorption capabilities (Baumgart 2009, Mayo Clinic 2024, Zhong et al. 2020)
Treatment goals include non-steroidal remission, prevention of complications, and managing symptoms. Treatment is informed based on the current progression of the disease. The most common effective treatment is the usage of steroids to lessen the immune response. More progressed symptoms may require the use of surgery. Complications like strictures can be treated by inflating an inserted balloon, cutting and restitching the tissue differently, or by removal of the affected passage. Monitoring the disease is important to prevent more severe complications and to improve quality of life (Baumgart 2009, Zhong et al. 2020)
Lifespan is generally not affected by Crohn’s disease, and treatment usually makes it possible to live a normal life with minimal disruptions. A flare-up during pregnancy may increase the risk of complications, though most people have healthy pregnancies (Cleveland Clinic 2025).
In summary, Crohn’s disease is a lifelong inflammatory bowel disorder with a wide array of causal factors. There’s a laundry list of possible symptoms stemming mainly from inflammation and damage of various parts of the digestive system. Both preventative and corrective measures are available to treat it, and properly managed Crohns can have a minimal impact on life.
Literature Cited
Baumgart, D. C. (2009). The diagnosis and treatment of crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International. https://doi.org/10.3238/arztebl.2009.0123
Cleveland Clinic. Crohn’s disease: What it is, symptoms, causes & treatment. Cleveland Clinic. (2025, March 19). https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9357-crohns-disease
Guo, C., & Shen, J. (2020). Cytoskeletal organization and cell polarity in the pathogenesis of crohn’s disease. Clinical Reviews in Allergy & Immunology, 60(2), 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12016-020-08795-5
Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2024, October 29). Crohn’s disease. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/crohns-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353304
Zhong, Y. K., Lu, B. L., Huang, S. Y., Chen, Y. J., Li, Z. P., Rimola, J., & Li, X. H. (2020). Cross‐sectional imaging for assessing intestinal fibrosis in crohn’s disease. Journal of Digestive Diseases, 21(6), 342–350. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-2980.12881
Your project on Crohn’s disease is a strong choice because it directly connects to how the digestive system works. Since Crohn’s mainly affects the GI (gastrointestinal) tract, it interferes with the four main functions of the digestive system: ingestion, digestion, absorption (taking in nutrients), and elimination. Inflammation caused by Crohn’s makes it harder for the body to absorb nutrients and get rid of waste properly.
It also affects the six steps of digestion: ingestion, propulsion, mechanical digestion, chemical digestion, absorption, and defecation. When the intestines are inflamed or damaged, it can mess up several of these steps, especially nutrient absorption and the ability to pass waste. This leads to symptoms like diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition.
You did a good job explaining how Crohn’s is a long-term autoimmune disease that can’t be cured but can be managed. You also explained well how it can affect different parts of the digestive tract and listed the symptoms clearly. It’s helpful that you included how it’s diagnosed and the fact that there isn’t just one test for it.
Treatments like steroids, lifestyle changes, or even surgery help control flare-ups and prevent serious problems. Overall, your summary clearly shows how Crohn’s can affect the digestive system in many ways, and how with the right care, most people with Crohn’s can still live a normal life.