Which of the following are not functions of the gastrointestinal tract?

Choice A reason: Abdominal distention is an unexpected finding, potentially indicating serious issues like bowel obstruction, ascites, or organ enlargement, requiring urgent reporting. Unlike normal findings like symmetry, distention demands investigation. Prompt documentation ensures timely diagnosis and intervention, critical for preventing complications in patients with abdominal abnormalities.

Choice B reason: Silver striae are expected from skin stretching (e.g., pregnancy or weight gain), not typically concerning unless new or severe. Distention is more urgent. Assuming striae require reporting risks diverting focus from serious findings, potentially delaying evaluation of critical abdominal conditions needing immediate medical attention.

Choice C reason: Borborygmus (bowel sounds) is a normal finding, indicating active digestion, unless absent or hyperactive. Distention is abnormal and urgent. Assuming borborygmus requires reporting risks misprioritizing normal findings, neglecting serious issues like distention, critical for timely diagnosis and management of abdominal pathology.

Choice D reason: Abdominal symmetry is expected in healthy assessments, unlike distention, which signals pathology. Assuming symmetry is unexpected risks overlooking abnormal findings, diverting focus from urgent issues like obstruction or ascites. Reporting distention ensures prompt evaluation, critical for addressing underlying causes and preventing complications in patients.

Choice A reason: Kyphosis, an exaggerated thoracic curvature, is expected in osteoporosis due to vertebral compression fractures from weakened bones, common in elderly patients. Recognizing this guides interventions like bracing or bisphosphonates, critical for preventing further fractures, improving posture, and reducing pain, enhancing quality of life in osteoporosis patients.

Choice B reason: Scoliosis, lateral spinal curvature, is typically congenital or idiopathic, not caused by osteoporosis, which leads to kyphosis. Assuming scoliosis risks misdiagnosis, diverting focus from fracture-related kyphosis, delaying treatments like calcium supplementation, critical for managing osteoporosis and preventing spinal deformities in elderly patients.

Choice C reason: Lordosis, exaggerated lumbar curvature, is not typical in osteoporosis, which primarily causes thoracic kyphosis from vertebral fractures. Misidentifying lordosis risks overlooking kyphosis, delaying interventions like physical therapy, essential for managing spinal deformities and preventing further bone loss in elderly patients with osteoporosis.

Choice D reason: Ankylosis, spinal joint fusion, is associated with ankylosing spondylitis, not osteoporosis, which causes kyphosis. Assuming ankylosis misguides assessment, risking neglect of osteoporosis-related fractures, delaying bisphosphonates or bracing, critical for preventing deformity progression and maintaining mobility in elderly patients with weakened bones.