Answer: The digestive tract starts by chewing and swallowing food. From there the food travels down the esophagus easily because it goes with a liquid Siliva enzyme. After, the food goes into the stomach where it is processed into a thick liquid called chyme. It then travels to the lower part of the stomach known as the atrium where it is ready to be released into the small intestine. The small intestine, or small bowel, is a hollow tube about 20 feet long that runs from the stomach to the beginning of the large intestine. The small intestine breaks down food from the stomach and absorbs much of the nutrients from the food. The food then travels to the large intestine where salts and sugars that could not be digested are absorbed. The rectum stores the stool, then the anus pushes it out in a bowl movement.
On future visits, the priority nursing assessment for a child diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is the weight and height of the child. Although research to back the claims that stimulant medications such as methylphenidate affects the height of children, it is possible for this assessment to be done in order to reverse this effect with the withdrawal method as soon as possible.
