Johns Hopkins CF Center | What is CF? | What's it All About

Johns Hopkins CF Center for Teens Site

Overview
Science of CF
What's It All About?
   - Sinus
   - Lung
   - Pancreas/
     Gastrointestinal Tract
        - Pancreatic Problems
        - Diabetes Mellitus
        - Intestinal Problems
   - Liver
   - Reproductive Issues
   - Bladder
   - Muscle/Bone
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For CF patients, gastrointestinal (GI) complications may involve the pancreas, small intestine, liver, and large intestine. To understand these complications, it helps to understand how the GI tract digests food and removes waste from our bodies. There are many organs involved:

Mouth	Glands secrete digestive enzymes that begin digestion.
Esophagus	Transports food from the mouth to the stomach.
Stomach	Secretes enzymes for digestion and mechanically compresses the food.
Pancreas	Secretes enzymes for digestion and hormones regulating metabolism.
Liver	Filters the blood, removing toxins.
Gallbladder	Releases bile that aids in digestion.
Small intestine	Absorbs most of the nutrients from the digestion of food.
Large intestine	Reabsorbs water and forms feces.