A student asks the professor to explain the characteristic appearance of stools in people with cystic fibrosis. What explanation by the professor is best?
A)Bile ducts obstructed with mucus, leading to clay colored stools
B)Mechanical obstruction causes narrow, ribbon-like stool
C)Deficiency of pancreatic enzymes leads to steatorrhea.
D)Ischemia due to sodium blockages causes bloody stools.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Severe problems with maldigestion of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats occur because of the insufficient secretion of pancreatic enzymes. This leads to steatorrhea, or stools that are fatty and bulky. Biliary atresia would manifest with clay-colored stools. Thin, ribbon-like stools would be caused by a partial mechanical obstruction. Bloody stools are not seen in CF.

A Student Asks the Professor to Explain the Characteristic Appearance