M'Kenna's Absorption Problem


How are M'Kenna's cells in the small intestine affecting how she absorbs food nutrients?


Unhealthy intestinal tissue
M'Kenna's micrograph shows that her intestinal tissue does not look healthy.
Courtesy Biophoto Associates/Science Photo Library

M'Kenna returned to her doctor to hear the results of her exam. The doctor showed M'Kenna the micrograph images from her small intestine. The doctor said M'Kenna's small intestine looked like it had been mowed with a lawn mower. M'Kenna didn't like the sound of that!

The evidence from the micrographs suggests that M'Kenna's problem in the small intestine is happening on a microscopic scale. When you zoom in to look closely at the tissue in her small intestine, it looks different than healthy tissue. Now that you know a little more about how intestinal tissue absorbs nutrients, you will revisit some of the evidence about M'Kenna's absorption problem.


Notebook Icon

Set up your notebook with the focus question. Answer the question and write what you notice about M'Kenna.

On your own

  1. In your science notebook, write the focus question, How are M'Kenna's cells in the small intestine affecting how she absorbs food nutrients? Draw a box around the question. Then write your ideas answering this question.

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL1502571. Any opinions, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

NGSS Design Badge

Awarded: Jan 4, 2022

Awarded To: A Medical Mystery

VERIFY

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DRL1502571. Any opinions, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

NGSS Design Badge

Awarded: Jan 4, 2022

Awarded To: A Medical Mystery

VERIFY