Digestion Misconceptions

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Digestion Misconception Objectives

Describe what a misconception is and how a misconception can form.
Provide examples of digestive misconceptions and explain why they are incorrect.
Explain how analysis of stool (fecal material) can provide information about the digestive process.

Many misconceptions exist related to the digestive system and digestive process. From earlier in the course, misconceptions are incorrect inferences that can result from limited observations, incorrect information, or faulty reasoning.

When misconceptions are introduced in the next video, consider how these misconceptions could have developed in the first place.

Microbiome

Many species and varieties of bacteria colonize our intestines. Some of those bacteria came from our birth mothers, others were acquired over time.

Complex Community

Microbiomes vary from person to person, and research is ongoing on how and when to successfully intervene if a bacterial community becomes problematic.

Misconceptions are more likely to arise if a topic is “off-limits” because it is sensitive or somehow culturally taboo. Fecal analysis is an example. We have good reason to avoid contact with bacterially-loaded fecal material, but stool can provide some indicators of digestive health.

There can be high variability in human stool from one individual to the next, as well as variation within an individual. Dramatic and unexpected variation, such as blood in stool or diarrhea that persists, can be indicators to seek out medical assistance.

Check your progress and answer the questions in this video.

This is the end of Guide 4A. The next step is to take the quiz on Canvas and upload your qualitative & quantitative media piece.

Check your knowledge. Can you:

describe what a misconception is and how a misconception can form?
provide examples of digestive misconceptions and explain why they are incorrect?
explain how analysis of stool (fecal material) can provide information about the digestive process?