Celiac disease has been called the "great mimic" because the signs and symptoms are associated with many other gastrointestinal diseases. The diagnosis of celiac disease can also be complicated by the fact that this disease is associated with many other autoimmune disorders, such as chronic atrophic gastritis and diabetes mellitus. The previous modules have described some of the medical conditions that can also cause nutrient deficiencies, which are associated with celiac disease or have some common signs and symptoms. These associated conditions, as well as other common gastrointestinal maladies, such as gastric reflux or heart burn, gastric ulcers, and peptic ulcers, can delay the diagnosis of celiac disease and the initiation of a gluten-free diet. The small intestine is the anatomical region that is directly affected by celiac disease. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucosa lining the small intestine when exposed to the protein gluten. Recall that the villi are a critical anatomical feature of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed over time, chronic inflammation caused by T-lymphocytes binding to gluten antigens leads to villous atrophy. . Mucosal villi are damaged to the point that nutrients are no longer absorbed, which is why this disease is a malabsorption disorder. Another histological finding in celiac disease is crypt hyperplasia, an increase in the normal size of the mucosal indentations between villi that develops as the villi atrophy.

In celiac disease, gluten found in wheat products triggers an inflammatory response in the mucosal lining of the small intestine, disrupting the structure and function of villi. Loss of villi would be expected to have the greatest impact on nutrient absorption in which division of the small intestine?

Celiac disease has been called the "great mimic" because the signs and symptoms are associated with many other gastrointestinal diseases. The diagnosis of celiac disease can also be complicated by the fact that this disease is associated with many other autoimmune disorders, such as chronic atrophic gastritis and diabetes mellitus. The previous modules have described some of the medical conditions that can also cause nutrient deficiencies, which are associated with celiac disease or have some common signs and symptoms. These associated conditions, as well as other common gastrointestinal maladies, such as gastric reflux or heart burn, gastric ulcers, and peptic ulcers, can delay the diagnosis of celiac disease and the initiation of a gluten-free diet. The small intestine is the anatomical region that is directly affected by celiac disease. The disease is characterized by inflammation of the mucosa lining the small intestine when exposed to the protein gluten. Recall that the villi are a critical anatomical feature of the small intestine where nutrients are absorbed over time, chronic inflammation caused by T-lymphocytes binding to gluten antigens leads to villous atrophy. . Mucosal villi are damaged to the point that nutrients are no longer absorbed, which is why this disease is a malabsorption disorder. Another histological finding in celiac disease is crypt hyperplasia, an increase in the normal size of the mucosal indentations between villi that develops as the villi atrophy.

In celiac disease, gluten found in wheat products triggers an inflammatory response in the mucosal lining of the small intestine, disrupting the structure and function of villi. Loss of villi would be expected to have the greatest impact on nutrient absorption in which division of the small intestine?

a. The jejunum

b. The cecum

c. The duodenum

d. The antrum.