[Ceteris Paribus]

This came up in my Med/Surg class tonight and no one (including the instructor) could really explain why this happens. Now, I know that glossitis is associates with a variety of pathological conditions ranging from nutritional deficiency to infection. However, why should the tongue well and not say your nose, fingers or toes? What is going on with the tongue from a physiological perspective that makes it unique? I've looked everywhere and been unable to find an answer so I came to the largest repository of nursing knowledge on Earth for the answer!

[TazziRN]

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/glossitis

[Ceteris Paribus]

I checked out the link that you provided and it provides a definition, but doesn't go into the physiological basis for the glossitis. However, thanks for the reply I also have a post at studentdoctor.net on the same topic and have yet to get even a single response. I've also written my previous A&P instructors (six all together) and they haven't known either.

[TazziRN]

I don't understand what you're asking. Inflammation would be the phys part of the patho-phys.

[Ceteris Paribus]

Originally Posted by TazziRN

I don't understand what you're asking. Inflammation would be the phys part of the patho-phys.

Yes, inflammation, but why the tongue? What is special about the tongue's physiological or metabolic makeup that causes it to become inflammed in the presence of nutritional deficiencies like folate, and Iron rather than say the ear lobs, eyes, fingers, nose or toes? With ulcers for example in many cases we can say that the reason that someone develops gastritis is H. Pylori invading/irritating the lining of the stomach that would be the most proximal cause of many cases involving ulcers. That's what I'm looking for (as was my instructor in class) for glossitis.

[TazziRN]

Ah, I see. Good question. An ENT would be the one to ask about that.

[TNNurse92]

HI Ceteris Parabus, I would encourage you to look up megaloblastic anemia. This anemia is due to the lack of folate. The result is that RBCs cannot synthesis DNA to mature. They remain large and immature and fragile. The tongue, which is highly vascular, becomes inflammed when folate deficency results in megaloblastic anemia. I hope that this at least partially answers your questions.

[morte]

understood your question, just dont think the answer has any nursing application......i looked it up, it can be a primary disease or a sx

[Ceteris Paribus]

Originally Posted by morte

understood your question, just dont think the answer has any nursing application......i looked it up, it can be a primary disease or a sx

The nursing application is that in general increasing our understanding of disease processes can increase our ability to provide effective assessments, and interventions.