This document summarizes several body systems and common age-related changes and health conditions that can affect each system. The major systems covered include the integumentary, musculoskeletal, nervous, circulatory, respiratory, urinary, gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune systems. For each system, normal aging changes are outlined as well as common problems to observe and potentially report like pain, swelling, difficulty moving, coughing, or changes in mental status. Common conditions that can affect elderly patients for each system are also detailed.

1. Body systems and
Related Conditions
Chapter 4

2. Integumentary
 Largest Organ in the body
 Natural Protective Covering
 Sense organ – touch, pressure, cold, hot
 Temperature regulator – Receptors in skin talk to
the brain.
 Too hot ? Vessels dilate & bring blood to surface of skin.
 Too cold? Vessels constrict and keep blood toward center of
body for warmth

3. Normal Changes of aging
 Skin thinner, more fragile
 Hair thins, turns gray
 Wrinkles, “liver spots”
 Dry, itchy
 Things to report
 Any changes…red, swelling, blisters,
cuts, bruises, abrasions, rashes

4. Musculoskeletal System
 Muscles, joints, tendons, cartilage
 Bones give the body shape
 Bones meet at joints.
 Muscles attach to bones and cause body to
move.
 Exercise important for muscle and bone health.
 When muscles do not get exercise, they atrophy.
 When muscles shorten, they form contractures.
 ROM helps prevent contractures.

5. Normal changes of aging (MS)
 Muscles weaken, lose tone, bones lose density,
joints stiffen,
Height is lost.
Observe and Report:
Changes in resident’s ability to move or
participate in care.
Pain during movement.
Swelling of joints, or any red, warm areas over
joints.

6. Common problems with MS
system
 Arthritis
 Osteoarthritis- cartilage between joints wears away,
painful
 Rheumatoid – swollen, red, painful joints, auto-
immune disease
 Osteoporosis – bones become porous, brittle – lack
of calcium
 Hip fractures
 Knee replacements
 Both hip and knee post-surgical patients require
special precautions, let’s read pages 79 and 80
together

7. Nervous system
 Message center of the body.
 Made up of brain, spinal cord, and nerves
 Receptors in the body sense changes, relay the
message to the brain
 Brain responds to changes through messages to
glands to secrete hormones, or to blood vessels
to constrict or dilate in an effort to restore
“homeostasis” or body harmony.

8. Observe and report
 Shaking, trembling, slurred speech, sudden
weakness or inability to move one side of the
body
 Sudden confusion, numbness, tingling and many
more
 Could be a sign of stroke or CVA.

9. Common problems with NS
 CVA
 Parkinson’s Disease – causes brain to
degenerate.
 Shuffling gait
 Mask-like expression
 Tremors or shaking of the head
 Assist with ROM exercises to prevent contractures
 Multiple Sclerosis
 Messages from brain are not sent correctly
 Trouble walking, contractures, weakness
 Assist with ROM exercises to prevent contractures.

10. More problems with NS
 Head and spinal cord injuries
 Paraplegia
 Quadraplegia
 Nervous System: Sense Organs
 Eyes - Sight
 Ears - Hearing
 Nose – Sense of Smell
 Mouth – sense of taste
 Touch - diminishes with age

11. Circulatory System
 Heart, Blood, Blood Vessels (arteries and veins)
 Normal changes of aging:
 Heart pumps less efficiently
 Blood vessels narrow and flow decreases.
 Common conditions
 Hypertension
 Plaque buildup
 MI or heart attack
 CHF
 PVD

12. Respiratory System
 Main organs: Lungs and Trachea
 Purpose: Inspiration and Expiration (breath in and
out)
 Takes in Oxygen and Removes Carbon dioxide
(waste product)
 Observe and report:
 Shortness of breath
 Increased respirations
 Coughing, wheezing
 Change in color: pale, blue, gray of lips, hands
 Discolored sputum, green, blood-tinged (red)

13. Common problems
 COPD
 Pneumonia
 Upper Respiratory Infection (common cold)

14. Urinary System
 Main organs: Kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra,
and meatus
 Function: Filtering system of waste products
through urine,
 Also maintains water balance in the body.
 Normal changes of aging:
 Filtering ability decreases
 Bladder muscle tone weakens, bladder cannot hold
as much urine
 More frequent trips to the bathroom.

15. Observe and Report
 Weight gain or loss
 Swelling in arms/legs
 Pain/burning with urination
 Incontinence
 Flank pain
 Common problems:
 Incontinence – nervous system diseases, elderly
bladder
 UTI

16. GI System
 Functions: Digestion and Elimination
Normal Changes of Aging:
Decreased saliva production
Dulled sense of taste – nothing tastes good
Slower digestive process
Observe and report
Difficulty chewing, c/o pain in mouth
Make sure teeth are in
Constipation, diarrhea

17. GI System (continued)
 Common problems
 Constipation
 Impaction – needs suppository or enema
 Hemmorroids
 GERD
 Ostomy – stoma – you will be shown how to care
for this
 General steps for this are on page 97

18. Endocrine System
 Made up of glands that secrete hormones
 Regulators of the body functions
 Common problems
 Diabetes
 Pancreas do not function properly – decreased insulin
production
 Hypo or hyperglycemia
 Weakness, confusion, headache, thirst, fruity breath
 Observe and report any of the symptoms listed
on pgs 98 & 99.

19. Immune system
 The body’s army – ability to fight infection
 Weakens as people get older
 HIV
 First signs are “flu-like symptoms”.
 When working, wear mask if new cold…residents
can get colds which frequently becomes
pneumonia.