Maria received a diagnosis of this inflammatory bowel disease when she was 14 years old; the surface of her ascending colon resembles "cobblestones", known as skipped lesions, with thickened areas that resemble lead pipes. What type of inflammatory bowel disease does Maria have?

A. Primary disorders affect hormone receptors, while secondary disorders affect hormone production: While receptor sensitivity may play a role in some conditions, the main distinction between primary and secondary endocrine disorders is based on the location of dysfunction, not receptor or hormone function alone.

B. Primary disorders originate in the target organ, while secondary disorders originate in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus: In primary disorders, the problem lies in the endocrine gland itself (e.g., the thyroid gland in primary hypothyroidism), while secondary disorders result from dysfunction in regulatory centers like the pituitary or hypothalamus.

C. Primary disorders involve the hypothalamus, while secondary disorders involve the target organ: This reverses the correct relationship. Secondary disorders typically involve the hypothalamus or pituitary, not primary disorders.

D. Primary disorders are caused by external factors, while secondary disorders are caused by genetic mutations: While both external and genetic factors can contribute to endocrine disorders, this distinction does not define the difference between primary and secondary types. The classification is based on the anatomical source of dysfunction.

A. Three: Up to three bowel movements per day is generally considered the upper limit of normal for stool frequency in adults. This range accommodates individual variation while distinguishing normal from diarrhea.

B. Five: Five stools per day exceed the typical upper limit and may indicate diarrhea or an underlying gastrointestinal disorder if persistent, rather than normal bowel habits.

C. Two: Two stools per day fall well within the normal range but do not represent the upper limit. Normal stool frequency can range from three times per day to three times per week.

D. Seven: Seven stools per day indicate frequent bowel movements consistent with diarrhea, which is above normal frequency and warrants further assessment for underlying causes.