Pancreas and Gastrointestinal Disorders

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes on the pancreas and gastrointestinal disorders.

Pancreatitis

a disorder characterized by the acute or chronic inflammation of the Pancreas. Also known by the reflux of bile and duodenal contents into the pancreatic duct. In the lab, the specimen shows increased Lipase and Amylase levels

Amylase

An exocrine enzyme produced by the pancreas and salivary glands that helps in the digestion of carbohydrates.

Lipase

An exocrine enzyme that breaks down fats and is produced in the pancreas.

Where does nutrition absorption occur in the body?

In the Duodenum

Endocrine function of the pancreas

The pancreas produces hormones which regulates blood sugars, such as insulin and glucagon.

Exocrine function of the pancreas

The pancreas produces digestive enzymes that are secreted into the duodenum to help with digestion.

Insulin

An endorcrine hormone produced by the pancreas that decreases blood glucose levels.

Glucagon

A endocrine hormone produced by the pancreas that increases blood glucose levels.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl)

A strong acid in the stomach that aids in digestion.

Fat soluble vitamins

Vitamins A, D, E, and K that require fats for proper absorption.

Hydrogen breath test

A test used to assess lactose intolerance by measuring hydrogen in the breath after consuming lactose.

What does lab testing for the Intestinal function usually focus on?

Lab testing usually focuses on the disease states causing Malabsorption

Why do we look at Vitamins A, D, E, & K for Malabsorption?

Vitamins A, D, E, & K are fat soluble vitamins. A decrease in these vitamins is a sign of Malabsorption. A decrease in Vitamin K means a decrease in Coagulation Proteins

Anemia

A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, leading to reduced oxygen transport in the body.

How can we see Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome in the patient’s specimen?

Increased Gastrin

Sweat Electrolyte Determinations

Also known as the Sweat Chloride Test. A diagnostic test for cystic fibrosis that measures the amount of sodium and chloride in the sweat. Elevated levels of both means CF in 99% of patients

Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome

a rare pancreatic disease that is characterized by peptic ulcers without the presence of Heliobacter pylori. This is also characterized by Gastrin producing tumors

Why is the GTT test replaced with the Hydrogen Breath Test for detecting Lactose Intolerance?

High levels of Hydrogen Gas in the breath indicates bacterial fermentation of undigested lactose. This performs better.

Amylase clearance

This is used to test for Acute Pancreatitis. Equation is: (Urine Amylase/Serum Amylase) x (Serum Creatinine/Urine Creatinine) x 100

What are the 3 specialized cells in the Pancreas?

Alpha Islet, Beta Islet and Delta Islet

Malabsorption

A condition where the body cannot effectively absorb lipids, Vitamins A, D, E, & K and other important nutrients leading to deficiencies in Coagulation factors, Serum Carotenoids, proteins, carbs and fat soluble vitamins

How do we see Pancreatitis in a patient’s specimen in the lab?

Increase Lipase, Increased Amylase, Increase lipids (this will cause the serum to look milky white), Ca maybe Increased or decreased, Protein is decreased.

How is the Pancreas both an Endocrine and an Exocrine Gland?

Endocrine cells release hormones into the blood, while exocrine cells secrete digestive enzymes.

Cystic Fibrosis

An inherited autosomal disorder that is caused by a mutation of the CFTR gene.

It is characterized by an increase of dysfunction mucus, which scars the Pancreas, causing it and the exocrine glands (including the lungs) to dysfunction. This causes mucus filled cysts from dilated Pancreatic ducts

What happens when you have a deficiency in fat soluble vitamins (Vitamins A, D, E & K)?

Malabsorption

How can we tell when a patient has Cystic Fibrosis in the lab?

Increased dysfunction mucus

Small Intestine

Where does digestion primarily occur?

What is in the GI tract? (5 plus 3 in the small intestine)

Mouth, Esophagus, Stomach, Small Intestine a.Duodenum b.Jejunum c. Ileum, Large Intestine

What are the 3 substances in the stomach that aid in the breakdown of starches?

HCl, Amylase, & Lipase

What are the symptoms of Lactose Intolerance? (4 symptoms)

Abdominal Cramps, Gas & Bloating, Constipation, and Diarrhea

Pancreatic Carcinoma

Pancreatic Cancer, which is hard to detect, and is often diagnosed too late. Can only be detected by using the CT Scan and MRI then Biopsy.

What are the symptoms often associated with Pancreatic Carcinoma? (8 symptoms. Will get credit if able to name 6 of them)

Non-specific pain in the upper Abdomen, which radiates to the back afterwards, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, dark urine, pale stool, new onset diabetes, nausea, and sometimes migratory thrombosis

What often causes Malabsorption?

Most disorders of the Small Intestine

What are the Endocrine Hormones that the Pancreas produces? (4 Hormones)

1. Insulin 2. Gastrin 3. Glucagon 4. Somatostatin

What are the 2 enzymes which secretes digestive fluid from the Pancreas?

1. Amylase 2. Lipase

What are the symptoms characterized by the Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome? (6 Symptoms)

1. Increased Gastrin 2. Watery Diarrhea 3. Peptic ulcers without the Helicobacter pylori 4. Gastric Hypersecretion 5. Hyperacidity 6. Reflux

What other changes do we see in patients with Pancreatitis other than a reflux of bile and duodenal contents, increased Amylase and Lipase levels and Acute to Chronic inflammation of the Pancreas?

1. Cellular infiltration of White Blood Cells 2. Pancreatic fat necrosis 3. Edema