Gastrointestinal Disorders Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering pathophysiology and pharmacology of gastrointestinal disorders, including GERD, PUD, IBS, IBD, and various GI medications.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

A condition involving the retrograde flow of GI contents into the esophagus, resulting in inflammation, hyperemia, erosion, and minor bleeding.

Hyperemia

Redness caused by an increase in blood flow to a specific area, often seen in the esophagus during GERD.

Histamine receptor antagonists

Medications like cimetidine and famotidine that block H2 receptors to suppress gastric acid secretion and lower hydrogen ion concentration in the stomach.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)

Medications such as omeprazole and pantoprazole that inhibit the enzyme producing gastric acid, used for short-term treatment of ulcers and GERD.

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

Erosions resulting from the corrosive action of acid gastric juice on vulnerable epithelium, caused by an imbalance between mucosal defenses and acid/peptic injury.

Antacids

Medications like Aluminum hydroxide, Magnesium hydroxide, and Calcium carbonate that neutralize or reduce the acidity of gastric acid and protect the mucosa.

Prokinetics

Medications like metoclopramide that enhance the action of acetylcholine and block dopamine/serotonin to increase gastric emptying and control nausea.

Tardive dyskinesia

A complication of prokinetics involving repetitive involuntary movements of the face, such as a protruding tongue and restlessness.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

A functional disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel habits without other identifiable causes, categorized into types C, D, M, and unclassified.

Irritable Bowel Disease (IBD)

A condition involving an inappropriate immune response and chronic inflammation, encompassing Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis.

Crohn’s Disease

A form of IBD with patchy involvement through all layers of the bowel, including the GI tract and anus, resulting in loose, semi-formed stool.

Ulcerative colitis

A form of IBD that begins in the rectum and spreads in a pattern toward the cecum, characterized by frequent, watery stool with blood and mucus.

Lubiprostone

An IBS-C medication that increases fluid secretion in the intestine to promote intestinal motility.

Alosetron

An IBS-D medication that blocks receptors innervating the viscera to increase stool firmness and decrease urgency/frequency.

Metronidazole (Flagyl)

A broad-spectrum antimicrobial used for IBD and C. diff that can cause GI discomfort, a metallic taste, and darkening of the urine.

Celiac Disease

An immune reaction to gluten in the intestine causing inflammation and damage to villi, leading to malabsorption and malnutrition.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver cells typically caused by a virus that impairs liver function.

Bulk-forming laxatives

Laxatives like psyllium (Metamucil) that soften fecal mass and increase bulk for the temporary treatment of constipation.

Surfactant laxatives

Laxatives like docusate sodium that lower the surface tension of stool to allow water penetration for softening.

Osmotic laxatives

Laxatives like magnesium hydroxide and lactulose that pull water into the intestines to increase stool mass and trigger peristalsis.

Stimulant laxatives

Laxatives like bisacodyl and senna that stimulate peristalsis and increase the volume of water and electrolytes in the bowel.

Sucralfate

A mucosal protectant that changes into a protective barrier in the acidic environment of the stomach to adhere to ulcer walls.

Misoprostol

A Prostaglandin E analog that decreases acid secretion and increases bicarbonate/mucus; used for NSAID-induced ulcers and to induce labor.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the lining of the stomach and small intestine, often called a 'stomach bug,' leading to fluid depletion and malabsorption.

Diphenoxylate plus atropine

An antidiarrheal medication that activates opioid receptors in the GI tract to decrease intestinal motility and increase fluid absorption.

Ondansetron (Zofran)

A serotonin antagonist antiemetic that blocks receptors in the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ) and on the vagus nerve.

Scopolamine

An anticholinergic antiemetic that interferes with nerve impulse transmission from the vestibular apparatus in the ear to the brain's vomiting center.

Extrapyramidal symptoms

A potential complication of dopamine antagonist antiemetics involving involuntary muscle movements or restlessness.