Module 16: Drugs Acting on the Gastrointestinal System (Part I)

Autonomic Nervous System

Peristalsis, an involuntary movement that delivers food from the mouth to the stomach is controlled by the __.

1-2L

How many liters of gastric content can the stomach hold?

3-4 hours

What is the average emptying time?

True

True or False: Solids and fats both take longer to digest.

Chief cells

What cells produce pepsinogen, an inactivated enzyme?

Parietal cells

What cells produce hydrochloric acid, activating pepsinogen to pepsin?

Gastrin-producing cells

What cells secrete a substance that stimulates hydrochloric acid to convert pepsinogen to pepsin?

Mucus-producing cells

What cells produce a substance that protects the stomach wall from the acid and digestive enzymes from the stomach?

Small intestine

What is the location of most drug absorption?

False

True or False: All drugs, even those that are soluble in alcohol or lipid, are mostly absorbed in the small intestine.

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum

What are the three parts of the small intestine?

Secretin

What substance produced by the small intestine suppresses gastric secretion but increases gastric juice pH, regulates gastric acid and pancreatic bicarbonate, and is responsible for osmoregulation?

Cholecystokinin

What substance produced by the small intestine stimulates the pancreas to release enzymes that allow the gallbladder to contract, releasing bile into the duodenum?

Large intestine

What is the location of most water absorption?

Peptic ulcer

What disease develops due to an imbalance between defensive and aggressive factors, often causing an erosion of the lining of the stomach accompanied by circumscribed lesions and burning pain?

Helicobacter pylori

Infections with __ is the most common cause of peptic ulcers.

A few hours after meals

When does the gnawing, burning pain associated with peptic ulcers often occur?

True

True or False: Antibiotics for H. pylori infections do not alter the disease process and instead create conditions that are conducive to healing.

Gastric ulcer

What disease is characterized by epigastric pains 30 minutes to 1 hour after meals, increasing in intensity during meals, with no pain at hours of sleep, and is relieved by vomiting?

Hematemesis

What may occur when a patient experiences gastric ulcers?

Duodenal ulcer

What disease is characterized by epigastric pains 2-3 hours after meals, decreasing in intensity during meals, and with pain during hours of sleep?

Melena

What may occur when a patient experiences duodenal ulcers?

Antacids

These fast-acting but short-duration drugs neutralize gastric acid when ingested.

Tetracycline, digoxin, quinidine, and iron

What drugs should one avoid taking with antacids to prevent the inactivation of medication?

Sodium bicarbonate

What systemic antacid is the first to relieve heartburn, sour stomach/acid indigestion, and stomach/duodenal ulcers but is seldom used for acid neutralization due to its side effects?

Calcium carbonate

What systemic antacid is the most effective in neutralizing acid?

Burnett syndrome

This is intensified when calcium carbonate is taken with milk.

Aluminum hydroxide

What non-systemic antacid neutralizes gastric pH by neutralizing hydrochloric acid?

Constipation

What is a common side effect of taking aluminum hydroxide?

Hypophosphatemia, osteoporosis, and nephrolithiasis

Long-term use of aluminum hydroxide may lead to what three effects?

Normal

A patient who was prescribed Aluminum hydroxide arrives at the clinic complaining of white streaks in her stool. Is this normal or abnormal?