Digestive System, Nutrition, and Pharmacology Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering obesity epidemiology and pathophysiology, malnutrition forms, small intestine function, pediatric digestive alterations, complementary herbal therapies, vitamins, nutritional support, and antiparasitic pharmacology.

Obesity

A condition characterized by an energy intake greater than energy expenditure, resulting in consuming more calories than are burned.

Adipocyte Hypertrophy

The increase in size of existing fat cells as excess energy is stored as triglycerides in white adipose tissue.

Adipocyte Hyperplasia

The increase in the number of fat cells (also known as adipogenesis) occurring during chronic positive energy balance.

Leptin

A hormone produced primarily by adipocytes that acts on the hypothalamus to decrease appetite, increase satiety, and increase energy expenditure.

Central Leptin Resistance

An impairment of hypothalamic satiety signals in obesity where high leptin levels become ineffective, leading to overeating and weight gain.

Peripheral Leptin Resistance

Metabolic dysregulation in obesity that contributes to hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, hyperlipidemia, and tissue inflammation.

Lipotoxicity

Cellular damage, cell death, inflammation, and organ dysfunction caused by the accumulation of excess free fatty acids in non-adipose organs like the liver, heart, kidneys, skeletal muscle, and brain.

Dyslipidemia

An abnormal lipid profile common in obesity, characterized by high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated insulin resistance.

Malnutrition

A lack of nourishment from inadequate amounts of calories, protein, vitamins, or minerals, which can occur with undernutrition or overnutrition/obesity.

Short-Term Starvation

Extended fasting lasting several days of total dietary deprivation where the body maintains energy while protecting muscle and protein mass.

Glycogenolysis

The metabolic pathway in the liver that breaks down stored glycogen into glucose for energy.

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose in the liver from noncarbohydrate precursors, including lactate, pyruvate, amino acids, and glycerol.

Marasmus

Severe protein and calorie malnutrition leading to muscle mass loss, body fat depletion, thin wrinkled skin, and a skin-and-bones appearance without edema.

Kwashiorkor

Malnutrition caused primarily by severe protein deprivation, characterized by generalized edema, abdominal distention, fatty liver, and brittle hair while body fat is retained.

Protein Calorie Malnutrition

Severe nutritional deficiency state classified into Kwashiorkor (protein deficit with edema and fatty liver) and Marasmus (calorie deficit with fat and muscle wasting without edema).

Refeeding Syndrome

A life-threatening condition occurring when nutrition is restarted too rapidly in a malnourished patient, causing rapid shifts in fluids and electrolytes, notably hypophosphatemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia.

Anorexia of Aging

The non-normal loss of appetite and food intake in older adults caused by diminished taste/smell, reduced energy needs, altered gastrointestinal satiety mechanisms, and comorbidities.

Chyme

The liquid mixture containing small particles of partially digested food formed in the stomach that passes into the duodenum.

Segmentation

Localized mixing movements in the small intestine that chop and blend chyme with digestive enzymes, bringing nutrients into contact with absorbing mucosal cells.

Peristalsis

Wave-like muscular contractions that propel chyme forward through the digestive tract in one direction.

Ileogastric Reflex

A neural reflex that inhibits gastric motility and slows down stomach emptying when the small intestine becomes excessively full.

Intestinointestinal Reflex

A neural reflex that inhibits intestinal motility along the tract when a portion of the intestine becomes overly distended.

Gastroileal Reflex

A neural reflex stimulated by gastric activity that promotes the emptying of the contents of the ileum into the large intestine.

Cleft Lip and Palate

A congenital separation of the lip and/or palate due to incomplete fetal fusion, leading to difficulty swallowing, feeding problems, risk of aspiration, and frequent ear infections.

Infantile Hypertrophic Pyloric Stenosis

An acquired narrowing and distal obstruction of the pylorus causing forceful, nonbilious vomiting starting 2 to 3 weeks after birth.

Pyloromyotomy

The standard surgical procedure performed to treat infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Congenital Obstruction of the Intestine

A congenital duodenal malformation resulting in complete or partial bowel obstruction, characteristically displaying a double bubble sign on radiologic imaging.

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)

A normal, physiological, self-resolving movement of stomach contents into the esophagus, common in healthy infants.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Pathologic reflux in infants or children resulting in tissue damage (esophagitis), vomiting, hematemesis, otitis media, or faltering growth.

Faltering Growth

A physical sign manifested by low weight or BMI over time, or a decrease in the velocity of weight gain in pediatric patients.

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)

The first-line fluid replacement treatment for acute pediatric diarrhea to prevent dehydration.

Garlic

An herbal supplement used to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, which may cause body odor, upset stomach, and decreased blood clotting time.

Ginkgo biloba

An herbal supplement used for memory improvement, asthma, and circulatory conditions, with a major side effect of increased bleeding risk.

Echinacea

An herbal supplement used to stimulate the immune system to treat colds and infections, with side effects including GI distress and allergic reactions.

St. John's Wort

An herbal supplement used for mental health disorders and nerve pain, noted for causing GI problems and extensive drug-drug interactions.

Fat-Soluble Vitamins

A classification of essential vitamins comprising Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Vitamin K that require dietary fat for intestinal absorption.

Scurvy

A deficiency disease caused by a severe lack of Vitamin C, characterized by poor wound healing, petechiae, and bleeding tissues.

Enteral Nutrition

Nutritional support provided directly into a functional gastrointestinal tract via tube routes such as nasogastric, nasoduodenal, gastrostomy, or jejunostomy.

Parenteral Nutrition

Nutritional support delivered intravenously for patients with non-functional GI tracts, carrying risks of catheter sepsis, hyperglycemia, and air embolism.

Chloroquine Phosphate

An antimalarial medication that inhibits parasite DNA/RNA replication, requiring monitoring for visual field changes, retinal toxicity, and hearing loss.