Exam final study GI

Appendicitis

• Main treatment: Appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix)

• Diagnosis: Bloodwork, CT scan, ultrasound, and urinalysis may be used to confirm the diagnosis

Quick Memory: Appendicitis → Appendix out! Main treatment = appendectomy. Delay → rupture → peritonitis/abscess → serious infection.

Cirrhosis

• Avoid liver-damaging substances: Especially alcohol and medications that may harm the liver.

• Diet: May include low-sodium and low-fat dietary changes, depending on the patient’s needs.

• Treat the underlying cause: Such as hepatitis or alcohol-related liver disease to slow progression.

• Severe disease: Liver transplant may be considered.

Quick Memory: Cirrhosis → Protect, Treat, Transplant. Protect the liver → treat the cause → transplant if severe.

Colitis

• Treat the underlying cause: Treatment depends on what is causing the colitis.

• Infection: Treat the specific infection when appropriate.

• Inflammation: Use treatments that reduce inflammation.

• Lack of blood flow: Address the underlying blood-flow problem.

• Goal: Once the cause is treated, symptoms should gradually improve and resolve.

Quick Memory: Colitis → Find the cause, treat the cause. Infection? → Treat infection. Inflammation? → Reduce inflammation. Poor blood flow? → Restore/address blood flow.

Colorectal Cancer

• Main treatment: Surgery to remove the cancerous portion of the colon.

• Chemotherapy & radiation: May be added depending on the stage, size, and location of the tumor and whether it has spread.

• Extent of surgery: The amount of colon removed depends on how deeply the cancer has invaded and whether lymph nodes or other organs are involved.

• Ostomy: If necessary, a colostomy or ileostomy may be created so stool exits through a stoma into an external pouch.

• Screening: Routine colorectal cancer screening helps detect cancer early.

Quick Memory: Colorectal cancer → Surgery first. Stage/spread → determines chemo/radiation. Colon removed + new exit → ostomy.

Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

• No cure: Treatment focuses on inducing and maintaining remission, reducing side effects, and improving quality of life.

• Diet & hydration: Eat a balanced diet, drink plenty of fluids, limit dairy, and avoid foods that worsen symptoms, such as high-fiber or high-fat foods.

• Medications: May include anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, antibiotics, and immunomodulators.

• Mild/remission: Some patients may not need active treatment when symptoms are minimal or absent.

• Severe disease: May require a temporary or permanent colostomy to allow the bowel to rest and heal.

Quick Memory: Crohn’s → Control, don’t cure. Goal = remission + quality of life. Meds → anti-inflammatory + steroids + antibiotics + immunomodulators. Severe → possible colostomy.

Diverticulosis and Diverticulitis

• Prevention: A high-fiber diet helps maintain regular bowel movements and may help prevent diverticula from forming.

• Mild cases: Rest, increased fluids, and heat (such as a heating pad) may relieve symptoms.

• Infection: Antibiotics may be prescribed when indicated.

• Severe cases: May require hospitalization and surgery.

Quick Memory: Diverticulitis → Fiber to prevent, fluids to treat mild cases, surgery if severe. Mild → Rest + fluids + heat. Severe → Hospital + possible surgery.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

• Medications: Reduce stomach acid and protect the esophageal lining.

• Lifestyle changes: Avoid trigger foods, don’t lie down for at least 3 hours after eating, lose weight if needed, and elevate the head of the bed ~6 inches.

• Antacids: Can provide temporary relief.

• If treatment fails: Fundoplication may be performed to tighten the lower esophageal/cardiac sphincter.

• Strictures: Treated with dilation to widen the narrowed area.

Quick Memory: GERD → Less acid + less reflux. Lifestyle → 3 hours upright + elevate head. Severe/refractory → Fundoplication. Stricture → Dilation.

Hemorrhoids

• Prevent constipation: Increase fluids, fiber, and exercise (such as walking).

• Bowel habits: Don’t ignore the urge to defecate; establish a regular daily routine.

• Medications: Stool softeners can reduce constipation. Topical hemorrhoid creams relieve itching/irritation, while corticosteroid creams reduce swelling and inflammation.

• Severe cases: Hemorrhoidectomy (surgical removal) may be needed for extreme discomfort or excessive bleeding.

Quick Memory: Hemorrhoids → Soften the stool + soothe the area. Prevent → Fiber + fluids + exercise. Relieve → Creams/stool softeners. Severe bleeding or pain → Hemorrhoidectomy.

Hiatal Hernia

• Medications: Acid-reducing medications help control acid reflux symptoms.

• Lifestyle: Improve posture, exercise, lose excess weight, avoid heavy lifting, and stay upright/active after meals.

• Diet: Avoid chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, and fatty foods.

• Definitive treatment: Surgical repair is the only cure for the hernia itself.

Quick Memory: Hiatal hernia → Control reflux, repair the hernia. Lifestyle → Stay upright + avoid triggers. Cure → Surgery

Inguinal Hernia

• Asymptomatic: May not require immediate treatment.

• Surgery: Hernia repair is the definitive treatment and cure when treatment is needed.

• Emergency: Surgery may be required if the hernia becomes incarcerated (trapped) or strangulated (blood supply is cut off).

Quick Memory: Inguinal hernia → Watch if symptom-free, repair if needed. Incarcerated/strangulated → Surgery!

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

• No cure: Treatment focuses on controlling symptoms and improving quality of life.

• Diet: Increase fluids and fiber; avoid trigger foods such as caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, and soda.

• Lifestyle: Exercise regularly and eat smaller, more frequent meals.

• Stress management: Psychological treatment can help reduce stress and anxiety that may worsen symptoms.

• Medications: Chosen based on symptoms to manage diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and cramping.

Quick Memory: IBS → Manage, don’t cure. Think: Fiber + fluids + exercise + stress control. Meds → Treat the specific symptom (D/C/pain).

Pancreatic Cancer

• Treatment options: Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation depending on the type and stage.

• Surgery: The only known curative treatment, but only a small percentage of pancreatic cancers are removable when diagnosed.

• Whipple procedure: Removes the head of the pancreas, part of the stomach, and part of the duodenum.

• Remaining pancreas: Preserved to maintain production of digestive enzymes and insulin.

Quick Memory: Pancreatic cancer → Surgery = only potential cure. Whipple → Head of pancreas + stomach + duodenum removed. Remember: Most cases aren’t surgically removable at diagnosis.

Peptic Ulcer Disease

• Avoid irritants: Stop/avoid tobacco and alcohol because they delay healing.

• H. pylori: Treat with antibiotics when infection is present.

• Medications: Change or stop medications that cause/worsen ulcers when appropriate.

• Acid reduction: PPIs (e.g., Prevacid, Protonix) promote healing by reducing stomach acid.

• H2 blockers: Reduce stomach acid and help protect the stomach lining (e.g., Pepcid).

• Surgery: May be needed if the ulcer doesn’t respond to medication or for uncontrolled bleeding.

Quick Memory: PUD → Kill the bacteria + cut the acid. H. pylori → Antibiotics. Acid → PPI/H2 blocker. Bleeding or treatment failure → Possible surgery.

Digestive Tract Wall: Serosa

Outermost layer, also known as the peritoneum

What is found on the right side of the abdomen (regards to large intestine)

Ascending colon

The muscle at the most inferior portion of the stomach is the:

Pyloric sphincter

Which vitamin is NOT stored by the liver?

C

Which organ produces bile?

Liver

By what age do most children have all their deciduous teeth?

3 years old

What is a disease that affects the gallbladder?

Cholecystitis

A chronic disease of the liver is?

Cirrhosis

What does GERD stand for?

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Which is an adenocarcinoma?

Colorectal Cancer

Secretion of hydrochloric acid and gastric juices that convert food into chyme is accomplished by a large, muscular, saclike organ referred to as which of the following?

Stomach

An essential role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fat and proteins is the responsibility of which accessory organ of digestion?

Liver

The term Mastication refers to the process of:

Chewing

The semiliquid form of food that is passed from the stomach to the small intestine is called:

Chyme

What is the hardest and most compact part of the tooth?

Enamel

produced by the mucosa of the mouth, stomach, small intestine and pancreas, the juices that help break down food so it can be absorbed by the body are called:

Digestive Enzymes

Digestion, one of the digestive system’s three main tasks, begins in the:

Mouth

A major organ of the digestive system, the ___ is a collapsible tube about 10 inches long that starts at the pharynx and ends at the stomach.

esophagus

The final portion of the large intestine that stores solid waste until it is expelled from the body is called the:

Rectum

The function of the ___ is to complete digestion and absorption.

Large intestine

Liquids and food are carried down the esophagus by the involuntary muscular contractions known as:

Peristalsis

An accessory organ of digestion, the ___ plays an essential role in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and proteins

Liver

Bile stored in the ___ is six to ten times more concentrated than the bile produced by the liver

Gallbladder

Produced by the salivary glands, ___ contains the digestive enzyme amylase.

Saliva

The cells that produce digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon are contained in the:

Pancreas

A key symptom of ___ is acute pain on the right side of the abdomen, approximately one third of the distance between the right hip and navel

Appendicitis

An eating disorder characterized by recurrent binge eating followed by the purging of food with laxatives and vomiting is called:

Bulimia

An enlarged vein in the walls of the anus and sometimes the rectum, a(n) ____ is caused by increased pressure in the anus.

Hemorrhoid

A potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when scarring damages the liver, ___ usually develops after years of liver inflammation

Cirrhosis

All of the following are problems associated with the eruption of teeth during infancy EXCEPT what?

GERD

What happens when Peristalsis weakens and becomes less effective as the digestive system ages?

The movement of food and waste through the digestive tract slows.

Digestive Tract Wall: Muscular Layer

Situated between the serosa and the submucosa

Digestive Tract Wall: Submucosa

The second innermost layer

Digestive Tract Wall: Mucosa

The innermost layer of the digestive tract wall.

Pharynx

Lies posterior to the mouth and is the beginning of the tubal component of the digestive tract that leads to the stomach

Esophagus

starts at the pharynx and ends at the stomach

Small Intestine dimensions

21 feet long and about 1 inch in diameter

Small intestine sections

• Duodenum: First 12 inches of small intestine

• Jejunum: Next 8 feet of small intestine

• Ileum: Last 12 feet of the small intestine

Duodenum

First 12 inches of small intestine

Jejunum

Next 8 feet of small intestine

Ileum

Last 12 feet of the small intestine

Large Intestine dimensions and function

5 feet long, 2.5in diameter. Function for completing digestion and absorption (of water)

How many sections are in the large intestine?

Nine

1. Ascending Colon

2. Transverse Colon

3. Descending Colon

4. Sigmoid Colon

5. Rectum

6. Anus

7. Ileocecal Valve

8. Cecum

9. Appendix

Cecum

Small pouch about 3 inches long that forms the beginning of the large intestine. It receives fecal (solid) material from the small intestine. (beginning)

Appendix

Small appendage of the large intestine, attached to the cecum, which is not involved with digestion

Colon

Bulk of the large intestine and is divided into the ascending colon (moves upward on the right side of the abdomen), the transverse colon (moves across the body transversely from right to left), the descending colon (moves downward on the left side of the abdomen), and the sigmoid colon, which leads to the rectum

Ascending colon

Moves upward on the right side of the abdomen

Transverse colon

Moves across the body transversely from right to left

Descending colon

Moves downward on the left side of the abdomen

Rectum

Final Portion of the large intestine

Anus

External opening of the rectum

How many baby teeth (deciduous) and how many permanent do humans have?

20 deciduous (baby) teeth and 32 permanent

Part of a tooth

Dentin, Enamel and Cementum

Dentin

Calcified, largely mineral tissue that forms the bulk of the tooth

Enamel

Hardest and most compact part of the tooth; covers the exposed part of the crown.

Cementum

Thin layer of bone that covers the dentin of the root, providing protection and anchoring to the periodontal ligament

How many accessory organs and what are they?

4 accessory organs: salivary glands, the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas

Salivary Glands

3 pairs of glands: parotid glands, submandibular glands and sublingual glands. All these glands secrete saliva through ducts (openings) into the mouth. Saliva contains the digestive enzyme amylase, which was discussed earlier in the chapter.

The parotid glands are where?

Located on either side of the face, just below the ear.

The submandibular glands are where?

In the floor of the mouth

The sublingual glands are located where?

Located below the tongue, forward of the submandibular glands

What is the liver?

Organ in RUQ, largest glandular organ and weighs about 3.5 pounds in healthy individual.

The liver plays a key role in metabolizing carbohydrates, fats, and proteins:

• Carbohydrates: Converts glucose into glycogen and stores it for later energy use.

• Fats: Produces bile, which breaks fats into smaller particles so they can be digested more easily.

• Proteins: Stores protein components so the body can build or break down proteins as needed.

Important functions of Liver?

• Bile—Digestive juice that emulsifies fats

• Blood clotting factors—Fibrinogen, prothrombin, clotting factors V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XIII, as well as protein C, protein S, and antithrombin

• Heparin—Prevents the clotting of blood

• Blood proteins—Albumin, gamma globulin

Additional functions of liver?

The liver also stores iron and vitamins B12, A, D, E, and K. It produces body heat and detoxifies substances that are potentially harmful to the body, such as drugs and alcohol

Gallbladder functions and importance?

The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile produced by the liver. Because the bile is highly concentrated, gallstones can form, which may cause inflammation.

• Cholelithiasis: Gallstones in the gallbladder.

• Cholecystitis: Inflammation of the gallbladder.

• Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder.

• The gallbladder is not essential, so its removal usually does not stop normal digestion.

Pancreas importance and functions?

The pancreas is a gland located behind the stomach that has important roles in both digestion and blood sugar control.

• Digestion: Produces pancreatic juice and digestive enzymes that are released into the small intestine.

• Blood sugar: Produces insulin (lowers blood glucose) and glucagon (raises blood glucose).

• Because it produces both digestive enzymes and hormones, the pancreas belongs to both the digestive and endocrine systems.

What are the 3 main functions of the digestive system?

Digestion, absorption, and elimination

How many layers make up the inner digestive tract wall?

Four:

Serosa (peritoneum)

Muscular Layer

Submucosa

Mucosa

List the digestive tract layers in order of Outermost to Innermost.

Serosa (Peritoneum) → Muscular Layer → Submucosa → Mucosa

What is the function of the Serosa layer?

Keeps the digestive tract moist and prevents it from sticking to nearby organs. (secretes serous fluid)

What is the function of the muscular layer?

Smooth muscle that contracts to move food through the digestive tract

Submucosa Layer

Contains blood vessels, connective tissue, and nerves; absorbs nutrients.

Mucosa Layer

Epithelial tissue that secretes digestive enzymes and helps absorb nutrients

What are digestive enzymes?

Juices made by the body to help with digestion.

How many and what are the main digestive enzymes?

3:

Protease
Amylase
Lipase.

What does Protease do?

Helps digest proteins.

What does Amylase do?

Helps digest carbohydrates

What does lipase do?

Helps digest fats.

What is the mouth (oral cavity) made of?

Palate
Lips
Cheeks
Tongue

How many and what are the salivary glands?

3 pairs
Parotid
Sublingual
Submandibular glands

How many taste receptors are there and what are they?

5 receptors
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Umami

How many baby teeth (deciduous) are there?

20: 8 incisors, 4 canines (cuspids), and 8 molars.

How many permanent teeth are there?

32: 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars.

Upper canine teeth are also known as what?

Eye teeth

Lower canines are also known as what?

Stomach teeth

How many parts make up a tooth? What are they?

3 parts
Crown: the part above the gum
Root: embedded in the gums
Neck: portion between the root and the crown

What is “peristalsis”?

Involuntary muscular contractions of the esophagus that transport food downwards.