Pathophysiology – Chapter 36: Gastrointestinal Disorders

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and definitions from the lecture on gastrointestinal disorders, covering manifestations, infections, inflammatory diseases, motility issues, malabsorption, and neoplasms.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing; a common manifestation of gastrointestinal tract disorders.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Backflow of gastric contents through the lower esophageal sphincter into the esophagus; may be symptomatic or silent.

Barrett Esophagus

Complication of chronic GERD in which columnar epithelium replaces normal squamous epithelium in the distal esophagus, increasing cancer risk.

Hiatal Hernia – Sliding Type

Most common hiatal hernia in which the gastroesophageal junction and a portion of the stomach slide up through the diaphragmatic opening.

Hiatal Hernia – Paraesophageal Type

Hiatal hernia where part of the stomach herniates alongside the esophagus, leaving the gastroesophageal junction in place.

Mallory–Weiss Syndrome

Longitudinal tear in the mucosa or submucosa of the cardia or lower esophagus caused by forceful or prolonged vomiting.

Esophageal Varices

Dilated veins in the esophagus that can rupture; a serious complication of portal hypertension, typically from cirrhosis.

Stomatitis

Ulcerative inflammation of oral mucosa involving lips, palate, or buccal areas; caused by infection, trauma, irritants, or medications.

Achalasia

Loss of peristalsis in the lower esophagus and failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax, causing functional obstruction.

Diverticulum (Esophageal)

Outpouching of the esophageal wall where food can collect and obstruct passage.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach lining; acute forms triggered by toxins or infection, chronic forms commonly linked to H. pylori.

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)

Gram-negative bacterium that colonizes gastric mucosa, causing chronic gastritis and most peptic ulcers.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine, acute or chronic, usually from direct infection.

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD)

Ulceration in the upper GI tract due to pepsin and hydrochloric acid; most cases related to H. pylori and NSAID use.

Ulcerative Colitis

Inflammatory bowel disease limited to the mucosa of the rectum and colon, producing bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Crohn Disease

Granulomatous inflammatory bowel disease that can affect any GI segment, often the proximal colon, involving all intestinal wall layers.

Clostridioides difficile Colitis

Antibiotic-associated (pseudomembranous) colitis marked by acute inflammation and necrosis of the large intestine.

Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC)

Diffuse or patchy intestinal necrosis with sepsis, primarily in premature or low-birthweight infants.

Typhlitis

Form of NEC occurring in neutropenic adult cancer patients, affecting the cecum.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the vermiform appendix; presents with migrating pain to McBurney’s point, nausea, and low-grade fever.

McBurney’s Point

Point located two-thirds from the navel to the right anterior superior iliac spine where tenderness peaks in acute appendicitis.

Diverticulosis

Presence of diverticula (outpouchings) in the colon, usually asymptomatic.

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of colonic diverticula that can lead to pain, fever, and potential bleeding.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

Functional motility disorder with alternating diarrhea and constipation plus crampy abdominal pain without identifiable pathology.

Intestinal Obstruction

Partial or complete blockage of the intestinal lumen of the small or large bowel.

Volvulus

Twisting of the bowel on itself, causing obstruction and vascular compression; often at the cecum or sigmoid colon.

Intussusception

Telescoping of one segment of bowel into another; common cause of obstruction in infants.

Megacolon

Massive dilation of the colon, congenital or acquired; commonly due to chronic severe constipation.

Hirschsprung Disease

Congenital absence or reduction of autonomic ganglia in large-intestinal smooth muscle leading to functional obstruction.

Malabsorption

Failure of the GI tract to absorb or digest nutrients properly, often manifesting as diarrhea and nutrient deficiencies.

Celiac Disease (Celiac Sprue)

Immune-mediated intolerance to gliadin in gluten causing villus atrophy and malabsorption in genetically susceptible individuals.

Tropical Sprue

Malabsorptive syndrome in equatorial regions, theorized to result from bacterial overgrowth damaging small-intestinal mucosa.

Dumping Syndrome

Rapid emptying of gastric contents into the small intestine after gastric surgery, particularly Roux-en-Y bypass.

Short Bowel Syndrome

Severe diarrhea and malabsorption following surgical removal of large portions of the small intestine.

Esophageal Cancer

Malignancy accounting for 1–2% of cancers, typically occurring in men over 60 years of age.

Gastric Carcinoma

Cancer of the stomach affecting about 25,000 Americans annually, with a 2:1 male predominance.

Small Intestinal Neoplasms

Tumors comprising fewer than 5% of GI cancers that may obstruct the small bowel.

Colon Polyps

Protrusions into the colonic lumen that may be benign or malignant; can be sessile or pedunculated.

Colon Cancer

Malignancy whose incidence doubles each decade after age 40; early sign is altered bowel habits, later rectal fullness or dull sacral ache.

Stress-Related GI Impact

Lifestyle and psychosocial stressors can affect GI function, contributing to coping issues, depressive symptoms, and role dysfunction.