GI Survival High-Yield Review

A comprehensive vocabulary list of high-yield GI topics covering swallowing, innervation, liver function, and common gastrointestinal pathologies.

Swallowing Phases

The process of swallowing consists of the oral phase, pharyngeal phase, and oesophageal phase.

Vagus Nerve (Swallowing)

The nerve involved in the coordination of the swallowing process and peristalsis.

Myenteric Plexus

The part of the enteric nervous system ($ENS$) responsible for controlling motility.

Submucosal Plexus

The part of the enteric nervous system ($ENS$) responsible for controlling secretion.

Achalasia

A condition where the lower oesophageal sphincter ($LES$) fails to relax, resulting in dysphagia.

GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease)

A common condition caused by a weak lower oesophageal sphincter ($LES$), leading to reflux and heartburn.

Ant 2/3 Tongue Sensation

General sensation for the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is provided by cranial nerve $V3$.

Ant 2/3 Tongue Taste

Taste sensation for the anterior two-thirds of the tongue is provided by cranial nerve $VII$.

Post 1/3 Tongue Innervation

Both general sensation and taste for the posterior one-third of the tongue are provided by cranial nerve $IX$.

Tongue Motor Innervation

Motor control of the tongue is provided by cranial nerve $XII$.

Parotid Gland Innervation

The salivary gland innervated by cranial nerve $IX$.

Submandibular and Sublingual Gland Innervation

The salivary glands innervated by cranial nerve $VII$.

Gastric Acid Stimulators

The three primary stimulators of gastric acid secretion are gastrin, histamine, and acetylcholine.

Parietal Cells

Stomach cells responsible for the production of $HCl$ (hydrochloric acid).

H. pylori

A bacterium that produces urease and is associated with ulcers and an increased risk of gastric cancer.

Barrett’s Oesophagus

A complication of chronic reflux involving metaplasia and an increased risk of adenocarcinoma.

PPIs (Proton Pump Inhibitors)

A class of drugs whose mechanism is to inhibit the proton pump to reduce gastric acid.

Peritoneum Categories

The classification of the lining and positioning of organs, known as visceral vs parietal and intraperitoneal vs retroperitoneal.

Liver Functions

Major roles include metabolism, detoxification, bile production, and protein synthesis.

Portal Hypertension

A condition caused by cirrhosis with complications including ascites, varices, and splenomegaly.

Porto-systemic Anastomoses

Clinical manifestations include oesophageal varices, caput medusae, and rectal varices.

Bilirubin Metabolism

Involves unconjugated vs conjugated bilirubin and is used to differentiate pre-hepatic, hepatic, and post-hepatic jaundice.

Gallstones

Commonly composed of cholesterol, they can cause biliary colic, cholecystitis, and pancreatitis.

ALT/AST

Liver function tests that serve as markers for hepatocyte damage.

ALP/GGT

Liver function tests that serve as markers for cholestasis.

Albumin (Liver Test)

A liver function test used to determine the synthetic function of the liver.

Types of Diarrhoea

The three main types are osmotic, secretory, and inflammatory.

Oral Rehydration Therapy (ORT)

A treatment based on the physiology of sodium-glucose cotransport.

Coeliac Disease

An autoimmune reaction to gluten characterized by anti-$TTG$ antibodies and villous atrophy, treated with a gluten-free diet.

Crohn's Disease

An inflammatory bowel disease characterized by skip lesions, transmural inflammation, and occurrence anywhere in the GI tract.

Ulcerative Colitis (UC)

An inflammatory bowel disease characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation limited to the colon.

GI Infections

Common pathogens include norovirus, $C. difficile$, and Salmonella.

Pancreas Functions

Endocrine functions include insulin and glucagon; exocrine functions include digestive enzymes.

Acute Pancreatitis

Presents with epigastric pain radiating to the back and is associated with alcohol, gallstones, and raised lipase/amylase.

Oesophagus Histology

The tissue is characterized by stratified squamous epithelium.

Small Intestine Histology

The key histological feature is the presence of villi.

Colon Histology

The key histological difference from the small intestine is that it has no villi.