Alimentary Tract Pathology Flashcards
what is the role of the small bowel?
absorption
what is the role of the large bowel?
absorption and secretion
how long is the small intestine?
6m long
what is the small bowel divided into?
Divided into –duodenum 1st 25cm and is retroperitoneal
Jejunum
Remainder ileum
what is the large bowel divided into?
Caecum
Ascending colon-retroperitoneal
Transverse colon
Descending colon-retroperitoneal
Sigmoid –originates pelvic brim
Rectum-15cm, distal 7cm
extraperitonea
what are the three cell types found in small bowel?
goblet cells
columnar absorptive cells
endocrine cells
where are crypts located histologically?
base of the villi
what is contained within the crypts?
stem cells
goblet cells
endocrine cells
paneth cells
what are paneth cells?
Paneth cells are secretory cells located in the crypts of Lieberkühn, adjacent to the intestinal stem cells. They produce antimicrobial peptides and proteins and other components that are important in host defense and immunity
what are the layers of the small bowel going from the superficial lamina propria?
muscularis mucosa, submucosa
muscularis propria and subserosa
how often are the epithelial cells and lining of the
lumen renewed in the small bowel?
every 4-6 days
describe histologically the surface of the large bowel
Flat –no villi
Tubular crypts
Surface-columnar absorptive cells
Crypts-goblet cells, endocrine cells
how often are the epithelial cells and lining of the
lumen renewed in the large bowel?
every 3-8 days
what is presented by the GI tract for exposure by environmental antigens?
large surface area
what must the immune system of the GI tract do?
must balance the tolerance of harmless ingested substances against active defense reactions to potential microbial invaders.
what would dysfunction of the GI tract result in?
Chronic Disease
Life threatening acute conditions
what is the peristalsis of both the small and large bowel mediated by?
intrinsic (myenteric plexus) and extrinsic (autonomic innervation) neural control
what is the myenteric plexus?
The myenteric plexus, also known as Auerbach’s plexus, is located between the longitudinal and circular muscle layers of the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestine.
The myenteric plexus is principally responsible for the peristaltic movement of the bowels. While it can act independently from the central nervous system, it receives innervation from the autonomic nervous system, connecting the central and enteric nervous systems.
What is the myenteric plexus formed from?
meissener’s plexus (base of submucosa)
Auerbach plexus (between the inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria)
Auerbach plexus
between the inner circular and outer longitudinal layers of the muscularis propria
Meissener’s plexus
base of the submucosa
what are two pathologies of the lower GI tract?
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Large Bowel Neoplasia
what are the pathological features of inflammatory bowel disease?
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Ischaemic colitis
Radiation colitis
Appendicitis
what is idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease?
Chronic inflammatory conditions resulting from inappropriate and persistent activation of the mucosal immune system driven by the presence of normal intraluminal flora
what are the 2 main diseases that make up idiopathic inflammatory disease?
Crohn’s disease
Ulcerative colitis
how would you compare crohns disease and ulcerative colitis?
Many common features but have distinctly different clinical manifestations
which parts of the body does crohns disease affect?
CD can affect any part of the GIT from the mouth to the anus
which parts of the body does ulcerative colitis affect?
limited to colon
Do Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis have extra-intestinal manifestations?
Yes both do
Idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease aetiology
Strong immune response against normal flora with defects in the epithelial barrier function in genetically susceptible individuals
What is the genetic pathogenesis of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease?
Genetics-15% have affected 1st degree relatives
Lifetime risk of 9% if either a parent or sibling is affected
What gene mutation is associated with Crohn’s disease?
NOD2 gene mutation
What gene mutation is associated with ulcerative colitis?
HLA
What is the role of intestinal flora?
Specific microbe not yet identified
Defects in mucosal barrier could allow microbes access to lymphoid tissue triggering immune response
IBD - exaggerated immune response
What does the diagnosis of IBD require?
Requires clinical history, radio graphic examination and pathological correlation
What antibody is positive in 75% of UC patients but only 11% CD patients
pANCA
Does ulcerative colitis affect males or females more prominently?
Both males and females equally
What are the two age groups most affected by ulcerative colitis?
20-30 years
70-80 years
What is the affected location of ulcerative colitis?
Can be localised to the rectum
More commonly spreads proximally
What associations with other organs and conditions can ulcerative colitis have?
10% pancolitis
Appendix
Systemic manifestations
Is the large bowel or small bowls involved with ulcerative colitis?
Large bowel
Describe the pathology of UC
Continuous pattern of inflammation
Rectum to proximal
Pseudopolyps
Ulceration
Serosal surface minimal or no inflammation
Describe the histology of ulcerative colitis
Mucosa inflammation
Crypt abscesses
Architectural disarray of crypts
Mucosal atrophy
Ulceration into submucosa-pseudopolyps
Limited mainly to mucosa and sub mucosa
No granulomas
Sub mucosal fibrosis
What features of dysplasia are shown in ulcerative colitis?
Reactive atypia/dysplasia
Dysplasia is either high or low grade
Flat epithelial atypia —> adenomatous change —> invasive cancer
Risk if pancolitis> 10 years 20-30 times higher risk of developing cancer
What are other complications from ulcerative colitis
Haemorrhage
Perforation
Toxic dilatation
What is the role of intetinal flora for IBD?
Specific microbe not yet identified
Defects in mucosal barrier could allow microbes access to mucosal lymphoid tissue triggering immune response
How is IBD diagnosed?
Requires clinical history, radiographic examination and pathological correlation
What is pANCA?
Perinuclear antineutrophilic cytoplasmic antibody