BLOCK III - UNIT 3. Gastrointestinal System Flashcards
What is the first section of the small intestine?
The duodenum
It is where most chemical digestion takes place using enzymes.
What is the second section of the small intestine?
The jejunum
It is where carbohydrates and proteins are absorbed.
What is the last section of the small intestine?
The ileum
It is where vitamin B12, bile salts, and any remaining products of digestion are absorbed
What is the beginning of the large intestine?
The cecum
Attached to the cecum is the appendix.
What functions to protect the good bacteria in the gut?
The appendix
Between the cecum and the ileum is what?
ileocecal valve
which controls the flow from the ileum to the cecum.
After the sigmoid colon there is another sphincter called what?
the rectosigmoid
It controls movement from the sigmoid colon to the rectum
The colons function is to do what?
absorb water from the remaining chyme and compact feces prior to defecation.
What is spongy, about six to ten inches long, and is shaped like a flat pear or a fish extended horizontally across the abdomen?
The Pancreas
Assists in the absorption of nutrients.
What’s bile?
A bitter, brownish-yellow or greenish-yellow fluid stored in the gallbladder.
Discharged into the duodenum, where it aids the process of digestion.
What Sits beneath the liver and stores and secretes bile?
The Gall bladder
What is it called when a swishing, or washing machine like sound heard when the diaphragm of the stethoscope is placed over the spleen, renal arteries, or abdominal aorta?
Bruits
An abdominal bruit is is often indicative of what?
partial occlusion of a vessel
*as can be observed in renal artery stenosis or atherosclerosis of the abdominal vasculature. This is an abnormal finding.
What is the depth of a light palpation?
Light palpation is 1/2in – 3/4in
What is the depth of a deep palpation?
Deep palpitation is 1.5 in – 2in
helpful in detecting abnormal masses.
Rebound tenderness, in which pain increases with quick release of a palpated area indicates what?
an inflamed peritoneum
What’s used to assist in the diagnosis of disease liver dysfunction?
Serum Enzymes
What can Directly or Indirectly indicate liver damage or disease?
Bilirubin
Higher than normal levels of direct bilirubin in the blood may indicate what?
the liver isn’t filtering bilirubin properly.
Elevated levels of indirect bilirubin may indicate what?
different types of liver or bile duct problems.
Occasionally, higher bilirubin levels may be caused by what?
an increased rate of hemolysis
Normal bilirubin levels are what ?
between 0.3 and 1.2 milligrams per deciliter.
What measures the total amount of protein in the blood?
Serum Proteins
*Also measures the amounts of two major groups of proteins in the blood: albumin, which is made mainly in the liver, and globulin.
What’s used to help diagnose and monitor pancreatitis?
Amylase Test
• Normal range is 60 to 180 units/mL
What’s used to measures the level of lipase in your blood or urine?
Lipase Test
Lipase is a protein that helps your body absorb fats. It’s used to diagnose pancreatitis and other pancreatic disorders.
a limited bedside ultrasound examination that seeks to quickly detect free intra-abdominal and thoracic fluid and air is called?
• Focused Assessment Sonography in Trauma (FAST) Exam
What may be performed to assess the abdominal area for causes of abdominal pain, or to assess the organs and structures of the urinary and/or gastrointestinal (GI) system?
• Kidney Ureter and Bladder (KUB) X-ray
Lacerations in the esophagus from vomiting or gagging is called?
Mallory-Weiss Tears
*Can also develop from alcohol abuse
a condition in which there are small pouches or pockets in the wall or lining of any portion of the digestive tract is called?
Diverticulosis
the infection or inflammation of pouches that can form in your intestines is called?
Diverticulitis
an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation and ulcers/sore in the digestive tract is called?
Ulcerative Colitis
a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition is named what?
Crohn’s Disease
growths that appear on the surface of the colon are called?
Colonic Polyps, also known as Colorectal Polyps
The following Sx can indicate what Dx?
•Melena- Black stool
• Hematemesis- The vomiting of blood
• Accompanying symptoms may vary, but can include :
• Epigastric and diffuse abdominal pain
• Pale skin
• Shortness of breath
• Alterations of consciousness
GI Bleed
What are most commonly used reduce inflammation of inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis?
Steroids: e.g. Corticosteroids
Proton pump inhibitor infusion reduces gastric acid secretion for up to?
36 hours
Bleeding from varices (enlarged or swollen veins) in the esophagus that have developed over time is called?
Esophageal Varices
The following Sx may indicate what Dx?
• Bleeding is sudden and severe; the patient will vomit large amounts of blood.
• Shock, from blood loss
• Black, tarry stools
Esophageal Varices
What is the procedure used to treat bleeding esophageal varices and prevent future variceal bleeding?
Endoscopic Injection Sclerotherapy (EIS)
What is the procedure that uses elastic bands to treat enlarged veins, or varices, in the esophagus?
Endoscopic Variceal Ligation (EVL)
What is the procedure that may be used to reduce portal hypertension and it’s complications; especially variceal bleeding, by placing a small wire-mesh coil (stent) into a liver vein?
Trans jugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunting (TIPS)
What’s used to stop massive variceal bleeding with A tube with three ports on one end and two balloons on the other
Sengstaken-Blakemore Device
*one balloon goes into the stomach, the other in the esophagus. Two ports are used to inflate the balloons, the third is uses to suction fluid and air out of the stomach (see image).
What is the condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed (swollen)over a short period of time?
Acute pancreatitis
• Severe pain that develops suddenly in the center of the stomach
• Fever
• Indigestion
• Jaundice
• Tenderness or swelling of the abdomen
• Tachycardia
The Sx may indicate what Dx?
Acute Pancreatitis
What is Cirrhosis?
Irreversible inflammatory liver disease
A patient with Cirrhosis will be what?
be jaundiced, very yellow in appearance. In a lot of cases their sweat will even be yellow.
What is the evaluation tool used to monitor for alcohol withdrawal?
Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment (CIWA)-
What is Acute liver failure?
The development of severe acute liver injury with encephalopathy and impaired synthetic function (INR of ≥1.5) in a patient WITHOUT cirrhosis or preexistingliver disease.
• Hyperbilirubinemia
• Jaundice
• Light colored stool (clay like appearance)
• Increased bleeding
• Dark Urine
• Hypoglycemia
• Ascites and edema
The Sx above indicate what Dx?
Acute Liver Failure
What does vitamin K do?
Assist in clotting
a reversible syndrome of impaired brain function that occurs in patients with advanced liver diseases is called?
Hepatic encephalopathy (HE)
What can present with reversible metabolic encephalopathy, brain atrophy, brain edema or any combination of these conditions?
Hepatic Encephalopathy
*The mechanisms causing brain-dysfunction in liver failure are still unknown.
What is Asterixis?
hand flapping tremor
*Sx of Hepatic Encephalopathy
A loss of continuity of the bowel wall is called?
GI tract perforation also known a ruptured bowel.
What moves food from the mouth into the stomach through peristalsis?
Esophagus
Once the contents have been mixed, broken down, and partially absorbed, they are sent through what?
the pyloric sphincter into the duodenum.
What is the flap of tissue that closes and seals off the trachea as food moves into the esophagus preventing aspiration?
The epiglottis
What are the livers functions?
• Detoxification
• Protein synthesis
• Production of bile
What are the gall bladders functions?
• Respond to intestinal hormones, such as cholecystokinin, to empty and refill its bile stores
• Contribute to regulating the composition of bile (the percentage of water,bile salts and more)
• Control the flow of bile into the small intestine
Observe for pigmentation, lesions, striae, scars, petechiae, signs of dehydration and venous pattern. Some Abnormal findings are?
jaundice, skin lesions, and a tense glistening appearance of the skin.
