Disorders of the Esophagus & Stomach (Adults Pt 1) Flashcards
Esophagus
No digestion or absorption occurs in the esophagus
What does the esophagus do?
Simple muscular tube that transports food from the pharynx to the stomach by coordinated muscle contraction.
What could wrong with the esophagus?
Obstruction, dysfunction (of the muscle or the nerves that innervate them, outpouchings (diverticula) that prevent the food from going where it’s supposed to go, GERD (prevents stomach contents from re-entering the esophagus)
Obstruction in the Esophagus can occur from what?
Inside: foreign object, tumor, “wings/webs” such as scar tissue
Outside: lung cancer, enlarged lymph nodes
Dysphagia can be caused by a _______ or ______ obstruction of the esophagus.
Mechanical; functional
Functional Obstruction is
An impairment of esophageal motility.
Upper esophageal obstruction discomfort occurring ____ seconds after swallowing, and lower esophageal ____ after swallowing.
Upper: 2-4 sec
Lower: 10-15 sec
Any muscle could fail in the esophagus one or two ways:
fail to contract (PSNS: Fight or flight) and or fail to relax (SNS: rest and digest)
If the PSNS is compromised, then the esophagus has ______ peristalsis and is unable to relax
Decreased
if the esophagus fails to contract esophageal ______ could occur in the ______ & other connective tissues such as _______.
Dilates; scleroderma; Chagas’ disease
If the esophagus fails to relax _____ could occur diffused throughout the entire esophagus. It can present as ______ ______ that mimics angina.
SPASMS; chest pain
Achalasia is a form of _____ ______ caused by the loss of esophageal innervation or relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Functional dysphagia
Achalasia Pathophysiology
“Failure to relax”, destroys PSNS neurons and remains constricted.
Late phase of Achalasia is a condition where food gets stuck and causes esophageal _____, proximal to that occlusion. Can’t relax!
Dilation
Bird Beak on Barium Swallow is known as?
Food travels down the esophagus and gets stuck before the stomach causing esophageal dilation proximal to the unrelaxed location.
Pulsion Diverticula
Outpouching of the esophagus causes esophageal diverticula
Esophageal diverticula can be
Congenital
Zenkers diverticulum outpouching causes what?
Outpouching of the lumen causes food and drink to get stuck down there before being digested.
IF regular food appears digested, it cant be a result of Zenkers diverticulum . T or F
True
What is the most common esophageal disorder?
GERD
What is the pathophysiology behind GERD?
chyme regurgitation from the stomach into the esophagus, causing esophagitis causing from repeated exposed to acids and enzymes (pepsin) in the regurgitated gastric contents.
Define Hiatal Hernia
Protrusion of the upper part of the stomach through the hiatus (esophageal opening in the diaphragm) at the gastroesophageal junction.
Clinical Manifestations of GERD
Heartburn from acid regurgitation, chronic cough, laryngitis, asthma attacks, sinusitis, and upper abdominal pain with one hour of eating
Define Esophagitis
Inflammation fo the esophagus
Esophagitis can be caused by:
Meds, chemotherapy, radiation, chronic disease, infection (candida, herpes, mycobacterium)
Clinical Manifestations of Hiatal Hernia
Asymptomatic, heartburn, regurgitation, dysphagia, & epigastric pain