GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM Flashcards
GI system also know as ?
Digestive System
GI tract continious tube that stretches from _____ to ____
- Mouth
- Pharynx
- Esophagus
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Rectum
Accessory organs of the GI system are:
- Salivary glands
- Liver
- Pancreas
The four major functions of digestion:
- Ingestion
- Digestion
- Absorption
- Elimination
Ingestion
The process of putting food in the mouth, chewing and swallowing.
Digestion
The process of physically and chemically breaking chunks and large molecules of food into small molecules that will pass through cell membranes.
Digestive enzymes are substances that break down complex nutrients.
Digestive enzymes break down complex nutrients:
- Proteins into simpler amino acids
- Sugars into simple sugars (glucose)
- Fats into fatty acids and triglycerides
Absorption
The process of transferring digested food from intestinal membranes into the blood circulation, which takes most nutrients straight to the liver for further processing and/or storage.
Elimination
The process of passing undigested and unabsorbed food out of the body in the form of stool.
The mouth is also referred to as the ..
Oral cavity or buccal cavity
bucca meaning
cheek
The back of the mouth is called the
throat or pharynx
larynx
voice box
trachea
windpipe
esophagus
food pipe
soft palate
the roof of your mouth
epiglottis
a flap of cartilage that folds down to cover the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the larynx, and therefore the lungs.
How long is the esophagus ?
10-12 inches
peristalsis
muscle movement that moves food from the esophagus to the stomach.
lower esophageal sphincter
Prevents stomach content to reflux back into the esophagus.
The parts of the stomach:
- Fundus
- Body
- Pylorus (antrum)
Fundus (stomach)
Broad portion of the stomach near the esophagus.
Body (stomach)
The central portion of the stomach.
Pylors or Antrum (stomach)
The lower, narrow section of the stomach that joins with the small intestine.
Size of the stomach (empty)
Size and shape of a large eggplant. 12 inches long and wides part 6 inches around.
mucosa
A membrane that lines various cavities in the body and surrounds internal organs.
rugae
A series of ridges.
As the stomach fills up the ridges unfold so the stomach can stretch and smooth out.
How much can the stomach hold?
More than a quart at a time.
How long does food stay in the stomach?
About three hours.
The three layers of muscle in the stomach?
- Longitudal
- Oblique
- Circular
Lower esophageal sphincter
Prevents food from refluxing into the esophagus.
Pyloric sphincter
Prevents food from proceeding into the small intestine before the gastric process of digestion is complete.
What secretes gastric juices?
tTiny glands in the mucous membranes of the stomach’s lining
Which enzymes are in gastric juice?
Pepsin
Hydrochloric Acid (HCI)
Chyme
Churned food and enzymes.
Function of hydrochloric acid in the stomach.
Maintains acidic environment and kills bacteria in the stomach.
How long is the small intestine?
20 feet (diameter 1-inch)
The three parts of the small intestine:
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
Duodenum
Top part of the small intestine that extends from the stomach. About 12 inches long- curves around the head of the pancreas.
Pancreatic duct and common bile duct (liver) open into it to empy digestive juice.
Jejunum
The middle part of the small intestine. About 8 feet long, covered in villi (projections that help to absorb nutrients).
Ileum
Final section of the small intestine. 10 to 12 feet long, it absorbs nutrients that aren’t absorbed in the jejunum.
the beta cells of the pancreas secrete _____ into the blood stream?
Insulin
Main enzymes of pancreatic juice:
Trypsin
Lipase
Amylase
Tripsin breaks down …
Protein
Amylase breaks down …
Carbohydrates
Lipase breaks down ….
Fat
Pancreas also secretes Sodium bicarbonate to….
Neutralize the gastric acid
Largest gland in the body?
The liver
The liver’s most important jobs are to:
Store blood and filter out toxic elements
Convert sugars into glycogen (starch), which it stores
Maintain a normal blood sugar level
Maintain a normal sex hormone level in the blood
Break down fats and temporarily store fatty acids
Store vitamins B12, A, D, E, and K
Destroy old RBCs, storing useful components and sending others to the kidneys for disposal in urine
Produce fibrinogen and prothrombin, proteins that facilitate blood clotting
Hepatic portal system
The blood vessels that take blood to the liver from the intestine
Which organ in the body can regenerate if it’s damaged?
Liver (needs only one-quarter to regenrate)
Length large intestine ?
5 feet
Chief function large intestine?
- Receive waste material from the small intestine
- Absorb water & sodium from waste material
- Incubate bacteria that produce essential vitamins
Cecum
A pouch t the joint of the small and large intestine.
Ileocecal valve
Sphincter-like structure
Regulates the passage of material from the ileum of the small intestine to the cecum of the large intestine.
The portion of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum is called the…..?
Colon
Sections of the colon
ascending colon
transverse colon
descending colon sigmoid colon
Where is the ileocecal valve?
large intestine
Location ascending colon
“climbs” straight up from the cecum to the liver;
Location transverse colon
goes “across” the abdomen
Location descending colon
goes “down” along the flank
Location sigmoid colon
makes an S shape, empties into the rectum.
Gastrointestinal inflammation
Common disease that can occur from ingesting toxins, sustaining injury, or developing an infection from bacteria such as H. pylori. An increased amount of acid from certain drugs (steroids, aspirin, Motrin) can also irritate the stomach.
Treatment gastrointestinal inflammation
Removing offending agent with pain relievers, anti-inflammatory medications and antibiotics.
H. Pylori
Bacteria that can cause gastric or stomach ulcers
Flatulence
Gas
Causes abdominal pain and discomfort. A decrease in GI motility and certain foods and drugs can cause accumulation of gas bubbles in the GI tract.
Treatment includes using simethicone (Mylicon, Gas-X, Phazyme).
IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Chronic inflammation of the GI tract.
Two common types of diseases associated with IBD are called ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, which can affect any part of the GI tract.
Symptoms of IBD include:
Diarrhea
Constipation
Abdominal Pain
Weight loss
Commonly used medications to treat IBD are:
Sulfasalazine (Azulfidine)
Methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune)
Infliximab (Remicade)
Mesalamine (Rowasa)
Metronidazole (Flagyl)
Pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas. Most cases are caused by alcohol ingestion or gallstones.
Pancreatitis symptoms
Severe upper abdominal pain
Nausea
Loss of appetite
Treatment pancreatitis
Acute pancreatitis requires hospital admission for intravenous (IV) fluids, antibiotics, and medications to relieve pain and inflammation. In the case of gallstone pancreatitis, the gallbladder may be surgically removed.
Cirrhosis
Chronic liver failure often caused by alcoholism combined with malnutrition. Infections and poisons can also cause deterioration of the liver.
Cirrhosis takes a long time to develop, but its symptoms appear abruptly.
Liver damage can also happen due to untreated viral infections of the liver, such as hepatitis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
Abdominal pain
Vomiting of blood
Jaundice (the yellowing of skin due to buildup of a protein called bilirubin in the blood)
Swelling
Ascites (fluid accumulation in the peritoneal cavity)
Diarrhea
Watery, loose, and frequent stools with or without abdominal pain.
Diarrhea can result from various illnesses such as colon cancer, inflammatory bowel syndrome, AIDS, and diabetes.
Food toxins can result in acute diarrhea, Certain medications such as antibiotics, antihypertensive medications, and antacids can also cause diarrhea.
Patients are instructed to keep themselves hydrated with electrolyte-containing solutions to prevent dehydration from continuous diarrhea. Diarrhea due to food poisoning isn’t treated with anti-diarrheal drugs, as diarrhea can help remove the toxin from the body.
Constipation
The difficult or infrequent passing of stools
Constipation can also be induced by certain medications such as
Antacids
Iron
Diuretics
Opiates
Nausea
Uneasiness or discomfort of the stomach with the urge to vomit
Vomiting
Emesis
Act of throwing up the contents of one’s stomach through the mouth.
Causes of nausea and vomiting
Motion sickness
Migraines
Stomach inflammation or infection
Food poisoning
Side effects of many drugs.
Chemotherapy medications
Pregnancy
Treatment nausea and emesis
antiemetic and anti-nausea medications
GERD
Gastro-esophageal reflux disease
Common risk factors for GERD include
Pregnancy
Obesity
Smoking
Surgery
Common symptoms of GERD are:
Heartburn
Coughing
Chest pain
Difficult breathing
Regurgitation
GERD can be prevented with such lifestyle modifications as:
Weight loss
Exercise
Smoking cessation
Consumption of smaller meals
Staying upright for two to three hours after meals
Avoiding chocolate, alcohol and caffeine
PUD
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Peptic ulcer is….
An open lesion or wound in the mucosal lining of the GI tract including the esophagus, stomach, and intestine.
The most frequent and severe complication of peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is GI bleeding.
Caused of peptic ulcers:
Cigarettes
Alcohol
NSAIDs
Aspirin
Steroids
H. pylori.
Treatment of peptic ulcer/PUD
Lifestyle modifications
Antiacids with antibiotics
Zantac generic:
Ranitidine
Prilosec generic:
Omeprazole
Azulfidine generic:
Sulfasalazine
FiberCon generric:
Polycarbophil
Metamucil generic:
Psyllium
Zofran generic:
Ondansetron
Decadron generic
Dexamethasone
Dulcolax generic
Bisacodyl
Lactinex generic
Lactobacillus
Compazine generic
Prochloprazine
Adenoma
Benign or noncancerous tumor of a gland
