GI Flashcards
What is the function of the GI tract?
process ingested food by mechanical and chemical means, extract nutrients from these food stuffs and excrete waste products.
What structures are a part of the Upper GI tract?
- Mouth
- esophagus
- stomach (largely storage function)
- duodenum (digestive function)
What is the job of the upper gi tract?
Aids in the ingestion and digestion of food
What structures are a part of the lower GI tract?
Small and large intestine
What is the job of the small intestine?
Digestion and absorption of nutrients
What is the job of the large intestine?
- Water and electrolyte absorption
- Stores waste products until elimination
From mouth to anus, the GI tract has how many layers? What are they?
- Mucosa: epithelium layer of either squamous or columnar cells
- Submucosa: Accessory glands, lymphoid tissue, blood vessels, nervous tissue
- Muscularis: longitudinal (top to bottom) and circular smooth muscles
- Serosa: Outermost layer
T/F GI tract is open to the external environment at both ends outside of the body (what is inside the tract is outside of the body)
True
GI tract is populated by billions of what?
Bacteria in a symbiotic state - altered normal flora leads to disease
T/F Intestinal tract acts as a physical barrier.
True
What lymphocytes are found in the intestinal tract that act in immune function?
Pyer’s Patches
What is the purpose of mastication done by the mouth?
increase surface area of food - digestion easier
What initiates digestion in the mouth?
Amylase
What is the purpose of mucus production by the salivary glands in the mouth?
- Moistens food
2. Cleans the mouth
The esophagus connects what two things?
Throat (pharynx) to the stomach
T/F The esophagus lies in behind the heart and in front of the trachea and spine
False, behind (posterior) the trachea and heart, and in front of the spine
Peristalsis -
the involuntary constriction and relaxation of the muscles of the intestine, creating wave-like movements that push the contents of the canal forward
The stomach excretes what to aid in digestion?
- Mucus
- Enzymes-Gastrin, pepsin (pepsinogen)
- Hydrochloric acid (low pH)
- Parietal cells- HCl, intrinsic factor
- Chief Cells – pepsinogen
- Mucous neck & pit cells-mucous
- G cells-produce gastrin
What is chyme?
Contents of the stomach
Pyloric sphincter -
Distal end of stomach
Gastric emptying -
- emptying-forty minutes to a few hours
- movement of chyme through pyloric sphincter
What 3 parts make up the small intestine?
- Duodenum
- Jejunum
- Ileum
T/F Small intestine has digestive and absorption functions.
True
Small intestine excretes what to aid in digestive function?
- Bile: breakdown fats
- Pancreatic juices (cystic fibrosis limits this): break down proteins, starches, fats
- Come through pancreatic duct - Proteins, fats & carbohydrates
What are lacteals?
- aid in absorption function
- lymphatic capillary that absorbs dietary fats in the villi of the small intestine.
- Facilitate the transportation of digested fats from the villi of the small intestines
How does weight loss surgery affect nutrient absorption?
resection decreases nutrient absorption
What is malabsorption syndrome of the small intestine?
group of disorders characterized by reduced intestinal absorption of dietary components and excessive loss of nutrients in the stool
malabsorption syndrome of the small intestine is associated with what symptoms?
- Muscle weakness, muscle wasting, paresthesia
- Numbness and tingling; neurologic damage
- Bone pain, fractures, skeletal deformities (hypocalcemia)
- Edema (protein deficiency)
What is the main function of the large intestine?
Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored here
Crohn’s disease -
Tx -
- chronic lifelong inflammatory disorder that can affect any segment of the intestinal tract.
- Current treatment is directed toward symptomatic relief and control of the disease process on an individual basis.
Irritable bowel syndrome -
- A group of symptoms that represent the most common disorder of the GI system.
- Abdominal pain and discomfort lasting on average at least one day a week in the last three months
3 types of Irritable bowel syndrome -
- Constipation-predominant
- diarrhea-predominant
- mixed
Diverticular disease -
outpouchings (diverticula) in the wall of the colon or small intestine
Diverticulosis -
diverticula present but uncomplicated
Diverticulitis -
An infected & inflamed diverticula
How is diverticular disease treated?
Antibiotic
First symptom of GI disease?
Nausea (NOT a disease but a symptom)
Nausea -
sensation of unease and discomfort in the upper stomach often accompanied by an involuntary urge to vomit
Emesis -
- vomiting
- The involuntary, forceful expulsion of the contents of one’s stomach through the mouth and sometimes the nose
Vomiting can be caused by what?
concussions, meningitis, intestinal blockages, appendicitis and brain tumor
Resulting complications due to N&V?
- Dehydration due to fluid and electrolyte imbalances
- Pulmonary aspiration of vomitus
- Mucosal tear at the gastroesophageal junction (Mallory-Weiss syndrome)
- Presents with hematemesis (vomiting of blood)
- Rupture of the esophagus
- Malnutrition
Diminished appetite or aversion to food?
Anorexia
T/F Anorexia is a nonspecific symptom
True
Causes of anorexia:
- May be associated with N&V, diarrhea
- Cancer patients may suffer from it
- Voluntary food restriction
- Often caused by psychological issues
Anorexia can result in what?
- heart disease
- renal disease
- hypokalemia
- hypotension
- orthostatic hypotension
Cachexia -
Involuntary weight loss: Weight loss occurs despite getting adequate nutrition or a high number of calories
Cachexia is primarily associated with what?
Cancer
Cachexia is also associated with what?
- ↑ metabolic rate
- ↑ sympathetic drive
- ↑ protein degradation
Cachexia results in:
- Loss of strength secondary to loss of muscle mass
- Malnutrition
- Weight loss
T/F Cachexia, anorexia, and wasting are the same.
False, cachexia not the equivalent of anorexia and wasting
What is always measured in patients with cachexia?
BMI
Constipation -
Occurs when fecal matter is too hard to pass easily or when bowel movements are so infrequent that discomfort and other symptoms interfere with daily activities
Constipation may occur because of:
- Age
- Diet
- Dehydration
- Side effects of medications (opioids)
- Inactivity/prolonged bed rest
- Acute or chronic diseases of the digestive system
- Underlying organic disease
- lesions or structural abnormalities within the colon that narrow the intestines and/or rectum,
- slow-transit alimentary canal – transit is slow
defecatory disorders/defective reflex - Low back pain (LBP) → constipation (muscle guarding, splinting