Intro and Esophagus Flashcards
Where does normal digestion begin and how?
In the mouth- mechanical: breaking down food by teeth into smaller pieces. And chemical- salivary amylase from saliva breaks down starch to sugar
How much saliva is produced DAILY?
1-1.5L
The esophagus is a hollow tube of muscle that is how long?
25-30 cm. long
List the segments within the esophagus
Pharygoesophageal, cervical, thoracic, and abdominal segments
List the 2 sphincters associated with the esophagus
Upper and lower esophageal sphincters
What is gastric juice secreted by?
Chief cells, parietal cells, and mucus cells
What is produced by the stomach to help with vitamin B12 absorption?
Intrinsic factor produced by stomach
What stores and concentrates bile vs. manufacturing bile?
Liver manufactures bile, gallbladder stores and concentrates bile
What organ has both endocrine and exocrine functions?
Pancreas
What is the pancreas’s exocrine function?
Producing digestive enzymes (pancreatic juice) and releasing them through the pancreatic ducts into the duodenum
What is the pancreas’s endocrine function
Producing multiple enzymes that are released into the bloodstream (insulin, gastrin, etc)
How much fluid enters small intestine a day
8-10 L of fluid/day. Of that, 500 ml enters the colon
How is chloride absorbed into the proximal?
Passive diffusion
Vitamin absorption in small intestine
Duodenum- Iron. Proximal intestine- B1, B2, B6, C, Calcium. Ileum-Vitamin B12. Throughout small I- K, Mg, Phos, and Fat soluble vitamins ADEK
How is calcium absorbed into the proximal small intestine?
Via active transport facilitated by Vitamin D
How would deficiency in Vitamin D affect absorption in small intestine?
Affects calcium absorption in S.I
Defecation involves contraction and relaxation of…
contraction of rectal muscles and relaxation of anal sphincters
Length of rectum
15 cm
Dentate line
Interface between internal and external anal mucosa
Innervation around dentate line
Superior to dentate line- viscera, dull innervation. Inferior to dentate line- sharp, somatic innervation.
Internal and external anal sphincters voluntary/involuntary control-
Internal is NOT under voluntary control, but external is.
Diagnostic tests to evaluate esophagus problems (dysphagia, reflex or frequent heartburn, non-cardiac chest pain)
Mannometry, 24 hour pH probe or Bravo pH 48-hour probe, EGD, and esophagogram or UGI
Final score of pH probe determined by…
DeMeester score
Why is diary of eating, drinking, and pain episodes kept in people that get the pH probe?
So that pain episodes and acid level readings of pH probe can be correlated and interpreted
Patient presents with frequent heartburn that does not away despite pills that have been prescribed. You decide to do Bravo 48-hour pH probe and give them diary to record pain episodes. Before you do this, what precaution must you take in relation to medications?
Patient must be off of their ppi/h2 blockers for 1 week prior to test. Calcium carbonate can be taken up until the day before. Otherwise, can cause constipation.
Best test to order if worried about functional problem with esophagus (structure looks fine, but does not work properly)
Mannometry
Best test to order if worried about structural, physical problem in patient’s esophagus?
EGD
What test would be best if you want to r/o Barrett’s esophagus
EGD because will detect mucosal changes in esophagus
Procedure in esophagogram
Barium swallowed and observed under fluoroscopy
What is the most common cause of esophageal chest pain?
Reflux esophagitis
If patient has GERD, what med would you prescribe for them?
PPI
If patient presents with persistent GERD despite PPI medication, what diagnostic test would you recommend?
EGD
Refux esophagitis is caused by…
GERD
Mucosa changes in Barrett’s esophagus
Metaplasia from squamous mucosa to columnar epithelium in DISTAL esophagus
Why must Barrett’s esophagus be taken very seriously?
Potential to turn into dysplasia and then adenocarcinoma of the esophagus
How to monitor Barrett’s esophagus
EGD EVERY 2 YEARS to check for progression to dysplasia and esophageal adenocarcinoma
What will NOT reverse Barrett’s esophagus or prevent progression of the disease?
Anti-reflux procedures
Cancers in middle vs. lower esophagus
Lower- adenocarcinoma of esophagus (1% of Barrett’s esophagus develops into this). Middle esophagus affected in Squamous cell carcinoma
Squamous cell carcinoma of esophagus associated with
HPV, smoking, alcohol
What layer does esophageal cancer lack resulting in cancer spreading?
Serosal layer
Which has better survival rate in esophageal cancer- node-negative or node-positive disease?
Node-negative disease
How much of the esophageal lumen must be obstructed to produce dysphagia?
2/3rds
You are suspicious of esophageal cancer in patient who’s symptoms include dysphagia, coughing, and hoarseness. What specific area are you concerned with?
Tumors of cervical esophagus
Definitive diagnosis for esophageal cancer
Tissue biopsy in EGD. Can also use barium esophagogram, but not necessary