The Gastrointestinal Tract Flashcards
What is the function of the GI Tract?
consumes, digests, and eliminates food
What does the Upper Division contain?
Oral Cavity
Pharynx
Esophagus
Stomach
What is the function of the upper division of the GI tract?
helps with food consumption
Start of chemical digestion
What does the Lower Division contain?
Small Intestine
Large Intestine
Anus
What is the function of the lower division of the GI tract?
absorption of nutrients
What does the Hepatobiliary System contain?
Liver
Gallbladder
Pancreas
What is the function of the hepatobiliary system of the GI tract?
accessory system that secreted digestive enzymes
What are the 4 layers of the GI wall?
Mucosa
Submucosa
Muscle
Serosa
What is the function of the peritoneum?
large serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity
What layer is the parietal peritoneum?
outer layer
What layer is the visceral peritoneum?
inner layer
What is the peritoneal cavity?
space between the two layers
What is the function of the mesentery?
double layer of peritoneum containing blood vessels and nerves that supplies the intestinal wall
What is the epithelium?
most exposed part of the mucosa
What is the epithelium composed of?
simple columnar epithelium or stratified squamous epithelium
What cells can be found within the epithelium?
Goblet cells
Endocrine cells
What is the function of Goblet cells?
Secrete mucus
What is the function of Endocrine cells?
secrete hormones into blood
What does the lamina Propia contain?
Myofibroblasts
Blood Vessels
Nerves
Immune Cells
What is the muscularis mucosa?
Layer of smooth muscle
Helps with continued peristalsis
What layers are found within the Mucosa?
Epithelium
Lamina Propia
Muscularis Mucosa
What layers are found within the Submucosa?
Major Blood and lympathics vessels
Submucosal plexus
Elastic fibers with collagen
What layers are found within the Muscularis externa?
Circular Muscle
Myenteric Plexus
Longitudinal Muscle
What is the other name for the submucous plexus?
Meissner’s plexus
What is the function of the submucosa layer of the GI wall?
stretches with increased capacity
Maintains shape of the intestine
What is the function of the Muscular layer of the GI wall?
Continued Peristalsis
Movement of digested material out of and along the gut
What is the other name for the Myenteric Plexus?
Auerbach’s plexus
What is the serosa?
A serous membrane that covers the muscularis externa of the digestive tract in the peritoneal cavity
What is swallowing coordinated by?
Medulla swallowing center
Cranial Nerves V, IX, X, and XII
What do salivary glands secrete?
Bicarbonate
Salivary Lipase
What does the Stomach secrete?
Hydrochloric Acid Pepsin Gastric Lipase Intrinsic Factor Mucus
What is the action of bicarbonate?
moistens food
What is the action of salivary lipase?
digests food
What is the action of hydrochloric acid?
kills bacteria
What is the action of pepsin?
digests protein
What is the action of Gastric lipase?
Digests fat
What is the action of intrinsic factor?
Aids in vit. B12 absorption
What is the action of mucus?
protects the stomach lining
What is Agenesis?
the complete absence of the esophagus
What is Atresia?
incomplete development of the esophagus
What is more common: Agenesis or Atresia?
Atresia
Where does atresia occur most commonly?
at or near the tracheal bifurcation sometimes with a fistula
What is atresia usually associated with?
Congenital heart defects
Genitourinary Malformations
Neurologic Disease
When is atresia usually discovered?
shortly after birth when the baby regurgitates during feeding
What can atresia lead to?
Aspiration
Suffocation
Pneumonia
Severe fluid and Electrolyte imbalances
What is acquired stenosis?
inflammatory scarring
What can cause acquired stenosis?
GERD
Irradiation
Systemic Sclerosis
Caustic Injury
What is a Diaphragmatic Hernia?
Incomplete formation of the diaphragm allows the abdominal viscera to herniate into the thoracic cavity
What is Omphalocele?
Occurs when closure of the abdominal musculature is incomplete and the abdominal viscera herniates into a ventral membranous sac
What is Meckel’s Diverticulum?
True Diverticulum
Blind outpouching of the alimentary tract that communicates with the lumen
What causes Meckel’s Diverticulum?
Failed involution of the vitelline duct
What is the Vitelline duct and when is it normally supposed to disappear?
connects yolk sac to developing GI tract
after 9 weeks of gestation
What may also be present with Meckel’s Diverticulum?
Ectopic Pancreatic or gastric tissue
What are the classical Symptoms of Meckel’s Diverticulum?
Occult Bleeding = Bright red bleeding per rectum (BRBPR)
Abdominal pain resembling acute appendicitis or obstruction
What is the rule for Meckel’s Diverticulum and what does it mean?
Rule of 2s
Occurs in 2% of population Present within 2 ft. of ileocecal valve approx. 2 inches long 2X as common in men Symptomatic by age 2
What is pyloric stenosis?
Narrowing of pyloric areas of the stomach
What is pyloric stenosis caused by?
hyperplasia of pyloric muscularis externa which obstructs the gastric outflow tract
Who is pyloric stenosis more common in?
3-5X more common in males
How many live births does it occur in?
1 in 300-900
Who are at an increases risk of developing pyloric stenosis?
Monozygotic twins Dizygotic twins Siblings Turner Syndrome Trisomy 18 Exposure to erythromycin or azithromycin
When and what does pyloric stenosis present as?
3-6 weeks of life
New-onset regurgitation
Projectile, non-bilious vomiting after feeding
Frequent demands for re-feeding
What may aggravate pyloric stenosis?
Edema
Inflammatory Changes in mucosa and submucosa
What is the acquired form of pyloric stenosis?
Antral Gastritis
Peptic Ulcers close to pylorus
What causes Hirschsprung Disease?
Failure of migration of neural crest cells
What do neural crest cells form?
form the plexuses of the GI tract
Who is most at risk of developing Hirschsprung disease and how many live births does it occur in?
1 in 5000 births
Those with Down Syndrome
What does Hirschspring disease present with?
Failure to pass meconium in immediate postnatal period
No secretions or peristalsis of GI tract
What is the most important clinical feature of Hirschsprung disease?
Congenital Aganglionic MegaColon
What are the major threats of Hirschsprung Disease?
Enterocolitis
Fluid and Electrolyte Imbalances
Perforation
Peritonitis
What causes Achalasia?
Decreased Nitric Oxide and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Increased Acetylcholine
What is Achalasia?
Increased tone of the lower esophageal sphincter
What are the symptoms of Achalasia?
Dysphagia for solids and liquids Difficulty in Belching Regurgitation Chest Pain Weight Loss
What is primary achalasia caused by?
Ganglion cell degeneration
What is secondary achalasia caused by?
Chagas Disease
Diabetic Neuropathy
Infiltrative Disorders (malignancy, amyloidosis, or sarcoidosis)
Lesions of dorsal motor nuclei (polio, surgical ablation)
What is secondary achalasia associated with?
Down syndrome
Alacrima
Adrenal insufficiency
What is esophagitis?
Inflammation of the esophagus
What is hematemesis?
vomiting of blood
What are the esophageal causes of Hematemesis?
Lacerations (Mallory-Weiss Syndrome) Esophageal Perforation (cancer) Varices (cirrhosis) Reflux Esophagitis (erosive) Esophageal ulcers Barrett esophagus Adenocarcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma
What is Reflux Esophagitis?
reflux of gastric contents into the lower esophagus
What is reflux esophagitis caused by?
Loose tone of lower esophageal sphincter
Increased Abdominal Pressure
What is the other name for reflux esophagitis?
GERD
What covers the tract from the mouth to the end of the esophagus?
stratified squamous epithelia
What covers the tract from the stomach to the anus?
ciliated columnar epithelium
What is the function of the ciliated columnar epithelium?
to protect that area from acid erosion
What causes increased abdominal pressure?
Alcohol/Tobacco Obesity CNS depressants Pregnancy Hiatal hernia Decreased gastric empyting
What is decreased gastric emptying called?
gastropiesis (sp?)
What are the clinical features of Reflux Esophagitis?
Heartburn
Dysphagia
Regurgitation of sour-tasting gastric contents
What are the complications of Reflux Esophagitus?
Ulceration Blood vomiting Melena Stricture development Barrett Esophagus
What is melena?
blood in stool
What are esophageal varices?
Abnormal dilation of the veins at the junction between the portal and systemic venous systems
What causes esophageal varices?
portal hypertension
Who are esophageal varices most present in?
nearly half of patients with cirrhosis
What is the concern with esophageal varices?
bleeding
What is Barrett Esophagus?
complication of chronic GERD characterized by intestinal metaplasia
What is the intestinal metaplasia that occurs in Barrett esophagus?
replacement of normal stratified squamous epithelium lining to simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells
What patients is Barrett esophagus most common in?
white males 40-60 yrs. old
What are patients with Barrett esophagus at an increased risk of having?
Esophageal adenocarcinoma
How is Barrett esophagus identified?
By endoscopy and biopsy
What is the 7th leading cause of cancer deaths?
Esophageal tumors
What are the two most common types of esophageal cancer?
Squamous cell carcinoma
Adenocarcinoma
Where does squamous cell carcinoma usually occur?
middle 3rd of esophagus
Where does adenocarcinoma usually occur?
lower 3rd of esophagus
Which esophageal cancer is most common in the US?
Adenocarcinoma