Week One (Part Two) Flashcards
General Symptoms
Note:
Most symptoms are protective in the extent that the signal the presence of a pathological condition.
Anorexia
Description:
Loss of appetite.
Anorexia
Cause(s) (Etiology):
Hypothalamus Smell Emotions Drug Medical Problems
Nausea
Description:
Unpleasant subjective sensation.
Frequently is accompanied by watery salivation, vasoconstriction, pallor, sweating, tachycardia
Nausea
Cause(s) (Etiology):
Large doses of anorectic foods or drugs that cause nausea.
Distention of the duodenum or upper small intestinal tract
Emesis
Description:
Sudden and forceful expulsion of the contents of the stomach, usually preceded by nausea.
Emesis
Cause(s) (Etiology):
GI Dysfunction or Inflammation
Vestibular Apparatus
Drugs and Toxins
Hypoxia
Emesis
Mechanics:
Vomiting center of the medulla is triggered by chemoreceptors (blood borne drugs and toxins).
Take a deep breath
Close the airways
Simultaneous strong abdominal muscles contraction and relaxation of gastroesphageal sphincter
Hematemesis
Description:
Blood in the vomitus. Not to be confused with coughing blood
Melena
Description:
Blood in the stool
Melena
Black and tarry stool (Indication):
Upper GI tract; blood is coming more from the stomach
Melena
Red Blood (Indication):
Lower GI tract; blood is often from sphigmoid, rectum, or anus.
Melena
Occult (Indication):
Not easy to detect. Presence of increased iron or protein in the stool.
Diarrhea
Description:
Liquid stool.
Frequently accompanied by loss of water and electrolytes
Diarrhea
Mechanism (Pathophysiology):
Poor digestion, malabsorption
Toxin
Mechanical- rapid or slow transit, short bowel
