©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
PHS3300 - GI disorders Exam Study Guide.
Digestive processes - answer✔Ingestion
Propulsion (directional)
Mechanical Digestion (Mixing)
Chemical Digestion
Absorption
Defecation
Ingestion - answer✔process of taking food into digestive tract
Propulsion (directional) - answer✔move food through GI tract
swallowing: initiated voluntarily
peristalsis: involuntary alternate waves of contraction & relaxation of muscles
Mechanical Digestion (Mixing) - answer✔chewing, mixing with saliva (tongue), churning food in
stomach, segmentation (intestines)
Chemical Digestion - answer✔due to action of secreted enzymes
begins in mouth; completed in small intestine
Absorption - answer✔movement of products into blood or lymph
primarily in small intestine
Defecation - answer✔expulsion of indigestible material (feces)
saliva - answer✔cleanses the mouth
dissolves food chemicals so they can be tasted
moistens & compacts food
enzymes that begin digestion of starches
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, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
3 pairs of extrinsic salivary glands + small intrinsic buccal glands
Control of salivation - answer✔stimulated 10ly by parasympathetic division of ANS (salivatory
nuclei in brainstem) in response to activation of chemoreceptors and pressoreceptors
(movement of lower jaw)
salivation also triggered by: sight, smell, thought of food, irritations in lower GI tract (bacteria,
spicy food, excess acid)
What happens to salivary production during GI irritation? - answer✔You will increase saliva
production (it has a neutral pH compared to the acidic stomach environment) → sending it
down will help
xerostomia - answer✔Dryness of the mouth caused by reduction of saliva
stomatitis - answer✔inflammation of the oral mucosa due to:
- Microorganisms
- Trauma
- chemotherapy (you are not turning the lining enough increasing infection risk
- nutritional deficiencies (we need substances to allow us to make new cells to replace
damaged cells in the oral cavity)
- occurs often in individuals with AIDS (immunocompromised)
herpes simplex virus - answer✔affinity for skin & nervous system; once acquired, this virus
tends to remain latent in the dorsal ganglia of the spinal cord & can be reactivated by stress
angular stomatitis - answer✔risk factors include lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin - important in
energy metabolism and to maintain mucosae) and iron-deficient anemia, possibly followed by
secondary opportunistic fungal or bacterial infection coming from saliva; also mask wearing!
"Strawberry tongue" - answer✔Caused by group A streptococcus bacteria (scarlet fever), they
are white lesions of Candida albicans
mumps - answer✔inflammation of parotid glands (myxovirus); in adult males, 25% risk that
testes can be infected ⇒ could interfere with fertility
achalasia - answer✔definition: uncommon disorder of esophageal motility (more for elderly)
2|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
symptoms:
- decreased peristalsis of esophagus
- loss of tone of GE sphincter in between meals
- decreased relaxation of GE sphincter in response to swallowing
cause: degeneration of esophageal ganglion cells & atrophy of smooth muscle (neural
degeneration) - food feels like it is not going down
diagnosis: barium swallow
treatment: pneumatic dilation of GE sphincter, small meals with lots of fluid, botox
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) - answer✔definition: solids and fluids return to the
mouth from the stomach
symptoms: substernal pain; exacerbated by supine position (lying down), pulmonary aspiration
a risk; over time, damage can reach muscularis
diagnosis:
- clinical manifestations
- esophageal endoscopy (+ biopsy)
- most effective tests are pH measurement in esophagus + biopsy to demonstrate inflammatory
changes
treatments: antacids, elevation of head, weight reduction, H2 blockers, PPIs
hiatal hernia - answer✔protrusion of a part of the stomach upward through the opening in the
diaphragm (sliding and rolling)
3|Page
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
PHS3300 - GI disorders Exam Study Guide.
Digestive processes - answer✔Ingestion
Propulsion (directional)
Mechanical Digestion (Mixing)
Chemical Digestion
Absorption
Defecation
Ingestion - answer✔process of taking food into digestive tract
Propulsion (directional) - answer✔move food through GI tract
swallowing: initiated voluntarily
peristalsis: involuntary alternate waves of contraction & relaxation of muscles
Mechanical Digestion (Mixing) - answer✔chewing, mixing with saliva (tongue), churning food in
stomach, segmentation (intestines)
Chemical Digestion - answer✔due to action of secreted enzymes
begins in mouth; completed in small intestine
Absorption - answer✔movement of products into blood or lymph
primarily in small intestine
Defecation - answer✔expulsion of indigestible material (feces)
saliva - answer✔cleanses the mouth
dissolves food chemicals so they can be tasted
moistens & compacts food
enzymes that begin digestion of starches
1|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
3 pairs of extrinsic salivary glands + small intrinsic buccal glands
Control of salivation - answer✔stimulated 10ly by parasympathetic division of ANS (salivatory
nuclei in brainstem) in response to activation of chemoreceptors and pressoreceptors
(movement of lower jaw)
salivation also triggered by: sight, smell, thought of food, irritations in lower GI tract (bacteria,
spicy food, excess acid)
What happens to salivary production during GI irritation? - answer✔You will increase saliva
production (it has a neutral pH compared to the acidic stomach environment) → sending it
down will help
xerostomia - answer✔Dryness of the mouth caused by reduction of saliva
stomatitis - answer✔inflammation of the oral mucosa due to:
- Microorganisms
- Trauma
- chemotherapy (you are not turning the lining enough increasing infection risk
- nutritional deficiencies (we need substances to allow us to make new cells to replace
damaged cells in the oral cavity)
- occurs often in individuals with AIDS (immunocompromised)
herpes simplex virus - answer✔affinity for skin & nervous system; once acquired, this virus
tends to remain latent in the dorsal ganglia of the spinal cord & can be reactivated by stress
angular stomatitis - answer✔risk factors include lack of vitamin B2 (riboflavin - important in
energy metabolism and to maintain mucosae) and iron-deficient anemia, possibly followed by
secondary opportunistic fungal or bacterial infection coming from saliva; also mask wearing!
"Strawberry tongue" - answer✔Caused by group A streptococcus bacteria (scarlet fever), they
are white lesions of Candida albicans
mumps - answer✔inflammation of parotid glands (myxovirus); in adult males, 25% risk that
testes can be infected ⇒ could interfere with fertility
achalasia - answer✔definition: uncommon disorder of esophageal motility (more for elderly)
2|Page
, ©BRIGHTSTARS EXAM SOLUTIONS
11/16/2024 10:16 AM
symptoms:
- decreased peristalsis of esophagus
- loss of tone of GE sphincter in between meals
- decreased relaxation of GE sphincter in response to swallowing
cause: degeneration of esophageal ganglion cells & atrophy of smooth muscle (neural
degeneration) - food feels like it is not going down
diagnosis: barium swallow
treatment: pneumatic dilation of GE sphincter, small meals with lots of fluid, botox
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) - answer✔definition: solids and fluids return to the
mouth from the stomach
symptoms: substernal pain; exacerbated by supine position (lying down), pulmonary aspiration
a risk; over time, damage can reach muscularis
diagnosis:
- clinical manifestations
- esophageal endoscopy (+ biopsy)
- most effective tests are pH measurement in esophagus + biopsy to demonstrate inflammatory
changes
treatments: antacids, elevation of head, weight reduction, H2 blockers, PPIs
hiatal hernia - answer✔protrusion of a part of the stomach upward through the opening in the
diaphragm (sliding and rolling)
3|Page
