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PATH 370 – QUIZ 3 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 –
Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
CHAPTER 12: GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is primarily caused
by:
A) Excess acid production only
B) Incompetent lower esophageal sphincter with acid reflux
C) Hiatal hernia only
D) Peptic ulcer disease only
Answer: B
Rationale: GERD is primarily due to lower esophageal sphincter
dysfunction, allowing gastric acid to reflux into the esophagus.
2. Barrett's esophagus is a complication of:
A) Acute gastritis
B) Chronic GERD, with metaplasia from squamous to columnar
epithelium
C) Peptic ulcer disease
D) Gastric cancer only
Answer: B
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Rationale: Chronic acid exposure causes metaplasia, replacing
squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium (Barrett's
esophagus).
3. Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of:
A) Gastric cancer
B) Esophageal adenocarcinoma
C) Colon cancer
D) Pancreatic cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a precursor to esophageal
adenocarcinoma.
4. Peptic ulcer disease is most commonly caused by:
A) Stress only
B) H. pylori infection and NSAID use
C) Spicy foods
D) Alcohol only
Answer: B
Rationale: H. pylori infection and NSAID use are the two
primary causes of peptic ulcers.
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5. The most common site for peptic ulcers is:
A) Stomach only
B) Duodenum (duodenal ulcers)
C) Esophagus
D) Colon
Answer: B
Rationale: Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric
ulcers.
6. The most common complication of peptic ulcer disease is:
A) Perforation
B) Gastrointestinal bleeding
C) Obstruction
D) Cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Bleeding is the most common complication of peptic
ulcer disease.
7. Appendicitis is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection only
B) Luminal obstruction (fecalith)
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C) Trauma
D) Cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen initiates
inflammation, often by a fecalith.
8. The classic pain presentation of appendicitis is:
A) Right upper quadrant pain
B) Periumbilical pain migrating to the right lower quadrant
C) Left lower quadrant pain
D) Diffuse pain only
Answer: B
Rationale: Appendicitis causes periumbilical pain that localizes
to the right lower quadrant (McBurney's point).
9. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is:
A) Alcohol abuse
B) Gallstones
C) Hypertriglyceridemia
D) Medications only
Answer: B
PATH 370 – QUIZ 3 PRACTICE QUESTIONS Chapters 12, 13, 14, and 15 –
Comprehensive Pathophysiology Review
CHAPTER 12: GASTROINTESTINAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
1. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is primarily caused
by:
A) Excess acid production only
B) Incompetent lower esophageal sphincter with acid reflux
C) Hiatal hernia only
D) Peptic ulcer disease only
Answer: B
Rationale: GERD is primarily due to lower esophageal sphincter
dysfunction, allowing gastric acid to reflux into the esophagus.
2. Barrett's esophagus is a complication of:
A) Acute gastritis
B) Chronic GERD, with metaplasia from squamous to columnar
epithelium
C) Peptic ulcer disease
D) Gastric cancer only
Answer: B
, Page |2
Rationale: Chronic acid exposure causes metaplasia, replacing
squamous epithelium with columnar epithelium (Barrett's
esophagus).
3. Barrett's esophagus increases the risk of:
A) Gastric cancer
B) Esophageal adenocarcinoma
C) Colon cancer
D) Pancreatic cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Barrett's esophagus is a precursor to esophageal
adenocarcinoma.
4. Peptic ulcer disease is most commonly caused by:
A) Stress only
B) H. pylori infection and NSAID use
C) Spicy foods
D) Alcohol only
Answer: B
Rationale: H. pylori infection and NSAID use are the two
primary causes of peptic ulcers.
, Page |3
5. The most common site for peptic ulcers is:
A) Stomach only
B) Duodenum (duodenal ulcers)
C) Esophagus
D) Colon
Answer: B
Rationale: Duodenal ulcers are more common than gastric
ulcers.
6. The most common complication of peptic ulcer disease is:
A) Perforation
B) Gastrointestinal bleeding
C) Obstruction
D) Cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Bleeding is the most common complication of peptic
ulcer disease.
7. Appendicitis is most commonly caused by:
A) Bacterial infection only
B) Luminal obstruction (fecalith)
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C) Trauma
D) Cancer
Answer: B
Rationale: Obstruction of the appendiceal lumen initiates
inflammation, often by a fecalith.
8. The classic pain presentation of appendicitis is:
A) Right upper quadrant pain
B) Periumbilical pain migrating to the right lower quadrant
C) Left lower quadrant pain
D) Diffuse pain only
Answer: B
Rationale: Appendicitis causes periumbilical pain that localizes
to the right lower quadrant (McBurney's point).
9. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is:
A) Alcohol abuse
B) Gallstones
C) Hypertriglyceridemia
D) Medications only
Answer: B
