GI Organs Flashcards
(79 cards)
What planes can the ESO, stomach and pylorus be found at
The esophagus–> T10-11,
the stomach–> T11 and
the pylorus –> L1
How do we find the xiphisternal plane, which is at T__.
Xiphisternal plane (T9): find the linea alba and trace up to the sternum
How do we find the interspinous plane?
Interspinous plane (S2): find the ASIS bilaterally and draw a plane in between them
How do we find the transpyloric plane?
Transpyloric plane (L1): find the linea semilumaris and trace up to the costal margin OR [find the top of the sternum and the pubic bone, and draw a plane in the middle.
The esophagus is a 25cm long muscular tube.
What is its path? (3)
- Goes through the right crus of the diaphragm at T10
- enters the cardial orifice of the stomach at T11
- fits into the groove of the posterior liver
The _______ ligament attaches the esophagus to the diaphragm, which allows them to move independently of one another.
The phrenicoesophageal ligament attaches the esophagus to the diaphragm, which allows them to move independently of one
The esophagus has anterior and posterior vagal trunks. Where are they located?
The right vagus nerve contributes to a posterior vagal trunk that goes behind the esophagus.
The left vagus nerve contributes to an anterior vagal trunk that goes in front of the esophagus.
What are the constriction points of the esophagus?
- Cervical region: upper sphincter d/t the cricopharyngeus muscle.
- Thoracic area: one d/t aorta and one d/t left main bronchus.
- Diaphragmatic constriction point: esophageal hiatus, which is implicated in hiatal hernias.
The last two constriction point of the esophagus are the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and the esophageal hiatus at T10. What pathology occurs here? (2)
Hiatal hernias: sliding and para esophageal
What is a paraesophogeal hiatal hernia?
- gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) is normal
- fundus of the stomach protrudes on the side of the esophagus into the thorax.
- less of a chance of GERD.
What is a sliding hiatal hernia, the most common??
- GEJ is displaced superioly, forming a bubble where the cardia produces, NOT THE FUNDUS
- “hourglass” shape
- More likely to get GERD
Angular incisure of the stomach?
Where the body meets the pylorus and becomes the pyloric canal
the stomach is not a fixed structure, meaning it can be very high or very low. What are the structures of the stomach from the esophagus to the duodenum? (5)
cardia, fundus, body, pyloric antrum, pyloric canal,
What attaches to the lesser and greater curvature of the stomach respectively?
Lesser is the superior border–> lesser omentum attaches
Greater curvature is the inferior border–> Greater omentum attaches here
Anteriorly, the stomach relates with:
- Diaphragm
- L lobe of liver
- Anterior abdominal wall
Inferolaterally, the stomach relates with:
lies on transverse colon
The stomach lies on the transverse colon and anteriorly touches the diaphragm, left lobe of the liver, and anterior abdominal wall. What does the stomach come in contact with posteriorly? (6)
- Diaphragm
- Spleen
- Left upper kidney/suprarenal gland
- Pancreas
- Lesser sac (omental bursa)
What are the 2 important ligaments of the stomach>
- Gastrohepatic L–> connects lesser curvature of the stomach to the liver
- Gastrocolic L–>greater curvature of stomach to the transverse colon
The _______ vessels run in the region of the gastrocolic ligament.
L and R gastroepiploic (gastro-omental) vessels
Gastric ulcers occur on the stomach, with 70% of cases d/t H. Pylori.
What is a complication?I
A gastric ulcer in the lesser curvature in the stomach can cause hemorrhage from the L gastric artery.
Duodenal (peptic) ulcers occur where?
How many cases relate to H. Pylori?
Occur: pylorus of the stomach or duodenum
90%
What is a complication of duodenal ulcers?
65% of duodenal ulcers (peptic ulcers) occur on the posterior wall of the first part of the duodenum. If this erodes the posterior wall significantly enough, it can eat through the gastroduodenal artery – which lies behind the posterior wall of the duodenum – and can cause hemorrhage.
Vagotomy is a treatment for _________
GERD
Why get a vagotomy?
- The parietal cells, located in the fundus and body of the stomach, produce HCl when stimulatedby the vagus nerve.
- Before proton pump inhibitors were made, people with gastric ulcers would have a vagotomy to stop parietal cells
- from making HCl.

