Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

metabolism > gut health > Flashcards

gut health Flashcards

(74 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

what are the roles of the GI tract?

A 
intake of food for energy
water absorption
waste removal (e.g. by-products of digestion and indigestible components)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

at what point in the GI tract are sugars broken down?

A

oral cavity by enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

at what point in the GI tract are fats broken down?

A

stomach

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

at what point in the GI tract are proteins broken down and what are they broken down by?

A

stomach

substrate specific enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

what substances mediate digestion (and specify which part of digestion)

A

enzymes and stomach acid - breakdown sugars, fats and proteins
bile salts - fat absorption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

what parts of the body secrete enzymes and give specific examples

A

mouth - amylase secreted in saliva

stomach - pepsin
pancreas - trypsin, amylases and lipases

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

what is stomach acid made up of?

A 
salts
pepsin
mucus
intrinsic factor
bicarbonate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what is the function of mucus in stomach acid?

A

forming a layer of the gastric epithelium to prevent the breakdown of the epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what is the function of intrinsic factor in stomach acid?

A

B12 absorption

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what is the function of bicarbonate in stomach acid?

A

maintaining the pH7 of gastric epithelium

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

where are bile salts secreted and stored?

A

secreted by hepatocytes

stored in the gall bladder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Where is the ENS found in the GI tract?

A

between the oesophagus and rectum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

what is the main innervation between the brain and ENS?

A

vagus innervation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

what are the roles of the ENS?

A 
Motility – peristalsis
Hormone and enzyme release
Nutrient uptake
Appetite regulation
Vascular flow
Immune cell activity
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is the intrinsic innervation?

A

communication only within the gut

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what are the two plexi in the intrinsic innervation?

A

myenteric

sub-mucosal

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

where is the myenteric plexus found?

A

in between outside longitudinal muscle and inside circular muscle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

what is the function of the myenteric plexus?

A

coordinating the contraction and relaxation of muscle to coordinate peristalsis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what can lack of coordination of muscle in the GI tract lead to?

A

constipation
diarrhoea
motility disorder

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

where is the submucosal plexus found?

A

beneath the mucosa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what are the functions of the submucosal plexus?

A

deal with secretions
nutrient uptake
respond to outside environment through activity of microbiota, nutrients and immune cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the role of interneurons?

A

allowing connectivity between different types of neurons

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

which nerve mediates the extrinsic innervation?

A

vagus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

why is the extrinsic innervation known as extrinsic?

A

its plexiglass lie outside of the gut

communication between the GIT and the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what are examples of the plexi of the extrinsic innervation?
oesophageal coeliac hypergastric
26
what do the central terminals synapse with when they enter the brainstem?
neurons of the nucleus tracts solitarus
27
what effect does the sympathetic nervous system have on the body?
prepares body for stressful responses
28
what effect does the parasympathetic nervous system have on the body?
controls body during normal situation
29
where is the largest microbial colony found?
in the colon
30
what is decreased diversity in the microbiome associated with?
poor health | increased risk of obesity and inflammation
31
how can bacteria interact with the epithelium?
directly | via their byproducts
32
how do the microbiota affect the synaptic activity in the brain microglia?
more prone to development of plaques and debris | leads to neurodegenerative diseases
33
what is the purpose of faecal microbiota transfer?
increase microbial diversity
34
what are the types of FMT donor?
healthy relative super donors artificially produced probiotics
35
what is FMT used to treat?
C.difficile infection following failure of antibiotic therapy
36
what % of the population is C.difficile found in?
2-5%
37
what causes C.difficile infection?
broad-spectrum antibiotic usage | allows for opportunistic over-growth
38
what are symptoms of C.difficile infection?
abdominal pain | watery diarrhoea
39
what are the treatments of C.difficile?
stop antibiotic use vancomycin or metronidazole FMT
40
what are prebiotics?
promote growth and survival of bacteria and fungi in the gut
41
what are probiotics?
live cultures found in dairy products or fermented foods
42
name common upper GI symptoms
acid reflux, nausea, vomiting, belching, gastroparesis and bloating
43
name common lower GI symptoms
bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, abdominal pain
44
what causes GERD
movement of stomach contents from the fungus to the distal oesophagus occurs when the LOS is relaxed and allows the passage of acid
45
what is the lower oesophageal sphincter
anatomical valve
46
what is GERD associated with?
weight gain stress gastroparesis
47
what conditions can GERD lead to?
ulcer formation, inflammation and Barratt’s esophagus
48
how is GERD treated?
``` over the counter medications - antacids and alginates (Gaviscon) prescription treatments (e.g. proton pump inhibitors) ```
49
what is gastroparesis
Chronic condition where gastric emptying is delayed
50
what are symptoms of gastroparesis?
nausea, vomiting, rapid feeling of fullness, reflux, pain and bloating
51
what causes diabetic gastroparesis?
neuropathy of vagal endings innervating the stomach
52
what can gastroparesis lead to?
malnutrition formation of bezoars (hardened mass of undigested food) changes to blood sugar
53
explain how gastroparesis is diagnosed
Gastric emptying study - C13 labeled meal is ingested - Released C13 exhaled in breath - used as marker of food movement through stomach - Time-course compared to normal values – looking for faster/slower gastric emptying
54
how is gastroparesis treated?
Domperidone or erythromycin: stimulate stomach muscle contraction Anti-emetics for nausea Dietary changes e.g. smaller, more frequent meals, soft foods
55
what is inflammatory bowel disease and what diseases does it include?
collective term that refers to chronic inflammation of the lower GIT Crohn's Disease Ulcerative Colitis
56
what are potential causes of inflammatory bowel disease?
altered epithelial barrier integrity changes to microbial quorum gut brain interactions (e.g. cortisol released via stress mechanisms)
57
what is Crohn's disease?
chronic inflammatory condition | damage to epithelium and high levels of uncontrolled inflammation
58
what complications can Crohn's disease lead to?
changes to bowel epithelium --> scarring --> bowel obstruction mouth and perineum ulcers fistulas
59
what area does Crohn's disease normally affect?
small bowel
60
what are active disease symptoms of Crohn's disease?
``` diarrhoea abdominal pain fatigue fever blood in stool ```
61
how is Crohn's diagnosed?
fecal calprotectin | colonoscopy - most definitive method of diagnosis
62
how is crohn's treated?
Paediatric; enteral nutrition for 4 weeks Adult: Corticosteroids, Azathioprine & mercaptopurine – commonly used IBD immunosuppressant Biological therapies – antibodies that neutralise TNF
63
what is ulcerative colitis?
chronic inflammatory condition restricted to the colon | Damage to colonic epithelium leading to ulcer-like appearance of mucosa
64
what can ulcerative colitis lead to?
``` perforation of the colon severe bleeding dehydration systemic inflammation colon cancer ```
65
what are the active disease symptoms of ulcerative colitis?
``` bloody diarrhoea urgency abdominal pain fatigue fever weight loss ```
66
how is ulcerative colitis diagnosed?
feral calprotectin | colonoscopy
67
how is ulcerative colitis treated?
Mild/moderate; 5-ASAs – oral, suppository or enema Severe symptoms; biological therapies, ciclosporin Surgery (colectomy) - remove diseased colon suffering from severe damage caused by long-term inflammation
68
what is the cause of IBS?
unknown
69
what is IBS?
umbrella term for FGIDS (functional gastrointestinal diseases) where pathophysiology is unknown but with a defined set of symptoms
70
in IBS, if the FGID occurs in the upper GIT, what symptoms are seen?
functional GERD, functional dyspepsia, bloating, pain
71
in IBS, if the FGID occurs in the lower GIT, what symptoms are seen?
abdominal pain, cramping, constipation and diarrhoea
72
how is IBS diagnosed?
ROME IV questionnaire after other causes excluded e.g. IBD, anemia, gastroenteritis
73
how is IBS treated?
dietary control - FODMAP diet or removing triggers treating specific symptoms - laxatives for constipation, diarrhoea with loperamide specific IBS treatments
74
name and explain some of the specific IBS treatments
Linaclotide: increase fluid secretion and pain relief Lubiprostone: increase fluid secretion Rifaximin: antibiotic to treat bacterial overgrowth

metabolism (23 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions