Intro to GI Flashcards
Layers of the GI Tract
- Innermost mucosa: provides a barrier against foreign particles, captures them in its sticky mucus and clears them out
- Submucosa: supports the mucosa, as well as joins the mucosa to the bulk of underlying smooth muscle
- Muscularis: propel food through the gut by contractile peristaltic waves initiated and regulated by various neural and hormonal events
- Serosa: carries blood vessels and nerves to the wall of the digestive tube
Hepatobiliary Tree/Biliary System
a system of vessels that directs these secretions from the liver, gallbladder and pancreas through a series of ducts into the duodenum
Hepatic duct for bile secretion to gallbladder, and joins with pancreatic duct which both empty into duodenum of small intestine
3 Arteries that support GI
- Celiac
- Hepatic
- Superior Mesenteric
- Inferior Mesenteric
What does the celiac artery supply?
Stomach, spleen, pancreas
What does the superior mesenteric artery supply?
Pancreas, small intestine, colon
What does the inferior mesenteric artery supply?
colon
How is blood returned to the heart from GI circulation?
All drained into portal vein, filtered in the liver, leave liver via hepativ veins to IVC
6 Functions of GI Tract
- Ingestion and propulsion of food
- Secretion of mucous, water, enzymes
- Digestion of food to meet body’s nutritional requirements
- Absorption of nutrients into the blood stream
- Motility
- Elimination of waste products
Stomach role
Storage and digestion of food
Gallbladder role
Stores bile for fat digestion
Liver role
Over 400 functions: Produces bile
Pancreas role
Production of insulin, secretes enzymes for CHO, protein digestion
Spleen role
Production RBC, storage antibodies
Small intestine role
Movement, digestion, absorption (nutrients, lytes, water)
Large intestine role
Movement, absorption (water), elimination
When would you not engage in light palpation during a GI assessment?
when you do not want to precipitate rupture: AAA (auscultate bruit, pulsatile bulge), appendicitis
Kehr’s Sign
Referred pain in left shoulder
Classic sign of spleen hemorrhage causing intraperitoneal bleeding
progressive onset – reassessment important
Cullen’s Sign
Periumbilical ecchymosis
Intraperitoneal bleeding
progressive onset – reassessment important
Grey Turner’s Sign
Bruising to flank
Retroperitoneal bleeding
progressive onset – reassessment important
Why is CBC important in GI diagnostics?
infection, active/chronic bleeding
Why are coagulation studies important in GI diagnostics?
function of liver is to produce vitamin K; shows functional ability
Why are electrolyte studies important in GI diagnostics?
disturbances common in GI issues; low calcium = absorption issue
Why are BUN/creatinine studies important in GI diagnostics?
alterations with water absorption; if GI unable to retain (diarrhea) can end up with prerenal AKI
Why are H Pylori Studies important in GI diagnostics?
leading cause of peptic ulcer disease
