Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Y1 GASTROENTEROLOGY > The colon > Flashcards

The colon Flashcards

1
Q

which parts of the colon are

1) mobile
2) immobile

A

1) mobile
- ceacum (intraperitoneal) = quite mobile
- transverse colon = very mobile
- sigmoid colon = quite mobile

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

what are paracolic gutters

A

They are spaces between the colon and the abdominal wall. They are potential sites of pus collection

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

what are taeniae coli

A

3 distinct longitudinal bands of smooth muscle, running from caecum to distil end of sigmoid colon

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

where does the caecum and appendix normally lie

A

Both lie in the right iliac fossa

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

where does the sigmoid colon lie

A

lies in the left iliac fossa

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

what does the pancreas lie posterior to

A

stomach

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

what does the pancreas have

A
  • head (with uncinate process)
  • neck
  • body
  • tail
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what type of a structure is the abdominal aorta

A

midline retroperitneal structure and anterior to the vertebral bodies

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

what are the 3 midline branches

A
  • celiac truck = foregut organs
  • superior mesenteric artery = midgut organs
  • inferior mesenteric artery = hindgut
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

what are the branches of the superior mesenteric artery

A
  • inferior pancreaticoduodenal
  • middle colic
  • right colic
  • ileocolic
  • appendicular
  • jejunal and ileal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

what are the branches of the inferior mesenteric artery

A
  • left colic
  • sigmoid colic
  • superior rectal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what is the relevance of the arterial anastomoses between the superior mesenteric artery and the inferior mesenteric artery

A

Forms predominantly one artery called the marginal artery of Drummond. Collateral blood supply means structures towards the end of the colon can still get blood supply

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

what is haematemesis

A

vomiting blood

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

what are the 2 main venous systems of the body

A
  • hepatic portal venous system - drains venous blood from absorptive parts of the GI tract and associated organs to the liver for cleaning
  • systemic venous system - drains venous blood from all other organs and tissues into the superior or inferior vena cava
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

where does the inferior mesenteric vein drain blood

A

Drains blood from the hindgut structures to the splenic vein

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

where does the superior mesenteric vein drain blood

A

Drains blood from the midgut structures to hepatic portal vein

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

where does the splenic vein drain blood

A

Drains blood from foregut structures to hepatic portal vein

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

where does the hepatic portal vein drain blood

A

Drains blood from foregut, midgut and hindgut structures to the liver for first pass metabolism (cleaned)

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

where does the inferior vena cava (retroperitoneal) drain blood

A

Drains cleaned blood from the hepatic veins into the right atrium

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

what is the function of portal systemic anastomoses

A

at these sites the presence of small collateral veins means blood can flow both ways

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

where are the 3 portal systemic anastomoses

A
  • distil end of oesophagus
  • skin around umbilicus
  • rectum/anal canal
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what are clinical presentations of portal hypertension

A
  • oesophageal varices
  • “caput medusae”
  • rectal varices
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what are the 2 main types of idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease

A

Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis

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

what is Crohn’s disease

A

Chronic inflammatory and ulcerating condition of the GI tract that can affect anywhere from the mouth to the anus.

Most common in the terminal ileum and colon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
what are the sites for Crohns
- 2/3 have small bowel involvement only - 1/6 have colonic/anal disease only - 1/6 have both
26
how does Crohns disease present
- abdominal pain - small bowel obstruction - diarrhoea - bleeding PR - anaemia - weight loss
27
what is seen microscopically in Crohns disease
- chronic active colitis with granuloma formation - increased chronic inflammatory cells in the lamia propria and crypt branching with granulomas - large non-caseating granulomas - patchy chronic active colitis inflammation involves all layers of the wall
28
what denotes severe Crohn's disease
deep fissuring produces "cobblestoning" of mucosa
29
summarise the pathology of Crohn's disease
- segmental disease (patchy) - Ileal and/or colonic chronic active mucosal inflammation including: - Cryptitis - Crypt abscesses Transmural inflammation Deep knife-like fissuring ulcers Granulomas, 50%, Non- caseating
30
what are complications of Crohn's disease
- Malabsorption - Fistulas - Anal disease - Intractable disease - Bowel obstruction - Perforation - Malignancy - Amyloidosis etc lots of complications
31
what genetic factors are associated with Crohn's disease
- susceptibility locus on chromosome 16 ... NOD2 | - Association with HLA-DR1 and HLA-DQw5
32
what is the aberrant immune response of Crohn's disease
Persistent activation of T-cells and macrophages (failure to switch off) Excess proinflammatory cytokine production Maybe alterable by changing intestinal microflora…”Probiotics”
33
what is the definition of Ulcerative Colitis
Chronic inflammatory disorder confined to colon and rectum Mucosal and submucosal inflammation Unknown aetiology
34
what sites is Ulcerative Colitis seen
Confined to the colon and rectum. Nearly always involves the rectum. Continuous and confluent extending proximally for varying lengths
35
what is the clinical presentation of Ulcerative colitis
- Diarrhoea - Mucus - Blood PR
36
Describe a pathological summary of Ulcerative Colitis
Continuous, diffuse disease Rectal involvement, almost always Superficial ulceration and inflammation Chronic active colitis - Cryptitis - Crypt abscess No granulomas
37
what are the complications of Ulcerative Colitis
- Intractable disease - Toxic megacolon - Colorectal carcinoma - Blood loss - Electrolyte disturbance - Anal fissures
38
What is the aberrant immune response
Persistent activation of T-cells and macrophages Autoantibodies eg ANCA present Excess proinflammatory cytokine production and bystander damage due to neutrophillic inflammation Maybe alterable by changing intestinal microflora…”Probiotics”
39
what are comparisons of Crohns Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
``` Chronic diseases Unknown aetiology Ulceration Inflammation Relapsing and remitting course Bloody diarrhoea Both increase risk of cancer ```
40
what are differences between Crohns disease and Ulcerative Colitis
``` Ulcerative Colitis is diffuse, continuous disease Colon and rectum Rarely skips Mucosal ulceration and thin wall Superficial inflammation No granulomas Fistulae rare Cancer risk high Extra GI common ``` ``` Crohns disease is patchy, segmental disease Anywhere in GI tract Skip lesions common Thickened bowel and stricture Transmural inflammation Granulomas present Fistulae common Cancer risk moderate Extra GI rare ```
41
what are the 3 zones in the liver used to describe patterns of liver injury
- periportal - mid acinar - pericentral
42
what can happen in the liver due to insult
- some liver insults can produce severe parenchymal necrosis but heal entirely by restitution - some types of injury leave permanent damage - some types of injury produce predictable pathological patterns
43
what is cirrhosis
severe scarring
44
what is the pathogenesis of liver disease
Insult to hepatocytes by viral, drug, toxin, antibody etc leads to grading... degree of inflammation leads to staging... degree of fibrosis cirrhosis
45
what are consequences of acute liver failure
- complete recovery - chronic liver disease - death from liver failure
46
what are the 3 types of jaundice
- pre hepatic - hepatic - post hepatic
47
what is pre hepatic jaundice
Too much haem to break down - haemolysis of all causes - haemolytic anaemias - unconjugated bilrubin
48
what is hepatic jaundice
Liver cells injured or dead - Acute liver failure (viruses, drugs, alcohol) - Alcoholic hepatitis - Cirrhosis (decompensated) - Bile duct loss (astresia, PBC,PSC) - Pregnancy
49
what is post hepatic jaundice
Bile cannot escape into the bowel - congenital biliary astresia - gallstones block CBDuct - strictures of CBDuct - Tumours (Ca head of pancreas)
50
what is cirrhosis of the liver
Final common endpoint for liver disease Irreversible Defined by bands of fibrosis separating regenerative nodules of hepatocytes Macronodular or micronodular (alcoholic) Alteration of hepatic microvasculature Loss of hepatic function
51
what are complications of cirrhosis
portal hypertension ascites liver failure
52
how is the toxic affect of alcohol brought about
The toxic effect of alcohol is mediated through altered fat metabolism and acetaldehyde production
53
what effect does continued heavy drinking have on the liver (weeks to months)
Leads to hepatocyte death and an inflammatory response including neutrophils
54
what effect does continued heavy drinking have on the liver (months to years)
eventually collagen is layed down, hepatocytes are ballooned, inflammation continues and remodelling of the intrahepatic blood flow occurs
55
what are some outcomes of alcoholic liver disease
- Cirrhosis - Portal hypertension .. varices and ascites - malnutrition - hepatocellular carcinoma - social disintergration
56
what is Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
Non-drinkers Pathologically identical to alcoholic liver disease Occurs in patients with diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidaemia Now a severe problem overtaking alcohol in importance Many patients of course have both May lead to fibrosis and cirrhosis
57
what is hepetitis
inflammation of the liver
58
what are common causes of hepatitis
Hepatitis A,B,C,E
59
What is hepatitis A
- faecal oral spread - short incubation period - sporadic or endemic - directly cytopathic - no carrier state - mild illness, usually full recovery
60
what is hepatitis B
- spread by blood, blood products, sexually - long incubation period - liver damage is by antiviral immune response - carriers exist - outcome is variable
61
what is hepatitis C
- spread by blood, blood products, possibly sexually - short incubation period - often asymptomatic - disease waxes and wanes - tends to become chronic
62
what is primary biliary cirrhosis
Rare autoimmune disease, unknown aetiology Associated with autoantibodies to mitochondria Females (90%) Indication for biopsy: Stage the disease May see granulomas and bile duct loss Outcome: Unpredictable Bile ducts are targets for inflammation
63
what is primary sclerosing cholangitis
Chronic inflammatory process affecting intra - and extra-hepatic bile ducts Leads to periductal fibrosis, duct destruction, jaundice and fibrosis Associated with Ulcerative Colitis Males Increased risk of malignancy in bile ducts and colon
64
what is cholangitis
inflammation of the bile ducts
65
what is haemochromatosis
Haemochromatosis is an inherited condition where iron levels in the body slowly build up over many years. Excess iron within the liver. Iron accumulates in hepatocytes
66
what is Wilsons disease
Inherited autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism Copper accumulates in liver and brain (basal ganglia) Kayser-Fleischer rings at corneal limbus Low serum caeruloplasmin Causes chronic hepatitis and neurological deterioration
67
what is alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
Inherited autosomal recessive disorder of production of an enzyme inhibitor Causes empysema and cirrhosis Cytoplasmic globules of unsecreted globules of protein in liver cells
68
what are examples of primary tumours of the liver (rare)
- Hepatocellular adenoma | - Hepatocellular carcinoma (Hepatoma)
69
what are examples of secondary tumours in the liver (common)
- Multiple | - Metastases from colon, pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, others….

Y1 GASTROENTEROLOGY (42 decks)

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