Week 8: Digestive 2

Question 1

What is viral hepatitis?

Answer 1

Liver inflammation primarily resulting from viral infections.

Question 2

What do hepatitis viruses attack?

Answer 2

Hepatocytes (liver cells).

Question 3

How does the hepatitis attack hepatocytes?

Answer 3

Viruses target and replicate inside hepatocytes, causing injury and inflammation.

Question 4

What are the 3 types of hepatitis?

Answer 4

Hepatitis A (HAV)
Hepatitis B (HBV)
Hepatitis C (HCV)

Question 5

How is Hep A spread?

Answer 5

Fecal-oral route (e.g., contaminated water). Often epidemic in areas with poor sanitation.

Question 6

How are Hep B & C spread?

Answer 6

Primarily transmitted through blood or serum (e.g., transfusions, shared needles).

Question 7

What makes Hep B unique?

Answer 7

Can create a carrier state (you feel fine but are still contagious).

Can become chronic → increases liver cancer risk.

Question 8

Why is Hep C important?

Answer 8

In the past, poor screening of blood transfusions (like with the Red Cross in Canada) caused many cases of chronic hepatitis C.

Question 9

What kind of virus is Hep B?

Answer 9

DNA virus.

Question 10

What is the virus shell called?

Answer 10

Capsid.

Question 11

What 3 antigens does Hep B have?

Answer 11

Surface antigen (HBsAg)
Core antigen (HBcAg)
Envelope antigen (HBeAg)

Question 12

What are the hep B antigens for?

Answer 12

Clinical screening and diagnosis.

Question 13

What are the 3 Clinical Phases of Hep B?

Answer 13

Prodromal phase: Fatigue, malaise, fever

Symptomatic phase: Belly pain (swollen liver), jaundice

Recovery phase: Antibodies made by immune system

Question 14

What markers show up in blood during symptoms of hep B?

Answer 14

HBsAg

HBeAg

Question 15

What test finds the DNA of Hep B?

Answer 15

PCR test.

Question 16

What antibodies are measured?

Answer 16

IgG and IgM against core and surface antigens.

Question 17

How do you know someone is a carrier of Hep B?

Answer 17

HBsAg stays in their blood after recovery time.

Question 18

What the difference of hep B?

Answer 18

Antigens + DNA in blood BEFORE jaundice.

ALT (liver enzymes) go up.

Antibodies show in recovery.

Question 19

What’s the difference of hep C?

Answer 19

RNA sticks around → chronic.
ALT high, but jaundice can be mild.

Question 20

What’s the difference of hep A?

Answer 20

Virus in stools during prodromal stage.
Full recovery → no chronic.

Question 21

What is the 2 types of liver cancer?

Answer 21

Primary: Starts in liver (hepatocytes or bile ducts).

Secondary: Cancer from elsewhere spreads to liver.

Question 22

What are the risks of primary liver cancer?

Answer 22

Chronic Hep B, C

Aflatoxins (fungus on bad food → Africa).

Question 23

What are the 2 Types of Primary Liver Cancer?

Answer 23

Hepatocellular carcinoma (most common)

Cholangiocarcinoma (bile duct cancer)

Question 24

How do you find liver cancer?

Answer 24

Enlarged liver warrants a CT scan or MRI.

Metastatic tumors appear as multiple nodules.

Primary cancers typically present as a single nodule.

Question 25

What does the gallbladder do?

Answer 25

Stores and concentrates bile, which aids in fat digestion

Question 26

What are 2 common disorders of the gallbladder?

Answer 26

Gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis) Gallstone formation (cholelithiasis)

Question 27

What hormone released when fat is ingested causing the gallbladder to contract?

Answer 27

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

Question 28

Where does bile go after the gallbladder?

Answer 28

Cystic duct → Common bile duct → Duodenum (at the Papilla of Vater)

Question 29

What does bile do?

Answer 29

Emulsifies fat → makes it digestible.

Question 30

What are gallstones (cholelithiasis)?

Answer 30

Little calcium stones that can block bile ducts.

Question 31

What happens if a gallstone blocks the cystic duct?

Answer 31

Inflammation → Cholecystitis.

Question 32

What are Symptoms of Cholecystitis?

Answer 32

Pain (RUQ) Can’t tolerate fatty foods.

Question 33

What is the Treatment for Cholecystitis?

Answer 33

Gallbladder removal (Cholecystectomy).

Question 34

What will pts experience Post-cholecystectomy?

Answer 34

May experience indigestion and steatorrhea (fatty diarrhea) due to impaired fat absorption.

Question 35

What functions does the pancreas have?

Answer 35

Both endocrine and exocrine functions

Question 36

What is pancreatitis?

Answer 36

Inflammation of the pancreas.

Question 37

How does pancreatitis happen?

Answer 37

Pancreatic enzymes (amylase, lipase, proteases) activate inside the pancreas leading to the pancreas digesting itself!

Question 37

What causes pancreatitis?

Answer 37

Gallstones blocking ducts Alcohol abuse Infections Trauma Medications

Question 38

What damage happens in pancreatitis?

Answer 38

Fat necrosis Cell injury Chemical pancreatitis

Question 39

What can Severe pancreatitis cause?

Answer 39

Shock Septic shock Death

Question 40

How do you diagnose pancreatitis?

Answer 40

Elevated amylase and lipase levels in the blood.

Question 41

What is pancreatic cancer?

Answer 41

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (tumor of exocrine pancreas).

Question 42

Where is it usually found?

Answer 42

Head of the pancreas.

Question 43

What are the Symptoms of pancreatic cancer?

Answer 43

Jaundice (bile duct blockage) Weight loss

Question 44

Who gets pancreatic cancer most?

Answer 44

Men in their 50s-60s.

Question 45

Why is pancreatic cancer caught late?

Answer 45

No early symptoms → diagnosed late → poor survival.

Question 46

What can block the pancreatic duct?

Answer 46

Gallstones Pancreatic cancer (especially in the head)

Question 47

What happens if the pancreatic ducts are blocked?

Answer 47

Jaundice Pancreatitis

Question 48

what is the BILE AND PANCREAS pathway?

Answer 48

Liver Lobules →Hepatic Duct → Gallbladder → Cystic Duct → Common Bile Duct →Pancreas →Duodenum (at Papilla of Vater)