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NURS 611-Patho Exam 4 “WE ARE OUT THE

DOOR” Q&A Summer

1. Exposure to which substance protects the mucosal barrier of the stomach?

a. Prostaglandins

b. Helicobacter pylori

c. Aspirin

d. Regurgitated bile

Prostaglandins. Prostaglandins and enterogastrones, such as gastric inhibitory

peptide, somatostatin, and secretin, inhibit acid secretion.

2. Glucose transport enhances the absorption of which electrolyte?

a. Sodium

b. Potassium

c. Phosphate

d. Chloride

Sodium. Sodium passes through the tight junctions and is actively transported

across cell membranes. Sodium and glucose share a common active transport

carrier (sodium-glucose ligand transporter 1 [SGLT1]).

3. What is the cause of gastroesophageal reflux disease?

a. Excessive production of hydrochloric acid

b. Zone of low pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter

c. Presence of Helicobacter pylori in the esophagus

d. Reverse muscular peristalsis of the esophagus

Zone of low pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. Normally, the resting

tone of the lower esophageal sphincter maintains a zone of high pressure that

prevents gastroesophageal reflux. In individuals who develop reflux esophagitis,

this pressure tends to be lower than normal from either transient relaxation or a

weakness of the sphincter.

4. By what mechanism does intussusception cause an intestinal obstruction?

a. Telescoping of part of the intestine into another section of intestine,

usually causing strangulation of the blood supply

b. Twisting the intestine on its mesenteric pedicle, causing occlusion of the

blood supply

c. Loss of peristaltic motor activity in the intestine, causing an adynamic ileus

d. Forming fibrin and scar tissue that attach to the intestinal omentum,

causing obstruction

A. Intussusception is the telescoping of part of the intestine into another section

of intestine, usually causing strangulation of the blood supply.

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5. What is the most immediate result of a small intestinal obstruction?

a. Vomiting

b. Electrolyte imbalances

c. Dehydration

d. Distention

Distention begins almost immediately, as gases and fluids accumulate proximal

to the obstruction. Within 24 hours, up to 8 L of fluid and electrolytes

enters the lumen in the form of saliva, gastric juice, bile, pancreatic juice, and

intestinal secretions. Copious vomiting or sequestration of fluids in the

intestinal lumen prevents their reabsorption and produces severe fluid and

electrolyte disturbances.

6. An intestinal obstruction at the pylorus or high in the small intestine causes metabolic

alkalosis by causing which outcome?

a. Gain of bicarbonate from pancreatic secretions that cannot be absorbed

b. Excessive loss of hydrogen ions normally absorbed from gastric juices

c. Excessive loss of potassium, promoting atony of the intestinal wall

d. Loss of bile acid secretions that cannot be absorbed

Excessive loss of hydrogen ions. If the obstruction is at the pylorus or high in the

small intestine, then metabolic alkalosis initially develops as a result of

excessive loss of hydrogen ions that normally would be reabsorbed from the

gastric juices.

7. What are the cardinal symptoms of small intestinal obstruction?

a. Constant, dull pain in the lower abdomen relieved by defecation

b. Acute, intermittent pain 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating

c. Colicky pain caused by distention, followed by vomiting

d. Excruciating pain in the hypogastric area caused by ischemia

Colicky pain caused by distention followed by vomiting.

8. What is the primary cause of peptic ulcers?

a. Hypersecretion of gastric acid

b. Helicobacter pylori

c. Hyposecretion of pepsin

d. Escherichia coli

Helicobacter pylori.

9. A peptic ulcer may occur in all of the following areas except the:

a. Stomach

b. Jejunum

c. Duodenum

d. Esophagus

Jejunum

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10. After a partial gastrectomy or pyloroplasty, clinical manifestations that include increased

pulse, hypotension, weakness, pallor, sweating, and dizziness are the results of which

mechanism?

a. Anaphylactic reaction in which chemical mediators, such as histamine,

prostaglandins, and leukotrienes, relax vascular smooth muscles, causing

shock.

b. Postoperative hemorrhage during which a large volume of blood is lost,

causing hypotension with compensatory tachycardia.

c. Concentrated bolus that moves from the stomach into the small intestine,

causing hyperglycemia and resulting in polyuria and eventually

hypovolemic shock.

d. Rapid gastric emptying and the creation of a high osmotic gradient in the

small intestine, causing a sudden shift of fluid from the blood vessels to

the intestinal lumen.

D. Dumping syndrome occurs with varying severity in 5% to 10% of individuals

who have undergone partial gastrectomy or pyloroplasty. Rapid gastric

emptying and the creation of a high osmotic gradient in the small intestine cause a

sudden shift of fluid from the vascular compartment to the intestinal

lumen. Plasma volume decreases, causing vasomotor responses, such as

increased pulse rate, hypotension, weakness, pallor, sweating, and dizziness.

Rapid distention of the intestine produces a feeling of epigastric fullness,

cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea

11. Which statement is consistent with dumping syndrome?

a. Dumping syndrome usually responds well to dietary management.

b. It occurs 1 to 2 hours after eating.

c. Constipation is often a result of the dumping syndrome.

d. It can result in alkaline reflux gastritis.

Usually responds well to dietary management.

12. Which statement is false regarding the sources of increased ammonia that contribute to

hepatic encephalopathy?

a. End products of intestinal protein digestion are sources of increased

ammonia.

b. Digested blood leaking from ruptured varices is a source of increased

ammonia.

c. Accumulation of short-chain fatty acids that is attached to ammonia is a

source of increased ammonia.

d. Ammonia-forming bacteria in the colon are sources of increased

ammonia.

The accumulation of short-chain fatty acids, serotonin, tryptophan, and false

neurotransmitters probably contributes to neural derangement and is not