Essay Questions for Gastrointestinal Physiology

 

1.  Describe the major organs of the GI tract in order from mouth to anus; indicate its function and features.

 

2.  Describe the integrated response to a meal.

 

3.  Where are each major classes of nutrients digested?  CHO, FAT, PROTEIN, FIBER.  Explain digestive chemicals.

 

4.  Describe three methods of chemical communication in the GI tract.  Give example hormones or chemical mediators.

 

5.   Present the development of the GI tract.

 

6.  Describe the blood supply to the GI tract.

 

7. Show the anatomy and physiology of the esophagus and swallowing.

 

8.  What is saliva composed of and what is the function of each constituent?

 

9.  Describe protective mechanisms that protect the esophagus from injury from gastric acid reflux.

 

10. Show the anatomy and physiology of the stomach.

 

11. Show the anatomy and physiology of the small intestine, pancreas and liver.

 

12. Show the anatomy and physiology of the cecum, large intestine, and colon.

 

13.  For treatment of acid reflux and ulcer, compare H2 and H+-K+ ATPase antagonists. 

 

14. Cattle can develop metabolic acidosis from eating a concentrate diet.  Explain how this may happen and which drugs may help (show the mechanism of action of each drug).

 

15. Pigs (and other animals) develop gastric ulcers.  Explain how this may happen in terms of anatomy and physiology of the stomach.

 

16.  Describe what happens when a meal initiates a gastric motor response.

 

17.  How is the 10th cranial nerve involved in gastric function?

 

18. Why doesn’t stomach acid burn the stomach lining?

 

19.  What is H. pylori and how is it involved in the GI tract?

 

20.  Provide a chemical explanation of the straw color of blood plasma and urine.

 

21.  What does bile do and how is it formed and secreted?

 

22.  Describe neural control of intestinal motor behavior.

 

23.  What is peristalsis and how does it function?

 

24.  Describe water movement into and out of the GI tract during normal digestion.  Why is water balance a concern during enteric disease?

 

25.  GI tract gases may contribute to global warming.  What are they and how are they formed?

 

26.  Describe modern tools for assessment of GI tract integrity and function.

 

27.  Describe mechanisms of food intake control.