Upper Gastrointestinal Tract Flashcards
7 cards from real Anatomy Exam practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Upper Gastrointestinal Tract flashcards as text
Which ligament connects the lesser curvature of the stomach to the liver?
Answer: Hepatogastric ligament
The hepatogastric ligament is the portion of the lesser omentum that stretches from the porta hepatis to the lesser curvature of the stomach.
The short gastric arteries, which supply the fundus of the stomach, arise from which vessel?
Answer: Splenic artery
The short gastric arteries (vasa brevia) arise from the splenic artery near the splenic hilum and travel through the gastrosplenic ligament to supply the fundus.
What is the name of the peritoneal recess posterior to the stomach?
Answer: Omental bursa (lesser sac)
The omental bursa (lesser sac) is the potential space posterior to the stomach and lesser omentum, communicating with the greater sac through the epiploic foramen.
Which part of the autonomic nervous system stimulates gastric acid secretion?
Answer: Parasympathetic (craniosacral) division
Parasympathetic stimulation via the vagus nerve activates parietal cells to secrete HCl and also promotes gastrin release from G cells.
The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) can compress the duodenum against the aorta — which part is most vulnerable?
Answer: Third part
The third (horizontal) part of the duodenum crosses between the SMA anteriorly and the aorta/vertebral column posteriorly, making it susceptible to SMA syndrome.
Which layer of the stomach wall is unique compared to the rest of the GI tract because it has three muscular layers?
Answer: The muscularis externa of the stomach has an additional oblique layer
The stomach's muscularis externa has three layers — outer longitudinal, middle circular, and inner oblique — which enable the churning motion needed for mechanical digestion.
Waldeyer's ring of lymphoid tissue includes the pharyngeal tonsil. At which location in the upper GI/respiratory passage is the pharyngeal tonsil found?
Answer: Posterior wall of the nasopharynx
The pharyngeal tonsil (adenoid) is located in the mucosa of the posterior and superior wall of the nasopharynx.