Certified Gastroenterology RN GI Anatomy and Pathophysiology 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: GERD results primarily from dysfunction of which structure?
- Pyloric sphincter
- Lower esophageal sphincter (Correct answer)
- Sphincter of Oddi
- Ileocecal valve
Correct answer: Lower esophageal sphincter
An incompetent lower esophageal sphincter allows acid reflux into the esophagus.
Question 2: Barrett's esophagus is characterized by which cellular change?
- Squamous to columnar metaplasia (Correct answer)
- Columnar to squamous change
- Hyperkeratosis
- Fatty infiltration
Correct answer: Squamous to columnar metaplasia
Chronic reflux causes normal squamous epithelium to become columnar (intestinal) metaplasia, raising cancer risk.
Question 3: The most common cause of peptic ulcer disease is:
- Stress alone
- Helicobacter pylori infection (Correct answer)
- Excess bile
- Viral gastritis
Correct answer: Helicobacter pylori infection
H. pylori and NSAID use are the leading causes of peptic ulcers.
Question 4: A gastric ulcer typically causes pain that:
- Improves with eating
- Worsens with eating (Correct answer)
- Occurs only at night
- Is relieved by lying flat
Correct answer: Worsens with eating
Gastric ulcer pain classically worsens with food, unlike duodenal ulcers which often improve.
Question 5: Which condition involves transmural inflammation with skip lesions anywhere from mouth to anus?
- Ulcerative colitis
- Crohn's disease (Correct answer)
- Diverticulitis
- Celiac disease
Correct answer: Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease causes patchy, full-thickness (transmural) inflammation with skip lesions.
Question 6: Ulcerative colitis inflammation is characteristically:
- Transmural with skip lesions
- Continuous and limited to the mucosa of the colon (Correct answer)
- Confined to the small bowel
- Located mainly in the stomach
Correct answer: Continuous and limited to the mucosa of the colon
UC produces continuous mucosal inflammation beginning in the rectum and extending proximally in the colon.
Question 7: Celiac disease causes malabsorption due to damage of what structure?
- Gastric parietal cells
- Small intestinal villi (Correct answer)
- Colonic crypts
- Esophageal mucosa
Correct answer: Small intestinal villi
Gluten triggers an immune response that flattens small intestinal villi, impairing absorption.
Certified Gastroenterology RN GI Anatomy and Pathophysiology 3
GERD results primarily from dysfunction of which structure?