Deck 17: The Gastrointestinal System

Question 1

The bend of the ascending colon is referred to as the

A) duodenojejunal flexure.
B) sigmoid flexure.
C) splenic flexure.
D) hepatic flexure.

Answer 1

D
The bend of the ascending colon is referred to as the hepatic flexure.

Question 2

The widest, most _____ portion of the small intestine is the duodenum.

A) flexible and longest
B) convoluted
C) fixed and smallest
D) detached

Answer 2

C
The duodenum, the smallest, widest, and most fixed portion of the small intestines, is approximately 25 cm long.

Question 3

The layers of the bowel wall create a characteristic sonographic appearance called a "gut signature." Up to _____ layers usually can be visualized.

A) three
B) four
C) five
D) six

Answer 3

C
Up to five layers of the bowel wall can be visualized with ultrasound.

Question 4

After the major food products have been mixed with digestive secretions and enzymes, carbohydrates are reduced to monosaccharides and disaccharides, proteins to amino acids and peptides, and fats to monoglycerides and fatty acids. These nutrients are then

A) absorbed through intestinal mucosa into the bloodstream.
B) propelled into the duodenum for digestion.
C) released into the large bowel for elimination.
D) transported into the portal system via intestinal lymphatics.

Question 5

Which of the following is NOT part of the large intestine?

A) Appendix
B) Cecum
C) Rectum
D) Ileum

Question 6

The colon is comprised of segments called

A) rugae.
B) alveoli.
C) valvulae conniventes (valves of Kerckring).
D) haustra.

Question 7

Which structure is located between the apex of the heart and the stomach?

A) Cardiac orifice
B) Falciform ligament
C) Hemidiaphragm
D) Left lobe of the liver

Question 8

The hormone that is released by the presence of fat in the intestine and that regulates gallbladder contraction and gastric emptying is

A) gastrin.
B) secretin.
C) cholecystokinin.
D) lipase.

Question 9

The duodenum receives the common bile duct via the ampulla of Vater in which of these segments?

A) Second (descending) segment
B) Fourth (ascending) segment
C) Third (transverse) segment
D) First (superior) segment

Question 10

Which substance is digested and absorbed in the GI tract?

A) Fats
B) Water
C) Carbohydrates
D) All of the above

Question 11

Which surface is NOT related to the posterior surface of the stomach?

A) Diaphragm
B) Left lobe of the liver
C) Anterior surface of the pancreas
D) Gastric surface of the spleen

Question 12

Digestion and absorption of major food products occur in which portion of the GI tract?

A) Transverse colon
B) Small bowel
C) Stomach
D) Mouth

Question 13

The first portion of the large intestine would be visualized in the ____ region.

A) right inguinal
B) left hypogastric
C) right hypochondrium
D) umbilical

Question 14

Most of the bowel wall layers recognizable on sonographic images are

A) anechoic.
B) echogenic.
C) hypoechoic.
D) isoechoic.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT a part of the small bowel ?

A) Duodenum
B) Ileum
C) Cecum
D) Jejunum

Question 16

The pylorus of the stomach is subdivided into three regions, which include all of the following except the

A) antrum.
B) body.
C) canal.
D) sphincter.

Question 17

Sonographic visualization of the bowel is impeded by

A) fluid.
B) air.
C) bone.
D) none of the above

Question 18

The bulb of the duodenum is found _____ to the common bile duct.

A) posterior
B) medial
C) lateral
D) anterior

Question 19

The esophagus is continuous with the pharynx superiorly and distally connects with the _____ region of the stomach.

A) antrum
B) cardiac
C) fundus
D) pylorus

Question 20

In which region is the stomach NOT likely to be found?

A) Epigastric region
B) Left upper quadrant
C) Left hypochondrium
D) Left inguinal region

Question 21

The greater curvature of the stomach marks the _____ border of the organ.

A) right
B) left
C) anterior
D) posterior

Question 22

The juncture of the greater and lesser curvatures of the stomach occurs at the

A) cardiac orifice.
B) esophageal orifice.
C) entrance of the esophagus into the stomach.
D) all of the above

Question 23

The lesser curvature of the stomach marks the _____ border of the organ.

A) right
B) left
C) anterior
D) posterior

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT part of the stomach

A) neck
B) body
C) pylorus
D) fundus

Question 25

Concentric, focal thickening of the gut walls may present sonographically as the "pseudokidney" or "doughnut" sign in all of the following abnormalities, except

A) ulceration.
B) lymphoma.
C) neoplasm.
D) intussusception.

Question 26

The duodenum is located within the peritoneal cavity. ____

Question 27

The esophageal wall normally measures _____ at the esophagogastric (EG) junction.

A) 2 cm
B) 3 mm
C) 5 mm
D) 10 mm

Question 28

The middle third of the descending duodenum is crossed anteriorly by the _____ portion of the colon.

A) ascending
B) descending
C) transverse
D) sigmoid

Question 29

The ascending colon is anterolateral to the

A) tail of the pancreas.
B) neck of the gallbladder.
C) left iliac crest.
D) lower pole of the right kidney.

Question 30

On transverse scans of the thyroid gland, the esophagus normally is visualized as

A) a hypoechoic density with posterior acoustic enhancement, medial to the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
B) a high echogenic mass proximal to the superior parathyroid gland on the left.
C) a target lesion inferior to the lower pole of the right lobe.
D) posterior to the gland on the left, with a bull's eye appearance.

Question 31

Which of the following muscles does the rectum penetrate as it travels inferiorly to become the anal canal?

A) Levator ani
B) Iliacus
C) Piriformis
D) Obturator internus

Question 32

The splenic flexure refers to

A) the inferior border of the stomach as it empties into the pylorus, anterior to the body of the pancreas.
B) the curvature of the transverse colon as it crosses the abdomen anterior to the duodenum, below the transpyloric plane.
C) that portion of the ascending colon in the epigastric region that courses toward the right side of the body from the region of the splenic hilum.
D) the transverse colon bending to descend on the left, inferior to the spleen and coursing caudally into the left iliac fossa.

Question 33

The stomach is a retroperitoneal structure. ____

Question 34

Abnormal bowel loops demonstrate peristalsis and are compressible; normal loops are noncompressible. ____

Question 35

The esophagus begins at the level of the

A) cricoid cartilage of the neck.
B) sixth cervical vertebra.
C) both a and b
D) neither a nor b