Deck 8: Diseases and Conditions of the Digestive System

Question 1

A fairly common chronic inflammatory disease of the alimentary canal involving all layers of the bowel, which causes chronic diarrhea, is

A) acute gastritis.
B) hiatal hernia.
C) Crohn's disease.
D) diverticulosis.

Answer 1

C
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the alimentary canal in which all layers of the bowel wall are edematous and inflamed. Any portion of the GI tract from mouth to anus can be affected.

Question 2

Inflammation, infection, or irritation of the large serous membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and folds over the visceral organs is called

A) peritonitis.
B) esophagitis.
C) appendicitis.
D) diverticulitis.

Answer 2

A
Peritonitis, the inflammation of the peritoneum, can be acute or chronic and local or generalized.

Question 3

Cancer of the liver is

A) usually a primary cancer.
B) usually a secondary cancer.
C) likely to have a good prognosis.
D) likely to be discovered early.

Answer 3

A
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary tumor of the liver that usually arises in the setting of chronic liver disease. The most important etiologic factor in HCC worldwide is hepatitis B virus infection. Additional risk factors include hereditary hemochromatosis, cirrhosis resulting from any cause.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true about cirrhosis of the liver?

A) It is a chronic but reversible degeneration of the liver.
B) The disease is usually idiopathic.
C) The symptoms are all related to digestion.
D) None of the statements above is true.

Question 5

Mechanical obstruction of the bowel can result from

A) ileus or a paralytic condition of the small bowel.
B) the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
C) neoplasm, fecal impaction, volvulus, or intussusception.
D) none of the above.

Question 6

The earliest signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer are

A) often vague and nonspecific.
B) obvious and easy to detect in most cases.
C) an intestinal obstruction, intestinal rupture, and peritonitis.
D) all of the above.

Question 7

Agents that may damage the gastric lining and cause gastritis include

A) medications (for example, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs]), poisons, alcohol, and infectious diseases.
B) mechanical injury.
C) allergic reaction or irritation from foods.
D) all of the above.

Question 8

A condition in which out-pouches of the mucosa penetrate weak points in the muscular layer of the large intestine is called

A) hiatal hernia.
B) peritonitis.
C) diverticulitis.
D) diverticulosis.

Question 9

Hiatal hernia can be caused by

A) swallowing a foreign body.
B) a weakness that develops in the diaphragm.
C) lack of dietary bulk.
D) all of the above.

Question 10

The treatment of oral leukoplakia is

A) the application of a brace.
B) tooth extraction.
C) root canal.
D) finding or correcting the source of irritation.

Question 11

"Traveler's diarrhea," a common syndrome of gastroenteritis, is usually caused by

A) ingestion of food or water contaminated with bacteria.
B) a virus.
C) a drug reaction.
D) an allergic reaction.

Question 12

Viral hepatitis A is usually transmitted by

A) the fecal-oral route.
B) contaminated food, water, and stools.
C) poor hygiene.
D) all of the above.

Question 13

Pain and limitation of the movement of the jaw with tinnitus as a result of inflammation of the temporomandibular joints (TMJs) is characteristic of

A) TMJ syndrome.
B) gingivitis.
C) periodontitis.
D) dental caries.

Question 14

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis is related to

A) inflammation of the peritoneum.
B) short bowel syndrome.
C) use of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
D) hemorrhoids.

Question 15

Oral thrush, a fungal infection that produces sore patches in the mouth and throat, may be the result of

A) leukoplakia.
B) plaque.
C) prolonged antibiotic therapy.
D) all of the above.

Question 16

The diagnostic evaluation for peptic ulcers might include

A) endoscopy and biopsy of the lesion.
B) patient history.
C) upper gastrointestinal (GI) barium series and the study of gastric contents and stool for evidence of bleeding.
D) all of the above.

Question 17

Cholelithiasis, which causes obstruction of bile ducts, causes the patient to experience

A) colicky pain, rectal bleeding, and hobnail liver.
B) no symptoms at all.
C) colicky pain over McBurney's point.
D) biliary colic, with radiating pain and jaundice.

Question 18

Gingivitis that is not treated may lead to

A) plaque.
B) periodontitis.
C) discoloration of the teeth.
D) impacted molars.

Question 19

Abdominal discomfort with maximum tenderness of the abdomen at McBurney's point, nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, or constipation are clinical signs of

A) hiatal hernia.
B) gastric cancer.
C) gastritis.
D) appendicitis.

Question 20

The primary treatment of gastric cancer may include

A) control of symptoms by using Valsalva's maneuver.
B) antibiotic therapy, bland diet, and antiinflammatory drugs.
C) gastric resection usually followed by chemoradiotherapy.
D) none of the above.

Question 21

Celiac disease

A) is a disease of the small intestine.
B) is characterized by malabsorption, gluten intolerance, and damage to the lining of the intestine.
C) requires a lifelong compliance with a strict gluten-free diet.
D) all of the above.

Question 22

Patient teaching for patients with colorectal cancer would include

A) avoiding discussion of the side effects of treatment so as not to frighten the patient.
B) limiting the patient's time to ask questions so that he or she does not become anxious.
C) informing the patient that family members have increased risk and should undergo screening.
D) all of the above.

Question 23

The treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) includes

A) a light evening meal 4 hours before bedtime and elevation of the bed about 6 inches.
B) the use of an H2-receptor antagonist or a proton pump inhibitor.
C) both of the above.
D) none of the above.

Question 24

The management of peptic ulcers may necessitate

A) rest, changes in diet, adjustments of lifestyle, and drug therapy.
B) the use of an ulcerogenic drug and surgical intervention.
C) increased physical activity.
D) all of the above.

Question 25

Crohn's disease is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the alimentary canal

A) in which all layers of the bowel are edematous and inflamed.
B) whose cause is easily identified.
C) that is considered medically curable.
D) that usually has no complications.

Question 26

Inflammation of the gallbladder commonly associated with gallstones is called

A) pancreatitis.
B) cholecystitis.
C) cholelithiasis.
D) hepatitis.

Question 27

The most serious complications of bulimia and anorexia nervosa include

A) loss of weight.
B) denial and anger.
C) electrolyte imbalance and cardiac irregularities.
D) a morbid fear of being fat.

Question 28

Which of the following statement(s) is/are true about hepatitis C?

A) It is considered a widespread epidemic.
B) The source of infection is usually known.
C) Complete recovery of the liver is rare.
D) Health care workers are not considered at risk.

Question 29

Which statement is true about food poisoning?

A) Symptoms are not related to the cause.
B) Infection control is the first line of defense.
C) Food poisoning is always self-limiting.
D) None of the above is true.

Question 30

Which disease has the higher morbidity and mortality rate than any other source of GI bleeding?

A) Bleeding esophageal varices
B) Diverticulitis
C) Hiatal hernia
D) Hemorrhoids

Question 31

The causal factor(s) of peptic ulcers is/are

A) H. pylori infection.
B) NSAIDs.
C) stress.
D) all of the above.

Question 32

The disease linked to a psychologic disturbance in which hunger is denied by self-imposed starvation is

A) anorexia nervosa.
B) bulimia.
C) malabsorption syndrome.
D) volvulus.

Question 33

A disease of the small intestine characterized by malabsorption, gluten intolerance, and damage to the lining of the intestine is called

A) short bowel syndrome.
B) diverticulitis.
C) Crohn's disease.
D) celiac sprue.

Question 34

Overweight and obesity are identified objectively by

A) gender, race, and weight.
B) age, ethnicity and weight.
C) use of the body mass index (BMI).
D) all of the above.

Question 35

Signs and symptoms of malnutrition can result from

A) eating too much or too little.
B) a malabsorption syndrome.
C) a case involving severe burns or other severe trauma.
D) all of the above.

Question 36

The diagnostic test for esophagitis that is considered a superior method and includes biopsy is called

A) liver function study.
B) esophagoscopy.
C) a chest film.
D) a barium study.

Question 37

The causes of pancreatitis include

A) Clostridium difficile.
B) alcoholism, trauma, and infection.
C) biliary tract disease, structural anomalies, and drugs.
D) both b and c.

Question 38

A key feature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is

A) that it is a mechanical bowel disorder.
B) a change of bowel habits with predominant diarrhea or constipation.
C) that it is associated with GERD.
D) all of the above.

Question 39

Intestinal obstruction can be

A) mechanical.
B) functional.
C) partial or complete.
D) all of the above.

Question 40

Patients with Barrett's esophagus usually undergo endoscopies to screen for progression to

A) adenocarcinoma.
B) osteosarcoma.
C) both of the above.
D) none of the above.

Question 41

Hypervitaminosis is toxicity from any vitamin, but especially the fat-soluble vitamins A and D.

Question 42

The symptoms of food poisoning are due to the pathogens themselves or to the toxins they produce.

Question 43

There is no genetic component to fatness and the regional distribution of fat.

Question 44

The most common blood-borne infection in the United States is hepatitis A.

Question 45

The signs and symptoms of abdominal hernias vary with the site and the size of the hernia.

Question 46

Cancer of the pancreas is twice as common in men as women and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

Question 47

Those who have had abdominal surgery and those over age 65 are more susceptible to Clostridium difficile infection.

Question 48

Pain is usually the initial symptom of gastric cancer.

Question 49

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and cause of cancer death in men and women.

Question 50

Vitamin D is considered highly toxic, especially in infants and children.

Question 51

Health care workers exposed to body fluids are at risk for hepatitis B.

Question 52

Barrett's esophagus is a severe consequence of GERD.