Read the summary and the most important questions on Pathology Part II

• 1 The GI tract

  This is a preview. There are 15 more flashcards available for chapter 1
  Show more cards here

• What is often the cause of oesophagitis, and what are the characteristics?

  - It is often caused by a longer period of reflux (exposure of the esaphagous to gastric acids),
  - which causes an inflammation with hyperemia (blood build-up outside of a blood vessel), granulocytes, and ulceration in a severe type (formation of a break).

• What is meant by intestinal metaplasia?

  The replacement of the squamous epithelium of the esaphagous by intestinal type epithelium,
  as a result of stress on the tissue (by the inflammation).

• How is an esophagous with intestinal metaplasia called?

  A Barrett esophagus

• What is dysplasia, and what are its characteristics?

  - The formation of abnormal cells (mutations, chromosomal abnormalities),
  - which are often characterised (in the esophagus) by:
  

  • large nuclei
  • irregular shape of nuclei
  • coarse chromatin pattern

• What is the difference between dysplasia and an adenocarcinoma?

  • Dysplasia are abnormal cells, but in the right 'position',
    
  • An adenocarcinoma is invasive, 'in the wrong place'

• What is Barrett's syndrome?

  - A long-term exposure of the esophagus to stomach acid, which gives inflammation and damage to the cells of the esophagus.
  - It is associated with higher risks of esophagal cancer.

• What are the steps to the formation of squamous cell carcinoma in the esophagus?

  Dysplasia → squamous cell carcinoma

• What are the two types of glandular cells of the stomach?

  - Parietal cells: produce acids and intrinsic factor (for vitamin B12 uptake)
  - Chief cells: produce pepsinogen (for digestion)

• In what part of the stomach can the chief cells NOT be found?

  In the antrum (last part of the stomach before the intestines, where the food mixes with gastric juices)

• What are the three types of inflammation of the gastric mucosa?

  - Acute gastritis (by bacterium H.pylori, alcohol, or NSAID)
  - Auto-immune gastritis
  - Other types (granulomatous, Crohn's, lymphocytic)