Gastrointestinal System Practice Test 14
Gastrointestinal System NCLEX Practice Test
Gastrointestinal System is a key topic within the NCLEX test plan, located under Nursing Science → Clinical Foundations → Gastrointestinal System. This section explains digestion, elimination, and nursing care for GI pathologies and nutrition issues. Each test contains 50 questions designed to mirror the difficulty and variety of the real exam.
This is the 14th part of the Gastrointestinal System series. To explore all practice tests under this topic, use the “Back to Main Topic” button at the end of the page.
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Gastrointestinal System Practice Test 14
Murphy's sign is a important sign associated with?
- Appendicitis
- Pancreatitis
- Cholilethiasis
- Cholecystitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Murphy’s sign is inspiratory arrest with deep palpation in the right upper quadrant due to an inflamed gallbladder. This finding is classically associated with acute inflammation of the gallbladder rather than conditions primarily involving the appendix or pancreas. Gallstones may precipitate the condition, but the sign points to gallbladder inflammation, not just the presence of stones. Therefore the best match among the options is acute gallbladder inflammation.
Vitamin B12 is absorbed in ?
- Duodenum
- Ileum
- Jejunum
- Colon
Explanation: Answer reason: The specific transport receptors for the intrinsic factor–B12 complex are located in the terminal ileum, making this the key site of absorption. Damage or resection of the ileum (or lack of intrinsic factor) classically leads to B12 deficiency with megaloblastic anemia and possible neurologic deficits. In contrast, duodenum and jejunum are primary sites for absorption of many other nutrients (e.g., iron in duodenum), not B12.
Bile juice is secreted by?
- Gall bladder
- Pancreas
- Kidney
- Liver
Explanation: Answer reason: Bile is produced and secreted by hepatocytes as a digestive secretion essential for emulsifying fats and aiding absorption of fat-soluble vitamins. The gallbladder does not make bile; it stores and concentrates bile and releases it in response to cholecystokinin after a fatty meal. The pancreas secretes pancreatic enzymes and bicarbonate, not bile. The kidney is unrelated to bile production, focusing on filtration and urine formation.
Portal vein supplies :-
- Spleen
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Colon
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore, the organ that receives (is supplied by) portal venous inflow is the liver. In contrast, the spleen and pancreas primarily drain into tributaries that form the portal vein rather than being supplied by it. The colon also drains via mesenteric veins into the portal system, but it is not the target organ supplied by the portal vein.
Main clinical symptom of hital hearnia?
- Vomiting
- Disrrhoea
- Heart burn
- Lower abdomen pain
Explanation: Answer reason: This reflux causes retrosternal burning pain (pyrosis), which is the most typical presenting symptom. Nausea or vomiting can occur but is not the predominant feature in uncomplicated cases. Diarrhea and lower abdominal pain are not characteristic of an upper GI reflux-based disorder and are therefore less likely.
Which body part is affected by jaundice?
- Kidney
- Liver
- Heart
- Lungs
Explanation: Answer reason: The liver is the primary organ responsible for conjugating bilirubin and secreting it into bile, so hepatic dysfunction (or cholestasis/obstruction affecting bile flow) directly leads to hyperbilirubinemia. In contrast, kidneys may excrete conjugated bilirubin in urine in some cases, but they are not the primary site of bilirubin processing. Therefore the organ most directly implicated/affected in jaundice is the liver.
Menghini needle is used for....?
- Thoracentesis
- Renal biopsy
- Liver biopsy
- Lumber punture
Explanation: Answer reason: The Menghini needle is a suction biopsy needle classically used for percutaneous liver tissue sampling to evaluate diffuse liver diseases (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis). Thoracentesis uses a thoracentesis needle/catheter system for pleural fluid drainage, and lumbar puncture uses a spinal (Quincke/atraumatic) needle, not a suction biopsy needle. Renal biopsy is typically performed with automated spring-loaded biopsy needles under imaging guidance rather than this device.
Clay colored stool is suggestive of ?
- Amoebic Dysentery
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Typhoid
- Obstructive Jaundice
Explanation: Answer reason: In extrahepatic biliary obstruction (e.g., gallstone, pancreatic head mass), stercobilin is not formed, producing acholic (clay-colored) stool. Dysentery and ulcerative colitis more typically cause frequent loose stools with blood and mucus rather than pale stool. Typhoid classically causes “pea-soup” diarrhea, not acholic stool.
Intestinal Motility is increased by ?
- Secretin
- Cholecystokinin
- Gastrin
- None
Explanation: Answer reason: Gastrin, released from G cells in response to peptides and gastric distention, increases gastric motility and has a pro-motility effect on the upper GI tract, supporting downstream intestinal movement via enhanced antral contractions and coordinated peristalsis. In contrast, secretin primarily decreases gastric motility while stimulating pancreatic bicarbonate to neutralize acid in the duodenum. Cholecystokinin tends to slow gastric emptying despite stimulating gallbladder contraction and pancreatic enzyme secretion, making it a common distractor here.
Double bubble sign is seen in ?
- Phloric Stenosis
- Jejunal Atresia
- Ileal Obstruction
- Duodenal Atresia
Explanation: Answer reason: This classic appearance most strongly points to congenital duodenal obstruction, especially duodenal atresia. In contrast, pyloric stenosis typically causes a single enlarged stomach with delayed gastric emptying rather than two distinct air-fluid levels. More distal obstructions such as jejunal atresia or ileal obstruction produce multiple dilated bowel loops rather than the characteristic two-bubble pattern.
Painless Diarrhoea occurs in :-
- Viral Disease
- Shigella
- Cholera
- Campylobacter Diarrhoea
Explanation: Answer reason: Vibrio cholerae produces cholera toxin that increases cAMP in enterocytes, driving massive chloride and water secretion and causing “rice-water” stools with minimal abdominal pain or tenesmus. In contrast, Shigella and Campylobacter commonly cause inflammatory diarrhea with cramps, fever, and possible blood/mucus due to intestinal invasion. Viral gastroenteritis can be watery but is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and crampy abdominal discomfort rather than the dramatic painless high-volume purging seen in cholera.
What is a test used to help diagnose colon cancer?
- Colonoscopy
- Endoscopy
- Barium swallow
- Electrocardiogram (EKG)
Explanation: Answer reason: This test allows identification of polyps or masses and provides tissue sampling to confirm malignancy histologically. A general “endoscopy” is nonspecific and often refers to upper GI evaluation rather than colon assessment. A barium swallow evaluates the esophagus/stomach/duodenum, and an EKG assesses cardiac electrical activity, neither of which diagnoses colon cancer.
Cirrhosis is a disease of the?
- Brain
- Liver
- Kidney
- Heart
Explanation: Answer reason: This scarring impairs key liver functions such as protein synthesis (e.g., albumin and clotting factors), detoxification, and bile production/excretion. The resulting portal hypertension and hepatic insufficiency explain hallmark complications like ascites, variceal bleeding, and jaundice. Other organs can be secondarily affected (e.g., hepatorenal syndrome, hepatic encephalopathy), but the primary diseased organ is the liver.
Maximum postprandial contractility is seen in ?
- Ascending Colon
- Descending Colon
- Sigmoid Colon
- Transverse Colon
Explanation: Answer reason: This region shows strong propulsive activity shortly after meals to move contents toward the distal colon and rectum. The transverse colon, as a major segment involved in these meal-stimulated mass movements, is classically described as showing maximal postprandial contractility. More distal segments (descending/sigmoid) are more associated with storage and defecation-related propulsion rather than the peak immediate post-meal response.
The partially digested food in the stomach is called?
- Bolus
- Chyme
- Faeces
- Juice
Explanation: Answer reason: That mixture is specifically termed chyme and is what is gradually released through the pylorus into the duodenum. A bolus refers to chewed food after swallowing as it travels in the esophagus before significant gastric digestion occurs. Feces forms later in the large intestine after water reabsorption, and “juice” describes secretions rather than the food mixture itself.
Most Common Cause Of Liver Cirrhosis Is-?
- Smoking
- Alcohol Consumption
- Viral Infection
- Bacterial Infection
Explanation: Answer reason: Ongoing hepatocellular injury promotes stellate cell activation and collagen deposition, producing irreversible architectural distortion and portal hypertension. Viral hepatitis (especially B and C) is also an important cause, but as a single most common cause in many exam settings, long-term alcohol use is classically emphasized. Smoking is not a primary etiologic factor for cirrhosis, and bacterial infections typically cause acute hepatitis/abscess rather than chronic fibrotic cirrhosis.
Murphy's sign is seen in which of the following disease condition ?
- Liver Abscess
- Splenomegaly
- Peritonitis
- Acute Cholecystitis
Explanation: Answer reason: This finding is classically associated with acute gallbladder inflammation from cystic duct obstruction, making it a key bedside clue for that diagnosis. Conditions like splenomegaly are left-sided and would not produce this right upper quadrant inspiratory tenderness pattern. Peritonitis may cause diffuse guarding and rebound tenderness but is not characterized by a specific inspiratory arrest over the gallbladder.
Which organ is responsible for producing digestive enzymes?
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Spleen
- Kidney
Explanation: Answer reason: The pancreas produces key enzymes such as amylase, lipase, and protease precursors (e.g., trypsinogen, chymotrypsinogen) to facilitate intestinal digestion. The liver produces bile for fat emulsification rather than digestive enzymes, so it is a common distractor. The spleen is involved in immune and blood filtration functions, and the kidneys regulate fluid/electrolyte balance and waste excretion, not digestion.
PEPSIN IS SECRETED IN THE?
- STOMACH
- SPLEEN
- LIVER
Explanation: Answer reason: Pepsin is a gastric protease involved in protein digestion and is produced by chief cells as the inactive precursor pepsinogen. In the acidic environment created by hydrochloric acid from parietal cells, pepsinogen is converted to active pepsin within the gastric lumen. Therefore, the site associated with pepsin secretion/activation for digestion is the stomach. The spleen functions in immune/hematologic filtration and the liver produces bile and metabolic proteins, not gastric proteases.
A child with sudden onset cramping abdominal pain and red currant jelly stools. Diagnosis is?
- Volvulus
- Intussusception
- Dysentery
- Hirschsprung's disease
Explanation: Answer reason: This pattern points to intussusception, which often presents with intermittent severe cramping, vomiting, and sometimes a sausage-shaped abdominal mass. Volvulus more typically causes bilious vomiting and acute obstruction/ischemia without the characteristic stool description. Dysentery causes bloody diarrhea but usually with infectious symptoms (fever, tenesmus) rather than intermittent colicky pain, and Hirschsprung’s disease presents with chronic constipation and delayed meconium rather than acute currant jelly stools.
Which part of the pancreas is at risk for developing cancer the most?
- Head
- Body
- Tail
- Equal chance in all part
Explanation: Answer reason: Tumors in the head are also more likely to become clinically apparent earlier because they can obstruct the common bile duct, leading to painless jaundice, which is a classic presentation. This makes the head the most frequently diagnosed site compared with the body and tail. A common distractor is the tail, which can harbor tumors that present late and silently, but it is less common overall than the head.
Dumping syndrome is complication of?
- Colectomy
- Subtotal gastrectomy
- Nephrectomy
- Hysterectomy
Explanation: Answer reason: It classically occurs after gastric surgery that disrupts normal pyloric control and reservoir function. Subtotal gastrectomy directly predisposes to this by reducing stomach capacity and altering emptying mechanisms. Colectomy, nephrectomy, and hysterectomy do not primarily affect gastric emptying physiology, so they are not typical causes.
Which of the following is a manifestation of pylori stenosis?
- Vomiting of bile
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Projectile vomiting
Explanation: Answer reason: The classic presentation is non-bilious, projectile vomiting because the obstruction is proximal to the duodenum where bile enters. Ongoing vomiting can lead to dehydration and metabolic alkalosis, but the hallmark symptom tested is the projectile nature. Bilious vomiting would suggest an obstruction distal to the ampulla of Vater rather than pyloric stenosis.
Which explanation is accurate regarding intussusception?
- kinking of bowel into itself
- band of connective tissue compressing the bowel
- telescoping of proximal loop to distal loop
- protrusion of an organ through a wall that contains
Explanation: Answer reason: Telescoping of proximal loop to distal loop Intussusception is defined by invagination of one segment of intestine into an adjacent segment, creating a telescoping effect that can obstruct the lumen and compromise mesenteric blood flow. This mechanism directly matches the description of a proximal loop sliding into a distal loop. A connective-tissue band compressing bowel describes adhesions/volvulus-related obstruction rather than intussusception. Protrusion of an organ through a containing wall describes hernia, a different cause of obstruction.
Which organ produces bile?
- Pancreas
- Liver
- Stomach
- Gall bladder
Explanation: Answer reason: This secretion is essential for emulsifying dietary fats to aid their digestion and absorption in the small intestine. The gall bladder’s primary role is storage and concentration of bile, not production. The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate, and the stomach produces acid and intrinsic factor, making them incorrect.
Colorectal cancer commonly occurs in –
- Duodenum
- Sigmoid colon
- Esophagus
- Rectum
Explanation: Answer reason: The sigmoid region is a common site because it is a high-pressure segment with slower transit and frequent diverticular/functional changes that can coexist with neoplastic risk. Proximal small bowel sites like the duodenum are far less common for typical colorectal adenocarcinoma. While rectal cancers are also common, exam keys typically cite the sigmoid colon as the single most frequent location when one best answer is required.
What should a nurse often find in the medical history of a patient diagnosed with pancreatic disease?
- Liver disorders
- Drug abuse
- Alcohol abuse
- Excessive sugar intake
Explanation: Answer reason: Repeated alcohol-related inflammation promotes fibrosis and ductal changes that can progress to chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic insufficiency. This makes a history of heavy alcohol intake a common finding when patients present with pancreatic disease. While liver disorders can coexist due to shared alcohol-related harm, they are not as directly predictive of pancreatic disease as alcohol exposure itself. Excessive sugar intake is not a typical historical cause; diabetes is more often a consequence of pancreatic damage rather than a primary driver.
What is pruritus related to in the patient diagnosed with hepatitis?
- Decreased fat intake
- Poor appetite and therefore poor protein intake
- Accumulation of bile salts under the skin
- Altered urinary output of bile
Explanation: Answer reason: These substances deposit in tissues and stimulate itch pathways, producing generalized itching that can be prominent even before jaundice is severe. This mechanism is more directly tied to retained bile components than to dietary intake issues, which are more associated with malnutrition or weight loss symptoms. Changes in urinary excretion relate to bilirubin handling and urine color, but they do not explain the itch as well as cholestatic retention does.
Which organ is affected in jaundice?
- Kidney
- Liver
- Brain
- Heart
Explanation: Answer reason: The primary organ responsible for bilirubin metabolism and bile formation is the liver, so dysfunction there commonly produces scleral icterus and yellowing of skin. Many causes (hepatitis, cirrhosis, cholestasis) directly disrupt hepatobiliary handling of bilirubin. In contrast, kidney, brain, and heart are not the principal sites of bilirubin processing, even though severe hyperbilirubinemia can secondarily affect other systems.
What is necessary to restrict when the ammonia level of a patient diagnosed with cirrhosis continues to rise?
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Water-soluble vitamins
Explanation: Answer reason: Dietary protein is metabolized by gut flora and generates nitrogenous waste, which directly increases ammonia production when intake is excessive. Restricting protein (temporarily while treating encephalopathy, alongside therapies such as lactulose/rifaximin) helps reduce the substrate load for ammonia formation. Carbohydrates and fats are typically used to provide calories while limiting nitrogen load, and water-soluble vitamins do not drive ammonia production.
Which organ stores bile?
- Liver
- Gall bladder
- Pancreas
- Stomach
Explanation: Answer reason: The gall bladder’s physiologic role is to hold bile between meals and contract (via cholecystokinin) to deliver it through the biliary tree. The liver is the site of bile synthesis rather than storage, and the pancreas secretes digestive enzymes and bicarbonate, not bile. The stomach’s primary functions are acid secretion, mechanical digestion, and intrinsic factor production, not bile handling.
What is also known as the Cells that produce hydrochloric acid in the stomach ?.?
- Beta cells
- Parietal cells
- T-cells
- All of them
Explanation: Answer reason: Hydrochloric acid in the stomach is secreted by specialized gastric gland cells via the H+/K+ ATPase (proton pump). Parietal (oxyntic) cells are the gastric cells responsible for HCl secretion and also produce intrinsic factor. Beta cells are pancreatic islet cells that secrete insulin, and T-cells are lymphocytes involved in adaptive immunity, so neither produces gastric acid. Therefore the “all of them” option is incorrect because only one listed cell type has this function.
Congenital hyperbilirubinemia with a bilirubin level of 2.5 mg/dl is suggestive of..??
- Crigler najjar syndrome
- Gilbert's syndrome
- Dubin Johnson syndrome
- Rotor syndrome
Explanation: Answer reason: A bilirubin of 2.5 mg/dL fits this typical mild range and is commonly triggered by fasting, illness, or stress. Crigler–Najjar generally produces much higher unconjugated levels, especially type I, and presents with severe neonatal jaundice. Dubin–Johnson and Rotor syndromes cause predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, not the mild pattern implied by this value in a congenital setting.
Which organ in the human body is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, and the production of bile?
- Kidneys
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Gallbladder
Explanation: Answer reason: The liver is the body’s primary organ for detoxification and biotransformation, processing endogenous wastes and many drugs via phase I/II metabolic pathways. It also performs extensive metabolic functions, including carbohydrate regulation (glycogenesis/gluconeogenesis), lipid handling, and protein synthesis (e.g., albumin and clotting factors). Bile is produced by hepatocytes and is essential for emulsifying dietary fats and excreting bilirubin and cholesterol. The gallbladder stores and concentrates bile but does not synthesize it, making it an important distractor here.
A nurse is caring for a client with an ileostomy understands that the client is most at risk for developing which acid-base disorder?
- Respiratory acidosis
- Respiratory alkalosis
- Metabolic acidosis
- Metabolic alkalosis
Explanation: Answer reason: This produces a primary metabolic acidosis (often a normal anion gap/hyperchloremic pattern) rather than a respiratory disorder. Clients are especially vulnerable during high-output states, dehydration, or diarrhea-like effluent, which intensify bicarbonate and fluid losses. A common distractor is metabolic alkalosis, which is more associated with loss of gastric acid (e.g., vomiting or nasogastric suction), not distal intestinal losses.
The nurse is obtaining the admission history for a client with suspected peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Which subjective data reported by the client supports this diagnosis?
- Upper mid abdominal gnawing and burning pain
- Severe abdominal cramps and diarrhea after eating spicy foods
- Marked loss of weight and appetite over the last few months
- Use of chewable and liquid antacids for indigestion
Explanation: Answer reason: This pain pattern is a key subjective symptom that strongly supports PUD compared with nonspecific dyspepsia. Diarrhea and cramping after spicy foods is more consistent with food intolerance or irritable bowel patterns than an ulcer. Weight loss/anorexia can occur but is less specific and may suggest other serious GI pathology; frequent antacid use suggests dyspepsia but does not specifically point to an ulcer diagnosis.
Appendicitis Symptoms of appendicitis include ____
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Constipation
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: Gastrointestinal upset from inflammation commonly produces nausea (and sometimes vomiting). Bowel habit changes can occur, including constipation, due to localized ileus or decreased intestinal motility from peritoneal irritation. Since each listed symptom can be seen in appendicitis, the combined option is the best answer.
Temporary Storage of Food A muscular enlarge pouch or sac that lies slightly to the left which is used for temporary storage of food?
- Gallbladder
- Urinary bladder
- Stomach
- Lungs
Explanation: Answer reason: It mechanically churns and mixes food with gastric secretions to form chyme before controlled emptying into the duodenum. The gallbladder stores bile rather than food, and the urinary bladder stores urine. The lungs are for gas exchange and do not function in digestion or food storage.
Pancreas Secretion of pancreatic juice is stimulated by ________?
- Gastrin
- Secretin
- Enterokinase
- Enterogastron
Explanation: Answer reason: Acidic chyme stimulates S cells in the duodenum to release secretin, which increases pancreatic ductal secretion of bicarbonate-rich fluid, a major component of pancreatic juice. This neutralizes gastric acid and creates an optimal pH for pancreatic enzymes to function. In contrast, gastrin primarily stimulates gastric acid secretion, and enterokinase is a brush-border enzyme that activates trypsinogen rather than driving pancreatic fluid secretion.
HOW IS CELIAC DISEASE TREATED?
- Surgery
- Antibiotics
- A change in diet
- Radiation therapy
Explanation: Answer reason: A strict lifelong gluten-free diet (avoiding wheat, barley, and rye) removes the antigenic stimulus, allowing intestinal villi to recover and symptoms/malabsorption to improve. Surgery and radiation have no therapeutic role in this chronic inflammatory condition. Antibiotics do not address the underlying immune reaction and are only used for unrelated infections, not as primary therapy for celiac disease.
Pepsin enzyme is secreted by -?
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Stomach
Explanation: Answer reason: In the acidic environment created by hydrochloric acid from parietal cells, pepsinogen is converted to active pepsin to begin protein digestion. The liver primarily produces bile, not proteases, and the pancreas secretes enzymes like trypsinogen and chymotrypsinogen into the duodenum rather than pepsin. Therefore, the organ responsible for pepsin secretion is the stomach.
Maximum absorption of alcohol takes place at?
- Stomach
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Small intestine
Explanation: Answer reason: Although some absorption happens in the stomach, it is less efficient due to smaller surface area and variable gastric emptying. Faster gastric emptying delivers ethanol to the duodenum sooner, increasing the rate and extent of absorption. The liver is primarily the major site of metabolism (first-pass and systemic) rather than absorption, making it a common distractor.
Which of following indicates pancreatitis?
- Elevated lipase
- Elevated BUN
- Increase ESR.
- Incresed hematocrit
Explanation: Answer reason: Serum lipase is the most specific routinely used lab marker for pancreatitis and typically rises early and remains elevated longer than amylase. In contrast, BUN is more reflective of hydration/renal perfusion and is mainly used for severity/prognosis (e.g., rising BUN suggests worse outcomes), not for diagnosis. ESR is a nonspecific inflammatory marker and hematocrit changes relate more to hemoconcentration/third spacing and severity than to confirming pancreatitis.
A one-day-old infant presents with bilious vomiting, abdominal distention, and gas, and has not passed any meconium stool. The nurse is aware that these symptoms may be related to which of the following?
- Imperforate anus
- Celiac disease
- Hirschsprung's disease
- Crohn's disease
Explanation: Answer reason: This aganglionosis prevents normal relaxation of the affected bowel segment, leading to proximal dilation, gas retention, and vomiting that can become bilious when obstruction is distal. Imperforate anus would typically be evident on perineal inspection as an absent/abnormal anal opening rather than a primary motility disorder. Celiac disease and Crohn’s disease do not present in the first day of life and are unlikely causes of immediate neonatal failure to pass meconium.
Which of the following is a region of large intestine in which feces is stored before elimination?
- Hepatic portal vein
- Jejunum
- Pyloric sphincter
- Rectum
Explanation: Answer reason: The rectum is anatomically specialized for temporary fecal storage and sensation of rectal distention prior to elimination. In contrast, the jejunum is part of the small intestine primarily responsible for nutrient absorption, and the pyloric sphincter regulates gastric emptying into the duodenum. The hepatic portal vein is a vascular structure that carries nutrient-rich blood from the GI tract to the liver and is not involved in stool storage.
Cirrhosis of liver is caused by the chronic intake of?
- OPIUM
- ALCOHOL
- TOBACCO
- COCAINE
Explanation: Answer reason: Long-term alcohol intake is a classic major cause due to repeated alcoholic hepatitis and activation of hepatic stellate cells that deposit collagen. This mechanism explains why sustained heavy drinking is strongly associated with portal hypertension, ascites, and liver failure. In contrast, tobacco is not a primary direct cause of cirrhosis, and opioids/cocaine are more associated with acute toxicities or indirect risks rather than being the prototypical chronic driver tested here.
Which of the following symptoms would support a diagnosis of Crohn's disease?
- Fatigue and headache
- Rectal cramping & bleeding
- Stomach swelling &gas
- All of the above
Explanation: Answer reason: Rectal cramping and bleeding can occur when there is colonic/rectal involvement, even though bleeding is often more prominent in ulcerative colitis. Abdominal swelling and gas are consistent with intestinal inflammation, altered motility, and possible partial obstruction/strictures. Fatigue (and sometimes headache) can accompany anemia, dehydration, and inflammatory cytokine effects, so the combined symptom set supports the diagnosis better than any single nonspecific complaint alone.
Diarrhea caused by E.coli is a disorder of the?
- Respiratory system
- Circulatory system
- Nervous system
- Gastrointestinal system
Explanation: Answer reason: E. coli strains (e.g., ETEC, EHEC) colonize the gut and produce enterotoxins or cause mucosal injury, leading to watery or sometimes bloody stools. The key functional disturbance is in the small and/or large intestine, resulting in increased fluid loss and altered bowel movements. Respiratory, circulatory, and nervous systems can be affected secondarily via dehydration or sepsis, but they are not the primary system involved in diarrheal disease.
What is a common symptom of acid reflux?
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Dry mouth
- Itching
Explanation: Answer reason: This acid exposure produces a retrosternal burning sensation classically worse after meals, with bending, or when lying down. Among the choices, this is the hallmark symptom and most specific for reflux. Nausea can occur but is nonspecific and more often points to broader GI etiologies rather than classic reflux. Dry mouth and itching are not typical primary manifestations of reflux disease.
A patient is admitted for possible cholecystitis. The healthcare provider tells the patient to take a deep breath in and deeply palpates the right upper quadrant just below the ribs. The patient reports extreme pain. The nurse knows that the patient has a positive?
- McBurney's Sign
- Babinski's Sign
- Cullen's Sign
- Murphy's Sign
Explanation: Answer reason: This inspiratory arrest/pain is the classic physical exam finding used to support acute cholecystitis. The other options indicate different conditions: McBurney’s point tenderness suggests appendicitis, Babinski reflects an upper motor neuron lesion, and Cullen’s indicates periumbilical ecchymosis seen with hemorrhagic pancreatitis or intra-abdominal bleeding. Therefore the described maneuver and response most specifically indicate this sign.
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