Topics for Anatomy and Physiology
Find educational topics for Anatomy and Physiology aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
Gastroparesis
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Gastroparesis is a chronic disorder characterized by DELAYED GASTRIC EMPTYING in the absence of mechanical obstruction, with symptoms of postprandial fullness, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. For Zambian students, gastroparesis is an UNDERDIAGNOSED condition, often misattributed to dyspepsia or GERD. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Impaired gastric motility due to autonomic neuropathy, loss of …
Functional Dyspepsia
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Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a COMMON, CHRONIC disorder of GUT-BRAIN INTERACTION defined by ROME IV CRITERIA: one or more of bothersome postprandial fullness, early satiation, epigastric pain, or epigastric burning, with NO ORGANIC DISEASE to explain symptoms after appropriate investigation. For Zambian students, FD is a DAILY DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, …
Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome
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Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a chronic functional gastrointestinal disorder characterized by RECURRENT, STEREOTYPED EPISODES of INTENSE NAUSEA and VOMITING, separated by completely SYMPTOM-FREE INTERVALS. For Zambian students, CVS is UNDERDIAGNOSED, often mistaken for 'recurrent gastroenteritis' or 'billous vomiting'. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Unknown. Mitochondrial dysfunction, autonomic dysregulation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activation, cannabinoid hyperemesis …
Rumination Syndrome
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Rumination syndrome is a FUNCTIONAL GASTRODUODENAL DISORDER characterized by REGURGITATION of recently ingested food into the mouth, RE-CHEWING, and either RE-SWALLOWING or SPITTING OUT, occurring within minutes of eating, WITHOUT RETCHING or NAUSEA. For Zambian students, it is a DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, often MISDIAGNOSED as refractory GERD or bulimia. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: …
Bezoars
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Bezoars are collections of indigestible foreign material accumulated in the gastrointestinal tract, most commonly the STOMACH. For Zambian students, bezoars are a RARE but important cause of GASTRIC OUTLET OBSTRUCTION, abdominal pain, and malnutrition. CLASSIFICATION: PHYTOBEZOAR (plant material, vegetables, fruit fibres, persimmon—diospyrobezoar) – MOST COMMON. TRICHOBEZOAR (hair, Rapunzel syndrome extends …
Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis: Diagnosis and Management
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Eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) is a rare, chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by EOSINOPHILIC INFILTRATION of the gastrointestinal wall (mucosa, muscularis, serosa), in the absence of secondary causes. For Zambian students, EGE is a DIAGNOSIS OF EXCLUSION, particularly in the tropics where parasitic infection is endemic. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Unknown, likely allergic/atopic (Th2-mediated). Food …
Collagenous Colitis
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Collagenous colitis (CC) is a subtype of MICROSCOPIC COLITIS, characterized by chronic, watery, non-bloody diarrhoea, NORMAL COLONOSCOPY, and DIAGNOSTIC HISTOLOGY: THICKENED SUBCUTANEOUS COLLAGEN BAND (>10μm) beneath the surface epithelium. For Zambian students, CC is an EMERGING, UNDERDIAGNOSED cause of chronic diarrhoea, especially in older women. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Unknown. Immune-mediated? Aberrant response …
Lymphocytic Colitis
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Lymphocytic colitis (LC) is a subtype of MICROSCOPIC COLITIS, characterized by chronic, watery, non-bloody diarrhoea, NORMAL COLONOSCOPY, and DIAGNOSTIC HISTOLOGY: INCREASED INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES (IELs) >20/100 enterocytes, with preserved crypt architecture and NO thickened collagen band. For Zambian students, LC is an EMERGING, UNDERDIAGNOSED cause of chronic diarrhoea. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: Unknown. Immune-mediated? …
Gastric Polyps
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Gastric polyps are elevated mucosal lesions, most often ASYMPTOMATIC and INCIDENTAL findings on endoscopy. For Zambian students, gastric polyps are increasingly detected with greater access to endoscopy. CLASSIFICATION: EPITHELIAL (90%) and NON-EPITHELIAL (GIST, lipoma, carcinoid, etc). EPITHELIAL: FUNDIC GLAND POLYPS (FGP, 50-60%): most common. Small (<1cm), sessile, dome-shaped, same colour …