4. What are the two important structures involved in anal continence?
Correct answer: Anal sphincters and anal cushions.
3. What is the functional anatomy of haemorrhoids?
Correct answer: Continence is partly a function of the anal sphincters, and partly a consequence of the anal cushions. The anal cushions comprise highly vascular tissue lining the anal canal, with a rich blood supply from the rectal arteries, which…
2. Can a bleeding duodenal ulcer cause bright red rectal bleeding?
Correct answer: Rarely, massive haemorrhage from higher up the alimentary canal – even a bleeding duodenal ulcer – may produce bright red blood per rectum instead of the usual melaena, although such cases are commonly accompanied by haematemesis.
1. What are the causes of bright red rectal bleeding?
Correct answer: The passage of bright red blood per rectum is a common symptom, which the patient usually attributes to ‘piles’; indeed, haemorrhoids are by far the commonest cause of rectal bleeding. It is important, however, to bear in mind…
13. Why does erythromycin cause diarrhoea?
Correct answer: It stimulates the motilin receptor.
12. Which drugs can cause diarrhoea?
Correct answer: (1) Antibiotics and antibiotic-induced colitis.(2) Purgatives.(3) Erythromycin.(4) Digitalis.
11. Which inflammatory and irritative conditions of the intestine cause diarrhoea?
Correct answer: (1) Crohn’s disease.(2) Ulcerative colitis.(3) Tumours of the large bowel.(4) Diverticular disease.
10. Which specific infections can cause diarrhoea?
Correct answer: (1) Food poisoning (e.g. Salmonella).(2) Dysentery (amoebic and bacillary).(3) Cholera.(4) Viral enterocolitis.
9. What are the general categories of the causes of diarrhoea?
Correct answer: (1) General diseases.(2) Pancreatic dysfunction.(3) Loss of absorptive surface.(4) Drugs.(5) Postgastrectomy and vagotomy.(6) Inflammation or irritation of the intestine.(7) Specific infections.
8. What are the general categories of the causes of constipation?
Correct answer: (1) Adynamic.(2) Habit and diet.(3) Drugs.(4) Organic obstruction.(5) Painful anal conditions.
