case 9

Question 1

what are the parathyroid glands responsible for?

Answer 1

calcium homeostasis

Question 2

what is ectopia/ectopic tissue?

Answer 2

the growth of normal tissue in the incorrect anatomical location

Question 3

what is a potential effect of thyroidectomy?

Answer 3

can damage recurrent laryngeal nerves causing a weak or hoarse voice-patients are consented for this prior to surgery

Question 4

what vertebral levels is the thyroid gland found on?

Answer 4

C5-T1

Question 5

what forms do thyroid hormones travel round in in the body and what roles do the forms have?

Answer 5

0. 1%: free, unbound, active

rest: bound to thyroid transport proteins, act as reservoir.

Question 6

where are thyroid transport proteins produced?

Answer 6

liver

Question 7

what stimulates thyroid transport protein production and what are the effects of this?

Answer 7

oestrogen-so levels of the transport proteins can be affected by pregnancy and hormone replacement therapy.

Question 8

what is the main ‘biological’ theory of the cause of depression?

Answer 8

the monoamine theory

Question 9

what are serotinergic pathways?

Answer 9

pathways whose neurones use serotonin as their main neurotransmitter.

Question 10

what’s an example of an indirectly acting sympathomimetic amine?

Answer 10

ephedrine nasal decongestant

Question 11

what is an anxiolytic?

Answer 11

anti anxiety drug.

Question 12

what is menopause?

Answer 12

the time when there has been no menstrual periods for 12 consecutive months and no other biological or physiological cause can be identified-the end of fertility.

Question 13

what is somnolence?

Answer 13

sleepiness

Question 14

is zolpidem a benzodiazepine?

Answer 14

no but it is used as a hypnotic.

Question 15

name 4 benzodiazepines.

Answer 15

Clonazepam
Chlordiazepoxide
Diazepam
Midazolam

Question 16

exam q: define empathy. (2 marks)

Answer 16

empathy is the capacity to understand the patient’s situation, perspective and feelings, [1 mark] and to communicate that understanding back to the patient [1 mark].

Question 17

what happens in OCD?

Answer 17

Recurrent thoughts that come into the patient’s consciousness that they recognize as their own that are obsessional and intrusive-usually associated with compulsive acts-eg cleaning excessively if your intrusive thoughts are about contamination.

Question 18

what is a hallucination?

Answer 18

perception in the absence of a stimulus felt in the same strength as what the stimulus would be-eg hearing a voice when there’s no one there.

Question 19

what are delusions?

Answer 19

fixed beliefs despite evidence to the contrary.

Question 20

where in the brain are there glucocorticoid receptors?

Answer 20

hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus

Question 21

what is a feature of 40% of domestic homicides?

Answer 21

stalking.

Question 22

what is the toxic trio for child safeguarding?

Answer 22

domestic abuse
substance abuse
mental ill health

Question 23

about how often do the raphe cells fire?

Answer 23

5 times a second

remember they have pacemaker like potentials

Question 24

define medically unexplained symptoms. (2 marks)

Answer 24

physical symptoms persisting for more than several weeks [1 mark] and for which adequate medical examination has not revealed a condition that adequately explains the symptoms [1 mark]