E0 Biomedical literacy

Question 1

what are italics used for and not used for?

Answer 1

• used for bacterial taxa and genes
• not used for serovar and strain designations

Question 2

what are bacteria often named after?

Answer 2

• the scientist that discovered them and/or some descriptive information relating to their morphology, structure or ‘habitat’

Question 3

what are serovar?

Answer 3

• surface molecules on bacteria (eg. Salmonella)
• cause animals to raise antibodies which can then be used in identification
• linked with the likelihood and severity of the disease

Question 4

how are strains of bacteria and viruses typically represented?

Answer 4

a capitalised letter and number relating to a structural molecule on its surface

Question 5

what does the integumentary system involve and what is its function?

Answer 5

• skin and derived structure including hair and glands in the skin
• protection, temperature regulation, senses

Question 6

what does the skeletal system involve and what is its function?

Answer 6

• bones and joints, ligaments and tendons
• support, protection, movement, stores minerals and growth factors/cytokines
• contains stem cells that control the haematopoietic system

Question 7

what does the muscular system involve and what is its function?

Answer 7

• skeletal muscle, linked with bones
• controls body movement and posture and contributes to heat generation/body warmth

Question 8

what does the nervous system involve and what is its function?

Answer 8

• central (brain, spinal cord) and peripheral (nerves outside CNS)
• detect and respond to changes/demands in the body

Question 9

what does the endocrine system involve and what is its function?

Answer 9

• glands that produce hormones
• regulate body functions such as growth, menstrual cycle, sugar levels etc.

Question 10

what are the glands in the head and neck?

Answer 10

• pituitary gland
• pineal gland
• hypothalamus

Question 11

what are the glands in the torso/trunk?

Answer 11

• thyroid
• pancreas
• adrenal

Question 12

what does the cardiovascular system involve and what is its function?

Answer 12

• heart, blood vessels, blood
• circulation of blood (water, cells, nutrients, growth factors and hormones)
• respiration, excretion, immune regulation

Question 13

what does the lymphatic system involve and what is its function?

Answer 13

• lymphatic vessels and fluid, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus and tonsils
• regulates return of fluids to the blood, immune regulation

Question 14

what does the respiratory system involve and what is its function?

Answer 14

• lungs, trachea, pharynx, larynx
• transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide, immune regulation and vocalisation

Question 15

what does the digestive system involve and what is its function?

Answer 15

• gastrointestinal tract: mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, anus, salivary glands, gall bladder, liver, pancreas
• processes ingested food and drink, absorbs nutrients and excretes solid waste

Question 16

what does the urinary system involve and what is its function?

Answer 16

• kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra
• produces, stores and eliminates liquid waste (urine) and contributes to balance and composition of body fluids

Question 17

what does the reproductive system involve and what is its function?

Answer 17

• gonads: testes, ovaries, uterus, vagina, penis, ducts
• production, storage and uniting of gametes, development and birth of the embryo/foetus

Question 18

what are the 2 cell division processes in humans?

Answer 18

• somatic cell division (mitosis)
• reproductive cell division (meiosis)

Question 19

what is histology?

Answer 19

the microscopic study of tissues

Question 20

what is a biopsy?

Answer 20

removal of tissues for diagnostic purposes

Question 21

what is an autopsy?

Answer 21

examination of organs of a dead body to determine cause of death

Question 22

what are the 3 distinct ‘germ layers’ that form in early embryo development that give rise to all tissues in the body?

Answer 22

• endoderm: inner layer, forms lining of digestive tract, respiratory tract etc.
• mesoderm: middle layer, forms tissues such as muscle, bone, blood vessels etc.
• ectoderm: outer layer, forms skin and nervous tissue

Question 23

what is resolution (in terms of a microscope)?

Answer 23

the smallest separation of points within an object that can still be individually recognised as an image

Question 24

describe atrophy

Answer 24

• decrease in the size of a tissue or cell
• decrease workload of a cell or tissue (organelles shrink in size)
• disuse of a tissue eg. long-term immobilisation, weightlessness
• cessation of hormone or neural stimulation eg. spinal injuries

Question 25

describe hypertrophy

Answer 25

- increase in the size of a tissue or cell - increase workload of a cell or tissue (organelles increase in size) - exercise can increase muscle bulk - in response to disease eg. heart tissue size increases due to hypertension

Question 26

describe hyperplasia

Answer 26

- increase in cell number in a tissue as a result of increased mitosis rate - increased workload, hormonal and local signals - notably affects tissues like kidney, liver and connective tissues and also seen during menstruation (endometrial hyperplasia) - compensatory hyperplasia can occur in the liver after acute injury

Question 27

describe metaplasia

Answer 27

- change of a cell from one type to another related cell type - in response to irritation or injury - eg. smoking causes ciliated columnar epithelial cells to change to stratified squamous epithelial cells - results in loss of normal function and possible precursor to more sinister, cancerous changes

Question 28

describe dysplasia

Answer 28

- alteration in size, shape and organisation of cells due to chronic irritation or inflammation - can be indicative of more sinister cancerous changes - screened for in cervical smears - dysplastic changes are graded on a scale from minor to severe

Question 29

describe neoplasia

Answer 29

- a collection of cells in a tissue dividing uncontrollably - distinct morphology compared to surrounding normal tissue - typically form a tumour (benign or malignant)

Question 30

what is angiogenesis?

Answer 30

- the growth of small, new blood vessels by tumours from existing blood vessels which allows them to grow and spread - a normal physiological process which cancer cells exploit

Question 31

what does the suffix -oma usually apply to?

Answer 31

- usually applies to a benign tumour

Question 32

what does the suffix -carcinoma apply to?

Answer 32

- usually applies to a malignant tumour of epithelial cells

Question 33

what does the suffix -sarcoma apply to?

Answer 33

- usually applies to malignant tumours of connective tissues