Foundations Of Medicine Flashcards
Define quaternary proteins
Fourth level of the structure, several polypeptides (subunits) interacting together to form a structure
Define a secondary protein
2nd level of structure, 3D spatial arrangement which relies on hydrogen bonding
What is a receptive field
Somatic sensory neuron activated by stimuli in a specific area
Explain the structure of a neuron
Cell body Dendrites (receive information) Initial segment - axon hillock (triggers action potential) Axon - (sends action potential) Axon - (release transmitter)
Why are barriers between fluid compartments important
Prevent too much secretion and absorption of waste and nutrients between compartments and maintain electrochemical gradient
Describe how an action potential works
Cell reaches threshold and then sudden massive depolarisation occurs, followed by repolarisation
What’s the structutre of skeletal muscle
Striated, multinucleate, bundles of fibres encased in connective tissue sheets
What is abnormally low levels of circulating plasma proteins called and what effect does it have
Hypoproteinaemia - oedema due to loss of on optic pressure
What is a non-competitive inhibitor
Binds to site other than active site, causing conformational change which prevents substrate from binding
What are the different types of glia and what are their functions
Astrocytes - maintains external environment of neurons, surround blood vessels & produce blood brain barrier
Oligodendrocytes - form myelin sheaths in the CNS
Microglia - phagocytosis hoovers mopping up infection
How are lipids transported around the body
Fatty acids - through the blood carried in lipoproteins
Triacyglycerols - hydrophobic so carried in lipoproteins which have hydrophobic core and hydrophilic surfaces
What are abnormal functions of glands
Over/under proliferation
Over/under secretion
Loss of cilia beat
Describe the epithelial components of the kidney
made from epithelial cells and organised into nephrons used for filtration of the blood and excretion of urine
What are leukocytes
White blood cells
Nucleated, large cells involved in defence against pathogens
Define the major carbohydrates in the body
The three main monsaccharides in humans are glucose, galactose and fructose
The three main disaccharides are maltose, lactose and sucrose
What are platelets
Membrane bound cell fragments, rarely nucleated and formation is governed by thrombopoietin. They adhere to damaged vessel walls and exposed connective tissue to mediate blood clotting.
Explain contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle
Smooth muscle contracts by an increase of calcium which activates the x-bridge cycle
Smooth muscle relaxes via the action of myosin light chain phosphatase
What is muscle fatigue
Repeated muscle stim causes fatigue, whch prevents muscles muscles using up vast amounts of ATP which would cause rigor. (Depends on fibre type, length of contraction and fitness of individual)
Describe the formation of urea
Urea is formed in the urea cycle
Excess glutamate is metabolised in the mitochondria of hepatocytes
Ammonia is re-captured via synthesis of carbamoyl phosphate
Nitrogen from carbamoyl phosphate enters the urea cycle
Urea is formed through a hydrolysis reaction of arginine
What is endocytosis
when the membrane forms a vesicle to take molecules in which eventually disintegrates on the inside surface of the membrane, releasing its contents
What is the autonomic nervous system
controls the things we do without thinking about them
Messages are sent from one nerve cell to another through a ganglion
Contracts and relaxes smooth muscle
Importance of maintaining homeostasis
Allows the body and its internal processes to function normally
What is pathogenesis
The way a disease develops
What is meant by an electrochemical gradient
The combined gradient of chemical and electrical which determines the direction of which ions will move. (charge and concentration)