Intro

Question 1

What is physiology

Answer 1

The close control of flow and interplay of work and information

Question 2

Physiology key points:

Answer 2

Dynamic

Precise regulation and control (via molecular or voltage signals)

Question 3

Pharmacology

Answer 3

Studies defined effect of signalling molecules on the physiological and biochemical work on cells - up until the level of the person

Question 4

Signalling molecule classifications

Answer 4

Endogenous - within the body eg adrenaline
Exogenous 1 - natural, plant based eg morphine
Exogenous 2 - synthetic, man made, containing many thousands of compounds

Question 5

Signalling (endo para and auto have in common)

Answer 5

Two or more parts of a system seperated
Communicating intimately and coherently
Synchrony - shared purpose
Achieved via extracellular signalling molecules

Question 6

Endocrine signalling molecules d

features

Answer 6

Glands produce hormones - secreted to blood
Long distance/through whole body
Need receptors/specific binding sites for action
Neuroendocrine = major regulation of body function
Highly potent - Tight feedback control

Question 7

Classes of endocrine molecules

Answer 7

Amines - hydrophilic, amino acid derivatives, receptors on membrane
Peptides/proteins - hydrophilic, short chain/long receptors on membrane eg insulin
Steroids - lipophilic, derived from cholesterol, receptors intracellular

Question 8

Catacholamines

Answer 8

Hydrophilic
Half life: seconds
Action: seconds/milliseconds
Receptor: membrane 
Mechanism: causes change in membrane potential/synthesis of cytosolic second messengers

Question 9

Peptides and proteins

Answer 9

Hydrophilic
Half life: minutes
Action: minutes/hours
Receptor: membrane 
Mechanism: synthesis of cytosolic second messangers/triggers protein kinase

Question 10

Steroids

Answer 10

Hydrophobic/lipophilic
Half life: hours
Action: hours/days
Receptor: cytosolic/nuclear (inside cell)
Mechanism: receptor-hormone complex controls transcription/stability of mRNA

Question 11

Paracrine

Answer 11

From cell to cell, nearby
Small communication scale
Released into extracellular environment
Induce changes in receptor cells (behaviour/differentiation)
Neurotransmitters (neurone to neurone)

Question 12

Neurotransmitters features

Answer 12

Synapse is specialised and controlled
One way transmission
Electrochemical 
Chemical signal proportional to electric field 
Msecs transmission time
Distance 20nm (SHORT)

Question 13

Excitatory neurotransmitter

Answer 13

Increase firing rate post synaptically

Question 14

Inhibitory neurotransmitter

Answer 14

Decrease firing rate post synaptically

Question 15

Excitatory neurotransmitter examples

Answer 15

Acetylcholine
Adrenaline
Noradrenaline 
Serotonin 
Dopamine (can be both)
Glutamate

Question 16

Inhibitory neurotransmitter examples

Answer 16

Glycine
GABA
dopamine (can be both)

Question 17

What do exogenous and endogenous signalling molecules do

Answer 17

Bring about a change in functional status of target cells
Produce another chemical/electrochemical signal to contribute to signal processing
Perform a specific task
Interconvert between potential energy and kinetic energy

Question 18

Endogenous signalling

Answer 18

Engineered via evolution
Optimal fit for the job
Agonists usually (activate receptor)
BATON analogy

Question 19

Exogenous signalling

Answer 19

Engineered via human design (carry imposter signal)
Signal carried but sub-optimal fit
Antagonists - block signal
Or partial agonists - attenuate signal 
Side effects

Question 20

Signalling molecule targets

Answer 20

Receptor 
Ion channels 
Transporters 
Enzymes 
(RITE)

Question 21

Exception of drug targets: cancer

Answer 21

Chemotherapy targets DNA or protein

Intents to kill another organism (antibiotics or cancer cells)

Question 22

Receptor type classes

Answer 22

Kinase 
Ligand gated 
Ion
Nuclear/Intracellular
G-protein coupled 
(KLING)

Question 23

Ion channnels regulation

Answer 23

Voltage gated: dependent on change in electrical field density
Ion channel: phosphorylation

Question 24

Primary active transport

Answer 24

Against concentration gradient
Requires energy in the form ATP
Example - Na/K ATPase pump

(3Na out, 2 K in)

Question 25

Secondary active transport

Answer 25

Facilitated diffusion via SGLT1
Na travels down concentration gradient
Carries glucose with it up its concentration gradient

Na = high —> low
Glucose = low —> high (active)

Question 26

Transport carriers

Answer 26

Facilitated diffusion
Active transport (primary and secondary)

Question 27

Enzymes function

Answer 27

Signal processing, transformation, synthesis, degradation

Can use inhibitors (allosteric or competitive)