Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is physiology ?

A

The study of the normal functioning of living organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Why do we learn about physiology ?

A

• Dental anaesthesiology
• Sedation
• Medical diagnosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What are the 4 major classes of tissues ?

A
  • epithelia - protection, secretion and absorption
  • connective tissue - structural support
  • muscle - for movement
  • nervous tissue - communication, coordination and control
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Summarise the musculoskeletal system

A

Contains bones, joints and attached muscles
Important for movement, protection and support of other tissues

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Summarise the nervous system

A

Involved in rapid coordination of body activities via nerve impulses
Involved in responding to stimuli and important for memory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Summarise the cardiovascular system

A

Involved in the circulation of blood to carry things around the body
Important in distributing heat and assisting temperature control

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Summarise the respiratory system

A

Important in exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide between the body and atmosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Summarise the digestive system

A

Involved in absorbing nutrients and absorbing and conserving water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Summarise the urinary system

A

Involved in the elimination of metabolic waste, regulation of volume and composition of bodily fluids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Summarise the endocrine system

A

Involved in the slower regulation of body activities and other organ systems by circulating hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Summarise the reproductive system

A

Involves sperm, ova, fertilisation, pregnancy and birth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Summarise the immune system

A

It protects against microbes, infection and parasites
It rejects foreign tissue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Summarise the Integumentary system

A

(Note - this is the skin)
It protects against environmental hazards and helps to regulate body temperature
It also provides sensory information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What is cell physiology ?

A

It considers events at chemical and molecular levels within and between cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What is systems physiology ?

A

It considers all aspects of the function of specific organ systems

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is integrative physiology ?

A

It is how the human body responds to internal and external stimuli

17
Q

What is pathophysiology ?

A

It is the study of the effects of diseases on organs and organ system functions

18
Q

What are the fluid compartments of the body ?

A

Intracellular fluid - fluid inside the cells
Extracellular fluid - fluid outside the cells (blood plasma and interstitial fluid)

19
Q

Why are the fluid compartments important ?

A

Because in order for cells to live and function they must be surrounded by an aqueous environment
- the composition and conditions of the interstitial fluid need to be kept pretty constant in order for cells to survive

20
Q

How is constancy of the extracellular fluid maintained ?

A

Things are added or removed by :
• respiratory system - transports oxygen from the external environment to plasma and carbon dioxide in the opposite direction
• digestive system - transfers nutrients from the external environment into plasma
• cardiovascular system - distributes nutrients and oxygen throughout the body and removes carbon dioxide to the lungs and waste products to the liver and kidneys
• urinary system - controls the concentration of electrolytes in the ECF and removes metabolic waste products

21
Q

What is homeostasis ?

A

The maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment

22
Q

Who discovered the concept of homeostasis ?

A

Claude Bernard in 1865

23
Q

List some of the conditions of the internal environment controlled by homeostasis

A
  • osmolarity
  • electrolyte concentrations
  • pH
  • oxygen and carbon dioxide levels
  • concentration of nutrient molecules
  • concentration of metabolic waste products
  • temperature
24
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping osmolarity constant

A

Cells are essentially fluid filled bags which can swell and burst or shrivel up if external osmolarity changes too much e.g. by taking ecstasy or drinking too much water after a marathon

25
Summarise the importance of keeping electrolyte concentrations constant
Electrolytes perform a variety of vital functions e.g. A rhythmic heart beat depends on a tight range of [K+] in the ECF
26
Summarise the importance of keeping pH constant
Changes in pH affect enzyme activity and neurone function
27
Summarise the importance of keeping oxygen and carbon dioxide levels constant
Oxygen is important in respiration to make ATP to power biochemical reactions and carbon dioxide increases acidity so needs to be removed
28
Summarise the importance of keeping the concentration of nutrients constant
Cells need a constant supply of nutrients e.g. glucose for energy production which is needed for life sustaining activities
29
Summarise the importance of keeping the concentration of metabolic waste products constant
Cells excrete waste products into the ECF and if not removed they can accumulate and become toxic
30
Summarise the importance of keeping temperature constant
Body cells can only function within a narrow temperature range
31
What are the 3 things that homeostatic control systems must be able to do ?
1) detect changes that occur 2) integrate this with other relevant info 3) make appropriate adjustments to restore the change back to normal
32
What are the 2 types of control systems ?
Intrinsic control systems - within a particular organ Extrinsic control systems - outside an organ and these coordinate regulation of several organs towards a common goal
33
What are the components of physiological control systems ?
- sensors/receptors - these pick up information and monitor what is being controlled - control centre - where the information is processed - effectors - these bring about responses
34
How are the components of the control system linked ?
They are linked by communication pathways. Afferent pathways link sensors to the control centre Efferent pathways link the control centre to effectors
35
Give 2 examples of homeostatic control systems
- regulation of body temperature - regulation of blood glucose (These are both negative feedback loops)
36
Summarise the slow communication pathway
These involve the transmission of a chemical messenger or hormone to distant sites via blood and diffusion
37
Summarise the rapid communication pathway
It uses the peripheral nerves to transmit information rapidly by way of nerve impulses to and from the CNS