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Principles Of Physiology > Introduction > Flashcards

Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

What is physiology ?

A

The study of the normal functioning of living organisms

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2
Q

Why do we learn about physiology ?

A

• Dental anaesthesiology
• Sedation
• Medical diagnosis

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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
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4
Q

Summarise the musculoskeletal system

A

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

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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

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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

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7
Q

Summarise the respiratory system

A

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

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8
Q

Summarise the digestive system

A

Involved in absorbing nutrients and absorbing and conserving water

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9
Q

Summarise the urinary system

A

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

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10
Q

Summarise the endocrine system

A

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

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11
Q

Summarise the reproductive system

A

Involves sperm, ova, fertilisation, pregnancy and birth

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12
Q

Summarise the immune system

A

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

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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

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14
Q

What is cell physiology ?

A

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

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15
Q

What is systems physiology ?

A

It considers all aspects of the function of specific organ systems

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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
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping electrolyte concentrations constant

A

Electrolytes perform a variety of vital functions e.g. A rhythmic heart beat depends on a tight range of [K+] in the ECF

26
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping pH constant

A

Changes in pH affect enzyme activity and neurone function

27
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping oxygen and carbon dioxide levels constant

A

Oxygen is important in respiration to make ATP to power biochemical reactions and carbon dioxide increases acidity so needs to be removed

28
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping the concentration of nutrients constant

A

Cells need a constant supply of nutrients e.g. glucose for energy production which is needed for life sustaining activities

29
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping the concentration of metabolic waste products constant

A

Cells excrete waste products into the ECF and if not removed they can accumulate and become toxic

30
Q

Summarise the importance of keeping temperature constant

A

Body cells can only function within a narrow temperature range

31
Q

What are the 3 things that homeostatic control systems must be able to do ?

A

1) detect changes that occur
2) integrate this with other relevant info
3) make appropriate adjustments to restore the change back to normal

32
Q

What are the 2 types of control systems ?

A

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
Q

What are the components of physiological control systems ?

A
  • 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
Q

How are the components of the control system linked ?

A

They are linked by communication pathways.
Afferent pathways link sensors to the control centre
Efferent pathways link the control centre to effectors

35
Q

Give 2 examples of homeostatic control systems

A
  • regulation of body temperature
  • regulation of blood glucose
    (These are both negative feedback loops)
36
Q

Summarise the slow communication pathway

A

These involve the transmission of a chemical messenger or hormone to distant sites via blood and diffusion

37
Q

Summarise the rapid communication pathway

A

It uses the peripheral nerves to transmit information rapidly by way of nerve impulses to and from the CNS

Principles Of Physiology (5 decks)

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