L5 Growth, Bones and Ageing Flashcards
what is growth?
increased length of long bones and increased size and number of cells in soft tissue; starts before birth and accelerates at two stages of development (post-natal growth spurt and pubertal growth spurt)
what are the factors that influence growth?
- Hormone levels: primarily controlled by growth hormone; other hormones (e.g. sex hormones during puberty)
- Genetics: max height determined by genetics (genetic predisposition) – whether you reach max height depends on the environment (diet, stress)
- Diet: malnourishment stunts growth- may be irreversible
- Stress: prolonged secretion of cortisol stunts growth
growth hormone is secreted by _____________
growth hormone is secreted by ANTERIOR PITUITARY
growth hormone is controlled by hormones from the _______
- stimulated by ________
- inhibited by _______
growth hormone is controlled by hormones from the HYPOTHALAMUS
- stimulated by GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE (GHRH)
- inhibited by GROWTH HORMONE INHIBITING HORMONE (GHIH)
GH has both _____ and ____ effects
GH has both METABOLIC and GROWTH effects
GH growth effects are mediated by __________
GH growth effects are mediated by INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTORS (IGFs)
GH release is _______ (higher during ______)
GH release is DIURNAL (higher during DEEP SLEEP)
what are the metabolic effects of growth hormone?
• Acts on adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and liver to conserve glucose for the brain
• Lipid metabolism
- Breaks down triglycerides (storage fat) and releases it into the blood
- Fuel for muscles
• Increases blood glucose
- Increased glucose output from the liver
- Decreased glucose uptake in skeletal muscle
how does growth hormone promote growth?
• Soft tissues (e.g. connective tissue and skin)
- Increase the number of cells (hyperplasia)
- Increase the size of cells (hypertrophy)
• Bones
- Increase in bone thickness
- Increase in bone length
not enough growth hormone?
• Children: Dwarfism
- Pituitary (not producing growth hormone)/hypothalamic defect (not stimulating release of GH)
- Abnormal GH receptors (Laron Dwarfism- proportional)- producing GH, but the receptor is mutated it won’t respond to GH
• Delayed growth
• Treatment: growth hormone drugs
• Achondroplasia: enlarged head (not proportioned with rest of the body)
select all of the correct options regarding the effects of growth hormone:
a. it stimulates the release of triglycerides into the blood
b. it increases glucose uptake into muscle cells
c. it causes the thickening of bones
d. it causes hyperplasia and hypertrophy of cells in soft tissues
e. it promotes the lengthening of bones
A, C, D, E
too much growth hormone?
• Children: gigantism
- Excessive growth of long bones
• Adults: acromegaly
- Acro = extremity; megaly = large (normal height but thicker bones and growth of soft tissues)
- Thickening of bones
- Growth of soft tissue (skin and connective tissue)
what is the functions of bone tissue and the skeleton (mechanical and metabolic)
- Mechanical: support, protection of organs, muscle attachment, facilitate movement
- Metabolic: mineral storage, calcium homeostasis, haematopoiesis
what are the general features of the bone tissue?
- composition
- high vascularity
- types
- Composition: cells (2% of mass), organic osteoid (collagen fibres and other proteins), inorganic mineral salts
- High vascularity (blood supply)- most important for calcium control
- Types: Cortical bone tissue (compact bone), trabecular bone tissue (spongy bone)
o Compact bone found in diaphysis and edge of epiphysis
o Spongy bone found in the core of the bone – epiphysis
describe the inorganic phase and organic phase of the chemical composition of bone tissue
- Inorganic phase: mineral 65-70%; hydroxyapatite crystals (calcium phosphate), storage for calcium and phosphate
- Organic phase: matrix osteoid 30-35%; collagenous fibres (95%); non-collagenous proteins (e.g. proteoglycans and glycoproteins)