Lecture 10 (homoeostasis and behavior) Flashcards
How are the homeostatic functions regulated?
By negative feedback.
What does it mean that humans are endotherms?
They produce and regulate their own temperature.
Which part of the brain monitors and controls body temperature?
Hypothalamus.
Where do hypothalamus send its signals about body temperature to?
Hypothalamus receive input and sends signal through the brain stem which ends up in the spinal cord.
What is osmosis?
Passive movements of water molecules over a semipermeable membrane until a uniform concentration is achieved.
What happens in osmosis?
If there is put more salt on one side than on the other, the water from the less salty water will come over to the side with more salty water to balance of the concentration of water and salt.
Which part of the brain monitors nutrient and energy levels?
Hypothalamus. The nervous system controls appetite and digestion.
How much of our energy intake is spent on basal metabolism?
55 % of the food we eat.
What are carbohydrates broken down to?
Glucose and glucogen.
Which part of the brain is glucose especially important for?
The brain because it is the only energy source it can use.
Where can glucogen be stored for later use?
In the liver and muscles.
Glucogenesis is the process of?
Where glucose is converted into glucogen. Regulated by insulin.
Glycogenolysis is the process of?
Conversion of glucogen back into glucose. Mediated by glucagon.
What is the problem with temporary diets?
Diets can reduce your basal metabolism because your body can’t really understand that you suddenly eat less than normal. This can lead them to later have a harder time losing weight again. Basal metabolism will keep on getting reduced.
What is the microbime?
Microorganisms of the gut.
What does the microbime depend on?
Diet, current and previous infections, antibiotics.
In which systems does microbime play a big role?
In endocrine and neuronal signaling.
Relation between the microbime and depression?
People with depression show altered microbiome composition – these abnormalities persist during remission.
What is sexual differentiation?
The process by which individuals develop either male or female bodies and behaviors. In mammals this process begins before birth and continues into adulthood.
Chromosomes of women and men?
XX (women), XY (men)
Which protein is responsible for the development of testes?
SRY. Not produced in XX individuals.
What will happen if the body is and isn’t exposed to testicular hormones?
If the body is exposed to testicular hormones, it will begin to for masculine characteristics. If non-exposure, it will begin to develop feminine characteristics.
Where do women tend to be superior?
Superior abilities in fine motor skills, verbal fluency and empathy.
Where do men tend to be superior?
Superior abilities in spatial tasks and assertiveness.
Lesions of the hypothalamus can interfere with what rhythm?
The circadian. More precisely in the suprachiasmatic nucleus.
How is the circadian clock regulated by external clues?
The light hits the eye where cones and rods provide form vision. This send it further to the entrainment pathway. This consists of specialized retinal ganglion cells containing melanopsin that project to the SCN via the retinohypothalamic tract. This will end with consistent rhythm of being active and inactive.
