Nursing, cells and tissues , chemistry of life & homeostasis Flashcards
What is the function of calcium? (Ca)
- Essential component of bone and teeth.
- Essential for muscle contraction and nerve electrical excitability.
What is the function of sodium? (Na)
- Essential as main extracellular cation.
- Essential for nerve function.
- Essential for Ion in salt and water balance.
What is the function of Potassium? (K)
- Main intracellular cation.
- Essential for nerve and muscle excitability.
What is the function of Iron? (Fe)
- Essential for causing haemoglobin in red blood cells.
- Essential for enzymes activity.
What is the function of Iodine? (I)
- Essential component of the thyroxine hormone.
Which two elements is a carbon dioxide molecule made of?
Carbon and oxygen.
What is a monosaccharide?
A single sugar unit.
What is a disaccharide?
Two monosaccharides joined together.
Polysaccharide?
Multiple , often thousands, of monosaccharides joined.
The main monosaccharide needed by the cells for energy is?
Glucose.
What is the difference between monosaccharide and glycogen?
Monosaccharide is only one unit and glycogen is a very large polysaccharide (many units).
What is the function of the lipid - phospholipids?
Main constituent of plasma membranes.
What is the fat- soluble vitamins? and what is there function?
- Vitamins A,D,E & K.
- Vitamins are needed in very small amounts as cofactors in many enzymatic reactions.
What is the function of the lipid - hormones? Also name some important ones.
- Hormones are chemical messengers carried from the glands around the body.
- Proteins, the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone and hydrocortisone.
What is the function of the lipid - fats?
- Made of three fatty acid chains joined to the glycerol molecule.
- Fats store energy , insulate the body and cushion body spaces.
What is plasma membrane?
- This is the outer body of the cell that controls what comes and goes from them.
- This contains receptors for hormones, growth and other chemical messages the cell must respond to.
What fills the interior of the cell and is supposed to suspend other organelles?
Cytosol.
What does the organelle Golgi apparatus do?
Packages and stores cell products before export.
What is the function of the organelle - Nucleus?
Nucleus contains DNA and carries the code for the cell to produce the essential proteins required for life.
The organelle endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is covered with what? and what is their job?
The rough ER is covered with ribosomes whose job is to synthesise.
What does smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) produce?
Steroids and other lipids.
What organelle acts as a digestive system for a cell?
Lysosome.
What is stratified epithelium?
Multiple cell layers.
What is simple epithelium?
Single layers of cells.
What is squamous epithelium?
Cells are flat and thin.
What is cuboidal epithelium?
Cells are boxy / cube shaped.
What is columnar epithelium?
Cells are tall and thin.
Why is skin composed of stratified epithelium?
For protection as top layer is replaced by cells, produced by continuous cell division in the basal layer of the epidermis.
In the alveoli of the lungs where oxygen enters the body and carbon dioxide leaves, which type of epithelium is present?
Simple squamous epithelium as it needs to be as thin as possible.
Loose connective tissue, where is found? what does it do?
- Almost everywhere.
- Supports, connects, gives elasticity and strength.
Fat (adipose), where is it? What does it do?
- Packed around body organs.
- Energy source, insulates the body and pad/packs round body organs.
Blood, where is it? What does it do?
- Circulates blood vessels and pumped by the heart.
- Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide.
- White blood cells are for defence and immunity.
- Platelets are for clotting.
Cartilage, Where is it? What does it do?
- Musculoskeletal system.
- Covers bone ends in joints, separates bones and attaches them.
Bone, Where is it? What does it do?
- Skeleton
- Skeleton is a body framework that attaches, supports and protects soft tissues and organs and permits movement.
If our body is short of water, which sensation does this stimulate?
Thirst.
What does the ‘thirst’ sensation stimulate us to do to restore our water balance?
Have a drink.
The general term for a lack of water in the body is?
Dehydration.
