Phsiology Of Ageing Infants Flashcards
What is brown fat ?
Brown fat (adipose tissue) is a type of body fat that regulates your body temperature in cold conditions.
What does brown fat do ?
Activates right before you start to shiver.
Also helps to burn calories and stores energy.
Helps control blood sugar and insulin levels.
How does brown fat produces heat ?
Produces heat by breaking down blood sugar (glucose) and fat molecules to help maintain body temperature.
How is brown fat activated ?
In cold temperatures.
What does brown fat look like ?
Tiny molecules make up those molecules are fat cells.
Molecules consist of fatty acids and glycerol.
Where is brown fat located in infants?
Located in their back, neck and shoulders.
Where’ is brown fat located in childhood / adolescence?
Scatters around the body
Where is brown fat located in adulthood ?
Located around the neck, kidneys, adrenal glands, heart and chest.
What is thermogenesis ?
The production of heat to maintain body temperature in colder temperatures.
How do babies thermoregulate ?
Once a baby has left the womb body temperature drops.
Therefore they must accelerate heat production via non shivering thermogenesis.
What is non shivering thermogenesis ?
Dependent on involuntary process activated by the sympathetic nervous system.
Is due largely to heat production in born adipose tissue.
What’ are primitive reflexes?
Adaptive responses that develop during the neonate period that integrate over time as the Brian matures.
What are the examples of primitive reflexes ?
Suck reflex
Rooting reflex
What is surfactant ?
Is a mixture of fat and proteins made in the lungs.
Coats alveoli.
Prevents it from sticking together when the baby exhales (breathes out ).
Why is surfactant important ?
Premature infants maybe born before their lungs make enough surfactant.
Low amounts cause poor lung function.
Results in stiff, collapsed lungs increased fluid in lungs, making it difficult to breathe .
