Physiology Flashcards

1
Q

What are the two principal constituents of a membrane

A

Lipids and proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the cell membrane primarily composed of

A

phospholipids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

tell me about the structure of phospholipids

A

head - negatively charged, polar, hydrophilic
tails - uncharged, non-polar, hydrophobic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What do phospholipids form in aqueous solution

A

bilayer :

head groups orientated towards the water
tails oriented away from the water

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Tell me about the fluidity of a membrane

A

lipid bilayer is fluid
phospholipids constantly moving (temperature dependent)
Cholesterol provides some stability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Tell me about the permeability of a membrane

A

Water-soluble substances can’t diffuse through the membrane e.g. ions, proteins

Small, uncharged polar molecules can diffuse freely e.g. Oxygen, CO2, water

Membrane is selectively permeable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 3 important functions of the lipid bilayer

A
  1. It forms the basic structure of the membrane
  2. Its hydrophobic interior serves as a barrier (the cell can maintain differences in solute composition and concentrations inside/outside the cell)
  3. It is responsible for the fluidity of the membrane (enables cells to change shape)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

How can membrane proteins be associated with the PM

A

integrally or peripherally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Tell me about peripherally associated membrane proteins

A

Not embedded within the membrane

Instead adhere tightly to the cytoplasmic or extracellular surfaces of the PM

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Tell me about integral membrane proteins

A
  1. Transmembrane proteins : span the lipid bilayer
  2. Some are embedded but do not cross the bilayer
  3. some are linked to a lipid component that intercalates into the membrane
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : ligand binding receptors

A

e.g. hormone receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : adhesion molecules

A

Form physical contacts with the surrounding extracellular matrix or with cellular neighbours
Important in regulating cell shape, growth and differentiation, allowing the cell to adapt to its immediate surroundings

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : pores and channels

A

allow water or specific ions to flow passively through the bilayer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : carriers

A

facilitated transport, or couple transport molecules to other solutes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : pumps

A

use ATP to drive transport in/out of cell

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

functions of Integral membrane proteins : enzymes

A

e.g. membrane bound enzymes in small intestine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Can the integral membrane protein participate in intracellular signalling

A

Yes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What is glycolax

A

glycoproteins and glycolipids located on outer surface of cells (membrane carbohydrate)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the functions of membrane carbohydrates

A

self identify markers

tissue growth - cells do not overgrow their own territory

cancer cells have abnormal markers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What are the three types of specialised cell junctions

A

Tight junctions, desmosomes, gap junctions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Tell me about tight junctions

A

join lateral edges of epithelial cells near to their luminal (apical) membranes, can be tight or leaky

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Tell me about desmosomes

A

adhering junctions that anchor cells together, especially in tissues subject to stretching (e.g. skin, heart, uterus)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Tell me about gap junctions

A

(‘communicating junctions’) allow the movement of charge carrying ions and small molecules between two adjacent cells

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

what are the two properties that influence whether a particle can permeate the plasma membrane without assistance

A

soluble or the particle in lipid
size of the particle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

what is required for movement across a membrane (applies for assisted or unassisted)

A

pathway and driving force

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

tell me about unassisted membrane transport

A

diffusion down a concentration gradient

movement along an electrical gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Fick’s Law of Diffusion

A

Q = △C * A * P

Q = rate of diffusion
△C = concentration gradient of substance
A = surface area of membrane
P = permeability

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Along with the concentration gradient, what do ions move along

A

Electrical gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Tell me about electrical gradient

A

difference in charge between two adjacent areas, promotes the movement of ions to the area of opposite charge

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Tell me about electrochemical gradient

A

electrical and concentration gradient acting on an ion simultaneously

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What is osmosis the movement of

A

water down its own concentration gradient through a selectively permeable membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What is osmolarity

A

the concentration of osmotically active particles in a solution (Osm/l)

body fluids are around 300 mOsm/l

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What is tonicity

A

the effect a solution has on cell volume

isotonic - no net movement of water, no change in cell vol

hypotonic - water diffuses into cells, cells swell

hypertonic - water diffuses out of cells, cells shrink

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What are two different mechanisms for selective transport

A

carrier-mediated transport
vesicular transport

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What happens in carrier mediated transport

A

substance binds onto a carrier which undergoes a conformational change, which transports the substance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

What are the factors that determine the kind/amount of material transported in carrier mediated transport

A

specificity

saturation

competition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Tell me about facilitated diffusion

A

uses a carrier to facilitate the transfer of a substance across the membrane from high to low concentration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
38
Q

Tell me about active transport

A

requires the carrier to expand energy to transfer a substance against a concentration gradient

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
39
Q

What can active transport be split into

A

primary and secondary

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
40
Q

Tell me about primary active transport

A

energy (ATP) is directly required to move a substance against its concentration gradient (e.g. 3Na+ out for every 2K+ in)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
41
Q

Tell me about secondary active transport

A

carrier moves molecule against concentration gradient by using secondhand energy stored as an ion concentration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
42
Q

What does symport mean

A

solute and Na+ move in same direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
43
Q

What does antiport mean

A

solute and Na+ move in opposite directions

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
44
Q

Does vesicular transport require energy

A

yes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
45
Q

Tell me about exocytosis

A

vesicle fuses with the plasma membrane, releasing its contents to the ECF

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
46
Q

Tell me about endocytosis

A

‘pinching off’ of membrane to engulf substance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
47
Q

What are the two types of vesicular transport

A

exocytosis and endocytosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
48
Q

What is the membrane potential (Em) - units mV

A

Separation of opposite charges across the membrane

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
49
Q

What does the Em actually refer to

A

the difference in charge between the thin layers of the EXF and ICF located next to the inside and outside of the membrane (membrane itself is not charged)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
50
Q

What can excitable cells do (nerve and muscle)

A

produce rapid transient changes in their membrane potential when excited (action potentials)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
51
Q

Is the membrane charged

A

No

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
52
Q

Is the membrane charged

A

No

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
53
Q

When is resting membrane potential constant

A

non-excitable cells and in excitable cells at rest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
54
Q

What is responsible for the resting potenital

A

unequal distribution of ions and their selective movement through the plasma membrane are responsible for the resting potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
55
Q

Where is there a higher concentration of Na+

A

outside the cell - concentration gradient is inward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
56
Q

Where is there a higher concentration of K+

A

Inside the cell - concentration gradient is outward

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
57
Q

How can K+ and Na+ both be described

A

cation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
58
Q

Which way will the electrical gradient be for K+ and Na+

A

towards the negatively charged side of the membrane (as they are both cations)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
59
Q

Is the plasma membrane permeable or impermeable to the negatively charged intracellular proteins (A-)

A

impermeable

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
60
Q

At resting potential, tell me about the permeability of the membrane for K+ compared to Na+

A

100x more permeable to K+ than Na+

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
61
Q

Tell me about the equilibrium potential

A

When the concentration gradient and electrical gradient of an ion balance each other out - no further net movement of the ion

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
62
Q

Membrane potential at the Potassium equilibrium potential (Ek) =

A

-90mV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
63
Q

Membrane potential at the sodium equilibrium potential (ENa) =

A

+60 mV

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
64
Q

Resting membrane potential (ask robyn)

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
65
Q

Nernst equation (monovalent cation at 37 degrees)

A
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
66
Q

What are all cells at rest

A

negative inside (around 70mV)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
67
Q

The greater the permeability for a given ion…

A

the greater the tendency for that ion to drive membrane potential towards the ion’s own equilibrium potential

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
68
Q

Is Em identical to Ek

A

No - due to the slight inward leak of Na+ into the cell

69
Q

What does the Na+ - K+ pump do

A

help maintain Na+ and K+ concentration gradients - 3Na+ out for every 2K+ in

70
Q

What does the sodium potassium pump generate

A

hyperpolarizing current (inside more negatively charged)

71
Q

How does a change in Em link to secretion of insulin

A

from pancreatic B cells

72
Q

What is the single most important factor in setting Em

A

K+ gradient

73
Q

What is depolarization

A

the membrane potential becomes less negative (or even positive)

74
Q

What is hyperpolarization

A

the membrane potential becomes more negative

75
Q

What does ionic movements across the cell membrane cause

A

changes in membrane potential

76
Q

what does the direction of the change in potential (depolarization or hyperpolarization) depend on

A

the direction of the movement of the ion - into the cell (influx) or out of the cell (efflux)

the charge carried by the ion

77
Q

What is the driving force for Na+

A

Em-Ena

78
Q

What are ion channels

A

protein complexes that speed the rapid flow of selected ions

79
Q

Ion channels : closed state

A

no ion flux

80
Q

Ion channels : open state

A

conducts selected ions

81
Q

What are the types of ion channels

A

Voltage gated - responsible for action potentials

Ligand gated

Mechanical, thermal etc. - respond to physical stimuli

82
Q

Tell me about action potentials

A

brief electrical signals in which the polarity of the nerve cell membrane is momentarily reversed

constant magnitude and velocity along axon, allowing signalling over long distances

“all or nothing” - only generated if the threshold potential is reached

83
Q

What is depolarization mediated by

A

the opening of voltage-activated Na+ channels

84
Q

Tell me about repolarization

A

The membrane potential is returning back to resting value

Closure of Na+ and opening of K+ voltage gated channels

85
Q

What do the voltage-gated K+ channels do in hyperpolarisation after the resting potential has been reached

A

remain open

86
Q

Tell me about the absolute refractory period

A

no stimulus, however strong, can elicit a second action potential

all Na+ channels inactivated

87
Q

Tell me about the relative refractory period

A

A stronger than normal stimulus may elicit a second action potential

mix of inactivated and closed channels, plus membrane is hyperpolarised

88
Q

What is passive conduction

A

nerve cell membrane is not a perfect insulator - passive signals do not spread far from their site of origin

89
Q

The heart is capable of beating rhythmically in the ABSENCE of external stimuli. What is this called?

A

Autorhythmically

90
Q

The heart is electronically controlled. Where are these electrical signals generated

A

within the heart itself

91
Q

Where does excitation of the heart normally originate

A

in the pacemaker cells in the sino-atrial node

92
Q

What initiates the heartbeat

A

cluster of specialised pacemaker cells in the SA node

93
Q

Where is the SA node located

A

upper right atrium close to where the Vena Cava enters the right atrium

94
Q

What drives (i.e. set the pace for) the entire heart

A

SA node

95
Q

A heart controlled by the SA node is said to be in …

A

Sinus Rhythm

96
Q

Do the cells in the SA node have stable resting membrane potential

A

no

97
Q

What do the cells in the SA node generate

A

REGULAR SPONTANEOUS PACEMAKER POTENTIALS

98
Q

The spontaneous pacemaker potential takes the membrane potential to a …

A

threshold

99
Q

What happens every time the threshold is reached (by the pacemaker potential)

A

An action potential is generated

100
Q

What does an action potential being generated result in (in the SA nodal cells)

A

the generation of regular spontaneous action potentials

101
Q

What does the pacemaker potential describe

A

the slow depolarisation of membrane potential to a threshold

102
Q

What is the pacemaker potential mainly due to

A

the funny current
Decrease K+ efflux (at the end of hyperpolarization period)
Ca++ influx

103
Q

What is the funny current

A

a depolarising cation current mainly due to slow Na+ influx through HCN channels

104
Q

What happens once the pacemaker threshold is reached

A

the rising phase of action potential (i.e. depolarization) is caused by opening of long lasting l-type voltage-gated Ca++ influx

resulting in ca++ influx

105
Q

What is the falling phase of pacemaker action potential (i.e. replorization) caused by

A

Inactivation of L-type Ca++ channels

Activation of K+ channels resulting in K+ efflux

106
Q

Describe how cardiac excitation normally spread across the heart

A

SA node - across the atria - reaches AV node - through bundle of HIS (left and right branches) - into the ventricles - purkinje fibres

107
Q

Across the atria mainy, what does cell to cell currently flow via

A

gap junctions

108
Q

The conduction is delayed in the AV node. Why?

A

To allow atrial contraction

109
Q

What allows the rapid spread of action potential to the ventricles

A

The bundle of his and its branches and the network of purkinje fibres

110
Q

What is the resting membrane potential of action potential in contractile myocytes

A

-90mV

111
Q

What is the rising phase of action potential (depolarization) in contractile myocytes caused by

A

fast Na+ influx

112
Q

Phases of contractile myocytes Action Potential :
Phase 0

A

Fast Na+ influx

113
Q

Phases of contractile myocytes Action Potential :
Phase 1

A

closure of Na+ channels and transient K+ efflux

114
Q

Phases of contractile myocytes Action Potential :
Phase 2

A

Mainly Ca++ influx

115
Q

Phases of contractile myocytes Action Potential :
Phase 3

A

Closure of Ca++ channels and K+ efflux

116
Q

Phases of contractile myocytes Action Potential :
Phase 4

A

Resting membrane potential

117
Q

What is the plateau phase of contractile myocytes action potential

A

the membrane potential is maintained near the peak of action potential for a few hundred milliseconds

118
Q

What is an ECG

A

a record of depolarisation and repolarisation cycle of cardiac muscle obtained from skin surface

119
Q

What is compared in an ECG

A

potential difference between different electrodes

120
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the P Wave

A

Atrial depolarisation

121
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the QRS complex

A

Ventricular depolarisation

122
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the T wave

A

ventricular repolarisation

123
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the PR interval

A

largely AV node delay

124
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the ST segment

A

ventricular systole occurs here

125
Q

Have a look at ECG waves graph and tell me about the TP interval

A

diastole occurs here

126
Q

What is the heart rate mainly influenced by

A

the autonomic nervous system

127
Q

What does sympathetic stimulation do

A

increases the heart rate

128
Q

what does parasympathetic stimulation do

A

decrease the heart rate

129
Q

What is a normal resting heart rate

A

between 60 and 100

130
Q

what is a resting heart rate less than 60 bpm called

A

bradycardia

131
Q

what is a resting heart rate more than 100 bpm called

A

tachycardia

132
Q

SLIDE 33

A
133
Q

What does the vagus nerve supply

A

SA node and AV node

134
Q

What does vagal stimulation do

A

slows the rate of firing from SA node

increases AV nodal delay

these slow the heart rate

135
Q

What is the neurotransmitter for the parasympathetic supply of the heart

A

acetyle choline

136
Q

What do cardiac sympathetic nerves supply

A

SA node, AV node, myocardium

137
Q

What does sympathetic stimulation do

A

increases rate of firing from SA node

decreases AV nodal delay

138
Q

What is the neurotransmitter for the sympathetic supply of the heart

A

Noraderinaline

139
Q

Is the cardiac muscle striated

A

yes

140
Q

What is the striation in cardiac muscle caused by

A

regular arrangement of contractile protein

141
Q

What are the cardiac myocytes electrically coupled by

A

gap junctions

142
Q

What do gap junctions ensure happen in cardiac muscle

A

that each electrical excitation reaches all the cardiac myocytes (all or nothing law of the heart)

143
Q

Heart: what do the desmosomes within the intercalated discs provide

A

mechanical adhesion between adjacent cardiac cells

144
Q

What does each muscle fibre cell contain

A

many myofibrils

145
Q

what are myofibrils

A

contractile units of muscle

146
Q

Myofibrils have alternating segments of what

A

thick and thin protein filaments

147
Q

What is the thin filaments of myofibrils and how do they appear

A

actin

causes the lighter appearance in myofibrils and fibres

148
Q

What is the thick filaments of myofibrils and how do they apper

A

myocyin

causes the darker appearance

149
Q

How are actin and myocin arranged in each myofibril

A

into sarcomeres

150
Q

How is muscle tension produced

A

sliding of actin filaments on myocin filaments

151
Q

Is ATP required for contraction or relaxation

A

BOTH!!!

haha, i tricked you

152
Q

In cardiac muscle, where is Ca++ released from

A

Sacroplasmic reticulum

153
Q

In cardiac muscle, the release of Ca++ from SR is dependent on …

A

the presence of extra-cellular Ca++

154
Q

Heart: what is the refractory period

A

period following an action potential in which it is not possible to produce another action potential

155
Q

During the plateau phase of ventricular action, are the Na+ channels open/closed

A

closed

they are depolarized

156
Q

What does contraction of ventricular muscle eject

A

stroke voluume

157
Q

What is the definition of stroke volume

A

the volume of blood ejected by each ventricle per heart beat

158
Q

What is the stroke volume regulated by

A

intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms

159
Q

Intrinsic =

A

within the heart muscle itself

160
Q

Extrinsic =

A

nervous and hormone control

161
Q

What are changes in stroke volume brought about by

A

changes in the diastolic length/diastolic stretch of myocardial fibres

162
Q

what does afterload mean

A

the resistance into which the heart is pumping

163
Q

Where would you sample bone marrow from in an adult

A

illiac crest

164
Q

What is haemostasis

A

arrest of blood loss from a damaged vessel (clotting)

165
Q

What are the requirements of haemostasis

A

Permanent state of readiness
Prompt response
Localised response
protection against unwanted thrombosis

166
Q

What are the components of normal haemostatic system

A

Formation of platelet plug (primary haemostasis)

Formation of fibrin clot (secondary haemostasis)

fibrinolysis

anticoagulant defences

167
Q

where are megakaryocytes found

A

ONLY in platelets

168
Q

What is reduced number of platelets called

A

thrombocytopenia