Physiology Flashcards
(207 cards)
Fluid balance
Total body volume = 42L (60% total body weight)
Blood volume = 5.6L (plasma + RBC)
Losses via lungs (400ml/day), skin (1L/day), faeces (100ml/day), urine (1.5L/day)
So maintenance fluid requirement 30ml/kg/day
Hormones regulating extracellular fluid volume
ADH directly
ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide) indirectly
Renin-angiotensin system - plasma osmolarity and indirectly blood volume via aldosterone
Minor regulators - glucocorticoids and catecholamines
Osmolarity vs osmolality
Osmolarity = number of osmoles of solution per litre of solution (Osm/L), measure of solute concentration
Osmolality = osmoles of solute per kg of solvent (Osm/kg)
Osmosis
= movement of water from low solute concentration to higher concentration via semi-permeable membrane
Opposed by hydrostatic power
1osmol/L depresses freezing point by 1.86degrees
Plasma osmolarity
= 300mOsm/L
Na+ = 140 (main contributor)
Cl- = 140
K+ = 4
Anion = 4
Glucose = 5
Urea = 5
Starling’s law of capillaries
Relating to fluid movement across the capillary membrane as a result of filtration
Starling’s forces show relationship between hydrostatic and oncotic pressures:
Oncotic - 26mmHg blood, 1mmHg interstitial
Hydrostatic - 35mmHg arterial, 16mmHg venous, 0 interstitial
Net filtration pressure NFP = pressure promoting filtration - pressure promoting reabsorption
so NFP arterial= (35+1) - (26+0) = 10mmHg
NFP venous = (16+1) - (16+0) = -9mmHg
Oedema
Increased fluid in interstitial space
Anasarca is generalised oedema with SC tissue swelling
Due to - increased hydrostatic pressure, reduced plasma oncotic pressure, lymphatic obstruction, sodium retention, inflammation
Acid-base balance and anion gap
Regulated by respiratory, kidneys, blood, bones, liver
Anion gap normally 8-16mEq/L.
= Na - (HCO3 + Cl)
Raised anion gap (more +ve)
- lactic acidosis (methanol, salicylate, paraldehyde)
- ketoacidosis
- hypoalbuminaemia
Reduced anion gap (less +ve)
- bromide
- myeloma
Henderson-Hasselbach equation
HA + H2O <-> A- + H3O+
H2O + CO2 <-> H+ + HCO3-
If H+ generated, reaction shifts to left. So generates CO2, consumes HCO3-.
If HCO3- lost, reaction shifts to right. So generates H+, consumes CO2.
Net gain in H+ is the same as a net loss in HCO3-
pH and compensation
Logarithmic relationship
pH = pK + log10[HCO3-]/[CO2]
Respiratory compensation
- only in metabolic disorders, instantaneous
Metabolic compensation
- via kidneys, slower
- for respiratory disorders or metabolic disorders not originating in kidneys
Normal arterial maternal/fetal blood values
Maternal arterial:
O2 sats >97%
pO2 100mmHg
pCO2 40mmHg/4kPa
Base excess -2 to 2
HCO3- 24mEq/L
pH 7.34-44
Hb 12gm/dL
Fetal
O2 sats venous 75%, arterial 25%
pO2 venous 35mmHg, artery 25mmHg
pCO2 8-10kPa
Base excess venous -1 to 9, artery -2.5 to 10
pH venous 7.17-7.48, arterial 7.05-7.38
Hb 18gm/dL
HCO3-
Alkaline
Manufactured in DCT and collecting duct (PCT is not involved in acid-base balance)
DCT cells produce CO2, which reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H2CO3) with carbonic anhydrase as catalyst
H2CO3 is unstable organic acid, so rapidly dissociates into H+ and HCO3-
CO2 + H2o -> H2CO3 -> H+ + HCO3-
HCO3- enters circulation, in urine is buffered by NH4+ (ammonium - increases during acidosis) and HPO4^2- (hydrogen phosphate)
Long-term acidosis effect on K+
H+ enters cell (as high extracellular concentration)
K+ driven out of cell to maintain electrical neutrality
-> hyperkalaemia
Base excess/deficit
= the amount of acid or alkali required to restore 1L of blood to a normal pH (7.4), at a pCO2 of 5.3kPa, and temp 37
Need serum bicarb concentration and pH values to calculate
Normal range -2 to 2 mEq/L
Negative BE = metabolic acidosis
Positive BE = metabolic alkalosis (excess, excess bicarb)
Acid-base changes in fetus
Cord compression -> respiratory acidosis
Placental insufficiency -> metabolic acidosis
Anaerobic metabolism (when O2 sats <25%) -> increased lactate -> acidosis
Electrolyte changes in pregnancy
Osmolarity decreases by 10mOsm/L (in response to progesterone)
HCO3- decreases in response to decreased CO2
Na+ decreases in response to fall in HCO3- and reset of plasma osmolarity
Calcium functions and distribution
Functions - bone formation, muscle contraction, enzyme co-factor, blood clotting (coag cascade), secondary messenger, stabilisation of membrane potentials
Required intake 1g/day, or 1.5g/day when pregnant
Calcium distribution in body
1kg total body calcium, 99% in skeleton
Extracellular (plasma) calcium is 45% ionised, 55% bound to plasma proteins, phosphate, bicarbonate
- in acidosis, increased ionised calcium
Plasma (extracellular) ionised Ca2+ 12,000x more concentrated than intracellular
Intracellular it is sequestrated out of cytosol and within endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, only released in certain circumstances or cell damage
Calcium modulation
Via PTH and PTHrP (parathyroid hormone related peptide), and calcitonin
Absorption from GI tract via
- active uptake - Na+/Ca2+ ATPase
- transcellular transport - calbindin
- endocytosis - Ca2+-calbindin complex via TRPV6 membrane Ca channel
Phosphate functions
Intracellular metabolism (ATP synthesis)
Phosphorylation of enzymes
Forms phospholipids in membranes
Parathyroid hormone
Peptide hormone - 84 amino acids, many isoforms
Acts on G-protein receptors
Half life in minutes, store supplies last 90 mins
Does not cross the placenta
INCREASES Ca
DECREASES phosphate
ANTAGONISES calcitonin
Acts on:
- Bone to increase resorption
- Kidney to increase absorption from DCT, decrease re-absorption from PCT, increase vitD production by increasing 1α-hydroxylase, and promoting calcitriol formation
- Gut to increase calcium and phosphate absorption
Calcitonin
Polypeptide, 32 amino acids
Produced by C cells (parafollicular) in thyroid
Secreted in response to high phosphate and calcium
Decreases circulating calcium by:
- preventing osteoclast action
- decreasing reabsorption of phosphate and calcium in PCT
- decreasing calcium absorption in GI tract
Phosphaturic hormone
Decreases phosphate in blood, increases phosphate in urine
Counteracts the actions of vitD
Predominantly made by osteoblasts
Vitamin D
Pro-hormone
In two forms - ergocalciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3)
Made in skin, placenta, decidua