Physiology Midterm 1 Flashcards
What is physiology?
The science of the function of living systems
What is function?
“Why does the system exist or why does the event occur?
What is process?
How does a system work/the physiological mechanisms
What is homeostasis?
maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment (especially the ECF), oscillation around a set point
Who coined the term homeostasis and wisdom of the body?
Walter Cannon
Study of homeostatic mechanisms?
Physiology
Failure to compensate for change?
Disease
Study of the failure to compensate for disease?
Pathophysiology
What is local control?
Cells near site of change initiate response (working muscle = metabolites cause vasodilation at that site, not the whole body)
What is reflex control?
Cells at a distant site control response; uses the neural and/or endocrine systems. (blood pressure increase sensed by baroreceptors in aorta and caratid arteries = brain evaluates change and initiates response_
Components of response loop
stimulus, sensor, input signal, integrating centre, output signal, target, response
Negative feedback?
homeostatic, stabilizes variable, response coutneracts stimulus, shutting off response loop
Positive feedback?
NOT homeostatic, reinforces stimulus, sends variable further from setpoint, usually dramatic things
Feedforward control
Anticipates change, boots up system to be ready for change (seeing food = increase salivation and stomach motility in anticipation of a meal, or getting pumped before a race)
What are electrical signals and what cells are the restricted to?
changes in membrane potential and restricted to nerve and muscle cells
What is the most common form of cell to ell communication in the body?
chemical signals
What are target cells?
Cells that respond to signals
Endocrine signalling?
hormone/chemical released into bloodstream and distributed throughout body
Neural signalling?
electrical signal travels down neuron; reaches end and is translated to chemical signal (neurotransmitter) which transmits information to the next cell
neuro endocrine signalling?
electrical signal travels down neuron; reaches end and is secreted into blood
What cells respond to a signal
Only those that have RECEPTORS (presence of receptor determined by genetic expression)
Where are receptors located?
Proteins inside the cell or project to outside the membrane
Lopphobic.hydrophilic ligans bind where?
Surface receptor proteins
Lipophilic/hydrophobic ligans bind where?
intracellular receptors
How many transmembrane folds do GPCRs have?
7
Signal transduction steps?
Signal molecule binds to membrane receptor protein activating intracellular signal molecules which alter target proteins and create a response
Kinase?
Add phosphates
IP3?
Made from PI, GPCR that uses phospholipase C as an amplifier enzyme, releases calcium from intracellular stores
DAG?
made from PI, GPCR, uses phospholipase C as amplifier enzyme, activates protein Kinase C, phosphorylates proteins
Ca2+ in cell to cell signaling?
Binds to calmodulin and other proteins to alter enzyme activity, exocytosis, muscle contraction, cytoskelton movement, channel opening
cAMP in cell to cell signalling?
Amplified by adenyl cyclase and activates PKA and binds to protein ion channels, effects are phosphorylation of proteins and alters channel opening
How can same signal have different effects in different cell types?
Several different types of receptors
How are receptors like enzymes?
Exhibit saturation, specificity, competition for their ligands
How can cells change their response to signals?
By changing receptor number or sensitivty
How do cells increase receptor number?
Increase gene regulation (up regulation)
How do cells decrease receptor number?
Internalize surface receptors (down regulation)
How do cells change receptor sensitivity?
Phosphorylation
Agonist?
Similar molecule that activates receptor, giving the same response, MIMICS it
Antagonist?
molecule that is similar enough to native ligand to bind to receptor, but not activate it, BLOCKER
Cannon’s 4 postulates?
- Nervous system has a role in maintaining fitness of the internal environment (coordinates responses that regulate blood volume, blood pressure, osmolarity, etc) 2. some systems are under tonic control 3. some systems are under antagonistic control 4. one chemical signal can have different effects in different tissues
Tonic control?
Regulates physiological parameters in an up down fashion (blood vessel diameter)
Antagonistic control?
2 systems compete for control over parameter. Whichever has the greater tone will have the greater effect
Where a sensors/detectors/receptors often located?
in the ECF
Central receptors?
Specialized cells/structures CLOSE TO THE BRAIN that convert stimuli into electrical signals (eyes, ears, nose, tongue
Peripheral receptors?
Specialized cells/structures OUTSIDE the brain that convert stimuli into electrical signals (baroreceptors, thermoreceptors, chemoreceptors, etc)
Simple endocrine reflex?
Int/ext change, endocrine system senssor-integrating centre, output signal is a hormone, target, response
Simple neural reflex?
int/ext change, receoptor, input signal:sensory neuron, nervous system:integrating centre, efferent neuron, target, response
A complex neuro-endocrine reflex
Int/ext change, receptor, input signal: sensory neuron, nervous system integrating center, efferent neuron or neurohormone, endocrine integrating centre, output signal #2: hormone, target, response
Difference in specificity in neural reflex and endocrine reflex?
Each neuron terminates on a single target cell or on a limited number of target cells. Endocrine reflex sends hormone to most cells in the body, and only those with a recpetor respond.
Difference in speed between neural and endocrine reflex?
Very rapid versus much slower
Duration of action in neural vs. endocrine reflex
Very short. Responses of longer duration are mediated by neuromodulators. vs. Responses usually last longer than neural responses.
Intensity of a neural reflex is related to?
Each signal is identical in strength. Stimulus intensity is correlated to increased frequency of signalling.
Intensity of endocrine reflex is related to?
Amount of hormone dumped into system
Evolution in animals in nervous systems?
Jellyfish “nerve net,” flatworm’s cerebral ganglia and nerve cords, earthworm’s primitive brain and ventral nerve cord ganglia…CEPHALIZATION…fish with a small forebrain, birds with bigger forebrain, mammals with large, folded forebrain
Development of vertebrate CNS?
Flat neural tissue converges, with the epidermis forming a covering, the neural plate border forming neural crest cells, and the nueral tube formed by the folding
Neural crest cells?
Will migrate throughout the body and contribute to many structures, including peripheral nervous system
Neural tube forms?
CNS
Human CNS at 4 weeks?
Anterior end of neural tube specialized into 3 regions
Human CNS at 6 weeks
Neural tube differentiated into major brain regions present at birth
At 6 weeks, hind brain differentiates into?
Medulla, cerebellum, and pons
At 6 weeks, forebrain differentiates into?
Diencephalon and cerebrum
11 weeks into human CNS development
Growth of cerebrum much more rapid that of other regions
Human CNS at birth
Cerebrum covers most of other brain regions; convoluted surface due to rapid growth in confined space
Meninges in order from superficial to deep
Dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater
Protection and support for CNS?
Surrounded by bony cage, 3 layers of connective tissue, fluid between layers –CSF
CSF is secreted from?
Choroid plexus in the 3rd and 4th ventricle
How is CSF made?
Ependymal cells pump out ions, which draw water out of plasma, making CSF
Oligiodendrocytes
form myelin sheaths within CNS
microglia
immune cell lineage–phagocytic
astrocytes
regulate local extracellular fluid by releasing chemicals
ependymal cells
create barriers between compartments
How often is CSF recycled/flushed and how much is made per day?
4x per day and 500 mL
Compared to blood, CSF has
Lower K+, Ca2+, HCO3-, glucose, nad pH, similar Na+, and VERY LOW PROTEIN AND NO BLOOD CELLS
How is CSF reabsobred into venous blood?
arachnoid villi
Circulation of CSF?
Lateral ventricles, third ventricles, fourth ventricles, through Foramen of Magendie and Luschka to arachnoid villi to superior sagittal sinus/dural sinus, venous return to heart. At the fourth ventricle, some of the CSF is exchanged with the central canal of spinal cord…some also goes back into 4th ventricle here, too
How are tight junctions promoted in the CNS?
Astrocyte foot processes secrete paracrine factors that promote tight junction formation, which prevent solute movement between endothelial cells
What can readily cross the blood-brain barrier?
Lipid soluble molecules like ethanol
What types of substances will only cross the blood-brain barrier if specific transports/carriers are present on endothelial cells of capillaries within CNS?
Hydrophilic substances like ions, amino acids, peptides, and proteins
How is the blood-brain barrier important for phamacological practices?
Allows for the design of drugs that cannot or can cross the barrier, depending on what you want. Anti-histamine doesn’t cross, so doesn’t make you drowsy, but WANT l-dops to cross using an AA transporter to become dopamine for Parkinson’s disease
Can neurons use anaerobic metabolism?
NO…obligate aerobes
Can oxygen readily corss the blood-brain barrier?
YES!!
How much of the body’s glucose does the body consume, and how does it access it?
Consumes approximately half of body’s glucose consumption, and the capillaries of CNS express high levels of glucose transporters (GLUT-1)
How much of the CO goes to the brain to supply oxygen and glucose?
15%
Purpose of spinal cord?
Major path for information flow between CNS and skin, joints, muscles and contains neural networks involved in locomotion
4 regions of spinal cord?
Cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral
Sympathetic neuron axons leave the spinal cord at what levels?
Thoracic and lumbar
Parasympathetic neurons’ axons leave the spinal cord at what levels?
Brain stem and sacral regions
Ascending and descending tracts consist of what type of matter?
WHITE matter (myelinates axons)
Dorsal columns are part of what tracts and purpose of them
Part of ascending tracts an send information of touch/pressure and proprioreception from the 4 regions
Spinocerebellar column is part of what type of tract and its purpose?
Ascending tracts and is used for proprioreception/posture/coordination
Spinothalamic column is part of what type of tract and its purpose?
Ascending tract and for pain/temperature
Corticospinal tracts are part are part of what type of tract and purpose?
DESCENDING tracts for for VOLUNTARY movement
Spinal reflex?
Stimulus. sensory information to spinal cord, integrating centre is an interneron, command to muscles/glands, response…Initiates response without input from the brain (but does send some sensory information there for perception)
Purpose of corpus callosum>
Axons that allow communication between sides of the brain
Parts of the diencephalon>
Thalamus, pineal gland, hypothalamus, and pituitary gland (:interbrain, in between brain)
What is the oldest, most primitive part of the brain?
Brainstem
Brain stem contains structures dervied from embryonic regions____?
Hind and midbrain
How many spinal nerves originate at brain stem?
11 OF 12
Cranial nerve x?
VAGUS nerve
Reticular formation is located where?
Brain stem
Purpose of reticular formation?
Diffuse network of neurons that is involved in processes such as arousal/slepp, muscle tone, coordination of breathing, and blood pressure
Function of gray matter in medulla?
Involved in control of many involuntary functions–blood pressure, breathing, swallowing, vomiting
Function of medulla’s white matter?
Ascending somatosensory tracts, descending corticospinal tracts, and site of decussation (crossing over) for most neurons in corticospinal tract
Diencephalon is located?
Between brain stem and cerebrum
Purpose of thalamus?
Relays and integrates sensory info from lower parts of CNS, ears, eyes, motor info from cerebellum
Purpose of hypothalmus?
Tiny region, but major centre for homeostasis–contains centres that drive behaviour related to hunger, satiety, thirst, and influences autonomic responses, and endocrine responses
Purpose of pineal gland?
Secretes hormone melaatonin–involved on circadian and seasonal rhythms
What’s a key differnce between a local/paracrine factor regulator and a hormone?
Local regulators diffuse to neighbour cells; hormones travel hroughout the body to distant target cells
In signal transducction, ligand binding to a cell surface receptor results in information transfer in for of _____ from upstream and downstream pathways?
Alterations in protein confirmation (phosphates and CA2+ change protein confirmation)
A 2nd messenger participates in signal transduction pathway by…
Relaying a message from inside of membrane to cytoplasm
Glucagon acts via a GPCR that acts by increasing levels of cyclic AMP. What is the 1st and 2nd messengers?
1st = glucagon, amplifier = adenyl cyclase, 2nd messenger = cAMP
Four lobes of brain?
Frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal
How many hemispheres in brain?
2
FUrrow or groove in brain?
Sulcus (plural = sulci)
Convolution?
Gyrus
Three regions of cerebral gray matter?
Cerebral cortex, basal ganglia/nuclei, and limbic system
Purpose of basal ganglia/nuclei?
Motor coordinatoin
Purpose of cerebral cortex?
Outermost part of cerbrum, mostly higher brain functions
Purpose of limbic system?
Emotions
Functional areas of cerebal cortex?
Sensory areas that translate sensory input into perception (awareness), motor areas that control skeletal muscles, and association areas that integrate info from sensory and motor areas
Frontal lobe contains what?
Primary motor cortex, premotor cortex/motor association area, and the prefrontal association area
Parietal lobe contains?
Primary somatic sensory cortex and sensory association area that receives info from muscoskeletal system, visceral, and taste buds
Occipital love contains?
Visual association area and visual cortex
Temporal lobe contains?
Auditory cortex and auditory association area
Another name for primary motor cortex in frontal lobe?
Precentral gyrus
Another name for primary somatosensory cortex in parietal lobe?
Postcentral gyrus
Neural pathways extend from sensory areas to association areas to…?
integrate stimuli into perception
Small body parts with LOTS of control have what size on the somatotopic map?
Bigger area of the motorcortex, like face and hands
Places that have lots of sensation need what size in the somatosensory somatotopic map?
Big regions…like the lips and hands, but NOT the toes/libs
Scientist credited with hte burnty toast cure to epilepsy?
Wildred Penfield
Neural pathway for voluntary movement?
Primary motor cortex sends signal to contract. Signal is carried in the anterior corticospinal tract, where at the caudal end of the medulla, most of the corticospinal neurons cross to opposite sides of the body. Finally, the primary motomeuron crosses over at the bottom and synapses onto the somatic motor neuron which will synapse onto the skeletal muscle
The blood brain barrier…
consists of cerebral capillaries that are more tightly sealed than other capillaries in the body and involved a relationship between glial cells called astrocytes and endothelial cells of cerebral capillaries
The dorsal root ganglia contain…
Cell bodies of somatosensory neurons
How can the spinal cord act as an integrating centre with cc to brain?
Step on a tack…withdrawal reflex is a simple neural reflex, but crossed extensor reflex requires input from the brain
Examples of stimulus processing that occur consciously?
Vision, hearing, taste, smell, equilibrium, touch, temperature, pain, itch, proprioreception
Stimulus processing that occurs subconsciously?
Somatic stimuli (muscle length and tension and proprioreception) and visceral stimuli (blood pressure, distension of GI tract, blood glucose concentrations, internal body temperature, osmolarity of body fluids, ling inflation, pH of CSF, and pH and O2 of blood
Example of how a sensory pathway works
Stimulus (some form of physical energy) acts on a receptor. Receptor trasduces stimulus into intracellular signal (typically a change in membrane potential). If change in MP reaches threshhold, APs travel along afferent neuron for either subconscious processing or conscious processing in correct region in cortex
Sensory receptors for pain, touch, temp?
Free nerve endings…NO MYELIN
Sesory receptors for cutaneous touch?
Pacinian corpuscle…nerve endings enclosed in connective tissue capsules
Receptors for special senses?
Usually cells that release neurotrasnmitter onto sensory neurons…like hair cells
Chemoreceptors respond to? Examples?
Respond to chemicals…examples area O2, pH, carious organic molecules such as glucose
Mechanoreceptors?
Respond to pressure (baroreceptors), cell stretch (osmoreceptors), vibration, acceleration, sound
Photoreceptors respond to?
Pohtons of light
Thermoreceptors respnd to?
Varying degrees of heat and cold
Stimulus to a sensrry neuron usulally does what?
Opens or closes ion channels in receptor cell membrane directly or via a 2nd messenger…mostly open cation channels for hyperpolarization but sometimes open K+ channels for hyperpolrization
What are receptive fields?
Stimuli that fall within a certain area that activate cutaneous receptors (patch of skin) or photoreceptors (light falling on an area of the retina)