principles of physiology - week 1 Flashcards
In what aspects was science in all cultures present since the beginning?
Medicine
Where did Natural philosophy develop first?
In Ancient Greece
What was the aim of natural philosophy?
to explain everything in Nature with no deference to the supernatural
Why was Greece the origin of natural philosophy?
Jared Diamond argues that major historic societal developments are du to the local animals and plants
What did Diamond say was NOT a reason for major historic societal developments?
the differences in intelligence between cultural groups
The influence of Western science
Roman Empire in early 2nd C AD - influence of Catholic Church
What happened when the Church dominated in terms of science?
Science was blended in with religious believes, which could not be challenged
Where did the protestant movement firstly cam to life?
in northern Europe (ca. 16th C.)
What changes with the beginn of the protestant movement?
the development of “modern” science - breaks free of the Catholic Church, Enlightenment flourishes
Define “modern science”
idea that you can test Nature to get the answers but that you need to carefully guard against bias
Who was the father of “modern” science
Francis Bacon
Name two different schools of though trying to understand life
holism vs. reductionism
What is holism?
thinking about the entirety of an organism
What other term can holism be referred to?
systems biology
Define reductionism
became more popular with the improvement of technology: delving into creatures to explore each of the parts in finer and finer details
define vitalism
life requires a soul of some sort
define mechanism
life emerges from complexity
example for mechanism vs, vitalism
muscle contraction
- Galvani found that electricity could make frog legs move
What did Galvanis findings lead to?
the popularisation of the idea that, perhaps, the animation of creatures - life itself- could be explained by physics and chemistry alone
What do we now know about Galvani’s results?
that sliding filament model of muscle contraction requires no “soul”
Name three challenges to vitalists:
- if there eis a soul, what biological material is required for its interaction?
- if the answer is a complex CNS, what about those organisms without it?
- if the soul interacts with biological material, then why can’t we detect it?
Challenge to mechanists:
- if there is no “soul”, then how do we explain through and emotions?
- How can we decide anything - free will?
Name 5 troubling areas which require developments:
- neurobiology and questions of conciseness
2, bioethics and issues of when life begins and ends - biotechnology and out ability to engineer organisms
- artificial intelligence and the possible boundaries between living/ non-living
- the vast array of life that is non-human
Name the 10 major systems allowing for bodily function
- skeletal
- muscular
- cardiovascular
- nervous
- endocrine
- lymphatic
- respiratory
- digestive
- urinary
- reproductive
Which three systems build the network which facilitates other systems?
skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular
How many bones make up the adult skeleton?
200
What is the function of the skeletal system?
it holds the body together, gives the body its shape and provides anchor points for the MUSCULAR SYSTEM
What are the three types of muscles?
skeletal, smooth, cardiac
what is the function of the muscular system?
facilitates movement
What system is within the Muscular system?
the cardiovascular (circulatory system)
What is the function of the cardiovascular?
its a pipeline which delivers oxygen, white blood cells, hormones, nutrients
What is included in the cardiovascular system?
heart, blood vessels, blood
What is the nervous system?
the communication system of nerve cells
What is the function of the nervous system?
it transmits info and coordinates function
What is the nervous system comprised of?
brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, spinal nerves
What systems regulate the body?
endocrine, lymphatic, urinary
What is the endocrine systems?
a series of glands
What is the function of the endocrine system?
- uses information carried by the nervous system to help regulate
- thyroid and others are aware of nr of hormones and chemicals needed to be produced
What system distribute the chemicals produced by the endocrine system?
the cardiovascular system
What system utilises the cardiovascular and nervous system?
lymphatic system
What is the lymphatic system?
collection of lymph nodes and vessels
What is the function of the lymphatic system (aka immune system)
- helps regulate bodies defences
- uses neural pathways to transmit info about affected areas
- sent out healing agents like white blood cells via blood stream
What is the urinary system (aka renal system) made up of?
kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra
What does the urinary system do?
- maintains bodies electrolytes
- filters waste from blood to sent through blood vessels into kidney to be expelled as urine
Which systems require energy to function?
skeletal
muscular
cardiovascular
nervous system
endocrine
lymphatic system
urinary system
Which two systems provide energy?
respiratory (via O2) and digestive system (via food)
what is the respiratory system?
group of passageways and organs which extract oxygen form air
Describe the way the air
- air enters via nasal cavities
- throat
- lungs
What happens in the lungs?
extract for body to use, expel CO2 via exhale
What is the digestive system?
30 ft series of organs converting food to fuel
Describe how the moves through the body
- moves via mouth
- oesophagus
- stomach
- intestine
- nutrients absorbed into body
- solid waste is expelled via anal canal
What do all systems have in common?
their origin, the reproductive system
What is the function of the reproductive system?
responsible for creating life
Name the primary organs part of the reproductive system
- differ between sexes
- male: testes, sperm channel
- female: ovaries, fallopian tube, uterus, vagina
- together fertilisation may occur, organs form, child is born
