week 5 reader

Question 2

interstitial fluid

Answer 2

• a solution that bathes and surrounds the cells + is found in the interstitial spaces
• main component of the extracellular fluid, which also includes plasma and transcellular fluid
• e.g. interstitial fluid is where you have swelling when a bug bites; also where edema occurs

Question 3

interstitial space

Answer 3

space b/w cell + capillary where interstitial fluid is located

Question 4

lymphocytopenia

Answer 4

• lower than normal level of lymphocytes in blood, which makes you more prone to fungal + viral infections (whereas low overall WBC count means you would be more prone to bacterial infections)
• associated with increased rates of infection after surgery or trauma
• in HIV patients, low T cell lymphocytes occurs when the HIV virus infects and destroys T cells (specifically, the CD4+ subgroup of T lymphocytes), which are a key part of the immune system

Question 5

lymphocytosis

Answer 5

• higher than normal level of lymphocytes in blood
• a high lymphocyte coount is usually a sign of a viral infection and indicates that you are in the process of fighting a virus (in some rare case, leukemias are found through an abnormally raised lymphocyte count in an otherwise normal person)
• a high lymphocyte count with a low neutrophil count might be caused by lymphoma

Question 6

lymphocytopenia vs. lymphocytosis

Answer 6

the two words are antonyms:

• lymphocytopenia is a general decrease in # of lymphocytes
• lymphocytosis is a general increase in # of lymphocytes

Question 7

neutropenia

Answer 7

• a hematological disorder characterized by an abnormally low # of neutrophil graculocytes (a type of WBC)
• patients with neutropenia are more susceptible to bacterial infections (b/c neutrophils usu. make up 50-70% of circulating WBC’s and serve as the primary defense against infections by destroying bacteria in the blood)

Question 8

dendritic cell

Answer 8

• dendritic cells can capture antigens + associated peptides using special receptors; the cells then process + display the peptides so that the immune cells organize a response against anything that has that peptide, including cancer cells
• main function is to process antigen material + present it on the surface to other cells of the immune system.
• dentritic cells communicate w/ the whole immune system, acting as messengers between the innate + adaptive immunity
• you can stimulate them using massage + touch therapy
• so-called because the long arm resembles the dendrite of neurons

Question 9

leukopenia

Answer 9

• a decrease in # of circulating WBC’s (leukocytes) in blood, which places you at increased risk of infection
• aka leukocytopenia, or leucopenia

Question 10

leukocytosis

Answer 10

• an increase in # of circulating WBCs (leukocytes) in blood

- usu. a discrimating sign that indicates bacterial infection

Question 11

leukopenia vs. leukocytosis

Answer 11

the two words are antonyms:

• leukopenia is a general decrease in # of leukocytes
• leukocytosis is a general increase in # of leukocytes

Question 12

lymphadenopathy

Answer 12

• refers to “swollen/enlarged lymph nodes” (although the term means “disease of the lymph nodes”)
• could be due to infection, auto-immune disease, or malignancy
• e.g. “cat scratch disease” where location of swollen lymph nodes indicates area of infection due to bacteria from cat scratch

Question 13

lymphoma

Answer 13

a tumor of the lymphatic system

Question 14

burkitt’s lymphoma

Answer 14

• a lymphatic cancer that has special affinity for metastizing quickly + growing in bones
• assoc. w/ epstein-barr virus
• first discovered in equatorial africa

Question 15

lymphangitis

Answer 15

• an inflammation or infection of the lymphatic channels that occurs as a result of infection at a site distal to the channel
• most common cause is Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A strep)
• signs and symptoms include a deep reddening of the skin, warmth, lymphadenitis, and a raised border around the affected area; the person may also have chills and a high fever along with moderate pain and swelling

Question 16

large lymphangioma

Answer 16

• a tumor of the lymph system that develops enlarged lymph nodes
• 90% occur in children less than 2 years of age and involve the head and neck
• lymphangiomas are commonly diagnosed before birth using fetal ultrasonography; acquired lymphangiomas may result from trauma, inflammation, or lymphatic obstruction
• since most are benign lesions that result only in a soft, slow-growing, “doughy” mass, they are usually treated for cosmetic reasons only

Question 17

cardiovascular system

Answer 17

• an organ system that moves substances to/from cells; to/from heart
• general circulation + pulmonary circulation
• in pulmonary circulation, L side of heart collects blood from lung while R side collects blood from veinous system

Question 18

artery vs. vein

Answer 18

1. MUSCULAR TISSUE - arteries have tremendous amount of myo tissue b/c need to conract + dilate; veins don’t need as much myo b/c only function is to collect blood + bring it back to heart
2. VALVES - veins have valves that allow blood to only flow one way (like 2 shirt pockets kissing); movement of valves helps circulate blood in veins

Question 19

diastole

Answer 19

when heart myo relaxes + allows blood to collect in ventricle + atrium

Question 20

systole

Answer 20

when heart myo contracts, sending blood from the L ventricle to the aorta + body, and from the R ventricle to the lungs

Question 21

diastole vs. systole

Answer 21

• atrial diastole occurs during ventricle systole
• atrial systole occurs during ventricle diastole

diastole = relaxation
systole = contraction

Question 22

fibrillation

Answer 22

• rapid, irrecular + unsynchronized contraction of myo fibers (b/c myo is made of many diff. fibers)
• e.g. can happen with twitching of the eye when tired

” fibrille” = fibers

Question 23

fibrillation in heart

Answer 23

• heart myo is not voluntary, and all myo fibers need to work together as one cell for proper function
• ventricular fibrillation is when myo fibers of ventricles are not synchronized – this is a common cause of cardiac arrest and is usually fatal if not reversed by defibrillation; also happens at the moment of death
• atrial fibrillation is a common chronic condition + can be treated

Question 24

myositis

Answer 24

inflammation or infection of muscle, likely caused by autoimmune conditions

Question 25

myasteria gravis (MG)

Answer 25

• a neuromuscular disease leading to fluctuating weakness + fatiguability
• causes gradual + progressive weakening of myo (one of first signs is droopy eyelid)
• a genetic condition; associated w/ various autoimmune diseases including thyroid diseases (Hashimoto’s thyroiditis + Graves’ disease), diabetes mellitus type 1, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus

"myastheneia" = muscle disease
"gravis" = serious

Question 26

myotome

Answer 26

1. any of cells in early embryos that give rise to all the myo of the body
2. group of myo that is supplied by a nerve of the spine (more common definition) – e.g. sciatic nerve (in Chinese Medicine, sciatica is caused by anger; sciatic nerve is site of gall bladder channel; LIV + GB are a pair; represed anger leads to issues in LIV + GB

Question 27

arthromyalgia

Answer 27

muscle + joint pain

Question 28

atrophy

Answer 28

shrinking in size of some structure or organ of body, usu. caused by injury, disease or lack of use – e.g. polio where nerve damage leads to myo damage

“trophane” = to nourish

Question 29

hypotrophy

Answer 29

UNDERdeveloping in size of some structure or organ of body, usu. caused by disease or lack of use or hormonal deficiency

Question 30

hypothrophy vs. achondroplasia

Answer 30

• hypotrophy is where torso + limbs are still proportionate (e.g. mini-me)
• achondroplasia is where body parts oare dis-proportionate (e.g. Peter Dinklage)

Question 31

hypertrophy

Answer 31

OVERdeveloping in size of some structure or organ of body, usu. caused by excess of use or hormonal overstimulation – e.g. weight lifters who use hormone injections

Question 32

peri- (prefix)

Answer 32

around

Question 33

pericarditis

Answer 33

• inflammation of heart sac (pericardiam); a characteristic chest pain is often present.
• hypertrophy of heart leads to cardiovascular disease that may lead to heart attack (problem is that blood vessels don’t grow at the same rate as muscle, and there can be an accumulation of fluid b/w pericardium + heart)
• common in athletes of endurance sports

Question 34

serosa

Answer 34

• a serous membrane, especially one that lines the pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal cavities, enclosing their contents
• serosa protects the heart from rubbing w/ other organs

Question 35

perianal

Answer 35

around the anus – e.g. perianal infection

Question 36

perimenopausal

Answer 36

around the time of menopause

Question 37

perinatal

Answer 37

around the time of birth

Question 38

periostium

Answer 38

a sheet or membrane that surrounds outer surface of bone (endosteum lines the inner surface of bone)

Question 39

peritoneum

Answer 39

• the serous membrane that lines walls of abdominal cavity + folds inward to enclose the viscera
• both supports abdominal organs + serves as a conduit for their blood and lymph vessels + nerves

Question 40

borborygmus

Answer 40

a rumbling noise produced by movement of gas thru intestines

onomatopoeia

Question 41

hematochezia

Answer 41

passage of stools containing blood

"hemat" = blood
"chezo" = feces

Question 42

hematemesis

Answer 42

vomiting of blood

"hemat" = blood
"emesis" = vomiting

Question 42

lymphatic system

Answer 42

• a complex network of lymphoid organs, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, and lymph vessels that produce + transport lymph from tissues to the circulatory system
• a major component of the immune system