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Physiology - NEETMDS- courses
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Physiology

The endocrine system along with the nervous system functions in the regulation of body activities.  The nervous system acts through electrical impulses and neurotransmitters to cause muscle contraction and glandular secretion and interpretation of impulses.  The endocrine system acts through chemical messengers called hormones that influence growth, development, and metabolic activities

Lung volumes and capacities: 
I. Lung`s volumes
1. Tidal volume (TV) : is the volume of air m which is inspired and expired during one quiet breathing . It equals to 500 ml.
 

2. Inspiratory reserve volume (IRV) : The volume of air that could be inspired over and beyond the tidal volume. It equals to 3000 ml of air.
 

3. Expiratory reserve volume (ERV) : A volume of air that could be forcefully expired after the end of quiet tidal volume. It is about 1100 ml of air.
 

4. Residual volume (RV) : the extra volume of air that may remain in the lung after the forceful expiration . It is about 1200 ml of air.
 

5. Minute volume : the volume of air that is inspired or expired within one minute. It is equal to multiplying of respiratory rate by tidal volume = 12X500= 6000 ml.
It is in female  lesser than that in male.
II. Lung`s capacities :
1. Inspiratory capacity: TV + IRV
2. Vital capacity : TV+IRV+ERV
3. Total lung capacity : TV+IRV+ERV+RV

Principal heart sounds

1. S1: closure of AV valves;typically auscultated as a single sound 

Clinical note: In certain circumstances, S1 may be accentuated. This occurs when the valve leaflets are “slammed” shut in early systole from a greater than normal distance because they have not had time to drift closer together. Three conditions that can result in an accentuated S1 are a shortened PR interval, mild mitral stenosis, and high cardiac-output states or tachycardia.

2. S2: closure of semilunar valves in early diastole , normally “split” during inspiration . S2: best appreciated in the 2nd or 3rd left intercostal space

Clinical note: Paradoxical or “reversed” splitting occurs when S2 splitting occurs with expiration and disappears on inspiration. Moreover, in paradoxical splitting, the pulmonic valve closes before the aortic valve, such that P2 precedes A2. The most common cause is left bundle branch block (LBBB). In LBBB, depolarization of the left ventricle is impaired, resulting in delayed left ventricular contraction and aortic valve closure.

3. S3: ventricular gallop, presence reflects volume-overloaded state 
 
 Clinical note: An S3 is usually caused by volume overload in congestive heart failure. It can also be associated with valvular disease, such as advanced mitral regurgitation, in which the “regurgitated” blood increases the rate of ventricular filling during early diastole.
 
4. S4: atrial gallop, S4: atrial contraction against a stiff ventricle, often heard after an acute myocardial infarction.

Clinical note: An S4 usually indicates decreased ventricular compliance (i.e., the ventricle does not relax as easily), which is commonly associated with ventricular hypertrophy or myocardial ischemia. An S4 is almost always present after an acute myocardial infarction. It is loudest at the apex with the patient in the left lateral decubitus position (lying on their left side).

The nephron of the kidney is involved in the regulation of water and soluble substances in blood.

A Nephron

A nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidneys that regulates water and soluble substances in the blood by filtering the blood, reabsorbing what is needed, and excreting the rest as urine.

 Its function is vital for homeostasis of blood volume, blood pressure, and plasma osmolarity.

It is regulated by the neuroendocrine system by hormones such as antidiuretic hormone, aldosterone, and parathyroid hormone.

The Glomerulus

The glomerulus is a capillary tuft that receives its blood supply from an afferent arteriole of the renal circulation. Here, fluid and solutes are filtered out of the blood and into the space made by Bowman's capsule.

 

A group of specialized cells known as juxtaglomerular apparatus (JGA) are located around the afferent arteriole where it enters the renal corpuscle. The JGA secretes an enzyme called renin, due to a variety of stimuli, and it is involved in the process of blood volume homeostasis.

The Bowman's capsule surrounds the glomerulus. It is composed of visceral (simple squamous epithelial cells; inner) and parietal (simple squamous epithelial cells; outer) layers.

Red blood cells and large proteins, such as serum albumins, cannot pass through the glomerulus under normal circumstances. However, in some injuries they may be able to pass through and can cause blood and protein content to enter the urine, which is a sign of problems in the kidney.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule

The proximal tubule is the first site of water reabsorption into the bloodstream, and the site where the majority of water and salt reabsorption takes place. Water reabsorption in the proximal convoluted tubule occurs due to both passive diffusion across the basolateral membrane, and active transport from Na+/K+/ATPase pumps that actively transports sodium across the basolateral membrane.

Water and glucose follow sodium through the basolateral membrane via an osmotic gradient, in a process called co-transport. Approximately 2/3rds of water in the nephron and 100% of the glucose in the nephron are reabsorbed by cotransport in the proximal convoluted tubule.

Fluid leaving this tubule generally is unchanged due to the equivalent water and ion reabsorption, with an osmolarity (ion concentration) of 300 mOSm/L, which is the same osmolarity as normal plasma.

The Loop of Henle

The loop of Henle is a U-shaped tube that consists of a descending limb and ascending limb. It transfers fluid from the proximal to the distal tubule. The descending limb is highly permeable to water but completely impermeable to ions, causing a large amount of water to be reabsorbed, which increases fluid osmolarity to about 1200 mOSm/L. In contrast, the ascending limb of Henle's loop is impermeable to water but highly permeable to ions, which causes a large drop in the osmolarity of fluid passing through the loop, from 1200 mOSM/L to 100 mOSm/L.

Distal Convoluted Tubule and Collecting Duct

The distal convoluted tubule and collecting duct is the final site of reabsorption in the nephron. Unlike the other components of the nephron, its permeability to water is variable depending on a hormone stimulus to enable the complex regulation of blood osmolarity, volume, pressure, and pH.

Normally, it is impermeable to water and permeable to ions, driving the osmolarity of fluid even lower. However, anti-diuretic hormone (secreted from the pituitary gland as a part of homeostasis) will act on the distal convoluted tubule to increase the permeability of the tubule to water to increase water reabsorption. This example results in increased blood volume and increased blood pressure. Many other hormones will induce other important changes in the distal convoluted tubule that fulfill the other homeostatic functions of the kidney.

The collecting duct is similar in function to the distal convoluted tubule and generally responds the same way to the same hormone stimuli. It is, however, different in terms of histology. The osmolarity of fluid through the distal tubule and collecting duct is highly variable depending on hormone stimulus. After passage through the collecting duct, the fluid is brought into the ureter, where it leaves the kidney as urine.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)

GnRH is a peptide of 10 amino acids. Its secretion at the onset of puberty triggers sexual development.

 

Primary Effects

FSH and LH Relaese

 

Secondary Effects

 

Increases estrogen and progesterone (in females)

testosterone Relaese (in males)

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)

GHRH is a mixture of two peptides, one containing 40 amino acids, the other 44.  GHRH stimulates cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary to secrete growth hormone (GH).

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)

CRH is a peptide of 41 amino acids. Its acts on cells in the anterior lobe of the pituitary to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) CRH is also synthesized by the placenta and seems to determine the duration of pregnancy.  It may also play a role in keeping the T cells of the mother from mounting an immune attack against the fetus

Somatostatin

Somatostatin is a mixture of two peptides, one of 14 amino acids, the other of 28. Somatostatin acts on the anterior lobe of the pituitary to

  • inhibit the release of growth hormone (GH)
  • inhibit the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Somatostatin is also secreted by cells in the pancreas and in the intestine where it inhibits the secretion of a variety of other hormones.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and Oxytocin

These peptides are released from the posterior lobe of the pituitary

The Adrenal Glands

The adrenal glands are two small structures situated one at top each kidney. Both in anatomy and in function, they consist of two distinct regions:

  • an outer layer, the adrenal cortex, which surrounds
  • the adrenal medulla.

The Adrenal Cortex

cells of the adrenal cortex secrete a variety of steroid hormones.

  • glucocorticoids (e.g., cortisol)
  • mineralocorticoids (e.g., aldosterone)
  • androgens (e.g., testosterone)
  • Production of all three classes is triggered by the secretion of ACTH from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.

Glucocorticoids

They Effect by raising the level of blood sugar (glucose). One way they do this is by stimulating gluconeogenesis in the liver: the conversion of fat and protein into intermediate metabolites that are ultimately converted into glucose.

The most abundant glucocorticoid is cortisol (also called hydrocortisone).

Cortisol and the other glucocorticoids also have a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the body. They depress the immune response, especially cell-mediated immune responses. 

Mineralocorticoids

The most important of them is the steroid aldosterone. Aldosterone acts on the kidney promoting the reabsorption of sodium ions (Na+) into the blood. Water follows the salt and this helps maintain normal blood pressure.

Aldosterone also

  • acts on sweat glands to reduce the loss of sodium in perspiration;
  • acts on taste cells to increase the sensitivity of the taste buds to sources of sodium.

The secretion of aldosterone is stimulated by:

  • a drop in the level of sodium ions in the blood;
  • a rise in the level of potassium ions in the blood;
  • angiotensin II
  • ACTH (as is that of cortisol)

Androgens

The adrenal cortex secretes precursors to androgens such as testosterone.

Excessive production of adrenal androgens can cause premature puberty in young boys.

In females, the adrenal cortex is a major source of androgens. Their hypersecretion may produce a masculine pattern of body hair and cessation of menstruation.

Addison's Disease: Hyposecretion of the adrenal cortices

Addison's disease has many causes, such as

  • destruction of the adrenal glands by infection;
  • their destruction by an autoimmune attack;
  • an inherited mutation in the ACTH receptor on adrenal cells.

Cushing's Syndrome: Excessive levels of glucocorticoids

In Cushing's syndrome, the level of adrenal hormones, especially of the glucocorticoids, is too high.It can be caused by:

  • excessive production of ACTH by the anterior lobe of the pituitary;
  • excessive production of adrenal hormones themselves (e.g., because of a tumor), or (quite commonly)
  • as a result of glucocorticoid therapy for some other disorder such as
    • rheumatoid arthritis or
    • preventing the rejection of an organ transplant.

The Adrenal Medulla

The adrenal medulla consists of masses of neurons that are part of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. Instead of releasing their neurotransmitters at a synapse, these neurons release them into the blood. Thus, although part of the nervous system, the adrenal medulla functions as an endocrine gland.The adrenal medulla releases:

  • adrenaline (also called epinephrine) and
  • noradrenaline (also called norepinephrine)

Both are derived from the amino acid tyrosine.

Release of adrenaline and noradrenaline is triggered by nervous stimulation in response to physical or mental stress. The hormones bind to adrenergic receptors  transmembrane proteins in the plasma membrane of many cell types.

Some of the effects are:

  • increase in the rate and strength of the heartbeat resulting in increased blood pressure;
  • blood shunted from the skin and viscera to the skeletal muscles, coronary arteries, liver, and brain;
  • rise in blood sugar;
  • increased metabolic rate;
  • bronchi dilate;
  • pupils dilate;
  • hair stands on end (gooseflesh in humans);
  • clotting time of the blood is reduced;
  • increased ACTH secretion from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.

All of these effects prepare the body to take immediate and vigorous action.

Respiration occurs in three steps :
1- Mechanical ventilation : inhaling and exhaling of air between lungs and atmosphere.
2- Gas exchange : between pulmonary alveoli and pulmonary capillaries.
3- Transport of gases from the lung to the peripheral tissues , and from the peripheral tissues back to blood .
These steps are well regulated by neural and chemical regulation.

Respiratory tract is subdivided into upper and lower respiratory tract. The upper respiratory tract involves , nose , oropharynx and nasopharynx , while the lower respiratory tract involves larynx , trachea , bronchi ,and lungs .

Nose fulfills three important functions which are :

1. warming of inhaled air .

b. filtration of air .

c. humidification of air .

Pharynx is a muscular tube , which forms a passageway for air and food .During swallowing the epiglottis closes the larynx and the bolus of food falls in the esophagus .

Larynx is a respiratory organ that connects pharynx with trachea . It is composed of many cartilages and muscles and

vocal cords . Its role in respiration is limited to being a conductive passageway for air .

Trachea is a tube composed of C shaped cartilage rings from anterior side, and of muscle (trachealis muscle ) from its posterior side.The rings prevent trachea from collapsing during the inspiration. 

From  the trachea the bronchi are branched into right and left bronchus ( primary bronchi) , which enter the lung .Then they repeatedly branch into secondary and tertiary bronchi and then into terminal and respiratory broncholes.There are about 23 branching levels from the right and left bronchi to the respiratory bronchioles  , the first upper  17 branching are considered as a part of the conductive zones , while the lower 6 are considered to be respiratory zone. 

The cartilaginous component decreases gradually from the trachea to the bronchioles  . Bronchioles are totally composed of smooth muscles ( no cartilage) . With each branching the diameter of bronchi get smaller , the smallest diameter of respiratory passageways is that of respiratory bronchiole. 

Lungs are evolved by pleura . Pleura is composed of two layers : visceral and parietal .
Between the two layers of pleura , there is a pleural cavity , filled with a fluid that decrease the friction between the visceral and parietal pleura.
 

Respiratory muscles : There are two group of respiratory muscles:


1. Inspiratory muscles : diaphragm and external intercostal muscle ( contract during quiet breathing ) , and accessory inspiratory muscles : scaleni , sternocleidomastoid , internal pectoral muscle , and others( contract during forceful inspiration).
 

2. Expiratory muscles : internal intercostal muscles , and abdominal muscles ( contract during forceful expiration)

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