NEET MDS Lessons
Physiology
Bile contains:
- bile acids. These amphiphilic steroids emulsify ingested fat. The hydrophobic portion of the steroid dissolves in the fat while the negatively-charged side chain interacts with water molecules. The mutual repulsion of these negatively-charged droplets keeps them from coalescing. Thus large globules of fat (liquid at body temperature) are emulsified into tiny droplets (about 1 µm in diameter) that can be more easily digested and absorbed.
- bile pigments. These are the products of the breakdown of hemoglobin removed by the liver from old red blood cells. The brownish color of the bile pigments imparts the characteristic brown color of the feces.
Structural Divisions of the nervous system:
1) Central Nervous System (CNS) - the brain and spinal cord.
2) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) - the nerves, ganglia, receptors, etc
A small fraction of cardiac muscle fibers have myogenicity and autorhythmicity.
Myogenicity is the property of spontaneous impulse generation. The slow sodium channels are leaky and cause the polarity to spontaneously rise to threshold for action potential generation. The fastest of these cells, those in the SA node, set the pace for the heartbeat.
Autorhythmicity - the natural rhythm of spontaneous depolarization. Those with the fastest autorhythmicity act as the 1. heart's pacemaker.
Contractility - like skeletal muscle, most cardiac muscle cells respond to stimuli by contracting. The autorhythmic cells have very little contractility however. Contractility in the other cells can be varied by the effect of neurotransmitters.
Inotropic effects - factors which affect the force or energy of muscular contractions. Digoxin, epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine have positive inotropic effects. Betal blockers and calcium channel blockers have negative inotropic effects
Sequence of events in cardiac conduction: The electrical events in the cardiac cycle.
1) SA node depolarizes and the impulse spreads across the atrial myocardium and through the internodal fibers to the AV node. The atrial myocardium depolarizes resulting in atrial contraction, a physical event.
2) AV node picks up the impulse and transfers it to the AV Bundle (Bundle of His). This produces the major portion of the delay seen in the cardiac cycle. It takes approximately .03 sec from SA node depolarization to the impulse reaching the AV node, and .13 seconds for the impulse to get through the AV node and reach the Bundle of His. Also during this period the atria repolarize.
3) From the AV node the impulse travels through the bundle branches and through the Purkinje fibers to the ventricular myocardium, causing ventricular depolarization and ventricular contraction, a physical event.
4) Ventricular repolarization occurs.
Platelets
Platelets are cell fragments produced from megakaryocytes.
Blood normally contains 150,000 to 350,000 per microliter (µl). If this value should drop much below 50,000/µl, there is a danger of uncontrolled bleeding. This is because of the essential role that platelets have in blood clotting.
When blood vessels are damaged, fibrils of collagen are exposed.
- von Willebrand factor links the collagen to platelets forming a plug of platelets there.
- The bound platelets release ADP and thromboxane A2 which recruit and activate still more platelets circulating in the blood.
- (This role of thromboxane accounts for the beneficial effect of low doses of aspirin a cyclooxygenase inhibitor in avoiding heart attacks.)
ReoPro is a monoclonal antibody directed against platelet receptors. It inhibits platelet aggregation and appears to reduce the risk that "reamed out" coronary arteries (after coronary angioplasty) will plug up again.
Pain, Temperature, and Crude Touch and Pressure
General somatic nociceptors, thermoreceptors, and mechanoreceptors sensitive to crude touch and pressure from the face conduct signals to the brainstem over GSA fibers of cranial nerves V, VII, IX, and X.
The afferent fibers involved are processes of monopolar neurons with cell bodies in the semilunar, geniculate, petrosal, and nodose ganglia, respectively.
The central processes of these neurons enter the spinal tract of V, where they descend through the brainstem for a short distance before terminating in the spinal nucleus of V.
Second-order neurons then cross over the opposite side of the brainstem at various levels to enter the ventral trigeminothalamic tract, where they ascend to the VPM of the thalamus.
Finally, third-order neurons project to the "face" area of the cerebral cortex in areas 3, 1, and 2 .
Discriminating Touch and Pressure
Signals are conducted from general somatic mechanoreceptors over GSA fibers of the trigeminal nerve into the principal sensory nucleus of V, located in the middle pons.
Second-order neurons then conduct the signals to the opposite side of the brainstem, where they ascend in the medial lemniscus to the VPM of the thalamus.
Thalamic neurons then project to the "face" region of areas 3, I, and 2 of the cerebral cortex.
Kinesthesia and Subconscious Proprioception
Proprioceptive input from the face is primarily conducted over GSA fibers of the trigeminal nerve.
The peripheral endings of these neurons are the general somatic mechanoreceptors sensitive to both conscious (kinesthetic) and subconscious proprioceptive input.
Their central processes extend from the mesencephalic nucleus to the principal sensory nucleus of V in the pons
The subconscious component is conducted to the cerebellum, while the conscious component travels to the cerebral cortex.
Certain second-order neurons from the principal sensory nucleus relay proprioceptive information concerning subconscious evaluation and integration into the ipsilateral cerebellum.
Other second-order neurons project to the opposite side of the pons and ascend to the VPM of the thalamus as the dorsal trigeminothalamic tract.
Thalamic projections terminate in the face area of the cerebral cortex.
Vital Capacity: The vital capacity (VC) is the maximum volume which can be ventilated in a single breath. VC= IRV+TV+ERV. VC varies with gender, age, and body build. Measuring VC gives a device for diagnosis of respiratory disorder, and a benchmark for judging the effectiveness of treatment. (4600 ml)
Vital Capacity is reduced in restrictive disorders, but not in disorders which are purely obstructive.
The FEV1 is the % of the vital capacity which is expelled in the first second. It should be at least 75%. The FEV1 is reduced in obstructive disorders.
Both VC and the FEV1 are reduced in disorders which are both restrictive and obstructive
Oxygen is present at nearly 21% of ambient air. Multiplying .21 times 760 mmHg (standard pressure at sea level) yields a pO2 of about 160. Carbon dioxide is .04% of air and its partial pressure, pCO2, is .3.
With alveolar air having a pO2 of 104 and a pCO2 of 40. So oxygen diffuses into the alveoli from inspired air and carbon dioxide diffuses from the alveoli into air which will be expired. This causes the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide to be intermediate in expired air when compared to inspired air and alveolar air. Some oxygen has been lost to the alveolus, lowering its level to 120, carbon dioxide has been gained from the alveolus raising its level to 27.
Likewise a concentration gradient causes oxygen to diffuse into the blood from the alveoli and carbon dioxide to leave the blood. This produces the levels seen in oxygenated blood in the body. When this blood reaches the systemic tissues the reverse process occurs restoring levels seen in deoxygenated blood.
Contractility : Means ability of cardiac muscle to convert electrical energy of action potential into mechanical energy ( work).
The excitation- contraction coupling of cardiac muscle is similar to that of skeletal muscle , except the lack of motor nerve stimulation.
Cardiac muscle is a self-excited muscle , but the principles of contraction are the same . There are many rules that control the contractility of the cardiac muscles, which are:
1. All or none rule: due to the syncytial nature of the cardiac muscle.There are atrial syncytium and ventricular syncytium . This rule makes the heart an efficient pump.
2. Staircase phenomenon : means gradual increase in muscle contraction following rapidly repeated stimulation..
3. Starling`s law of the heart: The greater the initial length of cardiac muscle fiber , the greater the force of contraction. The initial length is determined by the degree of diastolic filling .The pericardium prevents overstretching of heart , and allows optimal increase in diastolic volume.
Thankful to this law , the heart is able to pump any amount of blood that it receives. But overstretching of cardiac muscle fibers may cause heart failure.
Factors affecting contractility ( inotropism)
I. Positive inotropic factors:
1. sympathetic stimulation: by increasing the permeability of sarcolemma to calcium.
2. moderate increase in temperature . This due to increase metabolism to increase ATP , decrease viscosity of myocardial structures, and increasing calcium influx.
3. Catecholamines , thyroid hormone, and glucagon hormones.
4. mild alkalosis
5. digitalis
6. Xanthines ( caffeine and theophylline )
II. Negative inotropic factors:
1. Parasympathetic stimulation : ( limited to atrial contraction)
2. Acidosis
3. Severe alkalosis
4. excessive warming and cooling .
5. Drugs ;like : Quinidine , Procainamide , and barbiturates .
6. Diphtheria and typhoid toxins.