NEET MDS Lessons
Physiology
Maintenance of Homeostasis
The kidneys maintain the homeostasis of several important internal conditions by controlling the excretion of substances out of the body.
Ions. The kidney can control the excretion of potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, and chloride ions into urine. In cases where these ions reach a higher than normal concentration, the kidneys can increase their excretion out of the body to return them to a normal level. Conversely, the kidneys can conserve these ions when they are present in lower than normal levels by allowing the ions to be reabsorbed into the blood during filtration. (See more about ions.)
pH. The kidneys monitor and regulate the levels of hydrogen ions (H+) and bicarbonate ions in the blood to control blood pH. H+ ions are produced as a natural byproduct of the metabolism of dietary proteins and accumulate in the blood over time. The kidneys excrete excess H+ ions into urine for elimination from the body. The kidneys also conserve bicarbonate ions, which act as important pH buffers in the blood.
Osmolarity. The cells of the body need to grow in an isotonic environment in order to maintain their fluid and electrolyte balance. The kidneys maintain the body’s osmotic balance by controlling the amount of water that is filtered out of the blood and excreted into urine. When a person consumes a large amount of water, the kidneys reduce their reabsorption of water to allow the excess water to be excreted in urine. This results in the production of dilute, watery urine. In the case of the body being dehydrated, the kidneys reabsorb as much water as possible back into the blood to produce highly concentrated urine full of excreted ions and wastes. The changes in excretion of water are controlled by antidiuretic hormone (ADH). ADH is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary gland to help the body retain water.
Blood Pressure. The kidneys monitor the body’s blood pressure to help maintain homeostasis. When blood pressure is elevated, the kidneys can help to reduce blood pressure by reducing the volume of blood in the body. The kidneys are able to reduce blood volume by reducing the reabsorption of water into the blood and producing watery, dilute urine. When blood pressure becomes too low, the kidneys can produce the enzyme renin to constrict blood vessels and produce concentrated urine, which allows more water to remain in the blood.
The Types of muscle cells. There are three types, red, white, and intermediate.
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White Fibers Fast twitch Large diameter, used for speed and strength. Depends on the phosphagen system and on glycolysis-lactic acid. Stores glycogen for conversion to glucose. Fewer blood vessels. Little or no myoglobin. |
Red Fibers Slow twitch Small diameter, used for endurance. Depends on aerobic metabolism. Utilize fats as well as glucose. Little glycogen storage. Many blood vessels and much myoglobin give this muscle its reddish appearance. |
Intermediate Fibers: sometimes called "fast twitch red", these fibers have faster action but rely more on aerobic metabolism and have more endurance. Most muscles are mixtures of the different types. Muscle fiber types and their relative abundance cannot be varied by training, although there is some evidence that prior to maturation of the muscular system the emphasis on certain activities can influence their development
Abnormalities of Salt, Water or pH
- Examples:
- Hyperkalemia: caused by kidney disease & medical malpractice
- High K+ in blood- can stop the heart in contraction (systole)
- Dehydration: walking in desert- can lose 1-2 liters/hour through sweat
- Blood becomes too viscous to circulate well -> loss of temperature regulation -> hyperthermia, death
- Acidosis: many causes including diabetes mellitus and respiratory problems; can cause coma, death
- Hyperkalemia: caused by kidney disease & medical malpractice
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The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Controls the Body's Internal Environment in a Coordinated Manner
- The ANS helps control the heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, respiration, blood pH and other bodily functions through a series of complex reflex actions
- These controls are done automatically, below the conscious level
- To exert this control the activities of many different organs must be coordinated so they work to accomplish the same goal
- In the ANS there are 2 nerves between the central nervous system (CNS) and the organ. The nerve cell bodies for the second nerve are organized into ganglia:
- CNS -> Preganglionic nerve -> Ganglion -> Postganglionic nerve -> Organ
- At each junction neurotransmitters are released and carry the signal to the next nerve or organ.
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The ANS has 2 Divisions, Sympathetic and Parasympathetic
- Comparison of the 2 systems:
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Anatomical
LocationPreganglionic
FibersPostganglionic
FibersTransmitter
(Ganglia)Transmitter
(Organs)Sympathetic
Thoracic/
LumbarShort
Long
ACh
NE
Parasympathetic
Cranial/
SacralLong
Short
ACh
ACh
The Sympathetic is the "Fight or Flight" Branch of the ANS
- Emergency situations, where the body needs a sudden burst of energy, are handled by the sympathetic system
- The sympathetic system increases cardiac output and pulmonary ventilation, routes blood to the muscles, raises blood glucose and slows down digestion, kidney filtration and other functions not needed during emergencies
- Whole sympathetic system tends to "go off" together
- In a controlled environment the sympathetic system is not required for life, but it is essential for any stressful situation
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The Parasympathetic is the Rest and Digest Branch of the ANS
- The parasympathetic system promotes normal maintenance of the body- acquiring building blocks and energy from food and getting rid of the wastes
- It promotes secretions and mobility of different parts of the digestive tract.
- Also involved in urination, defecation.
- Does not "go off" together; activities initiated when appropriate
- The vagus nerve (cranial number 10) is the chief parasympathetic nerve
- Other cranial parasympathetic nerves are: III (oculomotor), VII (facial) and IX (glossopharyngeal)
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The Hypothalamus Has Central Control of the ANS
- The hypothalamus is involved in the coordination of ANS responses,
- One section of the hypothalamus seems to control many of the "fight or flight" responses; another section favors "rest and digest" activities
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The Adrenal Medulla is an Extension of the Sympathetic Nervous System
- The adrenal medulla behaves like a combined autonomic ganglion and postsynaptic sympathetic nerve (see diagram above)
- Releases both norepinephrine and epinephrine in emergency situations
- Releases a mixture of epinephrine (E = 80%) and norepinephrine (NE = 20%)
- Epinephrine = adrenaline
- This action is under control of the hypothalamus
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Sympathetic & Parasympathetic Systems
- Usually (but not always) both sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves go to an organ and have opposite effects
- You can predict about 90% of the sympathetic and parasympathetic responses using the 2 phrases: "Fight or Flight" and "Rest and Digest".
- Special cases:
- Occasionally the 2 systems work together: in sexual intercourse the parasympathetic promotes erection and the sympathetic produces ejaculation
- Eye: the sympathetic response is dilation and relaxation of the ciliary muscle for far vision (parasympathetic does the opposite)
- Urination: the parasympathetic system relaxes the sphincter muscle and promotes contraction of muscles of the bladder wall -> urination (sympathetic blocks urination)
- Defecation: the parasympathetic system causes relaxation of the anal sphincter and stimulates colon and rectum to contract -> defecation (sympathetic blocks defecation)
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Organ
Parasympathetic Response
"Rest and Digest"Sympathetic Response
"Fight or Flight"Heart
(baroreceptor reflex)Decreased heart rate
Cardiac output decreasesIncreased rate and strength of contraction
Cardiac output increasesLung Bronchioles
Constriction
Dilation
Liver Glycogen
No effect
Glycogen breakdown
Blood glucose increasesFat Tissue
No effect
Breakdown of fat
Blood fatty acids increaseBasal Metabolism
No effect
Increases ~ 2X
Stomach
Increased secretion of HCl & digestive enzymes
Increased motilityDecreased secretion
Decreased motilityIntestine
Increased secretion of HCl & digestive enzymes
Increased motilityDecreased secretion
Decreased motilityUrinary bladder
Relaxes sphincter
Detrusor muscle contracts
Urination promotedConstricts sphincter
Relaxes detrusor
Urination inhibitedRectum
Relaxes sphincter
Contracts wall muscles
Defecation promotedConstricts sphincter
Relaxes wall muscles
Defecation inhibitedEye
Iris constricts
Adjusts for near visionIris dilates
Adjusts for far visionMale Sex Organs
Promotes erection
Promotes ejaculation
Ventilation simply means inhaling and exhaling of air from the atmospheric air into lungs and then exhaling it from the lung into the atmospheric air.
Air pressure gradient has to exist between two atmospheres to enable a gas to move from one atmosphere to an other.
During inspiration: the intrathoracic pressure has to be less than that of atmospheric pressure. This could be achieved by decreasing the intrathoracic pressure as follows:
Depending on Boyle`s law , the pressure of gas is inversely proportional to the volume of its container. So increasing the intrathoracic volume will decrease the intrathoracic pressure which will allow the atmospheric air to be inhaled (inspiration) . As decreasing the intrathoracic volume will increase the intrathoracic pressure and causes exhaling of air ( expiration)
So. Inspiration could be actively achieved by the contraction of inspiratory muscles : diaphragm and intercostal muscles. While relaxation of the mentioned muscles will passively cause expiration.
Contraction of diaphragm will pull the diaphragm down the abdominal cavity ( will move inferiorly) , and then increase the intrathoracic volume ( vertically) . Contraction of external intercostal muscle will pull the ribs upward and forward which will additionally increase the intrathoracic volume ( transversely , the net result will be increasing the intrathoracic volume and decreasing the intrathoracic pressure.
Relaxation of diaphragm will move it superiorly during expiration, the relaxation of external intercostal muscles will pull the ribs downward and backward , and the elastic lungs and chest wall will recoil. The net result is decreasing the intrathoracic volume and increasing intrathoracic pressure.
All of this occurs during quiet breathing. During forceful inspiration an accessory inspiratory muscle will be involved ( scaleni , sternocleidomastoid , and others) to increase negativity in the intrathoracic pressure more and more.
During forceful expiration the accessory expiratory muscles ( internal intercostal muscles and abdominal muscles ) will be involved to decrease the intrathoracic volume more and more and then to increase intrathoracic pressure more and more.
The pressure within the alveoli is called intralveolar pressure . Between the two phases of respiration it is equal to the atmospheric pressure. It is decreased during inspiration ( about 1 cm H2O ) and increased during expiration ( about +1 cm H2O ) . This difference allow entering of 0.5 L of air into the lungs.
Intrapleural pressure is the pressure of thin fluid between the two pleural layers . It is a slight negative pressure. At the beginning of inspiration it is about -5 cm H2O and reachs -7.5 cm H2O at the end or inspiration.
At the beginning of expiration the intrapleural pressure is -7.5 cm H2O and reaches -5 cmH2O at the end of expiration.
The difference between intralveolar pressure and intrapleural pressure is called transpulmonary pressure.
Factors , affecting ventilation :
Resistance : Gradual decreasing of the diameter of respiratory airway increase the resistance to air flow.
Compliance : means the ease , which the lungs expand.It depends on both the elastic forces of the lungs and the elastic forces , caused by the the surface tension of the fluid, lining the alveoli.
Surface tension: Molecules of water have tendency to attract each other on the surface of water adjacent to air. In alveoli the surface tension caused by the fluid in the inner surface of the alveoli may cause collapse of alveoli . The surface tension is decreased by the surfactant .
Surfactant is a mixture of phospholipids , proteins and ion m produced by type II pneumocytes.
Immature newborns may suffer from respiratory distress syndrome , due to lack of surfactant which is produced during the last trimester of pregnancy.
The elastic fibers of the thoracic wall also participate in lung compliance.
The thyroid gland is a double-lobed structure located in the neck. Embedded in its rear surface are the four parathyroid glands.
The Thyroid Gland
The thyroid gland synthesizes and secretes:
- thyroxine (T4) and
- calcitonin
T4 and T3
Thyroxine (T4 ) is a derivative of the amino acid tyrosine with four atoms of iodine. In the liver, one atom of iodine is removed from T4 converting it into triiodothyronine (T3). T3 is the active hormone. It has many effects on the body. Among the most prominent of these are:
- an increase in metabolic rate
- an increase in the rate and strength of the heart beat.
The thyroid cells responsible for the synthesis of T4 take up circulating iodine from the blood. This action, as well as the synthesis of the hormones, is stimulated by the binding of TSH to transmembrane receptors at the cell surface.
Diseases of the thyroid
1. hypothyroid diseases; caused by inadequate production of T3
- cretinism: hypothyroidism in infancy and childhood leads to stunted growth and intelligence. Can be corrected by giving thyroxine if started early enough.
- myxedema: hypothyroidism in adults leads to lowered metabolic rate and vigor. Corrected by giving thyroxine.
- goiter: enlargement of the thyroid gland. Can be caused by:
- inadequate iodine in the diet with resulting low levels of T4 and T3;
- an autoimmune attack against components of the thyroid gland (called Hashimoto's thyroiditis).
2. hyperthyroid diseases; caused by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones
Graves´ disease. Autoantibodies against the TSH receptor bind to the receptor mimicking the effect of TSH binding. Result: excessive production of thyroid hormones. Graves´ disease is an example of an autoimmune disease.
Osteoporosis. High levels of thyroid hormones suppress the production of TSH through the negative-feedback mechanism mentioned above. The resulting low level of TSH causes an increase in the numbers of bone-reabsorbing osteoclasts resulting in osteoporosis.
Calcitonin
Calcitonin is a polypeptide of 32 amino acids. The thyroid cells in which it is synthesized have receptors that bind calcium ions (Ca2+) circulating in the blood. These cells monitor the level of circulating Ca2+. A rise in its level stimulates the cells to release calcitonin.
- bone cells respond by removing Ca2+ from the blood and storing it in the bone
- kidney cells respond by increasing the excretion of Ca2+
Both types of cells have surface receptors for calcitonin.
Because it promotes the transfer of Ca2+ to bones, calcitonin has been examined as a possible treatment for osteoporosis
Bronchitis = Irreversible Bronchioconstriction
. Causes - Infection, Air polution, cigarette smoke
a. Primary Defect = Enlargement & Over Activity of Mucous Glands, Secretions very viscous
b. Hypertrophy & hyperplasia, Narrows & Blocks bronchi, Lumen of airway, significantly narrow
c. Impaired Clearance by mucocillary elevator
d. Microorganism retension in lower airways,Prone to Infectious Bronchitis, Pneumonia
e. Permanent Inflamatory Changes IN epithelium, Narrows walls, Symptoms, Excessive sputum, coughing
f. CAN CAUSE EMPHYSEMA