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Chapter 1 and 2 (Physiology)

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Terms in this set (27)

  • What is physiology?

    Physiology is the study of the normal functions of organisms, including plant, cell, microbial, and human physiology.

  • What is pathophysiology?

    Pathophysiology studies what happens when normal physiological functions go wrong.

  • What are emergent properties in physiology?

    Emergent properties arise from complex interactions of many components, such as cells and macromolecules, producing new functions.

  • What is the difference between teleological and mechanistic approaches in physiology?

    Teleological approach explains the why or adaptive significance; mechanistic approach explains the how or processes behind physiological events.

  • Define homeostasis.

    Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment by organ systems despite external changes.

  • Which variables are commonly regulated in homeostasis?

    Variables include temperature, pH, volume, pressure, and osmolarity.

  • What are excitable cells?

    Excitable cells are cells that can generate electrical signals, such as neurons and muscle cells.

  • What separates intracellular fluid (ICF) from extracellular fluid (ECF)?

    The cell membrane separates the intracellular fluid inside cells from the extracellular fluid outside cells.

  • Compare the ion composition of intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF).

    ICF: High K+, low Na+, low Cl-. ECF: High Na+, high Cl-, very low K+.

  • What does it mean that the body is an open system in terms of homeostasis?

    The body exchanges matter with the environment; maintaining homeostasis requires mass balance where intake equals output.

  • What is mass balance in physiology?

    Mass balance = (Existing body load + Intake or metabolic production) - (Excretion or metabolic removal).

  • What are the main routes of intake and output in the body?

    Intake: Food, drink, gases, lipids. Output: Urine, feces, lungs, skin.

  • Define clearance in physiology.

    Clearance is the rate at which a substance is removed from the blood, measured as volume of blood cleared per unit time.

  • Where does clearance of substances occur in the body?

    Clearance occurs mainly in the skin, kidneys, and liver.

  • What are the three basic components of a physiological control system?

    1. Input signal, 2. Integrating center, 3. Output signal that creates a response.

  • Describe negative feedback in physiological control systems.

    Negative feedback opposes the initial change to maintain homeostasis, e.g., lowering high blood pressure.

  • Describe positive feedback and give examples.

    Positive feedback amplifies the initial change and requires an outside stop, e.g., childbirth contractions and blood clotting.

  • What is feedforward control?

    Feedforward control initiates a response in anticipation of a change before it occurs.

  • What are biological rhythms and their significance?

    Biological rhythms are predictable changes in setpoints of regulated variables, such as circadian rhythms affecting body temperature and hormone levels.

  • What is acclimatization in physiology?

    Acclimatization is the adjustment of an organism's traits to match a new environment.

  • What is protein specificity and affinity?

    Specificity is a protein's ability to bind a particular ligand; affinity is the strength of this binding based on shape and conformation.

  • What is the law of mass action in protein-ligand binding?

    The reaction direction depends on relative concentrations of reactants and products; high equilibrium constant favors products, low favors reactants.

  • What are isoforms in proteins?

    Isoforms are closely related proteins with similar functions but different ligand affinities, e.g., fetal hemoglobin has higher oxygen affinity.

  • What is proteolytic activation of proteins?

    Proteins are synthesized inactive and become active when peptide fragments are removed, e.g., trypsinogen to trypsin.

  • How do modulators affect protein binding?

    Modulators can change a protein's ability to bind ligands or create a response, acting as inhibitors or activators at main or allosteric sites.

  • What is saturation in protein binding?

    Saturation occurs when all protein binding sites are occupied, limiting further response despite increased ligand concentration.

  • What is up-regulation and down-regulation of proteins?

    Up-regulation is increased protein production; down-regulation is programmed removal of proteins, affecting cell responsiveness.