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physiology unit 3-4

QuestionAnswer
What is a sensory receptor and how is it stimulated? It is a structure sensitive to an adequate stimulus; some detect one stimulus, others multiple.
What are the characteristics of a generated potential? Stimuli cause depolarization in the sensory receptor and associated sensory neuron.
Which receptors are responsible for touch? tactile and Bulbous corpuscles.
Which receptors are responsible for vibration? Lamellar and tactile corpuscles (low vibration).
Which receptors are responsible for temperature, pain, and light touch? Free nerve endings.
Which receptors are responsible for proprioception? Lamellar and Bulbous corpuscles.
Are Bulbous corpuscles slow or fast adapting? Slow adapting.
Are tactile corpuscles slow or fast adapting? Rapidly adapting.
Are Lamellar corpuscles slow or fast adapting? Rapidly adapting.
What is the role of free nerve endings? Protective mechanism sensing potential harm or damage.
Where are hair follicles found? All over body except palms and soles.
What do hair follicle receptors detect? Mechanical stimuli such as hair movement or displacement.
Do hair follicle receptors adapt to continuous stimulation? Yes, to maintain sensitivity to changes in hair position.
What are receptor generated potentials similar to? EPSPs and IPSPs.
Are receptor generated potentials usually depolarizing or hyperpolarizing? depolarizing, but can be hyperpolarizing.
What causes receptor generated potentials? Increased membrane permeability to Na+ (or K+ for hyperpolarizing).
Do receptor generated potentials propagate down the neuron? No, they are local and spread like E/IPSPs.
How do receptor generated potentials change over time and space? They decrease over time and space.
Are receptor generated potentials proportional to the stimulus? Yes.
What is neural coding? Process where sensory cells release neurotransmitters proportional to stimulus, eliciting action potentials.
How does the brain interpret neural coding? By frequency of action potentials (IPSP or EPSP).
What are the two major ascending sensory pathways? Spinothalamic tract and Dorsal Column-Medial Lemniscal system.
What does the spinothalamic tract carry? Pain, crude touch, temperature.
Where does the spinothalamic tract cross over? Immediately when first order nerve enters spinal column.
What does the dorsal column-medial lemniscal system carry? Fine detail, proprioception, vibration.
Where does the dorsal column-medial lemniscal system cross over? Higher up the spinal cord at the second order neuron.
Where is the first order sensory nerve found? Peripheral sensory nerve, ipsilateral.
Where is the second order sensory nerve found? Spinal cord, contralateral.
Where is the third order sensory nerve found? Brain, contralateral.
What describes the somatotopic organization of the postcentral gyrus? A homunculus, with feet in the middle and senses mapped outward.
What is the somatosensory cortex? Brain region in parietal lobe that processes sensory information.
How is the somatosensory cortex organized? Mapped into a homunculus with areas corresponding to body parts.
What is the role of the somatosensory cortex? Interpret sensory data for tactile sensation, proprioception, and localization of stimuli.
How does the somatosensory cortex relate to the motor cortex? It provides sensory input that enables appropriate motor responses and interactions.
What structures make up the visual system? Eye, visual pathway, and primary visual area.
What does the eye contain? Photoreceptors that convert light into action potentials.
What does the visual pathway do? Transmits action potentials via the optic nerve.
Where is the primary visual area found? Occipital lobe, posterior brain above cerebellum.
What is the function of the primary visual area? Processes incoming visual signals.
What is the cornea? Thin, transparent dome at the front of the eye.
Is the cornea vascular or avascular? Avascular, nourished by tears.
What is the function of the cornea? Primary light-focusing structure, bends light rays to form clear retinal image.
What is the iris? Colored part of the eye containing muscles that regulate pupil size.
What is the lens? Flexible structure that changes shape for accommodation and focuses light on retina/fovea.
What is the retina? Thin, light-sensitive tissue at back of eye containing rods and cones.
What is the function of the retina? Converts light into electrical signals sent to brain via optic nerve.
What is the fovea? Small central pit in retina with highest visual acuity
What photoreceptors are found in the fovea? Cones only, densely packed.
What is the function of the fovea? Sharp central vision, detailed color vision in bright light.
What is the optic nerve? Transmits visual information from retina to brain.
What composes the optic nerve? Retinal ganglion cell axons and supportive cells.
What is the pigment layer of the retina? Layer that absorbs excess light and supports photoreceptors.
What are rod cells responsible for? Vision in low light, high sensitivity, no color, poor detail.
How many photopigments do rods have? One photopigment.
What happens to rods in low light? Hyperpolarize, stop releasing neurotransmitters, vision in black and white.
What happens to rods in complete darkness? Depolarize and release inhibitory neurotransmitter onto bipolar cells.
What are cone cells responsible for? Color vision and high detail in bright light.
How many photopigments do cones have? Three photopigments (blue, green, red).
Where are cones concentrated? Fovea.
What happens to cones in bright light? Hyperpolarize and stop releasing neurotransmitters, allowing color and detail vision.
What happens to cones in the dark? Depolarize and release inhibitory neurotransmitter onto bipolar cells.
What do bipolar cells do? Integrate signals from multiple rods or cones.
What do amacrine cells do? Modulate signals between bipolar and ganglion cells.
What do ganglion cells do? Final output neurons transmitting visual info to brain.
How does vision use graded potentials? Rods and cones release NT that inhibit bipolar cells; light hyperpolarizes them, enabling bipolar depolarization.
What happens at low light levels? Rods hyperpolarize, bipolar cells depolarize, ganglion cells activated.
What happens at bright light levels? Cones hyperpolarize, bipolar cells depolarize, ganglion cells activated.
What cells can create graded potentials? Rods and bulbous cells.
Do rods and cones activate or shut down with light? They are shut down (hyperpolarized) by light.
Where are rods located? Mostly outside and around the fovea.
Where are cones located? mostly in the fovea.
How is light transduced to action potentials? Through graded potentials.
What are saccades? Darting eye movements like reading.
What is smooth pursuit? Following an object smoothly to keep it in the fovea.
What is the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR)? Eye movement that keeps gaze fixed while head moves.
What are vergences? Eye movements like convergence when focusing on a near object.
What is the process of seeing? Light changes photopigment shape, decreases Na+ permeability, hyperpolarizes rods/cones, reduces inhibitory NT, activates bipolar and ganglion cells, signals sent to visual cortex.
What are the structures in the auditory system? Auricle, canal, tympanic membrane, ossicles, oval window, round window, semicircular canals, cochlea, otolith organs, auditory tube.
What is the function of the auricle? Collects and localizes sound.
What is the function of the canal? Transmits sound and provides protection; curved to enhance transmission.
What is the tympanic membrane? Barrier that converts air waves into mechanical vibrations.
What are the ossicles? Incus, malleus, stapes; transmit vibrations from eardrum to inner ear.
What is the oval window? Where stapes rests; vibrates hair cells to transmit info to auditory nerve.
What is the round window? Dissipates waves; end of cochlea.
What are the semicircular canals? Three loop-shaped structures for balance and spatial orientation in all planes.
What is the cochlea? Spiral fluid-filled structure that transforms vibrations into neural signals.
What are the otolith organs? Utricle (horizontal) and saccule (vertical); sense acceleration and deceleration.
What is the auditory tube? Connects middle ear to nasopharynx for pressure stabilization and fluid drainage.
What are the three sections of the cochlea? Scala vestibuli, cochlear duct, scala tympani (top to bottom)
What fluid fills the scala vestibuli and tympani? Perilymph, resembling extracellular fluid.
What fluid fills the cochlear duct? Endolymph, resembling intracellular fluid.
What is the basilar membrane? Membrane between cochlea and scala tympani; supports organ of Corti.
What is the organ of Corti? Structure where sound waves are converted to action potentials by hair cells.
What covers the organ of Corti? Tectorial membrane.
How do hair cells in the organ of Corti work? Basilar membrane vibration bends stereocilia, depolarizing hair cells.
Where are low frequency sounds detected? Apex of cochlea.
Where are high frequency sounds detected? Base of cochlea.
How does the outer ear transmit sound? Auricle funnels sound inward.
How does the middle ear transmit sound? Converts air waves into mechanical vibrations via ossicles to oval window.
How are standing waves formed in the cochlea? Basilar membrane stiffness varies and when the sound matches a section on the basilar membrane and a standing wave is formed
How do hair cells transduce sound? Stereocilia bend, ion channels open, depolarization triggers NT release, action potentials in auditory nerve.
Which structures are important for hearing quiet sounds? Entire middle ear including tympanic membrane and ossicles.
What structures contribute to balance? Semicircular canals and otolith organs.
What do semicircular canals detect? Rotational movements in three planes.
What do otolith organs detect? Acceleration and falling; utricle for horizontal, saccule for vertical.
What are major functions of the vestibular system? Detect changes in head movement and position in space.
How do semicircular canals detect movement? Endolymph moves cupula in ampulla, bending hair cells.
How do otolith organs detect movement? Otoliths on gelatinous membrane move and bend hair cells.
How is balance and spatial orientation maintained? Integration of semicircular canals, otolith organs, vision, and proprioception.
What is the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)? Reflex stabilizing vision by counteracting head movements with eye movements.
What are hair cells? Sensory receptors with stereocilia that bend to release neurotransmitters for hearing and balance.
What is the kinocilium? The long hair on hair cells.
What are stereocilia? Short hairs on hair cells.
What happens when stereocilia bend toward kinocilium? Cell releases more neurotransmitter.
What happens when stereocilia bend away from kinocilium? Cell releases less neurotransmitter.
Where is vestibular sensory information sent? To the brain to coordinate balance, posture, and eye movements.
What does the left atrium do? Receives oxygenated blood from pulmonary veins and pumps it into ventricles.
Which artery carries deoxygenated blood? Pulmonary artery.
Which veins carry oxygenated blood? Pulmonary veins.
What are the three components of the cardiovascular system? Heart, vessels, and blood.
What are the four primary functions of the cardiovascular system? Transport, regulate, protect, and maintain BP & perfusion.
Which ventricle has more muscle and why? Left ventricle, pumps to systemic aorta with high force.
What is the pathway of blood from the right atrium to systemic capillaries? Right atrium → right AV valve → right ventricle → pulmonary valve → pulmonary artery → pulmonary capillaries → pulmonary veins → left atrium → left AV valve → left ventricle → aortic valve → aorta → systemic capillaries.
What are the four valves of the heart? Tricuspid, bicuspid (mitral), pulmonary, aortic.
What is the structure of the ventricular valves? Pulmonary and aortic are tricuspid and parachute-like.
How are cardiomyocytes similar to skeletal myofibers? Both striated, need calcium, have mitochondria, require action potentials.
Where does calcium come from in skeletal muscle? Sarcoplasmic reticulum.
Where does calcium come from in cardiomyocytes? SR and extracellular fluid (calcium-induced calcium release).
How are cardiomyocytes different from skeletal myofibers? C=branched, mononucleate, connected by gap junctions; S=cylindrical, multinucleate, neuron-activated.
What is calcium-induced calcium release? Extracellular Ca²⁺ entry triggers further Ca²⁺ release from SR in cardiomyocytes (calcium cascade)
What are intercalated disks? Structures containing desmosomes that hold cardiomyocytes together.
Why are gap junctions important? They allow electrical signals to pass for cohesive heartbeats.
What is the role of nodal/conducting cardiomyocytes? Self-excitable cells generating action potentials that spread across the heart.
Do nodal cardiomyocytes contract strongly? No, they lack enough actin and myosin.
How does an SA node action potential differ from a neuron AP? _______ has pacemaker potential, Ca²⁺-based depolarization, no hyperpolarization.
What ions are involved in SA node pacemaker potential? Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ influx, K⁺ efflux.
What ions are involved in SA node full depolarization? Ca²⁺ influx via voltage-gated channels.
What ions are involved in SA node repolarization? K⁺ efflux.
Is there hyperpolarization in SA node AP? No.
What is resting heart rate? Heart rate at rest without exercise, approx. 100BPM
How is maximum heart rate calculated? 220 minus age.
What is the pacemaker potential? Graded potential in SA node where Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ slowly depolarize to threshold, this can be manipulated to be faster or slower
What happens when threshold is reached in SA node? Ca²⁺ influx generates AP causing atrial contraction.
How do heart rate changes occur? On a gradient depending on sympathetic or parasympathetic dominance.
What happens at SA node during resting HR of 60 bpm? Parasympathetic branch increases K⁺ permeability, reduces Ca²⁺/Na⁺ permeability, slowing depolarization and reducing the slope of the pacemaker potential
If HR is 140 bpm, how often does SA node fire? Every 0.43 seconds, once per heartbeat 60s/140bpm=0.43s
What happens at SA node during HR of 140 bpm? Sympathetic activity increases Na⁺/Ca²⁺ permeability, steepening pacemaker slope.
How does an SA node AP spread through the heart? SA node → AV node → AV bundle (in septum) → R + L bundle branches (@ apex)→ subendocardial branches (up ventricles)
Why must AP slow at AV node? To allow atria to empty before ventricles contract.
Why must AP speed at subendocardial branches? To quickly activate ventricles for blood ejection.
If SA node fails, what happens? AV node takes over as pacemaker.
How does ANS affect AV node? Slows or speeds AP to coordinate contraction.
How does ANS affect ventricular cardiomyocytes? Changes force of contraction.
What is HR at 100 bpm without ANS influence? Intrinsic SA node rate.
What is the purpose of an ECG? To show electrical activity of the heart.
How is an ECG performed? Electrodes placed on chest, arms, legs, giving 12 views.
What does the P wave represent? Atrial depolarization.
What does the QRS complex represent? Ventricular depolarization and hidden atrial repolarization.
What does the T wave represent? Ventricular repolarization.
What happens during isovolumetric ventricular systole? Ventricles start contracting but no blood is ejected yet.
What happens during ventricular systole? Ventricles contract, pressure rises, blood ejected into aorta and pulmonary artery.
What happens during isovolumetric ventricular diastole? Ventricles begin to relax, no filling yet.
What happens during late ventricular diastole? Ventricles relax and fill passively with blood from atria.
What happens during atrial systole? Atria contract, pushing blood into ventricles (more like a top up)
What happens during atrial diastole? Atria relax and fill with blood.
In which phase is ventricular pressure higher than aortic pressure? During ventricular systole, allowing blood ejection.
Why is ventricular pressure higher than aortic pressure important? Blood moves down pressure gradient, enabling ejection.
Which ECG event corresponds to ventricular relaxation? T wave, ventricular repolarization.
When does most ventricular filling occur? During late ventricular diastole - when they are relaxing and passively getting blood from atria
What does atrial systole contribute to filling? A small “top up” of blood into ventricles.
What happens to pressures during isovolumetric ventricular diastole? Aortic high, ventricular low, atrial rising.
What happens to pressures during late ventricular diastole? Aortic decreasing, ventricular low, atrial high with passive flow.
What happens to pressures during atrial systole? Aortic decreasing, ventricular low, atrial high with active contraction.
What is stroke volume? Amount of blood pumped out of ventricles per heartbeat.
How do you calculate stroke volume? End diastolic volume minus end systolic volume (EDV - ESV).
What is end systolic volume (ESV)? Blood left in ventricles after contraction.
What does low ESV indicate? Strong heart pumping ability.
What does high ESV indicate? Weak pumping, possible dysfunction.
What is end diastolic volume (EDV)? Blood in ventricles before contraction, after atrial filling.
How are stroke volume and cardiac output related? Cardiac output = stroke volume × heart rate.
What is cardiac output? Amount of blood pumped per minute, measure of heart function.
What is normal cardiac output? 5–6 liters per minute.
What are two ways stroke volume can be changed? By autonomic nervous system and by preload.
How does SNS affect stroke volume? Norepinephrine increases Ca²⁺ permeability, stronger contraction, higher stroke volume.
How does PSNS affect stroke volume? Acetylcholine decreases Ca²⁺ permeability, weaker contraction, lower stroke volume.
Which branch has more innervation to cardiomyocytes? Sympathetic branch, for stronger fight-or-flight contractions.
What is preload? Load on the heart prior to contraction, measured by EDV.
How does increased preload affect stroke volume? Higher EDV stretches ventricles, stronger contraction, higher stroke volume.
What law explains preload and stroke volume? Frank-Starling’s Law: increased preload leads to equal increased output.
Why is Frank-Starling’s Law protective? Prevents heart from overfilling by matching output to preload.
How can preload be increased? By increased venous return to the heart.
What is the general pathway of blood flow through the kidney? Aorta → renal artery → kidney → renal vein → vena cava → right atrium → right ventricle → pulmonary artery → pulmonary vein → left atrium → left ventricle → aorta.
Where is most blood found in the circulatory system? In the systemic circuit, mainly in veins (70%).
What do veins regulate? How much blood returns to the heart.
What are the three layers of blood vessels? Tunica externa, tunica media, tunica interna.
What is the tunica externa? Fibrous connective tissue with blood vessels and autonomic neurons.
What is the tunica media? Smooth muscle, elastin fibers, collagen.
What is the tunica interna? Endothelial cells lining all blood vessels.
What layers do capillaries have? Only tunica interna (endothelial cells).
How does the tunica media differ in arteries? Thick, mostly elastin and smooth muscle, withstands high pressure.
What is the thickness of arteries? thickness ~25% of diameter.
What is the blood pressure in arteries? High, 120–80 mmHg, pulsatile.
How does the tunica media differ in arterioles? Mostly smooth muscle, smaller lumen, resistance vessels.
What is the thickness of arterioles? thickness ~50% of diameter.
What is the blood pressure in arterioles? Decreasing, ~80 mmHg down to 35 mmHg.
What is the blood pressure in capillaries? Low, ~20 mmHg.
What is the blood pressure in venules? ~10 mmHg.
What are veins? Large diameter vessels returning blood to the heart.
What is the wall thickness of veins? thin walls ~10% of lumen size.
What is the function of veins? Return blood to heart, capacitance vessels holding ~70% of blood volume.
What is the blood pressure in veins? ~5–10 mmHg.
Why can veins increase end diastolic volume? ANS innervation contracts smooth muscle, squeezing blood back to heart.
What mechanism besides ANS increases EDV? Skeletal muscle pump squeezes veins, forcing blood back to heart.
Why is blood flow regulation important? To supply active tissues, maintain vital organ perfusion, regulate MAP, and control heat loss.
Is blood flow equally distributed to organs? No, it changes dynamically with activity and environment.
What is the relationship between blood flow, pressure, and resistance? Blood flow = pressure gradient (P1–P2) x radius^4
What 3 factors influence resistance? Diameter, viscosity, and vessel length.
Why are arterioles resistance vessels? Small diameter, smooth muscle constriction/dilation, high resistance.
What is unique about arteriole structure? Lots of smooth muscle connected to neurons for constriction/dilation.
What are mechanisms of blood flow regulation? Local (pressure, temperature, gases), humoral (blood substances), neural (nervous system).
What happens to pressure before vasoconstriction? Higher pressure.
What happens to pressure after vasoconstriction? Lower pressure.
Why are capillaries called exchange vessels? They allow movement of oxygen, nutrients, and wastes between blood and tissue.
What is transcellular transport? Movement through endothelial cells via diffusion, channels, facilitated diffusion, active transport, or endocytosis/exocytosis.
What is paracellular transport? Bulk flow of fluid and molecules through clefts between cells.
What are the three types of capillaries? Sinusoidal (leaky, liver/spleen), continuous (tight junctions, everywhere), fenestrated (holes, kidneys/intestines).
What is bulk flow in capillaries? Filtration of fluid out paracellularly.
What happens with excessive filtration? Edema (tissue swelling).
What forces drive filtration and reabsorption? Starling forces (hydrostatic and osmotic pressure).
Why is there more filtration at the arterial end of capillaries? Higher hydrostatic pressure drives fluid out.
Why is there reabsorption at the venous end of capillaries? Lower pressure allows fluid to move back in.
Why do we have a lymphatic system? To collect excess interstitial fluid and return it to circulation.
What do lymph nodes do? Scan lymph for bacteria and pathogens before fluid returns to heart.
How does local regulation of blood flow work? Stimulus comes from the same tissue; intrinsic mechanism.
How does humoral regulation of blood flow work? Substances like hormones travel through vessels to target receptors; extrinsic mechanism.
How does neural regulation of blood flow work? Sympathetic neurons release norepinephrine on adrenergic receptors in tunica media, causing vasoconstriction; extrinsic mechanism.
What are the two types of intrinsic autoregulatory mechanisms? Myogenic theory and metabolic theory.
What does the myogenic theory explain? Arterioles sense pressure changes and constrict with high pressure or dilate with low pressure.
What does the metabolic theory explain? Tissues with higher metabolic demand produce vasodilator metabolites that increase blood flow.
What metabolic changes occur in active tissue? High CO₂, H⁺, adenosine, temperature; low O₂
What are vasodilator metabolites (VDM)? CO₂, H⁺, adenosine, temperature increase, and decreased O₂.
Which substances cause vasoconstriction in humoral regulation? Epinephrine (alpha receptors), angiotensin II, antidiuretic hormone.
Which substances cause vasodilation in humoral regulation? Histamine, atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), epinephrine (beta receptors).
Why does epinephrine cause vasoconstriction in some vessels but vasodilation in others? Depends on receptor type: alpha causes constriction, beta causes dilation.
How is mean arterial pressure (MAP) calculated? MAP = diastolic pressure + 1/3 (systolic – diastolic) or MAP = CO × TPR.
Why is MAP weighted toward diastolic pressure? The heart spends more time in diastole than systole.
How does stroke volume affect MAP? Higher stroke volume increases cardiac output, raising MAP.
How does heart rate affect MAP? Higher heart rate increases cardiac output, raising MAP.
How does resistance affect MAP? High = increases total peripheral resistance, raising MAP. Low = lowers total peripheral resistance, decreasing MAP.
How does sympathetic nervous system activation affect MAP? Increases HR, stroke volume, venous return, and vasoconstriction, raising MAP.
How does parasympathetic nervous system activation affect MAP? Decreases HR, reduces sympathetic activity, indirectly dilates vessels, lowering MAP.
What is the baroreceptor reflex? Negative feedback system maintaining MAP stability via carotid sinus and aortic arch receptors.
How do baroreceptors work? Stretch receptors detect BP changes, send signals to medulla, adjust HR, SV, and vessel diameter.
What happens if MAP is too high? Baroreceptors signal medulla, SNS reduced, PSNS increased, HR and SV decrease, vasodilation occurs, MAP lowered.
What happens if MAP is too low? Baroreceptors signal medulla, SNS increased, PSNS reduced, HR and SV increase, vasoconstriction occurs, MAP raised.
Created by: 17_ps_17
 

 



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