NEET MDS Lessons
Physiology
White Blood Cells (leukocytes)
White blood cells
- are much less numerous than red (the ratio between the two is around 1:700),
- have nuclei,
- participate in protecting the body from infection,
- consist of lymphocytes and monocytes with relatively clear cytoplasm, and three types of granulocytes, whose cytoplasm is filled with granules.
Lymphocytes: There are several kinds of lymphocytes, each with different functions to perform , 25% of wbc The most common types of lymphocytes are
- B lymphocytes ("B cells"). These are responsible for making antibodies.
- T lymphocytes ("T cells"). There are several subsets of these:
- inflammatory T cells that recruit macrophages and neutrophils to the site of infection or other tissue damage
- cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that kill virus-infected and, perhaps, tumor cells
- helper T cells that enhance the production of antibodies by B cells
Although bone marrow is the ultimate source of lymphocytes, the lymphocytes that will become T cells migrate from the bone marrow to the thymus where they mature. Both B cells and T cells also take up residence in lymph nodes, the spleen and other tissues where they
- encounter antigens;
- continue to divide by mitosis;
- mature into fully functional cells.
Monocytes : also originate in marrow, spend up to 20 days in the circulation, then travel to the tissues where they become macrophages. Macrophages are the most important phagocyte outside the circulation. Monocytes are about 9% of normal wbc count
Macrophages are large, phagocytic cells that engulf
- foreign material (antigens) that enter the body
- dead and dying cells of the body.
Neutrophils
The most abundant of the WBCs. about 65% of normal white count These cells spend 8 to 10 days in the circulation making their way to sites of infection etc Neutrophils squeeze through the capillary walls and into infected tissue where they kill the invaders (e.g., bacteria) and then engulf the remnants by phagocytosis. They have two types of granules: the most numerous are specific granules which contain bactericidal agents such as lysozyme; the azurophilic granules are lysosomes containing peroxidase and other enzymes
Eosinophils : The number of eosinophils in the blood is normally quite low (0–450/µl). However, their numbers increase sharply in certain diseases, especially infections by parasitic worms. Eosinophils are cytotoxic, releasing the contents of their granules on the invader.
Basophils : rare except during infections where these cells mediate inflammation by secreting histamine and heparan sulfate (related to the anticoagulant heparin). Histamine makes blood vessels permeable and heparin inhibits blood clotting. Basophils are functionally related to mast cells. . The mediators released by basophils also play an important part in some allergic responses such as hay fever and an anaphylactic response to insect stings.
Thrombocytes (platelets):
Thrombocytes are cellular derivatives from megakaryocytes which contain factors responsible for the intrinsic clotting mechanism. They represent fragmented cells which contain residual organelles including rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparati. They are only 2-microns in diameter, are seen in peripheral blood either singly or, often, in clusters, and have a lifespan of 10 days.
The Types of muscle cells. There are three types, red, white, and intermediate.
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
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.
Oxygen Uptake in the Lungs is Increased About 70X by Hemoglobin in the Red Cells
- In the lungs oxygen must enter the blood
- A small amount of oxygen dissolves directly in the serum, but 98.5% of the oxygen is carried by hemoglobin
- All of the hemoglobin is found within the red blood cells (RBCs or erythrocytes)
- The hemoglobin content of the blood is about 15 gm/deciliter (deciliter = 100 mL)
- Red cell count is about 5 million per microliter
Each Hemoglobin Can Bind Four O2 Molecules (100% Saturation)
- Hemoglobin is a protein molecule with 4 protein sub-units (2 alphas and 2 betas)
- Each of the 4 sub-units contains a heme group which gives the protein a red color
- Each heme has an iron atom in the center which can bind an oxygen molecule (O2)
- The 4 hemes in a hemoglobin can carry a maximum of 4 oxygen molecules
- When hemoglobin is saturated with oxygen it has a bright red color; as it loses oxygen it becomes bluish (cyanosis)
The Normal Blood Hematocrit is Just Below 50%
- Blood consists of cells suspended in serum
- More than 99% of the cells in the blood are red blood cells designed to carry oxygen
- 25% of all the cells in the body are RBCs
- The volume percentage of cells in the blood is called the hematocrit
- Normal hematocrits are about 40% for women and 45% for men
At Sea Level the Partial Pressure of O2 is High Enough to Give Nearly 100% Saturation of Hemoglobin
- As the partial pressure of oxygen in the alveoli increases the hemoglobin in the red cells passing through the lungs rises until the hemoglobin is 100% saturated with oxygen
- At 100% saturation each hemoglobin carries 4 O2 molecules
- This is equal to 1.33 mL O2 per gram of hemoglobin
- A person with 15 gm Hb/deciliter can carry:
- Max O2 carriage = 1.33 mL O2/gm X 15 gm/deciliter = 20 mL O2/deciliter
- A plot of % saturation vs pO2 gives an S-shaped "hemoglobin dissociation curve"
- At 100% saturation each hemoglobin binds 4 oxygen molecules
At High Altitudes Hemoglobin Saturation May be Well Below 100%
- At the alveolar pO2 of 105 mm Hg at sea level the hemoglobin will be about 97% saturated, but the saturation will fall at high altitudes
- At 12,000 feet altitude alveolar pO2 will be about 60 mm Hg and the hemoglobin will be 90% saturated
- At 29,000 feet (Mt. Everest) alveolar pO2 is about 24 mm Hg and the hemoglobin will be only 42% saturated
- At very high altitudes most climbers must breath pure oxygen from tanks
- During acclimatization to high altitude the hematocrit can rise to about 60%- this increases the amount of oxygen that can be carried
- Hematocrits above 60% are not useful because the blood viscosity will increase to the point where it impairs circulation
- PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE CONDUCTION SYSTEM
- Cardiac arrhythmias = deviation from normal rate, rhythm
- Heart block (types) = conduction system damage
- Complete Heart Block = 3rd degree block
- idioventricular beat (35-45/min)
- Atria at normal sinus rhythm
- Periods of asystole (dizziness, fainting)
- Causes = myocardial infarction of ventricular septum, surgical correction of interseptal defects, drugs
- Incomplete Heart Block = 2nd degree block
- Not all atrial beats reach ventricle
- Ventricular beat every 2nd, 3rd, etc. atrial beat, (2:1 block, 3:1 block)
- Incomplete Heart Block = 1st degree block
- All atrial beats reach ventricle
- PR interval abnormally long = slower conduction
- Bundle branch blocks (right or left)
- Impulses travel down one side and cross over
- Ventricular rate normal, QRS prolonged or abnormal
- Complete Heart Block = 3rd degree block
- Fibrillation
- Asynchronous contractions = twitching movements
- Loss of synchrony = little to No output
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Irregular ventricular beat & depressed pumping efficiency
- Atrial beat = 125 - 150/min, pulse feeble = 60 - 70/min
- Treatment = Digitalis - reduces rate of ventricular contraction, reduces pulse deficit
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Almost no blood pumped to systemic system
- ECG = extremely bizarre
- Several minutes = fatal
- Treatment = defibrillation, cardiac massage can maintain some cardiac output
- Heart block (types) = conduction system damage
The small intestine
Digestion within the small intestine produces a mixture of disaccharides, peptides, fatty acids, and monoglycerides. The final digestion and absorption of these substances occurs in the villi, which line the inner surface of the small intestine.
This scanning electron micrograph (courtesy of Keith R. Porter) shows the villi carpeting the inner surface of the small intestine.
The crypts at the base of the villi contain stem cells that continuously divide by mitosis producing
- more stem cells
- cells that migrate up the surface of the villus while differentiating into
- columnar epithelial cells (the majority). They are responsible for digestion and absorption.
- goblet cells, which secrete mucus;
- endocrine cells, which secrete a variety of hormones;
- Paneth cells, which secrete antimicrobial peptides that sterilize the contents of the intestine.
All of these cells replace older cells that continuously die by apoptosis.
The villi increase the surface area of the small intestine to many times what it would be if it were simply a tube with smooth walls. In addition, the apical (exposed) surface of the epithelial cells of each villus is covered with microvilli (also known as a "brush border"). Thanks largely to these, the total surface area of the intestine is almost 200 square meters, about the size of the singles area of a tennis court and some 100 times the surface area of the exterior of the body.
Incorporated in the plasma membrane of the microvilli are a number of enzymes that complete digestion:
- aminopeptidases attack the amino terminal (N-terminal) of peptides producing amino acids.
- disaccharidasesThese enzymes convert disaccharides into their monosaccharide subunits.
- maltase hydrolyzes maltose into glucose.
- sucrase hydrolyzes sucrose (common table sugar) into glucose and fructose.
- lactase hydrolyzes lactose (milk sugar) into glucose and galactose.
Fructose simply diffuses into the villi, but both glucose and galactose are absorbed by active transport.
- fatty acids and monoglycerides. These become resynthesized into fats as they enter the cells of the villus. The resulting small droplets of fat are then discharged by exocytosis into the lymph vessels, called lacteals, draining the villi.
Alveolar Ventilation: is the volume of air of new air , entering the alveoli and adjacent gas exchange areas each minute . It equals to multiplying of respiratory rate by ( tidal volume - dead space).
Va = R rate X (TV- DsV)
= 12 X ( 500-150)
= 4200 ml of air.