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Physiology - NEETMDS- courses
NEET MDS Lessons
Physiology

Membrane Potential

  • Membrane potentials will occur across cell membranes if
    • 1) there is a concentration gradient of an ion
    • 2) there is an open channel in the membrane so the ion can move from one side to the other

The Sodium Pump Sets Up Gradients of Na and K Across Cell Membranes

  • All cells have the Na pump in their membranes
    • Pumps 3 Nas out and 2 Ks in for each cycle
    • Requires energy from ATP
      • Uses about 30% of body's metabolic energy
    • This is a form of active transport- can pump ions "uphill", from a low to a high concentration
    • This produces concentration gradients of Na & K across the membrane
    • Typical concentration gradients:

 

 In mM/L

 Out mM/L

 Gradient orientation

 Na

 10

 150

 High outside

 K

 140

 5

 High inside

  •  
  • The ion gradients represent stored electrical energy (batteries) that can be tapped to do useful work
  • The Na pump is of ancient origin, probably originally designed to protect cell from osmotic swelling

Inhibited by the arrow poisons ouabain and digitalis

Water: comprises 60 - 90% of most living organisms (and cells) important because it serves as an excellent solvent & enters into many metabolic reactions

  • Intracellular (inside cells) = ~ 34 liters
  • Interstitial (outside cells) = ~ 13 liters
  • Blood plasma = ~3 liters

40% of blood is red blood cells (RBCs)

plasma is similar to interstitial fluid, but contains plasma proteins

serum = plasma with clotting proteins removed

intracellular fluid is very different from interstitial fluid (high K concentration instead of high Na concentration, for example)

  • Capillary walls (1 cell thick) separate blood from interstitial fluid
  • Cell membranes separate intracellular and interstitial fluids
  • Loss of about 30% of body water is fatal

 

Ions = atoms or molecules with unequal numbers of electrons and protons:

  • found in both intra- & extracellular fluid
  • examples of important ions include sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride

Ions (Charged Atoms or Molecules) Can Conduct Electricity

  • Giving up electron leaves a + charge (cation)
  • Taking on electron produces a - charge (anion)
  • Ions conduct electricity
  • Without ions there can be no nerves or excitability
    • Na+ and K+ cations  
    • Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations  control metabolism and trigger muscle contraction and secretion of hormones and transmitters

Na+ & K+ are the Major Cations in Biological Fluids

  • High K+ in cells, high Na+ outside
  • Ion gradients maintained by Na pump (1/3 of basal metabolism)
  • Think of Na+ gradient as a Na+ battery- stored electrical energy
  • K+ gradient forms a K+ battery
  • Energy stored in Na+ and K+ batteries can be tapped when ions flow
  • Na+ and K+ produce action potential of excitable cells

Cardiac Output:

Minute Volume = Heart Rate X Stroke Volume

Heart rate, HR at rest = 65 to 85 bpm  

Each heartbeat at rest takes about .8 sec. of which .4 sec. is quiescent period.

Stroke volume, SV at rest = 60 to 70 ml.

Heart can increase both rate and volume with exercise. Rate increase is limited due to necessity of minimum ventricular diastolic period for filling. Upper limit is usually put at about 220 bpm. Maximum heart rate calculations are usually below 200. Target heart rates for anaerobic threshold are about 85 to 95% of maximum.

Terms:

End Diastolic Volume, EDV - the maximum volume of the ventricles achieved at the end of ventricular diastole. This is the amount of blood the heart has available to pump. If this volume increases the cardiac output increases in a healthy heart.

End Systolic Volume, ESV - the minimum volume remaining in the ventricle after its systole. If this volume increases it means less blood has been pumped and the cardiac output is less.

EDV - ESV = SV

SV / EDV = Ejection Fraction The ejection fraction is normally around 50% at rest and will increase during strenuous exercise in a healthy heart. Well trained athletes may have ejection fractions approaching 70% in the most strenuous exercise.

Isovolumetric Contraction Phase - a brief period at the beginning of ventricular systole when all valves are closed and ventricular volume remains constant. Pressure has risen enough in the ventricle to close the AV valves but not enough to open the semilunar valves and cause ejection of blood. 

Isovolumetric Relaxation Phase - a brief period at the beginning of ventricular diastole when all valves are closed and ventricular volume is constant. Pressure in the ventricle has lowered producing closure of the semilunar valves but not opening the AV valves to begin pulling blood into the ventricle.

Dicrotic Notch - the small increase in pressure of the aorta or other artery seen when recording a pulse wave. This occurs as blood is briefly pulled back toward the ventricle at the beginning of diastole thus closing the semilunar valves.

Preload - This is the pressure at the end of ventricular diastole, at the beginning of ventricular systole. It is proportional to the End Diastolic Volume (EDV), i.e. as the EDV increases so does the preload of the heart. Factors which increase the preload are: increased total blood volume, increased venous tone and venous return, increased atrial contraction, and the skeletal muscular pump.

Afterload - This is the impedence against which the left ventricle must eject blood, and it is roughly proportional to the End Systolic Volume (ESV). When the peripheral resistance increases so does the ESV and the afterload of the heart. 

The importance of these parameters are as a measure of efficiency of the heart, which increases as the difference between preload and afterload increases

4.    Emphysema
1. Permanent enlargement of airways with distension of alveolar walls
 
    Thickened Bronchial Submucosa, Edema & Cellular Infiltration (loss of elasticity), Dilation of Air spaces, due to destruction of alveolar walls (Air trapped by obstruction)

2.    Lower Respiratory tree destruction

    Respiratory Bronchioles, Alveolar ducts, & Alveolar sacs

Types of Emphysema:
    
    1.    Centrilobular (Centriacinar) = Respiratory Bronchioles
    Rarely seen in non Smokers, More in Men than Women, Found in Smokers with Bronchitis

    2.    Panlobular (Panacinar) 

    Hereditary, Single autosomal recessive gene. Deficient in 1-globulin (1-antitrypsin), Protects respiratory tract from neutrophil elastase (Enzyme that distroys lung connective tissue) , Aged persons, Results from Bronchi or Bronchiolar constriction

    NOTE: Smoking = Leading cause of Bronchitis, Emphysema
 

Exchange of gases:

  • External respiration:
    • exchange of O2 & CO2 between external environment & the cells of the body
    • efficient because alveoli and capillaries have very thin walls & are very abundant (your lungs have about 300 million alveoli with a total surface area of about 75 square meters)
  • Internal respiration - intracellular use of O2 to make ATP
  • occurs by simple diffusion along partial pressure gradients

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

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.

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