NEET MDS Lessons
Physiology
Micturition (urination) is a process, by which the final urine is eliminated out of the body .
After being drained into the ureters, urine is stored in urinary bladder until being eliminated.
Bladder is a hollow muscular organ, which has three layers:
- epithelium : Composed of superficial layer of flat cells and deep layer of cuboidal cells.
- muscular layer : contain smooth muscle fibers, that are arranged in longitudinal, spiral and circular pattern . Detrusor muscle is the main muscle of bladder. The thickening of detrusor muscle forms internal urinary sphinctor which is not an actual urinary sphincter. The actual one is the external urinary sphincter, which is composed of striated muscle and is a part of urogenital diaphragm.
- adventitia: composed of connective tissue fibers.
So: There are two phases of bladder function that depend on characterestics of its muscular wall and innervation :
1. Bladder filling : Urine is poured into bladder through the orifices of ureters. Bladder has five peristaltic contraction per minute . These contraction facilitate moving of urine from the ureter to the bladder as prevent reflux of urine into the ureter.. The capacity of bladder is about 400 ml. But when the bladder start filling its wall extends and thus the pressure is not increased with the increased urine volume.
2. Bladder emptying : When bladder is full stretch receptors in bladder wall are excited , and send signals via the sensory branches of pelvic nerves to the sacral plexus. The first urge to void is felt at a bladder volume of about 150 ml. In sacral portion of spinal cord the sensory signals are integrated and then a motor signal is sent to the urinarry blader muscles through the efferent branches of pelvic nerve itself.
In adult people the neurons in sacral portion could be influenced by nerve signals coming from brain ( Micturition center in pons ) that are also influenced by signals coming from cerebral cortex.
So: The sensory signals ,transmitted to the sacral region will also stimulate ascending pathway and the signals be also transmitted to the micturition center in the brain stem and then to the cerebrum to cause conscious desire for urination.
If micturition is not convenient the brain sends signals to inhibit the parasympathetic motor neuron to the bladder via the sacral neurons.
It also send inhibitory signal via the somatomotor pudendal nerve to keep external urinary sphincter contracting.
When micturition is convenient a brain signal via the sacral neurons stimulate the parasympathetic pelvic nerve to cause contraction of detruser muscle via M-cholinergic receptors and causes relaxation of external urinary sphincter and the micturition occurs.
Sympathetic hypogastric nerve does not contribute that much to the micturition reflex. It plays role in prvrntion reflux of semen into urinary bladder during ejaculation by contracting bladder muscles.
Blood Groups
Blood groups are created by molecules present on the surface of red blood cells (and often on other cells as well).
The ABO Blood Groups
The ABO blood groups are the most important in assuring safe blood transfusions.
|
Blood Group |
Antigens on RBCs |
Antibodies in Serum |
Genotypes |
|
A |
A |
Anti-B |
AA or AO |
|
B |
B |
Anti-A |
BB or BO |
|
AB |
A and B |
Neither |
AB |
|
O |
Neither |
Anti-A and anti-B |
OO |
When red blood cells carrying one or both antigens are exposed to the corresponding antibodies, they agglutinate; that is, clump together. People usually have antibodies against those red cell antigens that they lack.
The critical principle to be followed is that transfused blood must not contain red cells that the recipient's antibodies can clump. Although theoretically it is possible to transfuse group O blood into any recipient, the antibodies in the donated plasma can damage the recipient's red cells. Thus all transfusions should be done with exactly-matched blood.
The Rh System
Rh antigens are transmembrane proteins with loops exposed at the surface of red blood cells. They appear to be used for the transport of carbon dioxide and/or ammonia across the plasma membrane. They are named for the rhesus monkey in which they were first discovered.
There are a number of Rh antigens. Red cells that are "Rh positive" express the one designated D. About 15% of the population have no RhD antigens and thus are "Rh negative".
The major importance of the Rh system for human health is to avoid the danger of RhD incompatibility between mother and fetus.
During birth, there is often a leakage of the baby's red blood cells into the mother's circulation. If the baby is Rh positive (having inherited the trait from its father) and the mother Rh-negative, these red cells will cause her to develop antibodies against the RhD antigen. The antibodies, usually of the IgG class, do not cause any problems for that child, but can cross the placenta and attack the red cells of a subsequent Rh+ fetus. This destroys the red cells producing anemia and jaundice. The disease, called erythroblastosis fetalis or hemolytic disease of the newborn, may be so severe as to kill the fetus or even the newborn infant. It is an example of an antibody-mediated cytotoxicity disorder.
Although certain other red cell antigens (in addition to Rh) sometimes cause problems for a fetus, an ABO incompatibility does not. Rh incompatibility so dangerous when ABO incompatibility is not
It turns out that most anti-A or anti-B antibodies are of the IgM class and these do not cross the placenta. In fact, an Rh−/type O mother carrying an Rh+/type A, B, or AB fetus is resistant to sensitization to the Rh antigen. Presumably her anti-A and anti-B antibodies destroy any fetal cells that enter her blood before they can elicit anti-Rh antibodies in her.
This phenomenon has led to an extremely effective preventive measure to avoid Rh sensitization. Shortly after each birth of an Rh+ baby, the mother is given an injection of anti-Rh antibodies. The preparation is called Rh immune globulin (RhIG) or Rhogam. These passively acquired antibodies destroy any fetal cells that got into her circulation before they can elicit an active immune response in her.
Rh immune globulin came into common use in the United States in 1968, and within a decade the incidence of Rh hemolytic disease became very low.
Carbon Dioxide Transport
Carbon dioxide (CO2) combines with water forming carbonic acid, which dissociates into a hydrogen ion (H+) and a bicarbonate ions:
CO2 + H2O ↔ H2CO3 ↔ H+ + HCO3−
95% of the CO2 generated in the tissues is carried in the red blood cells:
- It probably enters (and leaves) the cell by diffusing through transmembrane channels in the plasma membrane. (One of the proteins that forms the channel is the D antigen that is the most important factor in the Rh system of blood groups.)
- Once inside, about one-half of the CO2 is directly bound to hemoglobin (at a site different from the one that binds oxygen).
- The rest is converted — following the equation above — by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase into
- bicarbonate ions that diffuse back out into the plasma and
- hydrogen ions (H+) that bind to the protein portion of the hemoglobin (thus having no effect on pH).
Only about 5% of the CO2 generated in the tissues dissolves directly in the plasma. (A good thing, too: if all the CO2 we make were carried this way, the pH of the blood would drop from its normal 7.4 to an instantly-fatal 4.5!)
When the red cells reach the lungs, these reactions are reversed and CO2 is released to the air of the alveoli.
Heart sounds
Heart sounds are a result of beating heart and resultant blood flow . that could be detected by a stethoscope during auscultation . Auscultation is a part of physical examination that doctors have to practice them perfectly.
Before discussion the origin and nature of the heart sounds we have to distinguish between the heart sounds and hurt murmurs. Heart murmurs are pathological noises that results from abnormal blood flow in the heart or blood vessels.
Physiologically , blood flow has a laminar pattern , which means that blood flows in form of layers , where the central layer is the most rapid . Laminar blood flow could be turned into turbulent one .
Turbulent blood flow is a result of stenotic ( narrowed ) valves or blood vessels , insufficient valves , roughened vessels` wall or endocardium , and many diseases . The turbulent blood flow causes noisy murmurs inside or outside the heart.
Heart sounds ( especially first and second sounds ) are mainly a result of closure of the valves of the heart . While the third sound is a result of vibration of ventricular wall and the leaflets of the opened AV valves after rapid inflow of blood from the atria to ventricles .
Third heart sound is physiologic in children but pathological in adults.
The four heart sound is a result of the atrial systole and vibration of the AV valves , due to blood rush during atrial systole . It is inaudible neither in adults nor in children . It is just detectable by the phonocardiogram .
Characteristic of heart sounds :
1. First heart sound (S1 , lub ) : a soft and low pitch sound, caused by closure of AV valves.Usually has two components ( M1( mitral ) and T1 ( tricuspid ). Normally M1 preceads T1.
2. Second heart sound ( S2 , dub) : sharp and high pitch sound . caused by closure of semilunar valves. It also has two components A2 ( aortic) and P2 ( pulmonary) . A2 preceads P2.
3. Third heart sound (S3) : low pitched sound.
4. Fourth heart sound ( S4) very low pitched sound.
As we notice : the first three sounds are related to ventricular activity , while the fourth heart sound is related to atrial activity.
Closure of valves is not the direct cause for heart sounds , but sharp blocking of blood of backward returning of blood by the closing valve is the direct cause.
Contractility : Means ability of cardiac muscle to convert electrical energy of action potential into mechanical energy ( work).
The excitation- contraction coupling of cardiac muscle is similar to that of skeletal muscle , except the lack of motor nerve stimulation.
Cardiac muscle is a self-excited muscle , but the principles of contraction are the same . There are many rules that control the contractility of the cardiac muscles, which are:
1. All or none rule: due to the syncytial nature of the cardiac muscle.There are atrial syncytium and ventricular syncytium . This rule makes the heart an efficient pump.
2. Staircase phenomenon : means gradual increase in muscle contraction following rapidly repeated stimulation..
3. Starling`s law of the heart: The greater the initial length of cardiac muscle fiber , the greater the force of contraction. The initial length is determined by the degree of diastolic filling .The pericardium prevents overstretching of heart , and allows optimal increase in diastolic volume.
Thankful to this law , the heart is able to pump any amount of blood that it receives. But overstretching of cardiac muscle fibers may cause heart failure.
Factors affecting contractility ( inotropism)
I. Positive inotropic factors:
1. sympathetic stimulation: by increasing the permeability of sarcolemma to calcium.
2. moderate increase in temperature . This due to increase metabolism to increase ATP , decrease viscosity of myocardial structures, and increasing calcium influx.
3. Catecholamines , thyroid hormone, and glucagon hormones.
4. mild alkalosis
5. digitalis
6. Xanthines ( caffeine and theophylline )
II. Negative inotropic factors:
1. Parasympathetic stimulation : ( limited to atrial contraction)
2. Acidosis
3. Severe alkalosis
4. excessive warming and cooling .
5. Drugs ;like : Quinidine , Procainamide , and barbiturates .
6. Diphtheria and typhoid toxins.
Each hormone in the body is unique. Each one is different in it's chemical composition, structure, and action. With respect to their chemical structure, hormones may be classified into three groups: amines, proteins, and steroids.
Amines- these simple hormones are structural variation of the amino acid tyrosine. This group includes thyroxine from the thyroid gland and epinephrine and norepinephrine from the adrenal medulla.
Proteins- these hormones are chains of amino acids. Insulin from the pancreas, growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, and calcitonin from the thyroid gland are all proteins. Short chains of amino acids are called peptides. Antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin, synthesized by the hypothalamus, are peptide hormones.
Steroids- cholesterol is the precursor for the steroid hormones, which include cortisol and aldosterone from the adrenal cortex, estrogen and progesterone from the ovaries, and testosterone from the testes.
Properties of cardiac muscle
Cardiac muscle is a striated muscle like the skeletal muscle , but it is different from the skeletal muscle in being involuntary and syncytial .
Syncytium means that cardiac muscle cells are able to excite and contract together due to the presence of gap junctions between adjacent cardiac cells.
Cardiac muscle has four properties , due to which the heart is able to fulfill its function as a pumping organ. Studying and understanding these properties is essential for students to understand the cardiac physiology as a whole.
1. Rhythmicity ( Chronotropism )
2. Excitability ( Bathmotropism )
3. Conductivity
4. Contractility