Physiology and medical biology review

Vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering basic physiology, anatomical terminology, tissues, cardiology, hematology, and respiratory physics.

Physiology

The study of the normal functioning of a living organism and its chemical and physical processes.

Homeostasis

The regulation of the internal environment of the body to maintain stability, also referred to as homeodynamics to reflect small, temporary changes.

Pathophysiology

The study of body functions in a diseased or pathological state when homeostasis is not properly maintained.

Response Loop

A control mechanism consisting of a stimulus, sensor, input signal, integrating center, output signal, target, and response.

Negative Feedback

A control mechanism where the initial stimulus is inhibited or reduced after the response is given to bring a process back to its starting value.

Positive Feedback

A process that reinforces the original stimulus, moving the system further away from the starting value; it does not contribute to homeostasis.

Feedforward Loop

Anticipatory responses to known signals that prepare the body for a change before it occurs.

Anatomical Position

A standard body position where the individual is standing upright, palms facing forward, and thumbs pointing outward.

Medial

Located on the inner side, toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Located on the outer side, away from the midline of the body.

Ventral (Anterior)

Toward or at the front of the body.

Dorsal (Posterior)

Toward or at the back of the body.

Cranial (Superior)

Toward the head end or upper part of a structure; above.

Caudal (Inferior)

Away from the head end or toward the lower part of a structure; below.

Serous Membranes

Membranes that cover organs and line body cavities to prevent friction, such as the pericardium.

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (DCM)

A heart muscle disease in diabetics occurring without high blood pressure or other cardiovascular diseases, increasing risks of ischemia and heart failure.

Afferent Side

The part of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that supplies information to the central nervous system (CNS).

Efferent Side

The motor side of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) that receives information from the central nervous system (CNS).

Dendrite

A process of a neuron that receives incoming signals from other cells.

Axon

A long process of a neuron that conducts outgoing signals away from the cell body.

Astrocytes

Glial cells in the CNS that help maintain ion balance, which is critical for signal transmission.

Schwann Cells

Glial cells in the PNS that form myelin sheaths around axons.

Basement Membrane

The foundation for epithelial cells that provides attachment, support, acts as a selective barrier, and aids in regeneration and signaling.

Gap Junctions

Communication junctions that allow cells to communicate with each other rapidly.

Tight Junctions

Occluding junctions that block the movement of substances between cells, preventing communication.

Hematopoiesis

The process of blood cell formation from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow.

Hematocrit (Ht)

The ratio of the volume of erythrocytes (red blood cells) to the total volume of blood, expressed in $L/L$.

Mean Cell Volume (MCV)

The average volume of a red blood cell, calculated using the formula $MCV = \frac{Ht}{RBC}$.

Hemostasis

The official term for blood clotting, involving a localized interaction between platelets, clotting factors, and the vessel wall.

Systole

The phase of the heart cycle involving contraction and the building of pressure to move blood.

Diastole

The phase of the heart cycle involving relaxation and filling of the chambers.

Preload

The amount of blood in the heart at the end of the filling phase (diastole), affecting the force of contraction.

Afterload

The resistance the heart must pump against to eject blood into the circulation.

Stroke Volume (SV)

The amount of blood a ventricle pumps per heartbeat, defined by the formula $SV = EDV - ESV$.

Pacemaker Cells

Autorhythmic cells that generate action potentials to determine the heart's rhythm; located in the SA and AV nodes.

Surfactant

A mixture of proteins and fats produced by Type 2 alveolar cells that lowers surface tension in the lungs.

Law of LaPlace

The physical principle expressed as $P = \frac{2T}{r}$, where $P$ is pressure, $T$ is surface tension, and $r$ is radius.

Fick’s Law of Diffusion

The law stating gas diffusion rate is proportional to surface area ($A$), a constant ($K$), and partial pressure difference ($P2-P1$), and inversely proportional to distance ($D$): $\text{Rate} = K \times A \times \frac{P2-P1}{D}$.

Boyle’s Law

The gas law stating that pressure and volume are inversely proportional: $P_1 \times V_1 = P_2 \times V_2$.

Dalton’s Law

The law stating that total pressure is the sum of partial pressures of individual gases: $P_{total} = P_a + P_b + P_c$.