Medical Science - Unit 1

4 primary vitals signs

Heart Rate, Blood pressure, body temperature, lung capacity

Homeostasis

process by which a constant internal environment is maintained, despite changes in the external environment

Maintaining ____ is essential for health and survival.

homeostasis

What is a regular body temperature?

37 degrees

How does the body maintain its body temperature in colder environments?

Blood Vessels constrict to reduce blood flow

Goal of a feedback loop

maintain homeostasis

two types of feedback loops

negative and positive

feedback loop constantly occurring

negative feedback

Negative feedback loop returning the body to the safe point

Restoring balance

3 examples of negative feedback loop

Heart, thermoregulation, blood sugar control

Thermoregulation

Maintaining body temperature

Hypothalamus 

Small part of the brain deciding what the response is to balance vitals 

2 example responses of the hypothalamus

Promoting sweating and dilating blood vessels

Vasodilation

Dilation of blood vessels near the skin to decrease blood pressure

Vasodilation

Decreasing the flow of blood to the skin

Contraction

Tightening

Piloerection

Contraction of tiny muscles in the skin

Positive feedback loops

Amplify’s the body’s response until the situation suddenly stops

3 examples of a positive feedback loop

Fever, pregnancy, blood clotting

Clinical definition of “death”

Permanent stop of brain function

Clinical death is the absence of 3 things

consciousness, brainstem reflexes, ability to breath independently 

5 vital signs

heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, lung capacity 

Heart rate

Measures number of heartbeats per minute

Heart rate indicates

Cardiovascular health

Average heart rate

60 to 100 beats per minute 

3 factors that affect heart rate

age, fitness, stress

2 ways to measure heart rate

Stethoscope and electrocardiogram

Electrocardiogram

electrodes placed on skin uses a graph

Blood pressure

indicates force of blood against artery walls

Average blood pressure

120/80 mm Hg

Sphygmomanometer

Tool to measure blood pressure

Temperature

Reflects body ability to maintain heat

Average temperature

36.9 degrees

Thermometer 

Tool to measure temperature 

Respiratory rate

Counts breaths per minute

Average respiratory rate

12 to 20 breaths per minute

Spirometer

Tool to measure lung capacity

Bone Marrow

Produce blood cells

Importance of vital signs

detecting or monitoring medical problems

Carry blood to organs

Arteries, capillaries, veins

Pulse oximeter

Measures oxygen level in blood

Average blood oxygen levels 

95 -100 

Hypertensions

Blood pressure is too high

Hypotension

Blood pressure is too low

5 things blood transport

hormones, oxygen, nutrients, immune cells, heat

Blood transport away 

Carbon dioxide and other waste products 

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Leukocytes

White blood cells

Platelets

Provides basis for clotting

Plasma

Carries nutrients and hormones

Antigens 

Protein markers on erythrocytes

Antibodies

proteins

Phlebotomy

taking of blood from a vein

Plasma %

55%

Erythrocytes %

45%

Agglutination

clumping together of blood

Rhesus factor

protein found on positive erythrocytes

Anemia

Erythrocytes can’t carry enough oxygen

Anemia cause example

iron deficiency

Treatment for Anemia

supplements, adjusting diets, medications

Criticisms of CAM therapies

Not enough research

Good things about CAM therapies 

improve well-being, stress reduction, pain relief

Acupuncture

inserting thin needles into specific points

CAM stands for

Complementary and Alternative medicine

Ophthalmic Imagining

takes images of eyes internal structures

2 uses for ophthalmic imaging

swelling in retina and damage to nerve tissues

X-rays

Small amount of radiation to create image 

Use for X-rays

visualize bones, joints, and organs

CT-Scan

Rotating X-rays and computer processing

Uses for CT-Scan

diagnose and monitor disease and injuries

MRI

powerful magnets, radio frequencies and a computer

Uses for an MRI

Brain, spinal cord, joints

PET scan

measuring metabolic activity

Uses for PET Scan

Cancer, heart, disease, brain disorders

Ultrasound 

transducer probe sends high-frequency sound waves

Uses of Ultrasound

Pregnancy monitoring, diagnosing conditions, glands and organs