Bio 120 Modules 5 + 6

Diabetes mellitus

A disorder of glucose regulation that leads to high blood sugar levels.

Autocrine secretion

Chemical messenger affects the cell that secreted it.

Paracrine secretion

Chemical messenger secreted by one cell that affects nearby cells.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers secreted by neurons at synapses.

Endocrine secretion

Hormones secreted into the blood that affect distant cells.

Neuroendocrine secretion

Neurohormones secreted into the blood by neurons to affect distant cells.

Hormone

A chemical messenger secreted into the blood that regulates physiological processes.

Target Cell

Cells affected by hormones.

Peptide hormones

Water-soluble hormones composed of amino acids that bind to surface receptors.

Steroid hormones

Fat-soluble hormones derived from cholesterol that bind to intracellular receptors.

Amine hormones

Hormones derived from amino acids, can be water-soluble or fat-soluble.

Membrane-bound receptors

Receptors that facilitate signal transduction without the hormone entering the cell.

Intracellular receptors

Receptors inside the cell that influence gene expression more slowly.

Signal amplification

When hormone receptor complex acts as a gene transcription factor to produce more mRNA.

Hypoglycemic

A condition where blood glucose levels are too low.

Hyperglycemic

A condition where blood glucose levels are too high.

Insulin

A hormone that promotes glucose uptake into cells.

Glucagon

A hormone that raises blood glucose levels by promoting glycogenolysis.

Glycogenesis

The process of converting glucose to glycogen for storage.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen into glucose to increase blood glucose levels.

GLUT transporters

Membrane proteins that facilitate glucose transport across cell membranes.

Facilitated diffusion

Transport of substances across a membrane with the aid of transporter proteins.

Insulin resistance

A condition in which target cells do not respond properly to insulin.

Type 1 Diabetes

A form of diabetes where the pancreas does not produce enough insulin.

Type 2 Diabetes

A form of diabetes characterized by insulin resistance and often associated with obesity.

Chronic hyperglycemia

Prolonged elevated blood glucose levels leading to health complications.

Diabetic nephropathy

Kidney disease resulting from damage to the capillaries in the kidneys.

Diabetic retinopathy

Eye disease caused by damage to the capillaries in the retina, which can lead to blindness.

Diabetic neuropathy

Nerve damage due to prolonged high blood sugar, leading to communication issues in nerves.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells that transport oxygen in the blood.

Hemoglobin

The respiratory pigment found in red blood cells responsible for oxygen transport.

Cooperative binding

The phenomenon where the binding of one oxygen molecule to hemoglobin increases the likelihood of more oxygen binding.

Myoglobin

A muscle protein that stores oxygen and has a very high affinity for oxygen.

P50 value

A measure of the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

Fish Heart

A two-chambered heart that pumps deoxygenated blood in a single circulatory system.

Cardiac output

The volume of blood pumped by the heart per unit time.

Disadaptation

A trait that is considered inferior to its ancestral form.

Gene deletion in icefish

The loss of globin genes that prevented the production of hemoglobin in icefish.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions in the body.

Insulin secretion

The process by which pancreatic beta cells release insulin in response to high blood glucose levels.

Glucose homeostasis

The regulation of blood glucose levels within a narrow range.

Diabetes management

Strategies and treatments to control blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes.

Endocrine system

A collection of glands that secrete hormones to regulate various bodily functions.

Hypoglycemia symptoms

Signs of low blood sugar, including sweating, shaking, confusion, and irritability.

Risk factors for diabetes

Conditions or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing diabetes, such as obesity and inactivity.

Hormonal feedback loops

Mechanisms that regulate hormone levels based on feedback signals, maintaining balance in the body.

Gluconeogenesis

The process of generating glucose from non-carbohydrate sources in the liver.

Metabolic syndrome

A cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.