Physiology Internal Assessment Practice Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key endocrine, reproductive, histological, and physiological concepts from the 2nd Year MBBS Assessment paper.

Conn's Syndrome

Primary hyperaldosteronism characterized by persistent hypertension, hypokalemia, muscle weakness, and suppressed plasma renin activity.

Cushing's Disease

Hypercortisolism caused by an ACTH-secreting pituitary adenoma, presenting with hyperglycemia, truncal obesity, thin limbs, moon face, and elevated ACTH levels.

Cortisol Circadian Peak

The diurnal timing when serum cortisol levels reach their maximum, occurring in the early morning just before waking.

Acromegaly

A condition caused by growth hormone (GH) overproduction in adults, characterized by coarse facial features, enlarged hands and feet, bitemporal hemianopia, and diabetes mellitus.

Cretinism

A condition resulting from untreated congenital thyroid hormone deficiency, manifesting in newborns with lethargy, poor feeding, enlarged tongue, and severe cognitive/developmental impairment.

Graves' Disease

An autoimmune hyperthyroid condition caused by autoantibodies stimulating the TSH receptor, resulting in weight loss, heat intolerance, palpitations, low TSH, and elevated $T_3/T_4$.

Tyrosine Kinase Receptor

A type of cell-surface receptor utilized by hormones such as insulin to initiate intracellular signaling cascades.

JAK-STAT Pathway

A receptor-associated signaling pathway used by cytokines and specific peptide hormones such as leptin and growth hormone.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

An acute metabolic complication of untreated type 1 diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, ketonuria, and fruity odor breath secondary to increased lipolysis and ketogenesis.

Chvostek's Sign

Facial muscle twitching or spasm elicited by tapping over the facial nerve, indicative of hypocalcemia and resulting increased neuronal excitability.

Glucagon

A pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose levels by activating glycogen phosphorylase and stimulating hepatic glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.

Müllerian Inhibiting Factor (MIF)

A hormone secreted by testicular Sertoli cells in male embryos that causes regression and degeneration of the female paramesonephric (Müllerian) ducts.

Fallopian Tube Ampulla

The widest portion of the fallopian tube, which serves as the normal site of fertilization.

Bulbourethral Glands

Exocrine glands in the male reproductive system (also known as Cowper's glands) that are homologous to the Bartholin's glands in females.

Cryptorchidism

A congenital developmental defect characterized by the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotum.

Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

A branch of the vagus nerve vulnerable to injury during thyroidectomy, which can result in post-operative hoarseness of voice.

Epididymis

A duct system attached to the testis where spermatozoa mature, gain motility, and acquire the ability to fertilize an ovum.

Right Ovarian Vein

A venous vessel in the female reproductive system that drains directly into the inferior vena cava (IVC).

Adrenal Medulla Origin

The embryonic origin of the adrenal medullary cells, which are derived from neural crest cells.

Pituicytes

Glial supporting cells located in the neurohypophysis (posterior pituitary gland).

Stratum Basale

The deep, permanent layer of the uterine endometrium responsible for regenerating the stratum functionale during the proliferative phase.

SRY Gene

A gene on the Y chromosome that encodes testis-determining factor, directing the differentiation of primitive gonadal cords into seminiferous cords.

Aromatase

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of precursor androgens (such as testosterone and androstenedione) into estrogens (such as estradiol and estrone).

$5\alpha$-Reductase

An enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of testosterone into the more potent androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Dopamine (in Prolactin Regulation)

The primary hypothalamic neurotransmitter that exerts tonic inhibitory control over prolactin secretion from the anterior pituitary.

Metformin

An antihyperglycemic agent whose primary mechanism of action is decreasing hepatic glucose production and increasing peripheral insulin sensitivity.

Vancouver Style

A numeric citation style standardly utilized in biomedical, medical, and scientific research publications.