Bio lecture final

Use it or lose it

Biological principle stating that systems like the brain and muscles must stay active to prevent atrophy or increased risk of dementia.

Self versus nonself

The 2 characteristics that distinguish immunity from nonspecific resistance.

Specificity

Immunity that is directed against 1 particular pathogen.

Memory

Immune feature where the body reacts so quickly to a known pathogen that no noticeable illness occurs.

T cell percentage

80% of the basic categories of lymphocytes found in circulating blood.

B cell percentage

15% of the basic categories of lymphocytes found in circulating blood.

Natural Killer cell percentage

5% of the basic categories of lymphocytes found in circulating blood.

Cellular immunity

Immune response where T cells directly attack and destroy foreign or diseased host cells.

Humoral immunity

Indirect immune attack where B cells recruit antibodies to assault a pathogen.

Natural Killer cell action

Lymphocytes that release perforins to make a hole and granzymes to degrade enemy cell enzymes.

Apoptosis

Process where an enemy cell dies by blowing up from within after attack by a natural killer cell.

Macrophage

Large immune cell that engulfs and digests a dying cell.

Nonspecific immunity

General way the body fights infections such as the skin acting as a physical barrier.

Attenuated vaccine

Vaccine containing the entire virus but only a specific part of it.

mRNA vaccine

Vaccine providing instructions to build 1 specific part of a virus like the spikes on covid so the body recognizes it.

Flu shot versus covid shot

Comparison between attenuated vaccines with viral parts and mRNA vaccines with instructions for viral spikes.

Coronavirus anatomy

Virus composed of RNA enclosed in protein with spike proteins and lipid membranes.

Primary immune response

The 1st exposure to a microbial antigen which can take several weeks to peak.

Secondary immune response

Faster and stronger antibody reaction occurring during subsequent exposure to a pathogen.

Cytokines

Chemical signals released by infected cells to activate T cells and coordinate the immune response.

Nasal cavity

Respiratory structure that filters and warms and moistens air as it enters the body.

Pharynx and larynx

Passageways for air where the latter also serves as the voice box.

Trachea

The windpipe that passes through the larynx and leads toward the lungs.

Alveoli

Small sacs surrounded by capillaries where the actual exchange of gases occurs.

Pulmonary surfactant

Substance that reduces surface tension in the alveoli to keep them from sticking together.

Tidal volume

The amount of air moved into or out of the lungs during 1 normal breath which is roughly 500 ml.

Vital capacity

Total volume of air that can be exhaled after maximum inhalation which declines to 60% or 70% with age.

Residual volume

The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a forced exhalation which is about 1200 ml.

Inspiratory reserve volume

Additional air that can be inhaled beyond normal tidal volume which is about 3100 ml.

Total lung capacity

Maximum volume of air the lungs can hold which equals 6000 ml in an average adult male.

Kyphosis

Rounding or hunching of the thoracic region that reduces space in the thoracic cavity and makes breathing harder.

COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease causing difficulty breathing that is more common in men and smokers.

Chronic bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchial tree leading to excessive mucus and cyanosis.

Cyanosis

Bluish skin discoloration occurring when blood is not sufficiently oxygenated.

Pneumonia

Condition where alveoli fill with fluid resulting in poor gas exchange.

Smoker lung carcinoma

Malignant tumor in the lungs often visible as dark masses on the mediastinal surface.

Cremaster muscle

Extension of the abdominal muscle that acts as a thermostat for the scrotum by contracting or relaxing.

Epididymis

Structure used as a storage tank for sperm before it moves to the vas deferens tube.

Seminal vesicle

Gland producing a fluid that supports sperm movement and provides fructose for energy.

Prostate gland

Male gland releasing alkaline fluid to neutralize vaginal acidity and trigger sperm to swim.

Bulbourethral gland

Structure that releases fluid to clear the urethra of urine before semen is released.

BPH

Benign prostate hyperplasia which is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland.

PSA

Blood test used to identify potential health concerns regarding the prostate.

Sperm head contents

The specific anatomical part of the sperm cell where the DNA is stored.

Hysterectomy

Removal of reproductive structures like the uterus or uterine tubes due to instability or fibroids.

Vagina

Reproductive structure maintaining an acidic environment to reduce the chance of infection.

Uterus

Muscular womb where a fetus develops and is pushed out during delivery.

Endometrium

The inner lining of the uterus where a fertilized egg implants.

Myometrium

The thick muscular layer of the uterus used for labor contractions.

Ovulation

Release of eggs from uterine tubes occurring roughly 14 days after the start of a period.

Fimbriae

Structures that catch an ovulated egg and bring it into the uterine tube.

HPV

Human papillomavirus known to camp out in the cervical region and potentially cause cancer.

Gardasil

Vaccine used to reduce the prevalence of HPV and cervical cancer in both males and females.

Menopause

Biological stage around age 55 when ovaries stop producing eggs and hormone levels decline.

Impotence

Inability to achieve an erection or ejaculate affecting 50% of men between ages 40 and 70 to some degree.

Nitric oxide

Chemical that triggers penile blood vessels to relax which is necessary for an erection.

Episodic memory

Type of memory involving specific events that naturally declines with age.

Cognitive reserve

Theory that some older adults maintain thinking skills due to education or mentally stimulating daily activities.

Loneliness health links

Emotional state connected to a 50% higher risk of dementia and increased heart disease or depression.

In vitro fertilization

Process where mature eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab and then placed into a uterus.

Intrauterine insemination

Medical treatment placing washed sperm directly into the uterus during ovulation.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Choice for male fertility issues involving injecting 1 single sperm directly into an egg.

Gestational surrogacy

Option where a woman carries a pregnancy for another person using a lab created embryo.

Senescence

The negative parts of growing older where things stop working right such as forgetting a name.

Programmed theory

Concept that cells are designed to stop working after a certain time like a biological clock.

Roger Gentilhomme

100 year old tennis player who survivor cancer and remained active without medication.

Tigerettes

Basketball team of women in their 70s and 80s demonstrating the use it or lose it rule.

Age 35

The specific age when hormone levels typically start to decrease.

Age 40

The point in life where individuals typically have only 50% of the hormone levels they had at age 25.

HRT breast cancer risk

Medical finding that hormone therapy results in 1 extra death per year for every 10,000 women.

Bioidentical hormones

Natural hormones used to slow the aging process for women and men.

Brittany Maynard

Terminal brain cancer patient who moved to Oregon to access medical aid in dying at age 29.

MAID

Medical Aid in Dying system in Canada allowing both assisted suicide and euthanasia for eligible adults.

US legal age for MAID

Requirement that a person must be an adult 18 years old or older to receive aid in dying.

Mental capability safeguard

Requirement in most countries that a person must be mentally stable and competent to give consent for MAID.

Terminal diagnosis timeframe

US requirement where a person must have an illness leading to death within 6 months.

Request protocol

US necessity of making 2 oral requests and 1 written request to obtain life ending medication.

Self administration

US legal necessity where the patient must be physically able to take the life ending medication themselves.

Eugenics

Selection of desired heritable characteristics to improve future generations of the human race.

CRISPR advantages

Simplicity and efficiency in genome editing providing the potential to cure genetic diseases with 1 treatment.

Average boy life expectancy

Statistical projection that a newborn boy in the US can expect to live 75 years.

Average girl life expectancy

Statistical projection that a newborn girl in the US can expect to live 81 years.

Maximum life span

The highest age attainable by humans which is currently recorded at 122 years.

Process of biological death

Event with no definable instant because certain organs function for 1 hour after the heart stops.

Brain death

Lack of cerebral activity and reflexes and heartbeat and respiration for 30 minutes to 24 hours.