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Chapter 1
Introduction to Physiology
76
Physiology
Undergraduate 3
08/31/2015

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Term
physiology
Definition
the study of the normal functioning of a living organism & its component parts, including all its chemical & physical processes
Term
emergent properties
Definition
properties that cannot be predicted to exist based only on knowledge of the system's individual components; human bodies have these
Term
What is the specific focus of physiology?
Definition
the integration of function across many levels of organization
Term
cells
Definition
collections of molecules in living organisms; the smallest unit of structure capable of carrying out all life processes
Term
cell membrane
Definition
separates cells from their external environment; made of lipids & proteins
Term
tissues
Definition
collections of cells that carry out related functions
Term
organs
Definition
structural & functional units formed by tissues
Term
organ systems
Definition
groups of organs that integrate their functions
Term
integumentary system
Definition
composed of the skin; forms a protective boundary that separates the body's internal environment from the external environment
Term
musculoskeletal system
Definition
provides support & body movement
Term
respiratory (pulmonary) system
Definition
exchanges gases
Term
digestive (gastrointestinal) system
Definition
takes up nutrients & water & eliminates waste
Term
urinary (renal) system
Definition
removes excess water & waste material
Term
reproductive system
Definition
produces eggs or sperm
Term
circulatory (cardiovascular) system
Definition
distributes materials by pumping blood through vessels
Term
nervous & endocrine systems
Definition
coordinate body functions
Term
What system is encompassed in the immune system?
Definition
lymphatic system
Term
function
Definition
the "why" of a physiological system or event
Term
teleological approach
Definition
thinking about a physiological event in terms of its adaptive significance
Term
mechanisms
Definition
the "how" of a physiological system
Term
mechanistic approach
Definition
examining processes of physiology
Term
translational research
Definition
applying the concept of integrated functions & mechanisms
Term
compartmentation
Definition
the division of space into separate compartments
Term
homeostasis
Definition
the process of keeping a relatively stable internal environment to cope with external variability in challenging habitats
Term
pathological condition
Definition
a disease state; can result from failure to maintain homeostasis of the critical variables listed by Walter Cannon
Term
pathophysiology
Definition
the study of body functions in a disease state
Term
diabetes mellitus
Definition
a metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally high blood glucose concentrations; a very common pathological condition in the USA
Term
extracellular fluid
Definition
the watery internal environment that surrounds the cells for multicellular animals; a "sea within" the body
Term
intracellular fluid (ICF)
Definition
the fluid within cells of an organism; buffered from the external environment by the extracellular fluid (ECF)
Term
law of mass balance
Definition
if the amount of a substance in the body is to remain constant, any gain must be offset by an equal loss
Term
load
Definition
the amount of a substance in the body; ex) sodium load
Term
equation for the law of mass balance
Definition
total amount of substance in the body = intake + production - excretion - metabolism
Term
excretion
Definition
the elimination of material from the body; usually through the urine, feces, lungs, or skin
Term
mass flow
Definition
how scientists follow material throughout the body
Term
equation for mass flow
Definition
mass flow = concentration of substance x volume flow
Term
clearance
Definition
following the rate at which a substance disappears from the blood instead of directly measuring the substance in the body
Term
plasma
Definition
the fluid component of blood
Term
Is steady state the same as equilibrium?
Definition
no!
Term
steady state
Definition
no net movement of materials between the ICF and ECF
Term
The ECF and ICF exist in a state of relatively stable _____
Definition
disequilibrium
Term
regulated variables
Definition
key functions that are kept within their acceptable range by physiological control mechanisms that kick in if the variable ever strays too far from its setpoint
Term
setpoint
Definition
the optimum value for regulated variables
Term
3 components of control systems
Definition
1. an input signal
2. a controller/integrating center
3. an output signal that creates a response
Term
integrating center (AKA controller)
Definition
integrates incoming information & initiates an appropriate response
Term
local control
Definition
restricted to the tissue or cell involved; the simplest form of control
Term
3 primary components of a response loop
Definition
1. input signal
2. integrating center
3. output signal
Term
sensor
Definition
a specialized way to monitor regulated variables
Term
feedback loop
Definition
a response to a change due to a response loop that "feeds back" to influence the input portion of the pathway
Term
negative feedback
Definition
a pathway in which the response opposes or removes the signal
Term
positive feedback loop
Definition
the response reinforces the stimulus rather than decreasing or removing it
Term
feedforward control
Definition
anticipatory responses that enable the body to predict that a change is about to occur & start the response loop in anticipation of the change
Term
circadian rhythm
Definition
some form of daily biological rhythm that all animals exhibit
Term
acclimatization
Definition
the naturally occurring adaptation of physiological processes to a given set of environmental conditions
Term
acclimation
Definition
acclimatization happening artificially in a laboratory setting
Term
hypotheses
Definition
logical guesses; physiology is based off of researchers generating hypotheses about how events take place & then running experiments
Term
2 key elements of the scientific inquiry
Definition
1. observation
2. experimentation
Term
independent variable
Definition
the altered variable in an experiment
Term
What is the opposite of an independent variable?
Definition
dependent variable
Term
control group
Definition
a duplicate of the experimental group in every respect except that the independent variable is not changed from its initial value
Term
data
Definition
information collected by an investigator during an experiment about the effect that the manipulated variable has on the observed variable
Term
replication
Definition
repeating an experiment to ensure that the results were not an unusual one-time event
Term
model
Definition
what a hypothesis can become if the data support the hypothesis in multiple experiments
Term
scientific theory
Definition
a model with substantial evidence from multiple investigations
Term
Do human populations have tremendous genetic & environmental variability?
Definition
yes!
Term
crossover study
Definition
each individual acts as both an experimental subject & a control subject
Term
placebo
Definition
an inactive substance used in experiments
Term
placebo effect
Definition
mental preconceptions about a placebo helping changing the physiological response to a placebo to be positive rather than neutral
Term
nocebo effect
Definition
mental preconceptions about a placebo harming changing the physiological response to a placebo to be negative rather than neutral
Term
blind study
Definition
subjects do not know whether they are receiving the treatment or the placebo; used to control for placebo & nocebo effects
Term
double-blind studies
Definition
used to avoid researcher preconceptions to color their perceptions of the effect of a study
Term
What is the most sophisticated experimental design to minimize psychological effects?
Definition
double-blind crossover study
Term
longitudinal studies
Definition
designed to be carried out for a long period of time
Term
Framingham Heart Study
Definition
a prospective study that recruited healthy people & has been following them for years to identify factors that contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease
Term
cross-sectional studies
Definition
survey a population for the prevalence of a disease or condition
Term
retrospective studies
Definition
match groups of people who all have a particular disease to a similar but healthy control group to try to determine if the development of the disease can be associated with a particular variable
Term
meta-analysis
Definition
combining all the data from a group of similar studies & using sophisticated statistical techniques to extract significant trends or findings between the combined data
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