Chapter 1
What is the difference between physiology and pathophysiology?
Into what broad categories can the approximately 200 distinct kinds of cells of the human body be classified?
What distinguishes a tissue from an organ?
What are the distinguishing characteristics of each of those 4 broad cell types?
Name the body fluid compartments and list approximately what percentage of total body water is found in each. If you completely extracted all the water from a typical human body, how many liters of water would you have?
If you were supplied with a sample of fluid from each of these compartments, how would you be able to determine which compartment each sample was from?
Why are normal physiological values for most parameters are usually stated as a range rather than as single value?
Why might a physician want to take a second measurement of something like blood glucose or blood sodium levels several days after the original measurement before making a diagnosis?
Suppose a person has a body temperature of 98.2 degrees Fahrenheit in a typical comfortable indoor setting. You recall that normal body temperature is 98.6. Explain to the person why he should not be concerned that his temperature is 98.2.
What is the advantage of testing a 24 hour urine sample compared to a single blood sample when measuring the level of a particular hormone?
Using Figure 1-5 as a model, prepare a diagram showing the events associated with a person who is moderately exercising such that body temperature is increased above the set point.
What is the difference between negative feedback and positive feedback? What is the meaning of the term “negative” in this context.
What does it mean to say a set point has been “reset?” What sorts of things can reset at set point?
Give an example where resetting is beneficial.
Is the set point typically a unique value?
What would be the advantage of having several control systems be responsible for regulating a single physiological variable (such as body temperature or plasma glucose concentration?)
What is the distinction between feedforward and feedback regulation? What is the advantage of feedforward regulation?
How might feedforward be affected by experience?
What is a reflex? Give an example (other than those in the text) of a reflex that is modified by experience or conscious effort.
Name the components of a reflex arc and describe the function of each component.
What is characteristic of reflex arcs that are responsible for homeostasis?
Which component of a homeostatic reflex arc possesses the set point and makes a comparison between the set point and the actual value of the physiological variable?
What types of cells are the most common types of effectors?
What types of cells or signals can function as “efferent pathways” in a reflex arc?
Explain how a reflex arc may not have an “afferent pathway.”
What is the difference between a hormone, a neurotransmitter, a paracrine agent and an autocrine agent?
Distinguish between an adaptation and acclimatization. Give an example of each (other than that mentioned in the text.)
In general, how are circadian rhythms advantageous for homeostasis?
What kinds of signals are responsible for entraining the circadian rhythm to a 24 hour cycle?
Which region in which part of the brain is most closely associated with circadian rhythms?