Anatomy and Physiology

    Cardiovascular System
    Why is a resting arterial blood pressure (BP) measurement stated as a m aximum value and a minimum value?
    BP oscillates between maximum systolic pressure when the myocardium contracts and minimum diastolic pressure as the myocardium relaxes. These two values measured while at rest provide information about the health of the arterial tree which is why BP is measured. BP pressure rises above the resting systolic value during exercise as it should. The other choices are wrong as they contain a nonsense statement.
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    Cardiovascular System
    The Korotkoff sounds that are listened for during a blood pressure measurement by the auscultatory method are caused by:
    Squashing the brachial artery will cause blood flow to be turbulent as it passes through the constriction. This turbulence creates sound that can be detected with a stethoscope.
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    Gastrointestinal System
    Why are the blood capillaries in the liver lobules so permeable?
    Plasma proteins are large molecules that otherwise would not be able to enter (or leave) blood capillaries.
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    Endocrine System
    What does the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland synthesise and release?
    All the releasing hormones are produced in the hypothalamus.
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    Nervous System
    Which statement about efferent impulses in the spinal cord is correct?
    Efferent impulses are motor impulses so leave the spinal cord via the ventral roots. “Spinothalamic” means from the spine to thalamus, i.e. ascending or sensory. Tracts are white matter not grey. Sensory neurons have their cell bodies in the dorsal root ganglia.
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    Muscles
    Which pair of terms below refers to a contraction and relaxation?
    An agonist muscle causes a movement to occur (by contracting), while an antagonist muscle cooperates in the movement by relaxing (allowing itself to lengthen).
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    Measurement, Errors, Data and Unit Conversion
    A newborn baby weighs 7 lb 8 oz (seven pounds and 8 oz). If 1 lb = 0.454 kg, what is done to convert the baby’s weight to kilograms?
    You need to know that 8 oz is half a pound and that “a half” is the same as 0.5! Hence 7 lb 8 oz = 7.5 lb = 7.5 × 0.454 = 3.4 kg.
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    Chemistry for Physiology
    If a patient was suffering from “acidosis”, what would this mean?
    Healthy blood is slightly alkaline. Acidosis is applied to blood with pH below the normal range of 7.35–7.45. If blood has pH <7.35, it is not sufficiently alkaline.
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    Nervous System
    What is the nerve that that carries most of the parasympathetic signals?
    The vagus nerves carry 90% of the parasympathetic signals.
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    Nervous System
    Adrenergic receptors are so named because they:
    Adrenergic receptors bind adrenalin (and noradrenalin) which is another name for epinephrine (and norepinephrine).
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