Physiology: The Cell and Homeostasis Nucleus

Physiology
- Human physiology
 The study of the function and the
regulation of the different organ
systems of the body
- Comparative physiology
- Cellular & molecular physiology
The Cell
- The basic living unit of the body

Cell Membrane
- Functions:
 Transport of Substances
 Cell Recognition
 Cell Communication
 Tissue Organization
 Enzymatic Activity
 Cell Morphology

Cell Organelles
- Membrane-Bound
 Nucleus
 Plasma membrane
 Mitochondria Mitochondria
 Endoplasmic reticulum
 Golgi apparatus
 Lysosomes
 Peroxisomes
- Cytoskeleton
 Microfilaments (actin filaments)
 Intermediate
 Filaments
 Microtubules
Mitochondria & ATP - Rough ER
 Presence of ribosomes
 Cells active protein
 Synthesis & secretion
 Function: Protein Synthesis
(translation of mrna)
- Smooth ER
 Absence of ribosomes
 Function: Synthesis of fats & lipids,
Detoxification of substances,
Sequesters ca++ (sarcoplasmic
reticulum)
Golgi Apparatus

ATP & Cell Metabolism

- Function:
 Post-translational modification of
proteins
 Packages proteins for delivery
Secretory Granules
Endoplasmic Reticulum

Protein & Lipid Synthesis

  Link to adjacent cells (zonula
adherens/occludens)
- Intermediate filaments
 Intracellular structure (keratin in
epithelial cells)
 Extracellular linkage (desmosomes &
hemidesmosomes)
Microtubules

Lysosomes
- Contains digestive enzymes
- Function:
 Degradative function (Eg.
Macrophage)
Phagocytosis

- Functions:
 Intracellular transport of vesicles
 W/ motor proteins: kinesin &
dynein
 Chromosome movement in mitosis/
meiosis
 Movement of cilia & flagella
LYSOMAL DISEASES
Peroxisomes
- Absence of lysosomal enzymes
- Contains oxidative enzymes - Tay-sach’s disease
- Function:  Hexoseaminidase a
 Oxidize fatty acids  Accumuluation of ganglioside in
 Detoxify compounds (Eg. Liver neurons
conversion of ethanol to - Lorenzo’s oil: accumulation of very long
acetaldehyde) chain fatty acids,vlcfcas
Cytoskeleton Microtubules & Cancer
- Function: - Uncontrolled mitosis in tumor cells
 Maintain cell structure - Antitumor drugs:
 Change cell shape  Vincristine
 Cell motility - Prevents formation of
- Actin microfilaments microtubules
 Locomotion  Taxol
- Stabilizes microtubules
LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION  “It is the stability of the internal
environment that is the condition of a
1. Tissues
free and independent life.”
 4 types:
 “It is the fixity of the internal
 Epithelium
environment that is the condition of a
 Connective tissue
free and independent life. All the vital
 Muscle
mechanisms, however varied they
 Nervous tissue
may be, have only one object, that of
2. Organs
preserving (constant) the conditions
3. Systems
of life in the internal environment.”
(Claude Bernard)
CELL EXTRACELLULAR FLUID, ECF

ORGAN SYSTEMS & THEIR FUNCTIONS

o Cardiovascular System
o Respiratory System
o Digestive System
o Renal System
o Reproductive System
o Musculo-Skeletal System
o Endocrine System
o Nervous System
o Immune System
Homeostasis
- Walter Cannon (1871-1945)
 Homeostasis: the relatively constant
TOTAL BODY WATER, TBW
state of the composition of the
internal environment, achieved  60% of body weight
through highly coordinated processes  40% in intracellular fluid compartment (icf)
(1926)  20% in extracellular fluid compartment (ecf)
- Claude Bernard (1813-1878)  Plasma, 4%
 “Milieu interieur”, 1887  Interstitial fluid, 16%
 Independence of living body from
surrounding environment
 Internal vs. External environment
 CONTROL SYSTEMS
Negative Feedback
- A disturbance elicits a response that results in
an effect that is opposite that of the change
COMPOSITION OF ECF & ICF - Eg. Thermostat

EXTERNAL & INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT

- “Set Point” or baseline

- Resetting of “set point” in response

HOMEOSTATIC REGULATION
 Concentration of o2 & co2
 Ph of internal environment, 7.4
 Concentration of nutrients and waste
products
 Concentration of salt and other electrolytes
 Volume and pressure of the ECF
HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
NORMAL RANGE OF VALUES

Positive Feedback
- A stimulus elicits a response that further
increases or amplifies the effect of the
initiating stimulus
- Physiologic Usefulness:
 Blood Clotting
 Parturition (at birth)
BLOOD CLOTTING

IN PARTURITION
 - Correction within narrow range of normal
values
- Set points of some variables can be reset
- Not all variables can be maintained relatively
constant
- Balancing of Inputs and Outputs
 Simultaneous activation of counter-
regulatory mech’ms
 Eg. Blood glucose level by
insulin/glucagon
CONTROL SYSTEM - Redundancy of Control Mechanisms for
Vital Processes
 Eg. Blood glucose elevated
by glucagon, epinephrine,
glucocorticoids
HOMEOSTASIS
- Disadvantages of Feedback Control
HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK Systems
 Speed: activated by effect of
stimulus
 Stability: oscillation
 Error: resetting of baseline values
CONTROL SYSTEMS
Feedforward regulation
- Corrective response prior to onset of change
on set point values
- Learned/acquired
- Ex: skilled motor movements
CONTROL SYSTEMS - Adaptative control
Feedforward Regulation - Involves anatomic changes & physiologic
adaptation mechanisms
- Corrective response prior to onset of change - Evolves over a period of time
on set point values - More permanent changes
- Eg. Increased respiration & heart rate before - Ex: adaptation to high altitude
activity in competitive sports
- Learned/acquired
ACCLIMATIZATION VS. ADAPTION (Changes
in Morphology/Anatomy)
CHARACTERISTICS OF HOMEOSTATIC
CONTROL SYSTEMS
Summary
good luck! 
- Negative feedback systems cause response
back toward initial value - chu