lecture 8: biological changes with aging Flashcards
1
Q
describe the changes in height
A
- between age 20 and 80 average loss in height is 1-4 inches
- flattening of arch in feet
- increased spinal curvature
- atrophy of back muscles
- compaction of vertebrae
2
Q
Describe the changes in weight
A
- increases in percentage of body fat (pharmacology changes)
- decrease in size of arm and legs
- increased in size of truck (redistribution)
- thought is as you age you may grow thinner (variable)
3
Q
aging of bones
A
- loss of calcium due to decrease absorption in upper GI tract
- hormone changes that affect bone structure
4
Q
Nails
A
- slower growth
- dull appearance
- brittle and flake
- color changes from translucent to yellow/opaque
- tips easily fragments
- longitudinal ridges
5
Q
Hair
A
- loss of facial and body hair
- hair pigment decreases (decreased melanin production)
- decreased production - failure to replace hair follicles
- individual hairs coarser
- -> female - chin
- -> Males - brow, ears, nose
6
Q
changes with skin
A
- THINNING OF EPIDERMIS
- loss of elasticity
- loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue
7
Q
Consequence of skin changes
A
- impaired temperature regulation***
- dry (xerosis) flaky skin
- skin folds and wrinkles**
- aging pallor
- coarser features - bony appearance
8
Q
clinical applications
A
- role of photo aging (solar degerenatio
- Pruritus (itching) 2/3 of older adults
- bed sores
- increase in skin cancer
- actinic keratosis
- telangiectasis
9
Q
eyes and vision
A
- eyelids baggy and wrinkled
- eyes deeper in sockets
- quality of tears decrease
- iris fades
- depth perception is lost
- floaters show up
- pupils smaller, let in less light
- lens enlarges = less transparent = clouded
- Accommodation decreases
- impaired color vision (green and blues)
- cones degenerate
- central vision occlusion
10
Q
ears
A
- irreversible sensorineural loss with age
- normal speach changes
11
Q
respiratory
A
- lungs become more rigid
- pulmonary function decreaes
- number of size of alveoli decreases
- vital capacity declines
- reduction in respiratory fluid
- bondy changes in chest cavity
12
Q
heart
A
- can be reduced by up to 70% in 70 yo
- heart valves become sclerotic
- heart muscle more irritable (more arrhythmia’s due to hypoxia)
- arteries more rigid
- veins dilate
13
Q
Female reproductive
A
- declines in estrogen and progesterone
- vagina atrophies, shorter, drier
- uterus becomes smaller
- breast tissue lose elasticity
14
Q
males
A
- reduced testosterone
- testes atrophhy and soften
- decrease in sperm production
- seminal fluid decreases and more viscous
- erections take more time
15
Q
immune system
A
- overal decline in function
- trouble differentiating between self and non-self
- decreased antibody response
- vitamin B12 absorption decreases
- decreased hemoglobin and hematocrit
- restorative process takes longer
- exerise improves the immune system**
- flu shots, pneumonia shots
