Bio 16 - Minerals Flashcards
Where do we find iron and store it?
Hemoglobin. Myoglobin. Storage of excess in Liver, Spleen, Bone marrow.
What happens when there ins;t enough iron in the body?
Microcytic anemia.
What is the mechanism of iron poisoning?
Generates a lot of free radicals and peroxidation a lot of lipid membranes.
What are the symptoms of iron poisoning?
Hematemesis. Abdominal pain. Hypovolemic shock. 6 to 72 hours laters causes metabolic acidosis. 2 to 8 weeks later causes scarring of the GI track, can cause obstruction.
What does Ferritin do?
Iron-protein complex (ferric acid and apoferritin). Cellular storage protein for iron. Acute phase reactant (hepatocytes releases this so it soaks all the iron in the circulation so the bacteria can’t get to it).
What does Transferrin do?
Protein that binds ferric molecules and transports them through plasma. Synthesized in the liver. Half life of 8 days. Increased in iron deficiency (body is hungry for more iron).
What are the benefits of Zinc?
Increased healing. Important for the immune system. Essential for carbonic anhydrase and lactate dehydrogenase.
What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency?
Delayed wound healing. Decreased body hair and facial hair. Hypogonadism. Anosmia. Dysgeusia. Decreased immune response. Rash around eyes, mouth, nose, anus (acrodermatitis enteropathica). Anorexia and diarrhea. Growth retardation. Depressed mental function. Impaired night vision. Infertility.
Which hormone is the most important calcium regulator?
PTH.
What would excess PTH cause in terms of calcium levels?
Excess PTH causes Hypercalcemia.
What are signs of lead poisoning?
Decreased IQ. Hearing problems. Growth impairment. Impaired peripheral nerve function. Lead lines on XRay. Anemia. Colic/abdominal pain. Neuropathy. Encephalopathy. Death.
What causes basophilic stippling in RBCs?
Lead poisoning. Because it inhibits rRNA degradation, RBCs retains it, showing stippling.
What is the treatment for lead poisoning?
Remove lead exposure. No tx for mild toxicity. Succimer or EDTA (adult, children). Dimercaprol (children w/ severe toxicity).
Where in the body does mercury accumulate?
In the kidneys and brain.
What are the symptoms of mercury poisoning?
Acrodynia (peeling of the fingertips). Abdominal pain. Peripheral neuropathy. Neurological problems like tremors and neuropsy problems.
