8: Cholesterol

Question 1

What is the primary function of Orlistat in the digestive process?

Answer 1

Orlistat inhibits gastric and pancreatic lipases
- enzymes responsible for breaking down triglycerides in stomach and intestines
- Without these enzymes working effectively, triglycerides are not hydrolysed into absorbable free fatty acids, and are instead excreted undigested.

Question 2

What lipoprotein component is responsible for enveloping the hydrophobic core?

Answer 2

Phospholipid monolayer
- surface around hydrophobic core of lipoproteins
- hydrophobic heads face outward
- hydrophilic tails face inwards

Question 3

A 89 yo female with heart failure has noticed that her ankle begin to swell up, why has this happened?

Answer 3

Lack of Na+ - disrupts osmotic balance
extracellular impermeant solutes - create osmotic gradient
Macromolecular colloid - exert oncotic pressure, collectively reducing cell swelling effectively

Question 4

What 3 factors allow UW to reduce cell swelling when infused?

Answer 4

Lack of Na+
Extracellular impermeant solutes
Macromolecular colloid

Question 5

How is familial hypercholesterolaemia inherited?

Answer 5

As a monogenic dominant trait.

Mutation in a single gene