Glossary Flashcards
(81 cards)
What is the Visceral Pleura?
Membrane covering the lungs, facilitating smooth movement during respiration.
What is the Parietal Pleura?
Membrane lining the chest wall, contributing to pleural fluid dynamics.
What is the Bronchial Tree?
Hierarchical branching of airways from trachea to alveoli, optimizing gas delivery and exchange.
What is Foetal Circulation?
Unique blood flow involving the foramen ovale, ductus arteriosus, and placenta for oxygenation.
What are Nasal Conchae?
Turbinate bones creating airflow turbulence to filter, warm, and humidify inspired air.
What is Lung parenchyma?
Functional tissue involved in gas exchange.
What is Xenobiotic metabolism?
Removal of foreign compounds (xenobiotics) via Phase I and Phase II reactions.
What are Cardiomyocytes?
Contractile heart muscle cells with intercalated discs enabling synchronized contraction.
What is Excitation-Contraction Coupling?
Process linking electrical depolarisation to calcium-mediated contraction.
What are the Action Potential Phases?
Depolarisation (Na+ influx), plateau (Ca2+ influx), and repolarisation (K+ efflux).
What is the Cardiac Cycle?
Sequence of atrial and ventricular contraction/relaxation ensuring coordinated blood flow.
What is the Frank-Starling Law?
Relationship where increased ventricular filling enhances contractile force and cardiac output.
What is Glycocalyx?
Extracellular carbohydrate-rich layer coating cells for protection.
What is Dead Space?
Generic term that describes parts of the airway that do not participate in gas exchange.
What is Pulmonary ventilation?
The amount of air moving in and out of the lungs per minute.
What is Compliance?
The ability of an organ to distend in response to applied pressure.
What is Resistance?
The ability to oppose a change.
What is Capacitance?
Storing blood volume.
What is Shear rate?
Rate at which fluid is worked during flow.
What is Vasculogenesis?
The differentiation of precursor cells (angioblasts) into endothelial cells and the de novo formation of a vascular network.
What is Angiogenesis?
The growth of blood vessels from the existing vasculature.
What does Idiopathic mean?
Of unknown origin.
What is Hypersensitivity?
Exaggerated or inappropriate immune system response - primarily to innocuous antigens.
What is the Compliment pathway?
The complement system causes the lysis of foreign and infected cells, the phagocytosis of foreign particles and cell debris, and the inflammation of surrounding tissue.