Unit 2 Flashcards
Epidermus
Outermost layer of the skin that protects the underlying tissue
Dermis
Middle layer of the skin containing protein molecules of elastin and collagen, among which various nerve cells, glands, and the hair follicles reside
Experiences the most significant changes
Subcutaneous
Bottommost layer of skin, giving the skin its opacity and smoothing the curves of the arms, legs, and face
Androgenic Alopecia
Male and female pattern hair loss
Fat-free mass (FFM)
Lean tissue
Decreases w age due to loss of muscle mass
Sarcopenia
Progressive age-related loss of muscle mass with a consequent loss of strength.
Declines at a faster rate of 12 to 15% per decade, especially for men, after 40s-50s.
Comes from disrupted signals that the nervous system sends to the muscles telling them to contract
Aging bones
As people experience decreases in sex hormones, they also lose bone mineral content
Aging joints
Stress and repeated use can cause the joints to wear out more rapidly.
Cardiovascular System
The heart, arteries, and veins.
The heart muscle itself and the arteries experience the most change. Plaque buildup over time in the heart decreases blood flow.
Aging Respiratory System
The respiratory muscles lose the ability to expand and contract the chest wall, and the lung tissue itself is less able to expand and contract during inspiration
Aging Urinary System
The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, bladder, ureters, and urethra.
-Elastic tissue of the bladder weakens, incapable of efficiently retaining or expelling urine
-Issues with being able to tell when they need to urinate
-Kidneys cannot filter as well as they used to
Urge Incontinence
Sudden need to urinate and may even leak urine
Stress Incontinence
Unable to retain urine while engaging in some form of physical exertion
Overactive Bladder
Incontinence and the need to urinate more frequently than normal
Aging Digestive System
-Decreases in saliva production
-Fewer gastric juices are secreted
-Stomach empties more slowly in older adults
-Decrease in liver volume and blood flow through the liver
Endocrine System
Glands that regulate the actions of the body’s other organ systems. Produces hormones.
-Highly sensitive to levels of stress and physical illness
Growth hormone (GH- Somatotropin)
Stimulates the growth of bones and muscles and regulates the growth of most internal organs
-Affects the metabolism of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates
Cortisol
Hormone produced by the adrenal gland
Stress hormone
-Glucocorticoid cascade hypothesis- Increased cortisol levels accelerate neuronal loss in the hippocampus and that repeated (cascading) increases in cortisol over the lifetime lead to further degeneration.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
Controls the rate of metabolism
Melatonin
Manufactured by the pineal gland (brainstem)
-Affects the circadian rhythm- The daily variations in various bodily functions
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
A weak male steroid (androgen) produced by the adrenal glands
-Production decreases with age in males
-Low levels linked to cardiovascular disease, some forms of cancer, immune system dysfunction, and obesity
Menopause
The point in a woman’s life when menstruation stops permanently
-Decreases in estrogen levels, endocrine system releases higher amounts of other hormones that affect the temperature control centers in the brain
-The tissues in the vagina and surrounding nerves and glands become thinner, drier, and less able to produce secretions to lubricate before and during intercourse
Climacteric
The gradual winding down of reproductive ability in men and women
Andropause
Age-related declines in the male sex hormone testosterone