Cellular & Biology
The cell
What is the basic unit of life?
Protecting the body from harmful pathogens and abnormal cells.
What is the primary function of the immune system?
Invasion and colonization of pathogenic microorganisms in the body that harms the host.
What is infection?
Transport oxygen via hemoglobin.
What is the primary function of red blood cells?
The acute stress response controlled by the sympathetic nervous system.
What is the “fight or flight” response?
Atrophy, Hypertrophy, Hyperplasia, Metaplasia
What are the four types of cellular adaptation?
Non-specific and immediate; specific and has memory.
What are innate and adaptive immunity?
Hospital acquired infections are not insurable and are the hospitals responsibility.
What are nosocomial infections?
I am produced in the kidneys, and stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow.
What is erythropoietin?
The hormone released by the adrenal cortex during stress.
What is cortisol?
Passive requires no energy; active uses ATP to move substances against a gradient.
What is passive and active transport?
They regulate immune cell activity, promote inflammation, and assist in communication between immune cells.
What are cytokines?
Toxins excreted by bacteria and damage host cells; toxins that are part of the bacterial cell wall and are released when the cell dies.
What are exotoxins and endotoxins.
Small RBCs, iron deficiency; normal size, blood loss; large RBCs, B12/folate deficiency.
What are microcytic, normocytic, and macrocytic anemia?
Mutated from proto-oncogenes that promote uncontrolled cell division (cancer).
What are oncogenes?
The pump fails, leading to Na+ accumulation in the cell, causing swelling and damage - ultimately cell death.
What is a defective Na+/K+ pump?
A group of plasma proteins that enhance phagocytosis, promote inflammation, and cause cell lysis.
What is the complement system?
IgE mediated (allergies), Cytotoxic or tissue specific (blood transfusion reaction), Immune Complex (lupus), Delayed (poison ivy, TB test).)
What are the four types of hypersensitivity?
Anemia due to bone marrow disorder; anemia due to hypoxia increasing EPO production.
What are primary and secondary polycythemia?
Prolonged cortisol release suppresses immunity, increases inflammation, and raises the risk of chronic diseases.
What is chronic stress?
Hypoxia, free radicals, chemical exposure, physical damage, infection, immune responses, and genetic factors.
What are the major causes of cellular injury?
Affecting a specific area with redness, swelling, and pain; then includes fever, leukocytosis, and potential sepsis.
What are localized and systemic inflammatory response?
Rh antigens expressed on erythrocytes.
What are "D" antigens?
Platelets adhere to injury → clotting factor activates → thrombin converts fibrinogen to fibrin → fibrin stabilizes the clot.
What is the clotting cascade?
Cancer cells invade local tissues, enter the bloodstream/lymphatics, survive circulation, exit at a secondary site, and establish new tumor growth.
What is metastasis?