The Circulatory System: An Overview
Blood
Blood is a specialized body fluid. It has four main components: plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Blood has many different functions, including:
- transporting oxygen and nutrients to the lungs and tissues
Interstitial Fluid
Interstitial fluid consists of a water solvent containing sugars, salts, fatty acids, amino acids, coenzymes, hormones, neurotransmitters, white blood cells, and cell waste-products.
Red Blood Cells
The main job of red blood cells, or erythrocytes, is
Read MoreThe Lymphatic System, Respiratory System, and Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and tissues that helps to drain excess fluid from the body and filter out waste products. It also plays a role in the immune response.
Lymphatic Vessels
Lymphatic vessels are thin, blind-ended tubes that collect excess fluid from the interstitial spaces (the spaces between cells). These vessels then transport the fluid to lymph nodes, which are small, bean-shaped organs that filter out waste products and bacteria.
Lymphatic Tissue
Lymphatic
Read MoreMedical Terminology: A Comprehensive Glossary for Healthcare Professionals
Cardiovascular System
- ADLs: Activities of daily living
- Aorta: The main artery that carries blood away from the heart
- Atria: The two smaller hollow cavities of the heart which receive blood into the heart
- Blood pressure: The pressure of blood in the arteries
- Blood vessel: A tubular channel that carries blood e.g. artery
- Cardiac cycle: Any of the events relating to the blood flow that occur from the beginning of one heartbeat to the beginning of another
- Cardiac catheterisation
- Diastolic: When the heart is
Energy Flow in Ecosystems: Understanding Food Chains and Hydrosere Succession
Energy flow in ecosystem
-Energy flow (also called Calorific flow) refers to the flow of energy in ecosystem through food chain.
Ecosystems maintain themselves by cycling energy and nutrients obtained from external sources. At the first trophic level, primary producers (plants, algae, and some bacteria) use solar energy to produce organic plant material through photosynthesis. Herbivores—animals that feed solely on plants—make up the second trophic level. Predators that eat herbivores comprise
Read MoreUnderstanding Disease Manifestations, Stages, and Progression
Difference Between Syndrome and Disease
A disease is a specific, identifiable condition with a defined cause, mechanism, and predictable course. It leads to structural or functional abnormalities in the body, with characteristic manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
A syndrome, on the other hand, is a collection of symptoms that frequently occur together, presenting a recognizable clinical picture. However, a syndrome may have multiple causes or even remain without a clear cause.
For
Read MoreThe Cardiovascular System: From Blood Flow to Cardiac Output
Blood
Centrifugation separates blood into three distinct layers:
- Top: Plasma (55%)
- Middle: Buffy coat of leukocytes & platelets (1%)
- Bottom: RBCs (44%)
The percentage of blood composed of RBCs is known as the hematocrit.
Functions of Blood
Blood serves several vital functions in the body:
- Gas Exchange: RBCs transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues and carry carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs for exhalation.
- Solute Distribution: Plasma carries nutrients, hormones, and waste products. Blood also