PHYSIOLOGY LECTURE STUDY GUIDE 1
The underlined Learning Objectives are topics that you should be reasonably comfortable with from the
prerequisite class and anatomy (if you’ve had it). While we’ll be covering most of these terms, that coverage will
be more of a review.
INTRODUCTION - Chapter 1
1 – Be familiar with the concept of homeostasis and the roles of negative and positive
feedback in maintaining it.
2 – Distinguish between the 4 basic tissue types in terms of structure and function.
3 – Be familiar with the basic organ systems and their functions.
CHEMISTRY - Chapter 2
4 – Distinguish between the forms of energy and Laws of Thermodynamics and their
relevance to life.
5 - Be familiar with the following chemical symbols.
H, C, N, O, Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe.
6 - Define and recognize examples of the following terms:
atom
organic compound
neutron
atomic number
electrolyte
element
compound
charge
atomic weight
cation
molecule
nucleus
electron
ion
anion
inorganic compound
proton
electron shell
electron dot
7 - Determine from a periodic chart the number of neutrons, protons, electrons, and electron
shells in an atom or ion of any element.
8 - Describe and distinguish between the following types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent,
hydrogen.
9 - Discuss the properties of water, including polarity of the water molecule, hydrogen bonding,
surface tension, universal solvent, and heat stabilizer.
solute
colloid
solvent
hydrophillic
solution
hydrophobic
suspension
amphipathic
10 – Articulate what pH is a measure of, and why it’s important.
acid
base
neutral
buffer
11 - Be familiar with the mechanics of chemical reactions and their components.
pathways
cofactors
reactant
dynamic equilibrium
intermediate
Law of Mass Action
product
reversibility
enzyme
12 - Distinguish between these different kinds of reactions.
oxidation
catabolic
reduction
anabolic
endergonic
exergonic
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13 - Be familiar with the chemical structure (monomer and polymer) and general function of
each of the following types of organic compounds:
carbohydrates: monosaccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides
lipids: triglycerides, phospholipids, steroids
nucleic acids: DNA, RNA, ATP
proteins: amino acid, peptide bond, levels of structure, glycoprotein, lipoprotein
14 - Relate protein structure to binding site characteristics. (handout)
ligand
competition
receptors
specificity
binding site
antagonist
affinity
saturation
agonist
15 - Describe the role enzymes play in metabolism. (handout)
substrate
active site
activation energy
16 - Distinguish between allosteric and covalent modification of binding sites. (handout)
regulatory site
modulator molecule
phosphoprotein phosphotase
phosphorylation
allosteric site
protein kinase
THE CELL - Chapter 3
17 - Identify each of the following organelles and describe its structure and function.
plasma membrane* nucleus
chromosome
mitochondrion*
smooth endoplasmic reticulum
ribosome
centriole
rough endoplasmic reticulum
golgi body
lysosome
microtubule
microfilament
vacuole
cilia
flagella
cytoskeleton*
extracellular matrix
tight junction*
gap junction*
adherens junction*
* these are structures of special interest – we’ll be referring to them as the semester proceeds
18 - Describe and distinguish between meiosis and mitosis.
somatic cell
chromosome
germ cell
homologous
DNA
cytokinesis
double helix
gamete
19 – Articulate the processes the DNA in a nucleus uses to control the activity of a cell.
transcription
translation
gene
20 – Describe the roles of apoptosis and stem cells in the maintenance of homeostasis.
21 - Describe the structure of the plasma membrane and the properties which that structure
confers upon it.
fluid mosaic model
phosplipid bilayer
selectively permeable
membrane bound proteins
cholesterol
22 - Define and distinguish between diffusion, osmosis, facilitated diffusion, active transport.
concentration gradient
gates
channels
saturation
isotonic
hypotonic
hypertonic
endocytosis
receptor mediated endocytosis
filtration
pseudopodia
phagoctosis
pinocytosis
exocytosis
secondary active transport/cotransport/indirect active transport/symport
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CELLULAR METABOLISM - Chapter 25
23 - Describe the role ATP plays in metabolism.
24 - Trace glucose through its oxidative degradation into CO2 and H2O, with the resultant
phosphorylation of ADP (APP) into ATP (APP-P).
aerobic respiration
pyruvate
NAD+
glycolysis
acetyl CoA
NAD:H
entry step
Krebs Cycle
FAD
FAD:H2
25 – Describe what happens to glucose when oxygen is not present.
anaerobic respiration lactic acid
26 – Describe how proteins and lipids are synthesized out of and degraded into the glucose
metabolic pathway.
ENDOCRINOLOGY – Chapter 18
27 - Review homeostasis. (Objective 1 from above)
negative feedback
positive feedback
28 - Review the nature of proteins. (Objectives 14-16 above)
29 – Describe how the nervous and endocrine systems complement each other.
30 - Distinguish between the various functional categories of intercellular communication
molecules.
protein/peptide
thromboxane
thyroid hormones
autocrine
interleukins
leukotrienes
epidermal growth factors
steroid
prostaglandin
neurohormone
paracrine
dynorphins
enkephlins
fibroblast growth factors
catecholamine
amines
prosticyclan
nitrous oxide
pheromone
neurotransmitters
endorphins
31 - Describe the general characteristics of hormone action
target tissue
32 - Describe how the secretion rate is controlled, how hormones are distributed to target
tissues, how hormones are removed from the system.
half-life
conjugation
33 – Distinguish between the four general ways a target cell may respond to a hormone.
34 - Distinguish between the modes of action of hydrophobic and hydrophillic hormones at the
subcellular level.
second messenger
adenylate cyclase
calmodulin
cascade
protein kinase
phosphate
phosphorylation
cyclic AMP
phosphodiesterase
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35 - Review the glands of the endocrine system.
36 - Describe the roles the hypothalamus and pituitary gland play in the maintenance of
homeostasis. Use pituitary hormones as examples of the negative feedback system of
control characteristic of many hormones.
neurohypophysis/posterior pituitary
neurosecretory
hypothalamus
inhibiting factors
pars intermedia
TSH
ACTH
leutinizing hormone
estrogen
antidiuretic hormone/vasopressin
adenohypophysis/anterior pituitary
infundibullum
releasing factors
melanocyte stimulating hormone
growth hormone
FSH
testosterone
prolactin
oxytocin
37 - Describe the thyroid gland’s hormones and their actions.
thyroxine
calcitonin
38 - Describe the parathyroid gland’s hormone and its action.
parathyroid hormone
39 - Describe the adrenal gland’s hormones and their actions.
cortex
mineralocorticoids
epinephrine
glucocorticoids
aldosterone
norepinephrine
cortisol
sex hormones
medulla
40 - Describe the pancreas’s hormones and their actions.
insulin
fructose
glucagon
glycemic effect
glycogen
islets of Langerhans
41 – Describe the pineal gland, its hormone and its actions. (article)
melatonin
42 - Describe starvation metabolism.
gluconeogenesis
43 - Describe these typical glandular malfunctions of the pancreas. (clinical notes and
discussions)
hyposecretion
hypersecretion
diabetes mellitis (NIDDM &IDDM)
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