Introduction To Human Physiology

Prepared by: Dr.Mustafa Al-Shehabat

 Human Physiology
The science that is concerned with the function of the living organism and its parts, and of the physical and chemical processes involved.

The Human Body - A Complex Society of Differentiated Cells

Cells: the basic structural and functional unit (~ 100 trillion) Tissues: (e.g. muscles, epithelial, nervous )
Organs: (e.g. kidney, heart, liver, pancreas) Organ systems: (e.g. cardiovascular, urinary)

Regulation and Integration

Exists at all levels of organization Cells: e.g., genes, repressor proteins, transcription factors, membrane transport Tissues Organ systems: e.g., nervous and endocrine systems

Human physiology is a science which analyzes the body functions and their interaction with the environment
Humans are influenced by the external environment in which they live

Functional relationships of body systems

Environmenta l Inputs Contact Systems Control Internal environme nt Functional outputs

Physical : Heat, light, sound, motion and radiation Chemical : Food,water,O 2, CO2,drugs Biological : Microorganis ms Psychosocia l environment

Nervous system: somatic and autonomic

Sensory organs Skin Respirator y system Digestive system Circulation Blood Kidney Endocrine system Homeostasis Metabolism Blood pH Fluids and electrolytes

Physiologica l adaptation Physical work Mental work Reproductio n Psychosoci al adaptation

Human body interacts with the external environment through contact systems Examples: Respiratory system with atmospheric air Digestive system with food and drink Skin with the external temperature Sensory organs with smell , taste or sounds

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable milieu interieur

Claude Bernard (1813 - 1878)

General Organization of the Circulatory System

Exchange Between the Capillaries and Interstitial Fluid

Internal environment and homeostasis

The cells of the body live in a fluid environment which is tissue fluid (interstitial fluid) which represents the internal environment The functions of all the organ systems of the body is to ensure that the physical and chemical characteristics of the tissue fluid remain constant

Exchange Between the Capillaries and Interstitial Fluid

Homeostasis refers to the constancy or steady state of the internal environment Homeostatic mechanisms refer to all the automatic physiological processes which occur in response to changes in the external or internal environments and which tend to correct all deviations from the normal Physiological processes called homeostatic mechanisms precisely regulate the temperature, pH and the concentration of chemical components of the internal environment

The body fluids

Total Body water = 40 liters

Cell wall

Cell water = 25 liters

Interstitial fluid = 12 liters

Intravascula r fluid = 3 liters

Intracellular fluid = 25 liters

Extracellular fluid = 15 liters

Transport across the cell membrane

Lipid Bilayer:
barrier to water and water-soluble substances

CO2
ions glucose H2O urea N2 O2

halothane

Cell Membrane
but, other molecules still get across!

urea ions H2O

CO2 N2 O2

glucose

halothane

Molecular Gradients
inside outside

(in mM)
Na+ K+ Mg2+ Ca2+ H+ HCO3ClSO42PO3protein 14 140 0.5 10-4 (pH 7.2) 10 5-15 2 75 40

(in mM)
142 4 1-2 1-2 (pH 7.4) 28 110 1 4 5

Proteins:
provide specificity to a membrane provide function ion channels carrier proteins

K+

Diffusion
occurs down a concn. gradient no mediator or involves a channel or carrier no additional energy

Active Transport
occurs against a concn. gradient involves a carrier requires ENERGY

Simple Diffusion
(a) lipid-soluble molecules move readily across the membrane (rate depends on lipid solubility) (b) water-soluble molecules cross via channels or pores
(a) (b)

Ion Channels
Characteristics:
un-gated determined by size, shape, distribution of charge, etc.
gated voltage (e.g. voltage-dependent Na+ channels) chemically (e.g. nicotinic ACh receptor channels)

in

Na+ and Na+

other ions

out

Facilitated Diffusion
(also called carrier mediated diffusion)

Rate of diffusion is limited by Vmax of the carrier protein the density of carrier proteins in the membrane (i.e., number per unit area)

Factors that affect the net rate of diffusion:

1. Concentration difference (Co-Ci) net diffusion (Co-Ci)

Osmosis:
- Net diffusion of water -

Osmosis occurs from pure water toward a water/salt solution. Water moves down its concn gradient.

Active Transport
Primary Active Transport
molecules are pumped against a concentration gradient at the expense of energy (ATP) direct use of energy

Secondary Active Transport

transport is driven by the energy stored in the concentration gradient of another molecule (Na+) indirect use of energy

Primary Active Transport

1. Na+/K+ ATPase
carrier protein located on the plasma membrane of all cells
plays an important role in regulating osmotic balance by maintaining Na+ and K+ balance (inhibition by ouabain causes cells to swell and burst!) requires one to two thirds of cells energy!

 subunit 100,000 MW

binds ATP, 3 Na+, and 2 K+

subunit 55,000 MW

function ???

Figure 4-11; Guyton & Hall

Transport is electrogenic but contributes less than 10% to the membrane potential

Secondary Active Transport 1. Co-transport (co-porters):

Examples:
outside substance is transported

in the same direction as the driver ion (Na+)

Na+

AA

Na+ gluc

Na+ 2 HCO3-

inside

2. Counter-transport (anti-porters):

substance is

transported in the opposite direction as the driver ion (Na+)

Examples: outside Na+

Na+

Na+/HCO3-

Ca2+

H+ inside

Cl-/H+