Discussion Question
A patient complained to her physician of bouts of dizziness. The physician asked the patient whether by ‘dizziness’ she meant a feeling of light headiness, as if she were going to faint, or a feeling that she or surrounding objects were spinning around (vertigo).
Why is this distinction important in the differential diagnosis of her condition? What are possible causes of each of these symptoms?
From the topic readings, view “What is Retinitis Pigmentosa”. After viewing the videos, explain what symptoms occur with rod deterioration.
Explain why epinephrine, which causes arteriolar constriction (narrowing) in most tissues, is often administered in conjunction with local anesthetics.
Read “Myasthenia Gravis: A Review.” Based on this resource:
1. Imagine you are a health care provider providing an explanation of Myasthenia Gravis to your patient who has recently been diagnosed with the condition.
Provide your explanation of the pathophysiology of Myasthenia Gravis and relate it to symptoms presenting in your patient.
2. Predict a solution you may suggest to the patient which may help his/her symptoms.
Imagine that you are a medical examiner for a murder case and you are called as a witness in a trial. You are asked to explain the physiological process of rigor mortis to the jury, which could be a pivotal piece of evidence in the trial. Explain the process of rigor mortis clearly to the jury in simple terms for clarity. Please include the following terms in your explanation:
ATP
Calcium ion
Cross bridges
Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Calcium2+-ATPase (SERCA) pump
From the topic readings, read “Malignant Hyperthermia” and “Dantrolene.” Using these resources, along with your textbook, explain the mechanism for how administering Dantolene, to a patient in surgery exhibiting Malignant Hyperthermia, will most likely result in a complete recovery.
The distribution of the three muscle fiber types is genetically influenced in individuals. Based upon the characteristics of skeletal muscle fibers described in your textbook, predict your personal percent distribution of each fiber type and explain what types of activities you are more inclined to excel at due to your distribution.
From the topic readings, view “Force Length Relationship of Muscle” and “Length Tension Relationship review”. After viewing the videos, explain the length-tension relationship in both an arm or leg curl action and how it relates a weight feeling ‘heavier’ on full extension compared to a 90-degree angle at the joint.
Choose one of the major hypophysiotropic hormones found in the textbook and provide a scenario in which the body production and release of the hormone increases.
Explain the hormone’s effect on the anterior pituitary as well as the resulting negative feedback effect that results in the hypothalamus
Would you expect the concentration of hypothalamic releasing and inhibiting hormones, in a system venous blood sample, to be higher, lower, or the same as the concentration as those in a sample of hypothalamic-hypophyseal portal blood?
Explain the benefits provided by the hypothalamic-hypophsyeal portal system. Explain your rationale.
