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Nervous pathway to the Neuromuscular (NMJ)

By: HWC, Views: 8259

• A nervous impulse, also called an action potential, starts from the brain or spinal cord to signal skeletal muscle cell contraction. Action potentials continue along a motor neuron to the muscle cell. • The signal to contract must cross a synapse - the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) - betwe...

Medullary osmotic gradient: countercurrent multiplier, urea recycling & vasa recta countercurrent exchange

By: HWC, Views: 8426

▪ The primary cause of the medullary osmotic gradient is the active transport of solutes. • In the ascending limb of the loop, active transport of Na+ ions drives passive reabsorption of Cl- ions. • Addition of these ions to the interstitial fluid of the medulla increases its osmolarity...

Mechanisms of capillary exchange (transcytosis & bulk flow)

By: HWC, Views: 7399

■ This method of capillary exchange is mainly used to transport small amounts of large, lipid-insoluble (water soluble) molecules, such as large proteins. ■ Substances, packaged in vesicles, move through endothelial cells via endocytosis and exocytosis. ■ This method of exchange is th...

Lipid absorption - end products & transport mechanism

By: HWC, Views: 7255

• The end products, fatty acids and monoglycerides, depend on bile salts for absorption. • Bile salts form micelles (tiny spheres), which ferry fatty acids and monoglycerides to epithelial cells. • Free fatty acids, monoglycerides, and some phospholipids and cholesterol molecules, dif...

How proteins function? How do proteins work?

By: HWC, Views: 7382

How proteins function is really about how proteins "do work" in cells. How do proteins work? Let's start thinking about protein function by looking at something important to you: your hair. Keratin is a structural protein that is composed of 2 intertwined or helical strands. Keratin is also f...

Digestive chemicals - water, gastric acid, bile & bicarbonate

By: HWC, Views: 7435

• Water is the most abundant molecule in ingested fluids. • Water plays a primary role in hydrolytic digestive reactions. • Helps liquefy and transport digestive foodstuffs down the tract. • Transports secretions from accessory digestive organs to gastrointestinal tract. • Aids ...

Sperm Formation Animation

By: Administrator, Views: 453

A man’s reproductive system is specifically designed to produce, store, and transport sperm. Unlike the female genitalia, the male reproductive organs are on both the interior and the exterior of the pelvic cavity. They include: the testes (testicles) the duct system: epididymis and vas def...

Hemoglobin's affinity with oxygen - carbon dioxide, temperature and bisphosphoglycerate (BPG)

By: HWC, Views: 7811

• The carbon dioxide gas is temporarily converted to carbonic acid in red blood cells by the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, and then further converted to hydrogen and bicarbonate ions. • The result of increased carbon dioxide is decreased pH causing the Bohr effect. • Elevated carbon dioxid...

Insulin (glucose uptake by body cells), glycogenesis and lipogenesis

By: HWC, Views: 7831

Insulin is the regulator that allows the sugar from the foods we eat (be it a piece of cake or a stick of celery) to enter our tissues and become part of the metabolic process. Insulin is made by the Islets of Langerhans, which are found in the pancreas of every person. As we previously mentio...