Baro Gambella College

Course Title; Physiology I

Year;2nd Bsc.PH 1st semester
Instructor; Nhial Wur (BSC in Public Health)
UNIT-ONE

INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY
 Outlines
• Overview
• Definitions
• Historical background
• Homeostasis
• Feedback control mechanisms
• The Cell
• Body fluid and Electrolytes
3
 Objectives
By the end of this topic, you will be ble to:
 Have topic overview
 Explain homeostasis.
 Discuss cell physiology.
 Enumerate the cell organelles with their
function.
 Discuss negative & positive feed back
mechanism.
 5. List the types of cellular transport
4
 Overview
• The human organism consists of trillions of
cells all working together for the maintenance of
the entire organism.
• While cells may perform very different functions,
all the cells are quite similar in their metabolic
requirements:
– oxygen, glucose, mineral ions, waste removal
• Maintaining a constant internal environment is
necessary for the well-being of individual cells &
the well-being of the entire body.

5
 Extracellular Fluid (ECF)
• Cell is the basic structural & functional unit of
life.
• Each organ in our body is an aggregate of 100
trillions of different cells held together by inter
cellular supporting structures.
• These cells are bathed with the fluid that is
called ECF (fluid that fills the space between
cells) which contains an optimum amount of:
– nutrients, gases, hormones, enzymes, water &
electrolytes.

6
 What is Homeostasis?
• Maintenance of static or constant conditions in
the internal environment (ECF).
• Essentially all organs of the body perform their
functions that help to maintain constant
conditions in the ECF. For example:
 Lungs maintain the normal concentration of
respiratory gases in blood.
 CVS transports required substances & removes
waste products.
 Kidneys maintain constant ionic concentration
 GIS provides nutrients.
7
Homeostasis…cont’d
• Homeostasis in a general sense refers to:
– stability, balance or equilibrium.

• Maintaining a stable internal environment

requires constant monitoring & adjustments as
conditions change.
• Adjustment of physiological systems within the
body is called homeostatic regulation; which
involves 3 parts or mechanisms:
– receptor, control center & effector

8
 Homeostasis…cont’d
1. Receptor
– receives information that something in the
environment is changing.
2. Control center or integration center
– receives & processes information from the
receptor.
3. Effector
– responds to the commands of the control
center by either opposing or enhancing the
stimulus.

9
 Homeostasis…cont’d
 Homeostatic regulation is an ongoing process
that continually works to restore & maintain
homeostasis.
For example
 In regulating body temperature there are temperature
receptors in the skin,
 Which communicate information to the brain, which is
the control center, and
 The effector is our blood vessels and sweat glands.

10
Each cell contributes to homeostasis

11
 Homeostasis…cont’d
Homeostatically regulated variables
• Body Temperature
• Blood Composition
– ions, sugars, proteins, water, O2 and CO2 ,
PH & Osmolality
• Blood Pressure, Cardiac Output, Cardiac Rate
• Respiratory Rate and depth
• Secretions of Endocrine Glands
• Rate of intracellular chemical reactions
12
 Homeostasis…cont’d
Factor disrupting homeostasis:
 External stimuli
heat, cold,
lack of 02,
pathogens & toxins
 Internal stimuli
 abnormalities in visceral organs

13
 Homeostasis…cont’d
Function of homeostasis
1) The underlying principle of physiology
 Physiology is concerned with how body
systems contribute to homeostasis and
benefit from homeostasis.
2) Means of survival
 It allows an organism to function
effectively in a broad range of
environmental conditions.
14
 Physiology
• Is the study of the normal function of human
body.
• It also deals with the integrated activities of
different organs & organ systems, and the
conditions which determine normal functions of
body parts.
• Almost all physiological parameters are
measurable and expressed quantitatively.
Ex: Blood pressure (BP) … 120/80 mmHg
Blood glucose level (BGL) … 80-120 mg/dl
15
 Fields of physiology
o Range from simple viral physiology, bacterial
physiology, cellular physiology to the most
complex human physiology.
o Physiology is closely related to several other
branches of science such as anatomy,
pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology etc
 Therefore, Physiology is not an isolated science
but highly associated with other sciences.

16
 Historical Background
William Harvey (1628)
Laid the foundation of physiology by describing
correctly about the “circulation of blood” in
human body.
– Described that the heart pumps blood, arteries
transport oxygenated blood, exchange of substances
occur at the systemic capillaries and veins return
deoxygenated blood.
For this reason he is known to be the father of
physiology.
17
Historical Background...cont’d
Claude Bernard
 The great French physiologist in the 19th century,
introduced our modern physiology thought called ECF
that surrounds the cell.
 He called ECF is the internal environment (Milieu
interieur) of the body which remains remarkably constant
despite changing conditions in the external environment.

18
Walter Cannon
 Another great physiologist of the 1st half of 19th century
 Termed the maintenance of constant conditions in the
ECF as homeostasis.

19
 Homeostatic Control
Input:
Mechanisms 4
Output:
3 Information sent
Control Information sent along
along afferent center efferent pathway to
pathway to

Receptor (sensor) Effector

2
Change 5
Response of effector feeds
detected back to influence
by receptor magnitude of stimulus and
returns variable to
homeostasis
Stimulus: I mb
Produces
alan
1 ce
change
in variable Variable (in homeostasis)
I mb
alan
ce

20
 Regulatory Systems of Homeostasis
• The nervous system and the endocrine
system are the two controlling bodies of
homeostasis
Hormone

Nerve Impulse

NTs
R
Effector cell Receptor
21
 The nervous regulatory mechanism
• The NS is composed of 3 major components the
sensory, integrative and motor portion.
• The sensory/receptor/ detects any change in
the body (BGC, BT, BP, pain etc) and send
impulse to the brain & spinal cord (CNS).
• The CNS associate the information store some,
generate thought and send appropriate
response to the effecter organs (muscle +
glands) through the motor system.
22
 The hormonal regulatory mechanism
• Hormones are chemical messengers secreted
by endocrine glands, & transported in blood to the
target organs (gland).
E.g. If ↓[Ca2+] PTH kidney, bone & intestine to[Ca2+]

If ↓[Na+] Aldosterone  kidney & intestine to[Na+]

• An organism is said to be in homeostasis when its
internal environment contains an optimum amount
of:
– nutrients, gases, electrolytes,
– water, hormones, enzymes & temperature.
23
 Normal values & ranges of some important
parameters that have to be maintained
 Body fluid volume = 42 L
• Intracellular fluid (ICF) = 28 L
• Extracellular fluid (ECF) = 14 L
 Interstitial fluid = 11 L
 Plasma fluid =3L
 Osmolality = 300 mosm/L (285 – 300
mosm/L)
 Body Temperature = 36.3 – 37.1OC
 PH = 7.35 – 7.45

24
Normal values & ranges...cont’d
 Blood Gases
PCO2 = 35 – 45 mm Hg
PO2 = 40 – 104 mm Hg
 Waste Products
– Creatinine (s) = 0.6 – 1.5 mg/dL
– Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) = 8 – 25 mg/dL
– Uric acid (s) = 2.3 – 6.6 mg/dL
 Blood Glucose level (fasting) =70 –110 mg/dL

25
Normal values & ranges...cont’d
• Arterial Blood pressure (systemic circulation).
Systolic pressure =120 mmHg (90-140
mmHg)
Diastolic pressure = 80 mmHg (60-90 mmHg)
• Pulmonary AP = 25 /10 mmHg
• Cardiac output = 5 L/min
• Blood Flow = 5 L /min
 RBC count = 4-6 millions/mm3
 WBC count= 4,000-11,000/mm3
 Platelets count = 250,000-500,000/mm3
26
Normal values of ECF & ICF

27
Disturbances of homeostasis
• Deviations from normal ranges
– Hypo/ Hyperthermia ….. ↓or↑
Temperature
– Hypo/ Hypercapnea ….. ↓or↑ PCO2
– Acidosis/Alkalosis ….. ↓or↑ PH
– Hypoxia/ Hyperoxia …. ↓or↑ PO2
– Hypo/ Hypercalcemia …. ↓or↑ Ca 2+
– Hypo/ Hyperglycemia … ↓or↑ Glucose
28
Control of homeostasis…

29
General scheme

30
Homeostatic control systems…
1.Intrinsic controls
• Inherent in an organ
• The changes are automatically regulated
by the organ
• Examples
• Reduction of 02 makes tissue release dilators
• Vascular autoregulation in exercising skeletal
muscle, or
• Frank-Starling mechanism in the heart
31
 Homeostatic control systems…

2. Extrinsic controls
• External stimuli initiate the regulation process
• The most common type of controls
• Nervous or endocrine system
• The control mechanism initiated outside the
organ & alter the organ activities via
coordinators
• Maintain most of the factors in the internal
environment.
32
 Homeostatic control systems…

I. Feedback control
• Change in the controlled variable brings a
corrective response.
• The regulatory processes established after
the change is developed.

33
 Homeostatic control systems…
II. Feed-forward control
• Anticipation of a change in the controlled
variable brings an anticipatory response.
• The regulatory processes established
before the change is developed.

34
 Feedback control system of the
Homeostatic mechanisms
• The body organs receive information
(feedback) about the extent of their activities
through the regulatory mechanisms (NS or ES).
• These feedback systems alter the function of
organs by increasing or decreasing their
activities.
• There are two types of feed back
mechanisms:
1. Negative feedback mechanism
2. Positive feedback mechanism 35
1. The Negative Feedback Mechanism
• It works by producing an effect which opposes the
previous condition (the initiating stimulus) of the
organ.
• Nature of Most Control Systems
Example
- ↑PCO2 in the blood, the NFM stimulates Pulmonary
ventilation rate which has an effect of ↓PCO2 in
blood to normal.
- If the BP falls too low, a series of responses come
into operation that elevates BP returning it towards
normal level.
36
 NFM…cont’d
• Most homeostatic mechanisms of the body are
NFM.
E.g. Control of ABP, BGL & BT˚
• In this process the effects are opposite (or
negative) to the initial stimulus.
• The NFM is a mechanism that opposes or
counter acts the deviation of a controlled
variable from its normal value (range/average).

37
Blood glucose regulation (NFM)

38
2. The Positive Feedback Mechanism
• It works by producing an effect which
enhances or repeats the same action like
that of the starting stimulus.
• Can Sometimes Cause Vicious Cycles and
Death
• PFM can sometimes be useful. Such as:
– LH surge during ovulation, Blood clotting
– During child birth (labor), uterine contraction
is enhanced as the head of the baby
stretches the cervix.
– Generation & propagation of the action
potential.
39
Uterine contractions during parturition
(PFM)

40
 Feed-forward
• In physiology, feed-forward control
e.g. normal anticipatory regulation
of heartbeat in advance of actual physical
exertion.
• Feed-forward control can be likened to;
learned anticipatory responses to known
stimulus.

41
 Feed-forward…
 Some activities needed be rapid that no
enough time for the brain to bring change
after actual change occurred.
 The brain anticipates the change that will
be developed.
 Help for adaptation of the organ where
correction will be occurred.

42
 Feed-forward…
 Correction is by anticipation
Example
-  HR and RR before actual exercise
-  Digestive juice before food inter
into GIT
• Used to adapt and rapid rate of response
to the change.

43
Works in concern with –ve
feedback pathway

44
 What is a Cell?
• Cells are the microscopic fundamental
units of all living things.
• Every living thing has cells: bacteria,
protozoans, fungi, plants, and animals are
the main groups (Kingdoms) of living
things.
• Some organisms are made up of just one
cell (e.g. bacteria and protozoans), but
animals, including human beings, are
multicellular. 45
 Cell…cont’d
• An adult human body is composed of
about 100,000,000,000,000 cells!.
• Each cell has basic requirements to
sustain it, and the body's organ systems
are largely built around providing the
many trillions of cells with those basic
needs such as:
• Oxygen
• Food and
• Waste removal
46
 Cell…cont’d
• There are about 200 different kinds of
specialized cells in the human body.
• When many identical cells are organized
together it is called a tissue such as:
• muscle tissue , nervous tissue etc
• Various tissues organized together for a
common purpose are called organs such as:
• stomach , skin, brain and, uterus

47
 Cell…cont’d
• Ideas about cell structure have changed
considerably over the years.
– Early biologists saw cells as simple
membranous sacs containing fluid and a few
floating particles.
– Today's biologists know that cells are
inconceivably more complex than this.

48
 Cell…cont’d
• If a person's cells are healthy, then that person
is healthy.
– All physiological processes, disease, growth and
development can be described at the cellular level.
• A typical cell has two parts: nucleus and
cytoplasm.
• The nucleus is separated from the cytoplasm by
a nuclear membrane and the cytoplasm is
separated from the surrounding fluid (ECF) by
the plasma membrane
49
 Cell…cont’d
• Different substances that make up the cell are
collectively called protoplasm.
• The protoplasm composed mainly of five basic
substances; water, electrolytes, proteins, lipids
and carbohydrates.
• The very specialized structures in the cell
suspended in the cytoplasm are organelles.

50
The Generalized Cell

51
52
 Important Organelles
1. Nucleus
• A cell's information
center.
• Membrane bound
structure that contains
deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) which is the
set of instructions for
the synthesis of all
the body’s proteins.

53
 Organelles…
2. Mitochondria
- structure bound by a double membrane & the site
at which the energy stored in sugars & other
organic molecules is transferred to ATP, the
chemical which acts as the “currency” for energy
in the cell.
3. Ribosomes
• not bound by a membrane, sites of protein
synthesis.
• May be free (floating in the cytoplasm) or bound
to the endoplasmic reticulum. 54
 Organelles…
4. Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum
 Membranous set of tubes
with ribosomes studded
along its surface.
 site of the synthesis of
proteins that are destined
to be exported from the
cell.
5. Smooth Endoplasmic
Reticulum
- ER with out the attached
ribosomes.
- Site of cellular lipid
synthesis, among other
things.
55
 Organelles…
6. Golgi Apparatus
- membrane bound organelle responsible
for
determining the direction of proteins
synthesized
in the rough ER.

7. Lysosomes
- membrane bound organelle that houses
digestive
enzymes that can be used to break down
ingested
toxins or worn out cell parts. 56
 The Plasma Membrane
• It is a sheet-like structure that surround
(enclose) the cell, separating the cellular
contents from the ECF.
• It is entirely composed of :
– Proteins = 55%
– Lipids = 43% and
– Carbohydrates = 2% .

57
 Functions of the plasma membrane

1. Separates cellular contents from the ECF

2. Regulates the passage of substances in
and out.
o It is semi- permeable allowing some
substances to pass through it excluding
others.
o This creates unequal distribution of
ions on both sides of the membrane.

58
 Functions of the PM…
3. It provides receptors for NTs, hormones &
drugs.
4. It helps for cell to cell contact
5. Plays an important role in the generation
& transmission of electrical impulse in
nerves and muscles
6. Involved in the regulation of cell growth
and proliferation.

59
Levels of organization in the body

1. Chemical level
2. Organelle level
3. Cellular level
4. Tissue level
5. Organ level
6. System level
7. Organism level

60
 I. Chemical
 Includes all chemical substances necessary for
life.
a. Atoms:
* Smallest chemicals such as; H, O, C, N
* Minerals- Ca, P, K, S, Na, Cl
* Trace element - Fe, I, Cu, Zn
b. Molecules:
* collection of atoms or small molecules
E.g. H2O, CO2 , PO4 , NaCl and HCl
Biomolecules = carbohydrates, lipids, proteins,
and
61
nucleic acids.
 1. Carbohydrates
• About 3% of the dry mass of a typical cell.
• Composed of C, H, & O atoms.
E.g. Glucose (C6H12O6 )
• Combined with other biomolecules. Used
for:
– structure & source of energy for cells.
• Includes:
- Monosaccharide, Disaccharide,
Polysaccharide

62
 2. Lipids
• About 40% of the dry mass of a typical
cell.
• Composed largely of C & H.
• Most are insoluble in water. Used for:
– energy storage, structural components &
chemical messengers
• Includes:
- Triglyceride, Fatty acids, Steroids

63
 3. Proteins
• About 50 - 60% of the dry mass of a
typical cell
• Subunit is the amino acids
• Two functional categories :
 Structural &
 Functional

64
 4. Nucleic Acids
• Biological molecules essential for life,
and include:
– DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and
– RNA (ribonucleic acid)
• Function in encoding, transmitting and
expressing genetic information.

65
 II. Organelle
• Specialized subunit within a cell that
has a specific function, and is usually
separately enclosed within its own lipid
bilayer.
• Combination of biological
macromolecules.
• Structures in the cytoplasm.
• Machineries of the given cell
E.g. Mitochondria … energy production
Lysosomes …… break down ingested
toxins or 66
 III. Cell
• The smallest, structural & functional
unit of life.
• Contain basic characteristics of given
organism.
• Numerous in number & estimates being 75
- 100 trillion cells in the average adult
human.
• The red blood cells, numbering 25 trillion
in each human being, transport oxygen
from the lungs to the tissues. 67
 IV. Tissue
 Group of cells and surrounded
materials that perform a specific
function.
 Four main types:
 Muscle tissue
 Nerve tissue
 Epithelial tissue
 Connective tissue
68
V. Organ

69
 VI. System
• Related organs with common function.
– Lung, trachea, chest wall, bronchioles,
alveoli, diaphragm form respiratory
system.
– Brian, spinal cord, special sense, nerve
form nervous system.
– Mouth, esophagus, stomach, small
intestine etc form digestive system.
• Are integrated to maintain homeostasis.
70
Body systems

71
Body systems…

72
 The Cytoskeletal System
Microfilament &
microtubules

• They are long,

rigid thread like
structures
dispersed
through out the
cytoplasm.

73
 Functions of cytoskeletal system

1) Maintain shape of the cells.

E.g. Axon
2) Serve as a transport system for the
movement of compounds and organelles
within the cell.
3) Construct the mitotic spindle.
E.g. Centrioles

74
 Functions of cytoskeletal system…

4) Provide for the support & movement of

cilia & flagella
5) Cell to cell contact: to fasten cell
membranes together
6) Essential for appropriate leukocyte
migration.

75
 Integumentary System
 Structures:
- Skin, hair, sweat & oil glands
 Functions:
1. Forms the external body covering
2. Protects deeper tissues from injury
3. Involved in vitamin D synthesis
4. Prevents desiccation, heat loss, & pathogen entry
5. Site of pain and pressure receptors

76
 Skeletal System
 Structures:
• The 206 bones of the human
body
 Functions:
1. Protects & supports body
organs
2. Provides a framework that
muscles can use to create
movement
3. Hemopoiesis:
- synthesis of blood cells.
4. Mineral storage; bone 77
contains 99% of the body’s Ca.
 Muscular System

 Structures:
– The 600+ muscles of the
body
 Functions:
1. Locomotion
2. Manipulation of the
environment
3. Maintaining posture
4. Thermo genesis:
- generation of heat 78
 Ciculatory System
 Structures:
– Heart, Blood vessels (arteries,
veins, and capillaries)
 Functions:
1.The heart pumps blood through
the blood vessels.
2.Blood provides the transport
medium for nutrients (glucose,
amino acids, lipids), gases (O2,
CO2), wastes (urea, creatinine),
signaling molecules
(hormones), and heat.
79
 Lymphatic/Immune System
 Structures:
• Lymphatic vessels, Lymph nodes,
Spleen, Thymus, Red bone marrow
 Functions:
1. Returning “leaked” fluid back to the
bloodstream.
2. Disposal of debris.
3. Attacking & resisting foreign
invaders (pathogens i.e. disease-
causing organisms)

80
81
 Respiratory System
 Structures:
– Nasal cavity,
pharynx, trachea,
bronchi, lungs
 Functions:
1.Constantly supply the
blood with O2, and
remove CO2
2.Regulate blood PH
82
 Digestive System
 Structures:
~ Oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, small intestine,
large intestine, rectum, salivary glands, pancreas,
liver, gallbladder.
 Functions:
~ Ingestion and subsequent breakdown of food into
absorbable units that will enter the blood for
distribution to the body’s cells.

83
 Urinary System
• Structures:
• Kidneys, ureters,
urinary bladder, urethra
• Functions:
• Regulation of body’s
levels of water,
electrolytes, & acidity
• Removal of nitrogenous
wastes.

84
 Structures:
Reproductive System
 Male:
– Testes, scrotum, epididymis,
vas deferens, urethra,
prostate gland, seminal
vesicles, penis.
 Female:
– Ovary, uterine tube, uterus,
cervix, vagina, mammary
glands.
 Functions:
1. Production of offspring.
2. Sexual pleasure.
85
 Nervous System
 Structures:
~ Brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves, special
sense
 Functions:
1. Fast-acting control system of the body
2. Monitoring of the internal and external
environment and responding (when necessary) by
initiating muscular or glandular activity.

86
 Endocrine System
 Structures:
 Hormone-secreting glands
– Pituitary, Thyroid, Thymus, Pineal, Parathyroid,
Adrenal, Pancreas, Small Intestine, Stomach,
Testes, Ovaries, Kidneys, Heart
 Functions:
1.Long-term control system of the body
2.Regulates growth, reproduction, and nutrient
use among other things.

87
Organ systems interrelations

88
 VII. Organism

• The highest level of organization.

• Coordinated interaction activities in
each of the levels that enable us to
exist.
• We are more than sum of parts.

89
Level of organization: summary

90
10Q!!!!!!!!!!!!!

91