Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real ADM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals flashcards as text
Cocaine produces its stimulant effects primarily by blocking which transporter?
Answer: Dopamine transporter (DAT)
Cocaine blocks the dopamine transporter (DAT), preventing reuptake and causing dopamine accumulation in the synapse, producing its euphoric and stimulant effects.
Which physiological process explains why repeated opioid use leads to tolerance?
Answer: Downregulation and desensitization of mu opioid receptors
Chronic opioid exposure causes downregulation (reduced number) and desensitization (reduced responsiveness) of mu opioid receptors, requiring higher doses to achieve the same effect.
The autonomic nervous system symptoms of opioid withdrawal (tachycardia, diaphoresis, piloerection) are primarily mediated by which brain structure?
Answer: Locus coeruleus
The locus coeruleus, the primary noradrenergic nucleus in the brain, becomes hyperactive during opioid withdrawal, producing the sympathetic autonomic symptoms.
Nicotine exerts its addictive effects primarily by acting on which receptor type?
Answer: Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs)
Nicotine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), particularly α4β2 subtype in the VTA, stimulating dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens.
Volume of distribution (Vd) is an important pharmacokinetic parameter. A highly lipophilic drug like THC would be expected to have a:
Answer: Large Vd due to extensive tissue distribution
Highly lipophilic substances like THC have a large volume of distribution because they readily partition into adipose and other tissues, explaining their prolonged detection in urine.
Which portion of the adrenal gland releases cortisol in response to chronic stress, contributing to addiction vulnerability?
Answer: Adrenal cortex (zona fasciculata)
The zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex produces glucocorticoids (cortisol), which are released in response to the HPA axis activation during stress and influence addiction vulnerability.
The mesolimbic dopamine pathway originates in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projects primarily to which structure?
Answer: Nucleus accumbens and limbic structures
The mesolimbic pathway projects from the VTA to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus, forming the core of the brain's reward circuit.