Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals Flashcards

The normal pH range of human arterial blood is:

Answer: 7.35–7.45

Arterial blood pH is maintained between 7.35 and 7.45; values below 7.35 indicate acidosis and above 7.45 indicate alkalosis.

A telehealth patient on dialysis asks why the kidneys normally regulate blood pressure. Which hormone produced by the kidneys directly raises blood pressure?

Answer: Renin

Renin is secreted by the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney and initiates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, raising blood pressure.

Which bone marking serves as the bony landmark used to locate femoral pulses during a telehealth-guided physical exam?

Answer: Inguinal ligament midpoint

The femoral artery is palpated just below the midpoint of the inguinal ligament, between the ASIS and pubic tubercle.

The thoracic duct, the largest lymphatic vessel in the body, drains lymph into which blood vessel?

Answer: Left subclavian vein

The thoracic duct empties lymph from most of the body into the left subclavian vein at its junction with the left internal jugular vein.

Which electrolyte is most critical for generating the resting membrane potential in neurons and muscle cells?

Answer: Potassium (K⁺)

Potassium's high intracellular concentration and the membrane's resting permeability to K⁺ are the primary determinants of the resting membrane potential.

During a telehealth mental health session, a patient says they feel their heart racing whenever anxious. Which division of the autonomic nervous system is responsible for this increase in heart rate?

Answer: Sympathetic

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system releases norepinephrine at the SA node, increasing heart rate during stress or anxiety.

Surfactant produced by type II pneumocytes in the lungs primarily functions to:

Answer: Reduce alveolar surface tension

Pulmonary surfactant reduces surface tension in alveoli, preventing their collapse at the end of expiration.