Chapter 82 – Maternal Physiology during Pregnancy
Abstract It comes as no surprise that there are major endocrine changes during pregnancy. These endocrine changes are the driving force for many of the other physiological and anatomical changes…
Chapter 80 – Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Abstract A hormone is a substance released by a cell, gland or organ into the blood, allowing it to exert its signalling effects on tissues elsewhere in the body. Chapter…
Chapter 79 – Stress Response
Abstract The stress response is a complex neuroendocrine response to physiological stress. The most commonly encountered stressors are trauma, burns, surgery and critical illness; the magnitude of the neuroendocrine response…
Chapter 78 – Starvation
Abstract Starvation is defined as the failure to ingest or absorb sufficient dietary calories to sustain normal body function, resulting in behavioural, physical and metabolic changes. Chapter 78 Starvation Describe…
Chapter 70 – Acid–Base Physiology
Abstract The word ‘acid’ is derived from the Latin acidus, meaning sour. Early chemists defined an acid as a chemical substance whose aqueous solution tastes sour, changes the colour of…
Chapter 74 – Anaemia and Polycythaemia
Abstract Erythropoiesis, the production of red blood cells (RBCs), occurs within the bone marrow. Erythrocytes differentiate through several cell types during their development. Chapter 74 Anaemia and Polycythaemia What steps…
Chapter 72 – Haemostasis
Abstract ‘Haemostasis’ is a collective term for the mechanisms that stop blood loss. Macroscopically, the most obvious haemostatic mechanism is the conversion of liquid blood to a solid gel –…
Chapter 73 – Transfusion
Abstract As discussed in Chapter 8, red blood cells (RBCs) can be thought of as ‘bags of haemoglobin’ (Hb). However, the composition of the ‘bag’ itself differs between patients. The…
Chapter 71 – Micturition
Abstract The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ situated in the pelvis. Its role is the storage and voiding of urine. Urine is produced in the kidneys, enters the bladder…
Chapter 69 – Renal Regulation of Water and Electrolyte Balance
Abstract Water is the most abundant component of the human body. On average, 60% of the body is composed of water (this value varies with sex, body habitus and age)….
