85 questions and answers from Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th

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85 questions and answers from Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14th edition. Fun to do!

• What is the primary function of erythrocytes in the blood?
• Answer: Erythrocytes, or red blood cells, transport oxygen from the lungs to tissues and

return carbon dioxide from tissues to the lungs.

• How does the kidney regulate blood pressure?
• Answer: The kidneys regulate blood pressure by adjusting blood volume through sodium

and water reabsorption, and through the release of renin, which activates the renin- angiotensin-aldosterone system.

• Explain the Frank-Starling law of the heart.
• Answer: The Frank-Starling law states that the strength of the heart’s contraction is

directly proportional to its initial length of myocardial fibers, meaning the heart pumps more effectively with increased venous return.

• What role does calcium play in muscle contraction?
• Answer: Calcium ions bind to troponin in muscle fibers, causing conformational changes

that allow actin and myosin interaction, which is essential for muscle contraction.

• What is the blood-brain barrier, and why is it important?
• Answer: The blood-brain barrier is a selective permeability barrier that protects the brain

from harmful substances in the blood while allowing essential nutrients to pass through.

• Describe the role of baroreceptors in blood pressure regulation.
• Answer: Baroreceptors detect changes in blood pressure and send signals to the

brainstem to initiate corrective mechanisms to stabilize blood pressure.

• What is the function of the hypothalamus in homeostasis?
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