Physiology

In-Course-Assessment (ICA2), Introduction to Human Physiology Course

(MEDI2107)

1. A 23-years-old female with blood group O negative and her husband's blood group is B positive. After birth, the baby developed jaundice and anemia

A. Explain why this baby who is Rh positive had jaundice and anemia?

B. What is the fate of aged RBCs?

2. A 36-year-old woman presents to her general practitioner (GP) complaining of spontaneous

bruising mainly on her legs. The bruising has been noticeable over the last 4–6 weeks. She

cannot remember any episodes of trauma. Her platelet count is 40*10 9 /L

(normal platelet

count 150-400 *10 9 /L).

A. What is the possible cause of her spontaneous bruising without trauma?

B. What are the factors that prevent the intravascular clotting?

3. A 53-years-old female complained from progressive muscle weakness that usually becomes

prominent at night. She could not complete her meals or holding her head up. She was

diagnosed with myasthenia gravis.

A. Describe the pathophysiology of myasthenia gravis?

B. Explain why the fatigue becomes more prominent at night?

C. A drug like neostigmine is used to treat myasthenia gravis. Explain how neostigmine

improves the symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Can it treat the disease?

D. Describe main differences in the way skeletal and smooth muscle contract?

4. A doctor taps the tendon beneath your knee cap and your leg extends.

A. What is the name of the reflex that caused the leg to extend?

B. What are the neural basis and the components of this reflex ?

C. Give two possible reasons of why the leg may not extend after tapping the tendon under

the knee cap?

5. 42-year-old man sees his ophthalmologist because it is becoming increasingly

difficult for him to read the newspaper.

A. What is the role of the lens in accommodation?

B. Explain what caused his vision problem?

6. A man and his son returned home after playing outside for an hour under strong

sunlight. The boy complained to his father that their room is unusually dark.

Explain the boy’s observation using your knowledge of how photoreceptors work.

7. A patient had a stroke on the right side of the brain and lost thermal sensation on

the left side. Explain why the lost thermal sensation was on left side?

8. In the brain, the cortical somatotopy is presented by a homunculus.

Describe briefly what is homunculus and why some areas are over represented (finger)

than other areas (the back)?

9. Aphasia is an acquired disturbance that impairs some aspects of the speech.

A. Describe the two common types of aphasia in terms of the area affected and the

features of each.

B. What questions would you ask a patient with aphasia to help you identify the type of

aphasia he/she suffering from?

10. Discuss the cooperation between components of the innate and adaptive immune

system during an infection giving examples. Explain why this cooperation is

important.

END OF QUESTIONS