When patients who are receiving glucocorticoid therapy (for example, with prednisone) need to stop taking it, the doctor will prescribe a series of doses of tapering size to gradually lower the dose rather than suddenly stop it. Explain this dosage
strategy in terms of the negative feedback control of cortisol secretion.
What will be an ideal response?
Glucocorticoids inhibit the production of corticotrophin-releasing hormone by the hypothalamus and ACTH by the anterior pituitary. High doses of prednisone will mean that levels of ACTH in the patient have been quite low, and so the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex will have not been stimulated for a while and can't do much synthesis. By slowly reducing the prednisone, it gives the patient's own ability to make cortisol a chance to recover and thus prevents collapse of blood pressure and other serious effects of suddenly withholding the corticosteroid.
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Answer the following statements true (T) or false (F)
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
In females the first meiotic division produces a secondary oocyte and a _____
Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).
The plasma membrane allows nutrients to enter the cell and keeps undesirable substances out of the cell. It also allows wastes to pass out of the cell and keeps valuable cell proteins inside the cell. This property is called ________
A) resistive permeability B) selective permeability C) checking and balancing D) impermeability
What are the functions of the pancreas?
A. Production of renin and regulation of blood pressure. B. Storage and movement of food into the small intestine. C. Concentration and storage of bile until it is needed for digestion. D. Production of insulin and certain enzymes that aid in digestion.