PBS 4.3 Study Guide

Explain how atherosclerosis can impact the heart itself. What happens if plaque blocks blood flow in the coronary arteries?

Atherosclerosis can stop enough blood from getting through to heart to perform daily functions. If plaque gets in the way, organs/extremities could shut down. It's going to make the heart work harder to pump blood if plaque blocks the blood flow. it will cause a heart attack

Explain the relationship between cholesterol & atherosclerosis. How does atherosclerosis impact blood flow?

Atherosclerosis refers to the build up of fats, cholesterol, & other substances in/on your artery walls(plaques) can restrict blood flow. Cause blockages & plaques can burst causing a blood clot

What is the source of energy for your pump?

Balloon & air to push water up

Discuss the impact that blocked vessels can have on blood pressure. How would this impact overall health?

Blocked blood vessels raise blood pressure because it isn't getting through so the body has to work harder than normal. Narrow vessels mean there is less space to flow. More difficult for blood flow through the veins, causing a risk of heart attack or stroke

What is atherosclerosis?

Build up of fats, cholesterol & other substances in arteries. Slowly blocks arteries, putting blood flow at risk

What roles does cholesterol play in our cells & in our body?

Cholesterol is more rigid than other lipids so this helps make the membrane stronger & makes it harder for smaller molecules to pass through. Helps produce hormones & bile acids. Key component of making cells

How can cholesterol plaques affect the overall function of the heart?

Cholesterol plaques begin to slowly narrow the arteries causing a drop in amount of blood flow

Why did DNA migrate to the postie pole of the electrophoresis chamber?

DNA is neg charged, so it moved to the opp side of attraction which is the positive side

How can techniques of molecular biology be used to analyze DNA for the presence of the FH mutation?

DNA is obtained from either blood or saliva. Section of DNA containing LDL is a mutation by r-enzymes that cut DNA in specific places. By examining the size of DNA its possible to detect mutations or changes in DNA. This detection is possible through RFLPs

What lifestyle changes may help a patient obtain healthy cholesterol levels?

Diet: Limit sat/trans fat Exercise, relieve stress, manage weight

Explain how cholesterol plays an important role in at least 2 different human body systems

Digestion system: Cholesterol is used in bile acids to break down food Endocrine system: Precursor of all steroid hormones & w/out cholesterol, there would be no steroid hormones

Erin is only 17 years old & her total cholesterol is 600mg/dL. Why do you think her cholesterol is so much higher than the other in her family who have familial hypercholesterolemia?

Erin has high cholesterol levels because she is homo D & has more affected LH receptors

List 5 factors or behaviors that affect cholesterol levels in the body, how these factors affect cholesterol levels & whether the effect is + or - with regards to a persons health

Exercise: The more, the better your cholesterol levels. Diet: Too much salt or trans fats will cause a build up of LDL levels & lowers HDL levels causing a - effect. Being overweight can raise the chance of heart disease & can indicate bad cholesterol levels. Heredity: If someone's family has history of high cholesterol, then you have a high possibility of having that. Family history can have a pos or neg affect depending on your cholesterol levels

What is Familial Hypercholesterolemia & how is it inherited?

Genetic disorder when LDL can't bind correctly in the cells. Cholesterol builds up in blood & can cause artherosclerosis. Due to a single point mutation on receptor gene & is inherited as autosomal d trait. Defect on chromosome 19

How does the heart work as a pump?

Heart pumps blood w/oxygen & cholesterol & many other things around the body to get it everywhere it needs to go

What are 2 factors that could slow the transfer of water from the reservoir flask to the receiving flask?

If the tubes were clogged & if there were wasn't a lot of air in the balloon. If the straw was closed or if water can't flow in the right direction

What are LDL & HDL?

LDL- Lipoprotein that transports cholesterol into cells. Least dense 50% cholesterol & 25% protein. HDL- Lipoprotein responsible for removing excess cholesterol from bloodstream & transporting it into liver to be removed by the intestines. Most dense: 50% protein & 20% cholesterol

What is cholesterol

Lipid needed for proper function of cells & for maintaining a healthy body. Forms an essential component of animal cell membranes & acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids

What do you feel are the pros or cons of using cholesterol-lowering drugs to treat high cholesterol?

Pros: Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels, lowers risk of heart attacks/strokes Cons: Could create too many HDL leaving not enough cholesterol for the body to be healthy

What are pros & cons of using cholesterol lowering medications?

Pros: Lowers risk of heart disease, raises HDL levels Cons: Side effects, liver/muscle damage

Explain how the class of medications called statins works to lower cholesterol levels in body

Statins inhibit enzymes responsible for cholesterol production. Also, it increases the amount of LDL receptors. Reduce level of fat, triglycerides & cholesterol

How do doctors interpret the results of a cholesterol test?

These blood tests look at the levels of LDL, HDL, total cholesterol & triglycerides in your blood. If there are high amounts of LDL, arteries start to clog. HDL can remove extra LDL from bloodstream to lower risks of disease

Explain how determined the genotype of Maria & Juanita, even though you did not test their DNA

To find Maria, you look at her kids & 2 were affected & 1 was not. Her husband was not affected. So she must be Ff(hetero). Also, Juanita must be Ff(hetero) since her mom is Ff(hetero) & her dad is ff(homo) & her daughter Erin is FF. So she must be Ff

How are LDL & HDL related to heart disease?

Too much cholesterol in bloodstream can lead to build up inside arteries. HDL carries cholesterol away from bloodstream & minimizes it. LDL takes necessary cholesterol to where it needs to go

Explain how cholesterol levels could be linked to health events such as strokes & heart attacks

When cholesterol builds up in veins/arteries, they become clogged & it becomes hard for blood to pump through. So if blood is cut off from heart or brain, it can cause heart attack or stroke

Explain how you could determine which individuals were heterozygous by looking at the gel

You can look at the control row & the affected row. If you are hetero, your lane would show the pattern for both the controlled row & the affected row