Definition of body fluids; types: intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, blood, lymph.
Blood: composition (plasma, formed elements); functions of RBC, WBC, platelets.
Plasma: water, proteins (albumin, globulin, fibrinogen), ions, nutrients, wastes.
Blood groups: ABO system (antigens, antibodies), Rh factor, erythroblastosis fetalis (concept only).
Blood coagulation: clotting factors, role of platelets, basic cascade idea (prothrombin → thrombin → fibrin).
Lymph: composition, formation from tissue fluid, functions (drainage, absorption of fats, immunity).
Human heart: position, size, external features; chambers, valves, major vessels (aorta, venae cavae, pulmonary artery/vein).
Internal circulation: pulmonary vs systemic, oxygenated vs deoxygenated paths.
Cardiac cycle: phases – atrial systole, ventricular systole, joint diastole; concept of lub–dub sounds.
Heartbeat: myogenic nature, nodal tissue (SA node, AV node, bundle of His, Purkinje fibres), pacemaker.
Cardiac output: stroke volume × heart rate; normal values (concept level).
Blood vessels: artery vs vein vs capillary (structure and function).
Double circulation: pulmonary + systemic circulation; significance in endothermy.
Regulation of cardiac activity: role of autonomic nervous system (sympathetic, parasympathetic) and hormones (adrenaline).
ECG: basic waves (P, QRS, T) and what they represent (atrial depolarisation, ventricular depolarisation, ventricular repolarisation).
Disorders: hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, heart failure (basic definition and cause lines).
Need for excretion; nitrogenous wastes: ammonia, urea, uric acid.
Types of animals: ammonotelic, ureotelic, uricotelic (examples).
Human excretory system: kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra – gross anatomy.
Nephron: structure – Bowman’s capsule, glomerulus, PCT, loop of Henle, DCT, collecting duct.
Urine formation steps:
Ultrafiltration at glomerulus.
Selective reabsorption in PCT, loop, DCT.
Tubular secretion in PCT, DCT, collecting duct.
Counter-current mechanism: loop of Henle and vasa recta in urine concentration (concept only).
Osmoregulation: role of kidney in water and salt balance.
Regulation of kidney function:
ADH and water reabsorption.
Renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) in BP and Na⁺ balance (basic idea).
Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) opposing RAAS.
Other excretory organs: lungs (CO₂), liver (bile pigments), skin (sweat), intestine.
Disorders: uraemia, renal failure, renal calculi, nephritis; dialysis principle.
Differences between breathing and respiration (external vs cellular).
Respiratory organs in animals (only recall): gills, tracheae, skin, lungs (examples).
Human respiratory system anatomy: nostrils, nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli.
Alveolus: thin walls, rich capillary network, large surface area.
Mechanism of breathing:
Inspiration: diaphragm contraction, rib cage expansion, thoracic volume increase, pressure drop.
Expiration: diaphragm relaxation, rib cage moving down, thoracic volume decrease, pressure rise.
Lung volumes and capacities: tidal volume, inspiratory reserve, expiratory reserve, vital capacity, total lung capacity (values conceptually).
Exchange of gases:
At lungs: diffusion of O₂ into blood and CO₂ out, based on partial pressure gradients.
At tissues: reverse diffusion between blood and cells.
Transport of gases:
O₂: oxyhaemoglobin, oxygen–haemoglobin dissociation curve; effect of pO₂, pCO₂, temperature, pH.
CO₂: dissolved, bicarbonate, carbamino-haemoglobin (relative percentages).
Regulation of respiration: respiratory centre in medulla and pons; role of CO₂/H⁺ concentration.
Disorders: asthma, emphysema, occupational lung diseases (basic cause and effect).
Movement vs locomotion; biological significance.
Types of movement: ciliary, flagellar, muscular (examples for each).
Skeletal muscle structure: muscle → fascicles → muscle fibres → myofibrils → sarcomere.
Contractile proteins: actin, myosin; A band, I band, Z line, H zone.
Mechanism of muscle contraction (sliding filament theory):
Role of Ca²⁺ and troponin–tropomyosin complex.
Cross-bridge formation, power stroke, ATP requirement.
Types of muscle: skeletal, smooth, cardiac – structure and control (voluntary/involuntary).
Skeletal system: axial vs appendicular skeleton (major bones and functions).
Joints: fibrous, cartilaginous, synovial; examples and basic features.
Disorders: myasthenia gravis, tetany, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, osteoporosis, gout (one line description each).
Need for control and coordination; neural vs hormonal control.
Neuron: structure – cell body, dendrites, axon; types – sensory, motor, interneuron.
Resting membrane potential: ionic distribution (Na⁺/K⁺) and role of Na⁺–K⁺ pump.
Action potential: depolarisation, repolarisation, hyperpolarisation (concept-only graph).
Conduction of nerve impulse:
Synapse: structure (pre-, post-synaptic membrane, synaptic cleft).
Synaptic transmission: chemical synapse, neurotransmitter release (e.g., acetylcholine); steps of transmission.
Organisation of human nervous system:
CNS: brain and spinal cord – very brief subdivisions (forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain functions).
PNS: cranial and spinal nerves.
Autonomic NS: sympathetic vs parasympathetic (effects examples).
Endocrine vs exocrine glands; types of hormones (peptide, steroid, amine – basic).
General properties of hormones: act in low concentration, specificity, feedback regulation.
Hypothalamus: releasing and inhibiting hormones; link between nervous and endocrine system.
Pituitary gland:
Anterior lobe hormones: GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, Prolactin – basic functions.
Posterior lobe: ADH, oxytocin – functions.
Pineal gland: melatonin, role in circadian rhythm (concept).
Thyroid gland: thyroxine (T₄/T₃) in metabolism and growth; calcitonin in Ca²⁺ regulation.
Parathyroid glands: PTH, role in Ca²⁺ and phosphate homeostasis.
Adrenal gland:
Adrenal cortex: mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), glucocorticoids (cortisol), sex corticoids (basic actions).
Adrenal medulla: adrenaline, noradrenaline – fight or flight responses.
Pancreas (Islets of Langerhans): insulin, glucagon; regulation of blood glucose.
Gonads:
Testes: testosterone – role in male secondary characters, spermatogenesis.
Ovaries: estrogen, progesterone – female cycle, pregnancy, secondary characters.
Mechanism of hormone action: receptor concept (membrane vs intracellular), signal generation (only elementary idea).
Disorders (hypo/hyper): dwarfism, gigantism, acromegaly, cretinism, myxoedema, simple goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes mellitus, Addison’s disease (one-line cause/effect).