Anatomy/Physiology
Geriatrics-care of elderly and their medical problems What causes cells to age? 1. Genetic clock-most cells go through mitosis except skeletal & nervous. Eventually others stop 2. Telomeres-on tip of chromosomes for protection. Eventually they shorten & disappear. The erosion contributes to aging
3. Glucose links between protein molecules over time and adds to losss of elasticity. 4. Free radicals-ions with extra oxygen (superoxide). Result from chem/sun exposure. Antioxidants counteract these. Ex. Wrinkled skin, stiff joints
Aging Diseases Progeria-telomeres shorten, dry and wrinkled skin, baldness, death at around 13 years of age
Werner Syndrome-genetic disorder, wrinkled skin, graying hair/baldness, Cataracts, muscular atrophy, death before 50
Cancer- abnormal, uncontrolled cell growth Tumor-excess tissue (malignant vs. benign) Metastasize-spread to other parts of body Oncologist-treats/studies cancer
Aging process begins at maturity- we don’t know what causes it. Chemical insults-presence of toxic chemicals like alcohol, tobacco, drugs, CO or absence of glucose or Oxygen External physical factors-UV light, x-rays Genetically programmed-traits run in families
Certain events happen as we get older 1. Epithelial tissue becomes thinner, loses elasticity, sags 2. Connective tissue-collagen declines, bones become porus, weak 3. Muscle and nervous tissue-decline due to circulation, less oxygen
Some changes occur at anytime in life. Neoplasm-abnormal mass of growing cells that could be malignant or benign Hyperplasia- body tissue enlarged b/c of a stimulus (breasts during pregnancy due to hormones) Atrophy- tissue decreases due to lack of stimulation. (muscles not used will atrophy)