Chapter 20 Essay Questions
  1. Imagine that you, stimulated by this course, go on to become a famous heart surgeon. While repairing someone's aorta, you take some "spare" heart muscle and graft it onto the heart, connecting the left atrium with the left ventricle. The added sheet of muscle takes well, and readily conducts a wave of contraction. Describe what would be expected to happen to the operation of this patient's heart.
  2. In one cc of human blood are present a variety of different cells and other materials. Describe them, and briefly indicate the function of each.
  3. In the vertebrate heart, how is contraction initiated? Describe the subsequent passage of the wave of depolarization across the surface of the heart.
  4. More Americans die of heart disease that any other cause. This is not true in China. In many parts of China heart disease is a relatively insignificant ailment. Discuss the sorts of factors that might account for this difference. If you were the Surgeon General, what steps might you undertake to lessen the incidence of heart disease in this country -- or is this a fool's errand? Defend your answer.
  5. What is the Bohr effect? Would you expect it to be more pronounced, or less pronounced, in an individual with acidosis (that is, with abnormally low blood pH)? Why?
  6. What is the Bohr effect? Would you expect it to be more pronounced, or less pronounced, in an individual with acidosis (that is, with abnormally low blood pH)? Why?
  7. If you remove all cells and cell fragments from blood, what is left in the plasma other than metabolites and wastes? What are the functions of these materials?
  8. What is the difference between arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis?
  9. A sparrow and mouse of the same body weight have a very different level of activity high on a mountain. Describe why, with specific reference to anatomical differences.