🫀 Animal & Human Physiology: One Night Revision & Cram Sheet
Explain how a vertebrate keeps the internal environment stable enough for its cells to work. The human is the main example: feedback loops, the excitable and endocrine effectors those loops use, circulation and gas exchange, blood, the gut, the kidney, and the endocrine control of metabolism, growth, calcium, stress, and reproduction.
🌟 Core Axioms & High-Yield Golden Rules
8 Core PrinciplesNon-negotiable foundational truths frequently tested in direct conceptual and numerical exam questions. Click checkbox to mark as mastered.
Homeostasis and control: Key focus includes Milieu intérieur, negative feedback, positive feedback. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 1 Priority FocusNerve and muscle at the physiological level: Key focus includes Action potential restated, neuromuscular junction, motor unit. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 2 Priority FocusAutonomic and endocrine principles: Key focus includes Sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow, transmitters, adrenal medulla. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 3 Priority FocusCardiovascular physiology: Key focus includes Cardiac cycle, pressure–volume loop, cardiac output. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 4 Priority FocusRespiratory physiology: Key focus includes Comparative gas exchangers, dead space and alveolar ventilation, partial pressures. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 5 Priority FocusBlood as a tissue: Key focus includes Plasma and cells, red-cell lifespan, ABO and Rh. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 6 Priority FocusDigestion and absorption: Key focus includes Regional specialisation, acid secretion, zymogens and micelles. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 7 Priority FocusRenal physiology and fluid balance: Key focus includes Compartments, GFR and clearance, proximal tubule. Understand fundamental structures, metabolic pathways, and regulatory feedback loops.
💡 Chapter 8 Priority Focus📚 Chapter-by-Chapter Rapid Cram Breakdown
10 ModulesHigh-density review of every curriculum chapter. Click any chapter title to view full in-depth lecture notes.
- Master Milieu intérieur: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master negative feedback: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master positive feedback: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master feed-forward: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master set point and range: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Action potential restated: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master neuromuscular junction: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master motor unit: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master twitch and tetanus: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master length–tension: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Sympathetic and parasympathetic outflow: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master transmitters: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master adrenal medulla: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master hormone classes: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master second messengers: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Cardiac cycle: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master pressure–volume loop: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master cardiac output: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Frank–Starling: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master conduction and ECG: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
Respiratory physiology →
- Master Comparative gas exchangers: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master dead space and alveolar ventilation: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master partial pressures: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master haemoglobin curve: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Bohr and Haldane: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
Blood as a tissue →
- Master Plasma and cells: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master red-cell lifespan: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master ABO and Rh: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master haemostasis and its limits: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Regional specialisation: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master acid secretion: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master zymogens and micelles: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master absorption routes: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master portal circulation: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Compartments: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master GFR and clearance: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master proximal tubule: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master countercurrent multiplier: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master ADH: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Insulin, glucagon, incretins: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master thyroid hormone: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master growth hormone: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master calcium hormones: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master cortisol: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master Male axis: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master menstrual cycle: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master pregnancy, parturition, lactation: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
- Master exercise as one worked integration: understand underlying structural mechanisms, biochemical pathways, and diagnostic indicators.
⚖️ Must-Know Comparison & Distinction Tables
1 TablesSide-by-side matrices comparing commonly confused biological mechanisms, kinetic types, and pathways.
Key Comparative Distinctions in Animal & Human Physiology
| Conceptual Feature | Type A / Classical Model | Type B / Advanced Model | Significance in Exams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Basis | Primary baseline configuration | Modified / adaptive architecture | Distinguishes specialized physiological adaptations |
| Kinetic / Regulatory Control | Constitutive / basal expression | Inducible / allosteric modulation | Crucial for feedback homeostasis questions |
| Experimental Verification | In vitro biochemical assay | In vivo genetic knock-down / tagging | Commonly tested in research methodology questions |
⚠️ Examiner Traps & Common Student Mistakes
2 PitfallsClassic trap questions designed by examiners to catch uncritical students. Don't lose easy marks here!
Overlooking Feedback Regulation in Animal & Human Physiology
Treating biological pathways as simple linear forward sequences.
Almost all physiological and molecular circuits operate via negative feedback, feed-forward loops, or reciprocal allosteric control.
Confusing In Vitro with In Vivo Phenotypes
Assuming enzyme or cellular behavior in isolated buffer mirrors complex in vivo conditions.
Cellular crowding, compartmentalization, and membrane microdomains significantly alter binding affinities and kinetic rates.
📐 Key Formulas & Numerical Constants
2 FormulasStandard Equilibrium Constant
Keq = [Products] / [Reactants]Determines direction of chemical/biological reactions at dynamic equilibrium.
Relative Quantitative Ratio
Ratio = Experimental_Value / Baseline_ControlStandardizes comparative fold-change in quantitative biological assays.
🏛️ Landmark Scientists & Nobel Discoveries
6 PioneersFrequently tested in historical milestone and match-the-following exam questions.
Sir Hans Adolf Krebs
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1953) for his discovery of the citric acid cycleMajor landmark discoveries
Robert Heinrich Hermann Koch
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1905) for his investigations and discoveries in relation to tuberculosisMajor landmark discoveries
Paul Ehrlich
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1908) in recognition of his work on immunityMajor landmark discoveries
Santiago Ramón y Cajal
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1906) in recognition of their work on the structure of the nervous systemMajor landmark discoveries
Camillo Golgi
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1906) in recognition of their work on the structure of the nervous systemMajor landmark discoveries
Sir Charles Scott Sherrington
🏅 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1932) for discoveries regarding the functions of neuronsMajor landmark discoveries
🎯 Rapid-Fire Active Recall Checklist
10 QuestionsTest your memory before stepping into the exam hall. Try to answer mentally, then tap "Reveal Answer" to verify!