Definitions and Terminology

A Drug

drug is defined as any chemical (substance) that can affect living processes (lehne , 2007)

Pharmacology 

Pharmacology is defined as the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems.(Lehne , 2007)

Clinical Pharmacology

Clinical Pharmacology is defined as the study of drugs in humans.It gives data,about indications,the potency ,doses and toxicity of drugs,for their safe clinical use.(Lehne , 2007)

Neurons

As we earlier discussed in our day to day physical activities the coordinating fun ction of our muscles to do those activities is a necessity.Have you ever considered how the muscles involved in those physical activities?When we consider this we can see that there is a scientific system to activate and coordinate the muscle to perfrom those activities.In this process it necessary for the body to transmit messages to eneble the muscles to produce the complex movements for  successful physical activity.Such messages are transmitted through specialized cells called neurons. Neurons are the basic elements of the nervous system.They are the cells that are specialized for communicating information.It is estimated that they are 100 -200 billion neurons in the brain itself (Feldman,1993)

Neurons have a basic structure of

     Cell body

     One axon

     One or more dendrites

Biology and Behaviour

The purpose of this study post is to help you Understand the biological basis of human behaviour.Hence, in this post you will have to study the biological structures of the body which influence behaviour such as the nervous systems functions in influencing behaviour.

You must understand that behaviour means actions of an individual as a result of biological , psychological and social interactions.

In other words, behaviour is a product of man’s biological ,psychological and socio-cultural environment.Biology means bodily structures or systems such as nervous system , muscular systems and its  functioning.

Cognative Model

“People are disturbed not by things,but by the views which they take of them”

The cognative model focus on how people acquire and interprets information and use it in problem solving.Each person develops schemata, which contain information about different domains in a person’s life, and assist in information processing  and strategy development.In the study of maladaptive behaviour,self-schemata are particularly important.

Humanistic model

The psychological model says that people are in a position to control their lives.Rejecting the views that behaviour is determined largely by automatic biological process , unconscious process of solely by environment it suggests that people are in control of their lives.Humanistic model stresses the role of psychology in enriching peoples’ lives and helping them self-fulfilment.Humanistic psychologists say that people are naturally inclined to develop towards higher levels of maturity and if they are given the opportunity they will strive to reach their full potential.Carl Rogers rejected the psychodynamic approach saying that it has given much emphasis to unconscious process.Rogers developed a new humanitarian theory called “self theory”.In theory he has mentioned that personality development is guided by each of has a personal need for positive regard.Abraham Maslow also  a famous psychologist who has contributed tremendously for the advancement of this model.His theory emphasized two things.

       i.          

Functionalism

In early of 20 century,structuralism was replaced by functinalism which was advocated by functionalists led by american psychloogist-william james."rather than focusing on mind's components Functionalism concentrated on what mind does-the function of mental activity.Functionalists asked what roles behaviour plays in allowing people to adapt to their environment better.Also william james examined the ways in which behaviour allows people to satisfy their needs".

Properties of Lung Tissue

Physical Factors Influencing Pulmonary Ventilation

As we have seen, the lungs are stretched during inspiration and recoil passively during expiration. The inspiratory muscles consume energy to enlarge the thorax. Energy is also used to overcome various factors that hinder air passage and pulmonary ventilation. These factors are listed below.

Changes in volume

Lung Volumes

There are several lung volumes and capacities that are useful to understand respiratory physiology and they are briefly described below.

Tidal Volume

Is the amount of air that moves into the lungs with each inspiration (or the amount that moves out of the lungs with each expiration). 

Location, Relation and Structure - Part 2

The Thoracic cage

The thoracic cage is formed by the vertebral column behind, the ribs and intercostal spaces on either side laterally and the sternum and costal cartilages anteriorly in front. Above, it communicates with the root of the neck through the ‘thoracic inlet’; and below, it is separated from the abdominal cavity by the diaphragm. 

                                                                      (The thorax)

Location, Relation and Structure

The Thoracic Cavity

The structure and functions of the major organs of the respiratory system are described below:

(Right median saggital section of the head showing the upper portion of the respiratory tract) 

The structures of the nose are divided into the external nose and the internal nasal cavity.

The surface features of the external nose include the root (area between the eyebrows), bridge, and dorsum nasi (anterior margin). The external openings of the nose, the nostrils or nares, are bounded laterally by the flared alae.

The internal nasal cavity lies in and posterior to the external nose. The nasal cavity is divided by a midline nasal septum, The nasal cavity continues posteriorly with the nasal portion of the pharynx through the posterior nasal apertures. It is lined by the mucosa which secretes mucus. The roof of the cavity has olfactory (smell) receptors.

Anatomy of Respiratory System

                                         

                                                 A human being can survive without food for as much as several weeks and without water for several days, but the body cannot survive without air even for three to six minutes.  A constant supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body (especially to the heart and brain) is essential to maintain life. To supply this air, respiration continues to occur from the moment a new born infant takes its first breath until the death of the individual.