Question

1. In terms of osmolality of blood, how are sodium levels and blood pressure are regulated?

2. Describe how we regulate our osmolality of our blood and what would be the consequence of hyper and hypo osmolality?

3. Describe the mechanisms of blood pressure regulation for renin angiotensin system.

4. Describe the different mechanism of pH maintenance at the cellular and blood level.

5. List and briefly describe the mechanisms for smooth muscle contraction in terms of altering (increasing) the force of contraction.

Answer 1

Q1:

• The pressure exerted by blood on the walls of the blood vessels is known as blood pressure. Normally, kidneys remove extra volume of the body fluid in the form of urine via osmosis process.
• However, when a person is eating salt rich diets usually >5g per day, then levels of sodium increases in the blood arteries (More osmolality) and inorder to maintain the pressure balance, the body restricts removal of water and retains it via reabsorption mechanism by the kidneys.
• The high salt levels also causes microvascular endothelial inflammation, functional abnormalities in the blood vessels leading to increased blood pressure and this is known as salt-sensitivity of BP.