The study of the normal function of living organisms and the means by which it is achieved.
3
votes
2answers
114 views
Physiological indicators of happiness and well being
If I understand it correctly, levels of serotonin in the brain can indicate if a person is happy. What other physiological measures indicate happiness or well being for a humans?
I am looking for ...
7
votes
1answer
142 views
Why are some menstrual cycles irregular?
A friend of mine asked me this today, and I didn't know. I remember studying the menstrual cycle a few years ago, but I can't remember the details (other than it was very hormone-related), and so I ...
6
votes
1answer
71 views
How does one maintain balance sleepwalking?
Anectodal. Feel free to shoot it down.
Walking is an acquired skill; As far as I'm concerned exhaustion causes disorientation. Even after waking up it sometimes takes a second or so to get balanced.
...
3
votes
1answer
48 views
Why does it hurt more when you touch a nerve directly?
I am not a biologist nor know much about biology (so please explain in layman's terms) however I have always been curious as to why this is.
What causes the difference in pain between touching an ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
What causes instinctive behaviour?
Some actions, almost behaviour, exist that are common across a species. For instance, based on personal observation, human babies try to taste anything new they encounter until they are a few score ...
5
votes
0answers
66 views
How is hibernation/aestivation different from anesthesia?
How do hibernation/aestivation happen?
I read on wikipedia that a squirrel injected with the body fluids of a hibernating fellow is more prone to hibernation. If hibernation/aestivation are driven ...
4
votes
0answers
67 views
Dimensionless number for blood volume
Comments from the question How is the blood volume of a living organism measured without killing it? by @Nico discussed that the time of blood recirculation scales with the size of the organism. I was ...
3
votes
0answers
576 views
What causes random long white body hairs?
I'm sure many of you have experienced this - you scratch your back or brush your hand over your arm and find a ridiculously long thin white hair, sometimes as long as 3 or 4 inches. I know a few ...
3
votes
0answers
18 views
How is olfactory acuity rated/measured?
Acuity of one's sight is rated on the 20/20 scale. An online search appeared to indicate there is no comparable 'standard' to rate olfactory acuity.
How is acuity of the olfactory system rated?
3
votes
0answers
80 views
what are the mechanics of sweating?
The causes of sweating aside, i.e. I'm not interested in which and how nerve signals are transmitted to sweat glands. But I would like to read a detailed account on what a sweat gland consists of, ...
3
votes
0answers
28 views
Patch-Clamping Neurons Resources
Are there any lectures available on Patch-Clamping?
Were can I find a mathematical model of Patch-Clamp? (that can be easily implemented in matlab).
I have found some step-by-step protocols on ...
2
votes
0answers
20 views
Size of classical liver lobule across species
A classical liver lobule is made up of a central vein and the portal triads. A typical human liver weighs around 3 lbs. , while a typical bovine liver weighs around 12 lbs. I was wondering if anyone ...
2
votes
0answers
36 views
How is Hypertonic Urine Produced in a Mammalian Kidney?
I know that the ascending loop of Henle is impermeable to water and ions, and, by end of the ascending limb, the osmolarity of the tubular fluid is very low due to the active transport of ions out ...
2
votes
0answers
18 views
What is the mechanism behind ventilatory acclimatization?
In my respiratory physiology lectures, my professor explained that hypoxia-induced hyperventilation occurs in 2 stages when people try to acclimate at high altitudes. My question is about the ...
2
votes
0answers
35 views
Physiological or molecular difference before and after sleep?
I know that the details of the process of sleep aren't entirely known, but have always wondered why I feel rested after sleep.
Biologically, what differences can be directly observed in the human ...
2
votes
0answers
41 views
Are there any situations in which phenylephrine is preferred to pseudoephedrine?
In the mid 2000s in the US, due to issues of drug enforcement, pseudoephedrine containing medications were brought behind the pharmacy counter and in most cases require ID, and phenylephrine was ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
Why do ion concentrations change with different secretion rates in pancreatic juice?
Why is it that when secretory rate increases in the pancreas the concentration of chloride ions decreases, and the concentration of bicarbonate increases in the production of isotonic NaCl secretion?
...
1
vote
0answers
43 views
What are the physiological effects of wine?
I have read that alcohol in general and wine in particular can have advantageous as well as detrimental effects on human health. Is this true? What are the physiological effects of consuming wine in ...
1
vote
0answers
70 views
Why is membrane potential not zero at equilibrium?
For the squid giant axon, the membrane potential computed by the Goldman equation is -60mV. And the Nernst potentials are (the differences between the K+ and the Na+'s Nernst potential and the ...
1
vote
0answers
29 views
Where can I find approximate rates of sequestration of CO2 for different species of algae?
For a study, I want to compare the rates of CO2 sequestration and fixation of a few different species of algae.
I could not find any data on the sequestration rates. Any pointers to where I can find ...
0
votes
0answers
12 views
Ill effects of urea and NH3 on metabolism
What exactly does urea do that harms our body ? Does it interfere with our cellular processes or disturbs the colloidal onchotic pressure of our blood ?
I have heard that NH3 damages the brain . What ...
