Posted: June 14th, 2023

Topic 1: Reproduction

BIOL121 ASSIGNMENT 3: Written assessment
Scenario — Elastigirl
Elastigirl is a 30-year-old female, who has presented to the antenatal clinic for a routine prenatal visit. She has generally felt very well throughout her pregnancy and exercised regularly but is starting to feel more and more tired as her pregnancy progresses. Elastigirl reports she has been suffering from severe headaches over the last week or so and has been taking paracetamol tablets to dull the pain. She also reports some discomfort in her upper abdomen after eating and drinking and swelling in her feet and ankles. Elastigirl is vegan and, although she considers her fluid and caloric intake to be adequate, admits that she probably isn’t careful enough when ensuring she eats enough high calcium foods.
A physical examination and urinalysis were conducted. Results below.
Physical examination:
Height 164 cm Weight 63 kg Appearance Clean, neat appearance, mild oedema in feet and ankles Pregnancy status 34 weeks pregnant Temperature 36.2 C Blood work Blood group: 0-Fasting blood glucose = 6 mmol/L BP 150/95 mm Hg Respiratory rate 22 bpm Diet Vegan, low calcium intake Past patient history Non-smoker. Regular check-ups during pregnancy. All previous screenings of blood, urine, and blood pressure within normal ranges. Exercises regularly. Social status Works as a customer assistant and lives with her husband and their daughter, Violet.
Urinalysis:
Blood
Bilirubin
Urobilinogen
0.4 mg/dL
Ketone
Protein
Nitrite
Glucose
pH
6.5
Specific Gravity
1.015
Leukocytes

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All topics and their key points listed below must be discussed in your essay
Topic 1: Reproduction (10 marks total)
A simple pregnancy test using Elastigirl’s urine helped to confirm her pregnancy. Which hormone is detected by a typical home pregnancy test? Discuss the role of this hormone in pregnancy. (5 marks)
Considering Elastigirl’s circumstances, describe the future role of oxytocin on uterine tissue during childbirth. (5 marks)
Topic 2: Respiratory system (5 marks total)
Describe the changes in volume and pressure that will be occurring in Elastigirl’s chest cavity to achieve inhalation while she is sitting in the examination room. Explain why these changes are occurring, and the effect upon airflow. (5 marks)
Topic 3: Digestion/metabolism (8 marks total)
Elastigirl enjoyed her favourite tofu scramble for breakfast today. Unfortunately, painful indigestion meant she had to promptly follow her meal with a couple of Mylanta® chewable tablets. Discuss how Mylanta® would affect digestion of the protein in Elastigirl’s meal. (4.5 marks)
State the hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet. Explain your answer. (3.5 marks)
Topic 4: Pharmacology (7 marks total)
The antenatal nurse mentions to Elastigirl that the doctor might prescribe her Dithiazide tablets, which act as a diuretic.
Discuss the route of administration of Dithiazide, where the drug is likely to be absorbed after administration, and its likely bioavailability. Justify your response by discussing whether the drug would be subjected to hepatic first pass. (4 marks)
What effect will the thiazide have on other drugs that Elastigirl may take, such as paracetamol? In your answer, relate to the mechanism of action of thiazide. (3 marks)

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Topic 1: Reproduction

A simple pregnancy test using Elastigirl’s urine helped to confirm her pregnancy. Which hormone is detected by a typical home pregnancy test? Discuss the role of this hormone in pregnancy.

The hormone detected by a typical home pregnancy test is human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is a hormone produced by the placenta after a fertilized egg implants in the uterus. hCG levels increase rapidly in the first few weeks of pregnancy, and then plateau until the end of the pregnancy. hCG plays a number of important roles in pregnancy, including:

Maintaining the pregnancy by stimulating the production of progesterone by the ovaries.
Stimulating the growth of the placenta.
Preparing the breasts for milk production.
Preventing the mother’s immune system from rejecting the fetus.
Considering Elastigirl’s circumstances, describe the future role of oxytocin on uterine tissue during childbirth.

Oxytocin is a hormone that is released during childbirth. It causes the uterus to contract and helps to push the baby out of the womb. Oxytocin is also released during breastfeeding, and it helps to stimulate the milk letdown reflex.

In Elastigirl’s case, oxytocin will play a critical role in helping her to deliver her baby. The contractions caused by oxytocin will help to push the baby down the birth canal and out of the uterus. Oxytocin will also help to relax the muscles in the pelvic floor, making it easier for the baby to pass through the birth canal.

Topic 2: Respiratory system

Describe the changes in volume and pressure that will be occurring in Elastigirl’s chest cavity to achieve inhalation while she is sitting in the examination room. Explain why these changes are occurring, and the effect upon airflow.

When Elastigirl inhales, her diaphragm contracts and moves downward. This increases the volume of the chest cavity, which decreases the pressure inside the chest cavity. The decrease in pressure causes air to flow into the lungs.

The opposite happens when Elastigirl exhales. Her diaphragm relaxes and moves upward. This decreases the volume of the chest cavity, which increases the pressure inside the chest cavity. The increase in pressure causes air to flow out of the lungs.

The changes in volume and pressure in Elastigirl’s chest cavity during inhalation and exhalation help to move air in and out of her lungs. This is essential for gas exchange, which is the process by which oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged between the lungs and the blood.

Topic 3: Digestion/metabolism

Elastigirl enjoyed her favourite tofu scramble for breakfast today. Unfortunately, painful indigestion meant she had to promptly follow her meal with a couple of Mylanta® chewable tablets. Discuss how Mylanta® would affect digestion of the protein in Elastigirl’s meal.

Mylanta® is an antacid that contains aluminum hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide, and simethicone. Aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide neutralize stomach acid, while simethicone helps to reduce gas.

The digestion of protein begins in the stomach. The stomach produces gastric juices, which contain hydrochloric acid. Hydrochloric acid helps to break down protein into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by the small intestine.

Mylanta® can interfere with the digestion of protein by neutralizing stomach acid. This can make it more difficult for the stomach to break down protein into smaller molecules.

State the hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet. Explain your answer.

The hormone that will be MOST active in maintaining Elastigirl’s blood calcium levels if adequate calcium is not obtained from her diet is parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH is produced by the parathyroid glands, which are four small glands that are located on the back of the thyroid gland.

PTH has a number of effects on calcium metabolism, including:

Increasing the absorption of calcium from the small intestine.
Increasing the reabsorption of calcium from the kidneys.
Mobilizing calcium from the bones.
If Elastigirl does not get enough calcium from her diet, her parathyroid glands will release more PTH. This will help to increase her blood calcium levels and prevent hypocalcemia, which is a condition characterized by low blood calcium levels.

Topic 4: Pharmacology

The antenatal nurse mentions to Elastigirl that the doctor might prescribe her Dithiazide tablets, which act as a diuretic.

Discuss the route of administration of Dithiazide, where the drug is likely to be absorbed after administration, and its likely bioavailability. Justify your response by discussing whether the drug would be subjected to hepatic first pass.

Dithiazide is typically administered orally. It is well absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and has a bioavailability of approximately 90%. Dithiazide