Nervous System Physiology Sympathetic and Parasympathetic Nervous System

The physiology of the nervous system involves the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system triggers the “fight-or-flight” response, which prepares the body for intense physical activity. This system causes the expected bodily changes to occur. On the other hand, the parasympathetic system regulates the “rest and digest” functions of the body.

The sympathetic nervous system has five primary functions. These include dilating blood vessels, raising blood pressure, contracting muscles, stimulating sweat glands to produce sweat, and expanding bronchi to increase oxygen exchange. Additionally, the sympathetic system causes the heart to contract, which helps the body prepare for emergency situations.

Active Transport and Passive Transport Across A Cell Membrane

3 types of membrane transport
Basic types of membrane transport, simple passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion (by channels and carriers), and active transport.

♦ Active Transport
♦ Carrier Protein
♦ Cell Membrane
♦ Channel Protein
♦ Diffusion
♦ Endocytosis
♦ Exocytosis
♦ Facilitated Diffusion
♦ Hypertonic Solution
♦ Hypotonic Solution
♦ Isotonic Solution
♦ Osmosis
♦ Passive Transport
♦ Phagocytosis
♦ Pinocytosis
♦ Sodium Potassium Pump

Transport	Molecules moved	Uses energy?	Example transporter/disease
Simple diffusion	Small, nonpolar	No	Pulmonary edema
Facilitated diffusion	Polar molecules, larger ions	No	GLUT4 / Diabetes Mellitus Type II
Primary active transport	Molecules moving against their gradient coupled to the hydrolysis of ATP	Yes	Sodium-potassium pump, proton pump / atrial fibrillation, acid reflux
Secondary active transport	Molecule going with + molecule going against gradient	Yes	Sodium-calcium exchanger, SGLT2

May is Better Speech and Hearing Month, and Amedisys is proud to celebrate the incredible speech therapists who contribute to our tradition of excellent, clinically distinct care in the home.

By preventing, assessing, diagnosing and treating speech disorders—including language, communication, cognitive and swallowing disorders, speech therapy is an essential component to the home health model of care.

Often times, patients experience an inability to talk and communicate, difficulty swallowing or poor memory and disorientation. To address these issues, speech therapy focuses on the following areas.

COMMUNICATION

Communication disorders affect daily tasks like talking on the phone, communicating with family members or physicians or even calling 911 in an emergency. Aphasia, dysarthria and general weakness can contribute to communication difficulties.

Speech therapists develop verbal and nonverbal communication systems that include pictures or icons to allow patients to communicate effectively. Clinicians will also educate using oral motor and breathing exercises, compensatory strategies and education to family members as well.

COGNITIVE

Memory loss and disorientation can often result from a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or general cognitive impairments. Sometimes, medication side effects or even dehydration can contribute to these deficits.

To help patients with cognitive impairments, speech therapists develop programs with structured memory tasks, problem solving, reasoning, visual and auditory aids, calendars and family education.

SWALLOWING

Dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, is a common diagnosis in home health patients. This can cause weight loss, aspiration (food or liquid entering the airway) and aspiration pneumonia, which is a very serious condition.

To combat these risks, speech therapists help patients modify their diets, educate on safe swallow strategies, practice oral motor and pharyngeal exercises and complete Modified Barium Swallow Studies.  

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