Module 1 Assignment: Research and Report

Answer

1. • The effect of the nervous and endocrine system on the cardiovascular system

     The cardiovascular system is an organ system that allows the circulation of blood and transportation of nutrients, oxygen, hormones, and byproducts of metabolism within the body. The circulatory system is composed of the heart, lungs, blood, and blood vessels. The heart in its function of contracting and pumping of the blood, must contract regularly and continuously, and respond to the changing requirements of the body's tissues, and it operates at a given rate (Jacob et al 2016). The regulations and pacing of the heart's functions are subject to neural, hormonal influences, and other factors. The task focuses on how the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system controls or influences the vascular system based on the context.

     Suppose I am walking along the beach and cut the bottom of my foot open from a sharp piece of the beach debris. The body will set a series of automatic events which is summarized as a cascade of healing in a bid to aid in repairment of the tissues that have sustained the injuries. The cascade of healing takes place in four steps that are hemostasis, inflammatory, Proliferative, and maturation.

     Step 1; hemostasis phase

     This the first phase in the wound healing process. It starts immediately after the injury occurs. The main aim of this step is to ensure that bleeding comes to stop. During this step, the emergency repair system is activated, the system that enhances blood clotting, and a dam is formed to ensure that the drainage comes to stop (Ellis et al 2018). The process involves platelets; the blood component that enhances blood clotting and onsets the wounding process. Platelets come into contact with collagen, as a result, activation, and aggregation occurs. The nervous system then triggers the liver to release prothrombin which is then activated to active thrombin by the complex of a dozen blood coagulation factors. The active thrombin initiates the fibrin mesh formation, which finally enhances the strengthening of the platelet and clumps a stable clot.

     Step 2; defensive or inflammatory phase

     This face concentrates on bacterial destruction and debris removal. This will therefore give a good ground for the growth of new tissue. During the second phase, neutrophils, a blood cell type is released where it destroys bacteria and omits debris (Moon 2019). Within 24 and 48 hours after injury, the cells will have attained the peak population. The left of the white blood cells paves way for microphages that ensure complete clearing of debris. The macrophages secrete factors that enhance growth to facilitate tissue repair. The phase is usually accompanied by edema, erythema, and pain.

     Step 3; Proliferative phase

     In this step, wound filling and covering are the main focus after cleaning has been done in the previous phase. The phase has three distinct stages; the wound is filled, wound margins contraction, and the wound is covered. At this step, there is new blood vessel formation and the wound bed is filled by shiny, deep red granulation tissue and connective tissue. As the wound margin contracts, they are pulled towards the wound center (Tottoli et al 2020). Then epithelial cells arise from the wound bed or margins and begin to migrate across the wound bed in leapfrog fashion until the wound is covered with epithelium. The proliferative phase usually takes around 4 to 24 days.

     Step 4; Maturation Phase

     At the maturation phase, the newly formed tissue strengthens and becomes more flexible. At this point, there is the reorganization of the collagen fibers, the tissue remodels, and matures and there is an overall increase in tensile strength. The maturation phase is not constant and the time it takes an entire depends on the wound. It is usually ranging from 21 days to 2 years.

     The process of wound healing is remarkable and complex. It involves a serious of body systems working together where the nervous acts to initiate the process as well monitoring the process, endocrines releasing the needed enzymes or hormones where necessary, and vascular tissue ensures transportation of the body tissue requirements to enhance the wound healing processes (Wishart 2019). In this case, since it was a wound cut, Endogenous serotonin is an important neurotransmitter and cytokine that will enable cut wound healing as its interaction with the serotonin 1A receptor (5-HTR1A) delivers downstream cellular effects. This downstream cellular effect initiates the release of four hormones; human growth hormone (HGH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin, and testosterone that will directly or indirectly participate in the wound healing process.

     In the case of this injury, Endogenous serotonin will trigger the release of hormones and enzymes necessary for the wound healing process. The released hormones proliferation and migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, necessary for proper wound healing. Therefore, serotonin or 5HTR agonists can be a potential candidate for enhancing wound healing of the patients (Rajendra et al 2018).

     In conclusion, the primary function of the vascular tissue of contracting and pumping blood throughout the body is subject to both the nervous and the endocrine systems. Although the cardiovascular process is rhythmic, the pace and rate at which pumping of blood takes place is controlled or influenced by both the endocrine and the nervous system. However, other factors such as stress, caffeine, and excitement may also temporarily affect the rate of the vascular process.