FIS2603
Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:739210
Due Date: 17 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
Evaporation is critical for eliminating excess body heat but can have adverse
effects if not carefully managed. One major consequence is dehydration, as fluid
is lost from the skin surface in the form of sweat. If the volume of fluid lost is not
replaced, blood plasma volume decreases and circulation becomes less efficient.
This may lead to electrolyte imbalances, particularly with respect to sodium and
potassium, which play crucial roles in nerve and muscle function. Such
imbalances can cause symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
In severe cases, heat exhaustion or heatstroke may develop if fluid losses are
extreme and body temperature regulation fails. Moreover, sweating can irritate
the skin, leading to discomfort or rashes if it is continuous and not adequately
cleansed. Therefore, while evaporation through sweating is beneficial for
thermoregulation, it necessitates vigilant fluid replacement and electrolyte
balance to avoid harmful physiological outcomes.
QUESTION 2
2.1 The Transport and Storage of Iron
Iron is a vital trace element involved in numerous physiological processes, most
notably oxygen transport. The majority of functional iron is found in hemoglobin,
a protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen binding and delivery to tissues.
Dietary iron is absorbed primarily in the duodenum, where it exists in two main
forms: heme iron (from animal sources) and nonheme iron (from plant sources).
Heme iron is absorbed more efficiently, partly due to its stable porphyrin ring
structure, whereas nonheme iron requires reduction from ferric (Fe³⁺) to ferrous
(Fe²⁺) state for optimal uptake.
Upon absorption, iron binds to transferrin, a transport protein in the bloodstream.
Transferrin ferries iron to various tissues, most crucially the bone marrow for
erythropoiesis (red blood cell production). Cells expressing transferrin receptors
internalize the iron-transferrin complex by receptor-mediated endocytosis,
releasing iron into the cytoplasm. Once inside cells, iron can be incorporated into
hemoglobin in erythroid precursors, or stored as ferritin. Ferritin is a large protein
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
Assignment 2 Semester 1 2025
Unique #:739210
Due Date: 17 April 2025
Detailed solutions, explanations, workings
and references.
+27 81 278 3372
, QUESTION 1
Evaporation is critical for eliminating excess body heat but can have adverse
effects if not carefully managed. One major consequence is dehydration, as fluid
is lost from the skin surface in the form of sweat. If the volume of fluid lost is not
replaced, blood plasma volume decreases and circulation becomes less efficient.
This may lead to electrolyte imbalances, particularly with respect to sodium and
potassium, which play crucial roles in nerve and muscle function. Such
imbalances can cause symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and muscle cramps.
In severe cases, heat exhaustion or heatstroke may develop if fluid losses are
extreme and body temperature regulation fails. Moreover, sweating can irritate
the skin, leading to discomfort or rashes if it is continuous and not adequately
cleansed. Therefore, while evaporation through sweating is beneficial for
thermoregulation, it necessitates vigilant fluid replacement and electrolyte
balance to avoid harmful physiological outcomes.
QUESTION 2
2.1 The Transport and Storage of Iron
Iron is a vital trace element involved in numerous physiological processes, most
notably oxygen transport. The majority of functional iron is found in hemoglobin,
a protein in red blood cells responsible for oxygen binding and delivery to tissues.
Dietary iron is absorbed primarily in the duodenum, where it exists in two main
forms: heme iron (from animal sources) and nonheme iron (from plant sources).
Heme iron is absorbed more efficiently, partly due to its stable porphyrin ring
structure, whereas nonheme iron requires reduction from ferric (Fe³⁺) to ferrous
(Fe²⁺) state for optimal uptake.
Upon absorption, iron binds to transferrin, a transport protein in the bloodstream.
Transferrin ferries iron to various tissues, most crucially the bone marrow for
erythropoiesis (red blood cell production). Cells expressing transferrin receptors
internalize the iron-transferrin complex by receptor-mediated endocytosis,
releasing iron into the cytoplasm. Once inside cells, iron can be incorporated into
hemoglobin in erythroid precursors, or stored as ferritin. Ferritin is a large protein
Varsity Cube 2024 +27 81 278 3372
