Human Anatomy: Alice Shrank - Essay Example

Lowering BMR is somewhat a self-induced adjustment due to the metabolic changes associated with shrinkage helping the body to function as an efficient energy saver, thereby burning lesser calories. (United Nations University, 2008) The next important adaptation related to shrinkage must be a lower cardiac output due to the lower aerobic capacity. The lowered cardiac output which is the extent of oxygen transport from the heart to the cells of the body is related to the overall cardiovascular requirements of the body.

Low cardiac output is coupled with the lowered tidal volume of respiration in a reduced body with a decrease in the cardiac tissue mass. There is a formidable relationship between body mass, body size, and blood pressure level. Blood pressure has been found to vary directly from body height. The body is smaller in size and hardly requires much pumping pressure to transmit blood to the rest of the body. Hence, lowered blood pressure is an essential physiological adjustment the body makes to go with the small stature after the shrinkage.

Heartbeat RateDue to the lowered blood pressure and cardiac output, proper blood circulation demands more heartbeats for a smaller-sized body as compared to a larger one. This is seen in the case of smaller animals that have a faster heartbeat rate than humans. The heartbeat rate in mammals varies inversely to the fourth root of the body weight measured in kilograms. Amino Acid Metabolism The protein-energy relationship is a significant parameter that adjusts itself with the other physiologic conditions during the phenomenon of shrinkage.

Amino acids required as essential substrates for protein synthesis are necessary for energy production along with increased body weight and stature. Therefore shrinkage essentially involves an adaptable lowered rate of amino acid metabolism, thereby curbing the extent of fat production leading to protein synthesis at a lower profile than in regular-sized individuals. Ammonia and Urea MetabolismWith a smaller stature, the dietary requirements become lower and result in lowered amino acid intake thereby reducing the production of ammonia and urea in the liver.

Moreover, due to a lowered extent of protein synthesis, essential enzymes like urease and protease are synthesized accordingly in sparse quantities compared to normal-sized individuals decreasing the production of ammonia to perfectly go with the smaller stature after shrinkage.