Question

2. On a piece of paper, write the following systems:

Integumentary

Cardiovascular

Immune

Digestive

Respiratory

Excretory

Nervous

Sensory

Musculoskeletal

Endocrine

Reproductive

Then, tell me first, does this system derive from ectoderm, mesoderm or endoderm, THEN, tell me what the effect(s) are of aging on that system.

Answer 1

System	Derived from	Effect of aging
Integumentary	Ectoderm	Loss of skin elasticity with loss of fat in extremities, pigmentation changes, glandular atrophy, slower nail growth, thinning and white hair, atrophy of epidermal arterioles
Cardiovascular	Mesoderm	Thickening of blood vessels, narrowed lumen in blood vessels, lower cardiac output, decreased number of muscle fibers in heart, decreased elasticity in heart valves, calcificication of heart valves, reduced efficiency of venous valves, increased pulmonary vascular tension, increased systolic blood pressure, decreased peirpheral circulation
Immune	Thymus from Endoderm,	Involution of Thymus gland, Cell mediated immunity reduces (due to decreased T cell function)
Digestive	Endoderm	Increased peirodontal diseases, decreased gastrointestinal secretions, enzymes, reduced peristaltic movements, gastric atrophy, reduced production of Castle's intrinsic factor, increased stomach pH, smooth muscle loss in the stomach, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, rectal prolapse, impaired rectal sensation
Respiratory	Endoderm	Decreased cough reflex, reduced cilia, increased antero-posterior chest diameter, increased chest wall rigidity, fewer alveoli, increased airway resistance, increased risk of respiratory tract infections
Excretory	Mesoderm	Fewer functional nephrons, decrease in renal blood flow, decreased bladder capacity
Nervous	Ectoderm	Degeneration of nerve cells, decrease in neurotransmitters, decrease in rate of conduction of impulses
Sensory	Ectoderm	Eyes: Decreased accomodation (presbyopia), yellowing of lens, altered color perception, increased sensitivity to glare, smaller pupils Taste: Reduced taste perception Ears: Loss of acuity for tones of high frequency Smell: Reduced perception Touch: Decreased skin receptors Proprioception: Decreased awareness of body positioning in space
Musculoskeletal	Mesoderm	Decreased muscle and strength, decalcification of bones, degenerative joint changes, dehydration of intervertebral disks
Endocrine	Endoderm	Disruption of hormone production. Reduced, thyroid function, increased cortisol and glucocorticoid levels leading to inflammation, Increased fibrosis of pancreas, decreased secretion of enzymes and hormones of pancreas
Reproductive	Mesoderm	Male: Enlargement of prostate gland, reduced sperm count, reduced size of testes, erectile dysfunction Female: Decreased estrogen production, degeneration of ovaries, atrophy of v_agina, uterus and mammary glands