Insulin physiology — FRCA Primary MCQ

Correct answer: E — Reduced haemoglobin lowers arterial oxygen content

Insulin promotes glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissue. Perfusion of non-ventilated alveoli creates shunt is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. Citrate binds ionised calcium is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. Chronic hypertension shifts cerebral autoregulation right is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. Renin rises with reduced afferent arteriolar pressure is less appropriate because it would fit a different clinical clue or a separate anaesthetic problem. In Primary FRCA physiology, the correct answer is usually the variable that best explains the observed change in the anaesthetised patient.

Reference: West's Respiratory Physiology; Ganong Review of Medical Physiology; Primary FRCA textbooks