Question

Give one difference between each of the following.
(i) Ventricular systole and ventricular diastole
(ii) Sertoli and spermatids
(iii) Dwarfism and cretinism
(iv) Antibodies and interferons
(v) Glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids

Answer 1

(i) Ventricular systole is the event in the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles contract which results in the rise of ventricular pressure and both of the atrioventricular valves are closed to prevent the backflow of blood. The semilunar valve opens due to the ventricular pressure and the blood is pumped into the respective major arteries. In contrast, in the ventricular diastole, the ventricular pressure fall down and the semilunar valve close to prevent the back flow of blood from the arteries. At the same time, the AV valve opens to allow the flow of blood from both the atria to the respective ventricles.

(ii) Sertoli cells provide mechanical support and protection to the developing germ cells of testis and also help in their nutrition and maturation. In contrast, spermatids are the haploid, primary spermatocytes which will form the spermatozoan.

(iii) Dwarfism or shortness is a class of disorders where delay in growth occurs at the earliest stages of development caused by the deficiency of growth hormone. In contrast, cretinism is a condition of stunted mental and physical growth due to untreated congenital deficiency of thyroid hormones.

(iv) Antibodies are protein molecules called immunoglobulins released from a certain class of immune cells in response to antigens. In contrast, interferons are the anti-viral glycoproteins functioning as immune regulators and are produced by the infected cells in response to viral infections. They trigger a reaction that neutralizes the particular viruses.

(v) Glucocorticoids are the corticosteriods that bind to the glucocorticoid receptor and are involved in the regulation of glucose metabolism and synthesis in the adrenal cortex. In contrast, mineralocorticoid are the corticosteroids which are involved in maintaining the salt balance in the body.