Christopher Torrens
@christophertorrens.bsky.social
Rhyming off physiology facts for everyone
Trapped in the freshly laid osteoid,
Some osteoblasts become osteocytes.
There they sense load,
Such that remodelling is slowed,
In the immobile and also spaceflight.
Some osteoblasts become osteocytes.
There they sense load,
Such that remodelling is slowed,
In the immobile and also spaceflight.
November 3, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Trapped in the freshly laid osteoid,
Some osteoblasts become osteocytes.
There they sense load,
Such that remodelling is slowed,
In the immobile and also spaceflight.
Some osteoblasts become osteocytes.
There they sense load,
Such that remodelling is slowed,
In the immobile and also spaceflight.
So that’s an end of this year’s daylight savings.
It is not just an extra hour in bed.
Disruption ensues,
To your Zeitgeber cues,
Increasing risk from chronic diseases instead.
It is not just an extra hour in bed.
Disruption ensues,
To your Zeitgeber cues,
Increasing risk from chronic diseases instead.
October 27, 2025 at 9:40 AM
So that’s an end of this year’s daylight savings.
It is not just an extra hour in bed.
Disruption ensues,
To your Zeitgeber cues,
Increasing risk from chronic diseases instead.
It is not just an extra hour in bed.
Disruption ensues,
To your Zeitgeber cues,
Increasing risk from chronic diseases instead.
Smooth muscle is the best type of muscle,
For all of the roles that it plays.
From controlling blood flow,
To when you must go,
And your focus, peristalsis and airways.
For all of the roles that it plays.
From controlling blood flow,
To when you must go,
And your focus, peristalsis and airways.
October 20, 2025 at 7:52 AM
Smooth muscle is the best type of muscle,
For all of the roles that it plays.
From controlling blood flow,
To when you must go,
And your focus, peristalsis and airways.
For all of the roles that it plays.
From controlling blood flow,
To when you must go,
And your focus, peristalsis and airways.
Isometric or isotonic contractions,
Are used for muscle experimenting.
Isometric depends,
On being secured at both ends,
And where tension’s developed but not shortening.
Are used for muscle experimenting.
Isometric depends,
On being secured at both ends,
And where tension’s developed but not shortening.
October 13, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Isometric or isotonic contractions,
Are used for muscle experimenting.
Isometric depends,
On being secured at both ends,
And where tension’s developed but not shortening.
Are used for muscle experimenting.
Isometric depends,
On being secured at both ends,
And where tension’s developed but not shortening.
The sacroplasmic reticulum,
Is a skeletal muscle calcium store.
Following depolarisation,
The T-tubule migration,
Stimulates ryanodine receptors and the outpour.
Is a skeletal muscle calcium store.
Following depolarisation,
The T-tubule migration,
Stimulates ryanodine receptors and the outpour.
October 6, 2025 at 9:22 AM
The sacroplasmic reticulum,
Is a skeletal muscle calcium store.
Following depolarisation,
The T-tubule migration,
Stimulates ryanodine receptors and the outpour.
Is a skeletal muscle calcium store.
Following depolarisation,
The T-tubule migration,
Stimulates ryanodine receptors and the outpour.
The humble Valsalva manoeuvre,
Can test autonomic control.
The quickened pulse it reflects,
The baroreceptor reflex,
That’s triggered by the subject’s breath hold.
Can test autonomic control.
The quickened pulse it reflects,
The baroreceptor reflex,
That’s triggered by the subject’s breath hold.
September 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
The humble Valsalva manoeuvre,
Can test autonomic control.
The quickened pulse it reflects,
The baroreceptor reflex,
That’s triggered by the subject’s breath hold.
Can test autonomic control.
The quickened pulse it reflects,
The baroreceptor reflex,
That’s triggered by the subject’s breath hold.
With colds and with flu comes a fever,
As pyrogens act from within.
Your hypothalamus is told,
That you’re actually cold,
So physiological thermogenesis kicks in.
As pyrogens act from within.
Your hypothalamus is told,
That you’re actually cold,
So physiological thermogenesis kicks in.
September 15, 2025 at 7:12 AM
With colds and with flu comes a fever,
As pyrogens act from within.
Your hypothalamus is told,
That you’re actually cold,
So physiological thermogenesis kicks in.
As pyrogens act from within.
Your hypothalamus is told,
That you’re actually cold,
So physiological thermogenesis kicks in.
Once acetylcholine binds to its receptor,
And its target cell signal transduced.
The cholinesterase,
Ensure it never outstays,
And what’s left in the cleft is reduced.
And its target cell signal transduced.
The cholinesterase,
Ensure it never outstays,
And what’s left in the cleft is reduced.
September 1, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Once acetylcholine binds to its receptor,
And its target cell signal transduced.
The cholinesterase,
Ensure it never outstays,
And what’s left in the cleft is reduced.
And its target cell signal transduced.
The cholinesterase,
Ensure it never outstays,
And what’s left in the cleft is reduced.
Lactate ringers in hyperkalaemia,
Was once contraindicated.
As potassium it contains,
A fear of adding fuel to the flames,
So saline was preferred option instead.
Was once contraindicated.
As potassium it contains,
A fear of adding fuel to the flames,
So saline was preferred option instead.
August 25, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Lactate ringers in hyperkalaemia,
Was once contraindicated.
As potassium it contains,
A fear of adding fuel to the flames,
So saline was preferred option instead.
Was once contraindicated.
As potassium it contains,
A fear of adding fuel to the flames,
So saline was preferred option instead.
Intermittent claudication,
A hallmark of arterial disease.
From the pain you imply,
Demand can’t be met by supply,
But if you stop for a rest it will ease.
A hallmark of arterial disease.
From the pain you imply,
Demand can’t be met by supply,
But if you stop for a rest it will ease.
August 18, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Intermittent claudication,
A hallmark of arterial disease.
From the pain you imply,
Demand can’t be met by supply,
But if you stop for a rest it will ease.
A hallmark of arterial disease.
From the pain you imply,
Demand can’t be met by supply,
But if you stop for a rest it will ease.
The thing about catecholamines,
Is their rank order of potency.
Adrenaline it’s true,
Binds both alpha and beta too,
But it’s beta it’ll bind preferentially.
Is their rank order of potency.
Adrenaline it’s true,
Binds both alpha and beta too,
But it’s beta it’ll bind preferentially.
August 11, 2025 at 8:05 AM
The thing about catecholamines,
Is their rank order of potency.
Adrenaline it’s true,
Binds both alpha and beta too,
But it’s beta it’ll bind preferentially.
Is their rank order of potency.
Adrenaline it’s true,
Binds both alpha and beta too,
But it’s beta it’ll bind preferentially.
Contusion or trauma to the testicles,
Can be felt in the lower abdomen.
That pain is referred,
By the genitofemoral nerve,
Which arises from the spinal lumbar region.
Can be felt in the lower abdomen.
That pain is referred,
By the genitofemoral nerve,
Which arises from the spinal lumbar region.
August 4, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Contusion or trauma to the testicles,
Can be felt in the lower abdomen.
That pain is referred,
By the genitofemoral nerve,
Which arises from the spinal lumbar region.
Can be felt in the lower abdomen.
That pain is referred,
By the genitofemoral nerve,
Which arises from the spinal lumbar region.
Interactions between pure actin and myosin,
Aren’t regulated but actually the norm.
But on filaments that are thin,
The tropomyosin,
Regulates when cross bridges will form.
Aren’t regulated but actually the norm.
But on filaments that are thin,
The tropomyosin,
Regulates when cross bridges will form.
July 28, 2025 at 8:27 AM
Interactions between pure actin and myosin,
Aren’t regulated but actually the norm.
But on filaments that are thin,
The tropomyosin,
Regulates when cross bridges will form.
Aren’t regulated but actually the norm.
But on filaments that are thin,
The tropomyosin,
Regulates when cross bridges will form.
The phenomenon of the pudding stomach,
To squeeze in dessert even though you’re full.
Having dined out on salty,
And a helping of umami,
Something sweet offers a tasty new pull.
To squeeze in dessert even though you’re full.
Having dined out on salty,
And a helping of umami,
Something sweet offers a tasty new pull.
July 21, 2025 at 7:41 AM
The phenomenon of the pudding stomach,
To squeeze in dessert even though you’re full.
Having dined out on salty,
And a helping of umami,
Something sweet offers a tasty new pull.
To squeeze in dessert even though you’re full.
Having dined out on salty,
And a helping of umami,
Something sweet offers a tasty new pull.
As temperatures climb in a heatwave,
And you look for some protection.
One way to keep cool,
Put your feet in a basin or pool,
As it increases heat loss by convection.
And you look for some protection.
One way to keep cool,
Put your feet in a basin or pool,
As it increases heat loss by convection.
July 14, 2025 at 6:58 AM
As temperatures climb in a heatwave,
And you look for some protection.
One way to keep cool,
Put your feet in a basin or pool,
As it increases heat loss by convection.
And you look for some protection.
One way to keep cool,
Put your feet in a basin or pool,
As it increases heat loss by convection.
A crucial survival mechanism,
Is the flexor withdrawal reflex.
Noxious sensory information,
Has rapid spinal integration,
And sharp withdrawal avoids harmful effects.
Is the flexor withdrawal reflex.
Noxious sensory information,
Has rapid spinal integration,
And sharp withdrawal avoids harmful effects.
July 7, 2025 at 8:52 AM
A crucial survival mechanism,
Is the flexor withdrawal reflex.
Noxious sensory information,
Has rapid spinal integration,
And sharp withdrawal avoids harmful effects.
Is the flexor withdrawal reflex.
Noxious sensory information,
Has rapid spinal integration,
And sharp withdrawal avoids harmful effects.
The joys of small vessel myography,
When you don’t know whether to cry or to laugh.
When the vessel’s prepared,
With the upmost of care,
Only to disappear, without trace, in the bath.
When you don’t know whether to cry or to laugh.
When the vessel’s prepared,
With the upmost of care,
Only to disappear, without trace, in the bath.
July 2, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The joys of small vessel myography,
When you don’t know whether to cry or to laugh.
When the vessel’s prepared,
With the upmost of care,
Only to disappear, without trace, in the bath.
When you don’t know whether to cry or to laugh.
When the vessel’s prepared,
With the upmost of care,
Only to disappear, without trace, in the bath.
An osteoblast will lay down the osteoid,
Within this freshly laid bone some remain.
That’s not the end of its plight,
It becomes an osteocyte,
And relays signals of bone stress and strain.
Within this freshly laid bone some remain.
That’s not the end of its plight,
It becomes an osteocyte,
And relays signals of bone stress and strain.
June 30, 2025 at 8:51 AM
An osteoblast will lay down the osteoid,
Within this freshly laid bone some remain.
That’s not the end of its plight,
It becomes an osteocyte,
And relays signals of bone stress and strain.
Within this freshly laid bone some remain.
That’s not the end of its plight,
It becomes an osteocyte,
And relays signals of bone stress and strain.
The ventricular action potential,
Has a long phase of calcium plateau.
Because it’s still depolarised,
The heart can’t be tetanised,
As the tension on its way to zero.
Has a long phase of calcium plateau.
Because it’s still depolarised,
The heart can’t be tetanised,
As the tension on its way to zero.
June 23, 2025 at 8:17 AM
The ventricular action potential,
Has a long phase of calcium plateau.
Because it’s still depolarised,
The heart can’t be tetanised,
As the tension on its way to zero.
Has a long phase of calcium plateau.
Because it’s still depolarised,
The heart can’t be tetanised,
As the tension on its way to zero.
Secondary hyperparathyroidism,
Is a feature of chronic kidney disease.
With the tissue depletion,
There’s less 1 alpha hydroxylation,
Resulting in vitamin D deficiencies.
Is a feature of chronic kidney disease.
With the tissue depletion,
There’s less 1 alpha hydroxylation,
Resulting in vitamin D deficiencies.
June 16, 2025 at 7:57 AM
Secondary hyperparathyroidism,
Is a feature of chronic kidney disease.
With the tissue depletion,
There’s less 1 alpha hydroxylation,
Resulting in vitamin D deficiencies.
Is a feature of chronic kidney disease.
With the tissue depletion,
There’s less 1 alpha hydroxylation,
Resulting in vitamin D deficiencies.
BNP is a marker of heart failure,
That suggests excess fluid retention.
Since the Frank-Starling curve,
Says stroke volume’s preserved,
By a RAS-induced volume expansion.
That suggests excess fluid retention.
Since the Frank-Starling curve,
Says stroke volume’s preserved,
By a RAS-induced volume expansion.
June 9, 2025 at 8:19 AM
BNP is a marker of heart failure,
That suggests excess fluid retention.
Since the Frank-Starling curve,
Says stroke volume’s preserved,
By a RAS-induced volume expansion.
That suggests excess fluid retention.
Since the Frank-Starling curve,
Says stroke volume’s preserved,
By a RAS-induced volume expansion.
Filtration along a capillary,
Is not reversed at the venous ends.
In the interstitium’s place,
Sits the subglycocalyx space,
That’s the gradient upon which filtration depends.
Is not reversed at the venous ends.
In the interstitium’s place,
Sits the subglycocalyx space,
That’s the gradient upon which filtration depends.
June 2, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Filtration along a capillary,
Is not reversed at the venous ends.
In the interstitium’s place,
Sits the subglycocalyx space,
That’s the gradient upon which filtration depends.
Is not reversed at the venous ends.
In the interstitium’s place,
Sits the subglycocalyx space,
That’s the gradient upon which filtration depends.
A protection for cerebral perfusion,
Alpha adrenoceptors are relatively rare.
So when sympathetic activation,
Produces peripheral constriction,
The cerebral circulation is relatively spared.
Alpha adrenoceptors are relatively rare.
So when sympathetic activation,
Produces peripheral constriction,
The cerebral circulation is relatively spared.
May 26, 2025 at 7:40 AM
A protection for cerebral perfusion,
Alpha adrenoceptors are relatively rare.
So when sympathetic activation,
Produces peripheral constriction,
The cerebral circulation is relatively spared.
Alpha adrenoceptors are relatively rare.
So when sympathetic activation,
Produces peripheral constriction,
The cerebral circulation is relatively spared.
In the principal cells of the kidney,
Are important for sodium reabsorption.
But this comes at a cost,
That is potassium loss,
So you can’t control either in isolation.
Are important for sodium reabsorption.
But this comes at a cost,
That is potassium loss,
So you can’t control either in isolation.
May 19, 2025 at 7:54 AM
In the principal cells of the kidney,
Are important for sodium reabsorption.
But this comes at a cost,
That is potassium loss,
So you can’t control either in isolation.
Are important for sodium reabsorption.
But this comes at a cost,
That is potassium loss,
So you can’t control either in isolation.
The mechanism of reactive hyperaemia,
Increased flow after a drop in perfusion.
As flow increase from its nadir,
There’s an increase in shear,
The results in more vasodilation.
Increased flow after a drop in perfusion.
As flow increase from its nadir,
There’s an increase in shear,
The results in more vasodilation.
May 12, 2025 at 7:58 AM
The mechanism of reactive hyperaemia,
Increased flow after a drop in perfusion.
As flow increase from its nadir,
There’s an increase in shear,
The results in more vasodilation.
Increased flow after a drop in perfusion.
As flow increase from its nadir,
There’s an increase in shear,
The results in more vasodilation.