The Catalyst

Rapid accumulation of fluid or blood in the pericardial space causing increase in the intrapericardial pressure is called as cardiac tamponade. This results in  Compression of cardiac chambers. ↓ ↓ venous return ↓ ↓ cardiac output Causes Trauma  Progressive pericardial effusion due to tuber­culosis, viral, bacterial infections Often, uraemia can cause significant pericardial effusion Features   Hypotension.  Widened cardiac dullness.  Muffled or decreased heart sounds.  Increased venous pressure with raised jugular veins.  Pulsus paradoxus (pulse becomes weaker on inspiration than expiration). In severe cases, heart is unable to expand causing shock and often sudden death. Beck’s triad Hypotension  Muffled heart sounds Raised jugular venous pressure Investigation Chest X-ray and  US confirms the diagnosis.  Differential diagnosis:  Tension pneumothorax. Treatment Pericardial tap is done for immediate temporary relief under US g...

 Layers of the cornea: Epithelium (Stratified squamous non-keratinized epithelium)  Bowman's membrane - Acellular; does not regenerate Stroma (Thickest layer) - The stroma can scar, but cannot regenerate Dua's layer (Newly discovered, toughest layer) Descemet's membrane- Ends peripherally as Schwalbe's ring; has regenerative potential Endothelium (Most metabolically active layer)- does not regenerate  The hydration level and transparency of the cornea is maintained mainly by the endothelial cells of the cornea. If the cornea becomes overhydrated, it begins to scatter light and gradually begins to lose its transparency Endothelium possesses Na+/K+ ATPase, which keeps the corneal stroma in a relatively dehydrated state. This helps in maintaining the transparency of the cornea. Endothelial cells decrease in number with age. Other factors contributing to the transparency of the cornea are as follows:  Regular arrangement of corneal lamellae ( Maurice theory ) Peculiar...