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If an eicosanoid is made from _________________ it will ____________ blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation.

1) eicosaptentaenoic acid, not affect
2) arachidonic acid, increase
3) eicosapentaenoic acid, increase
4) arachidonic acid, decrease

User GCGM
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Final Answer:

If an eicosanoid is made from arachidonic acid, it will increase blood pressure, blood clotting, inflammation. Thus, the correct answer is 2) arachidonic acid, increase.

Step-by-step explanation:

Arachidonic acid serves as a precursor for the synthesis of eicosanoids, which are signaling molecules involved in regulating various physiological processes, including blood pressure, blood clotting, and inflammation. When eicosanoids are derived from arachidonic acid through pathways like the cyclooxygenase (COX) or lipoxygenase (LOX) pathways, they tend to promote an increase in blood pressure, enhance blood clotting mechanisms, and provoke inflammatory responses.

Eicosanoids derived from arachidonic acid, such as prostaglandins and thromboxanes, often exert vasoconstrictive effects, leading to elevated blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels. Additionally, certain eicosanoids, particularly thromboxanes, play a role in platelet aggregation, promoting blood clotting and hemostasis.

Moreover, arachidonic acid-derived eicosanoids contribute to the inflammatory response by mediating the dilation of blood vessels, enhancing the permeability of blood vessel walls, and attracting immune cells to the site of injury or infection. These actions collectively promote inflammation as part of the body's defense mechanism but can also lead to chronic inflammatory conditions when dysregulated.

In contrast, eicosanoids derived from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), such as certain types of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, tend to have opposing effects, often displaying anti-inflammatory and blood-pressure-lowering properties. Therefore, the source of the precursor fatty acid, arachidonic acid, or eicosapentaenoic acid, determines the nature and effects of the synthesized eicosanoids on blood pressure, blood clotting, and inflammatory responses.

Thus, the correct answer is 2) arachidonic acid, increase.

User Mageek
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