Elephantiasis

WHY LEGS AND HANDS BULGES IN ELEPHENTIASIS



In elephantiasis of the limb due to obstruction in the corresponding lymph nodes, the superficial group of lymph vessels draining the skin and the subcutaneous tissue cannot empty their content, and as a result, the skin becomes hypertrophied and thickened. Anatomically, the superficial lymphatics do not communicate with the deep lymphatics at the periphery except close to their termination in the lymph nodes. Advantages of these knowledge is taken in the surgical treatment of elephantiasis where some portions of the deep fascia removed, so that the superficial lymph vessels will be able to gain access to the deep lymphatics by removal of the deep fascia barrier.



Tags: Swollen legs, leg bulge, elephantiasis, why legs are swollen in elephantiasis, why legs bulge in elephantiasis.

Nitrogen Fixation in plants

NITROGEN FIXATION


Nitrogen fixation is a process in which the roots of the leguminous plants (beans, grams ) give shelter to the nitrogen fixing micro organism. These micro organisms helps in the conversion of atmospheric nitrogen into nitrates and nitrites and in return they are getting food and shelter from the plants. To provide shelter to the nitrogen fixing bacteria, leguminous plants produce some nodules in their roots ( root nodules ). Such an inter relationship between two organisms in which both the organisms are benefited by helping each other. This is called SYMBIOSIS.


Why do leguminous plants need nitrates and nitrites ?


All the plants are able to absorb nitrogen in the form of nitrates and nitrites from the soil for their metabolic activities and also for the preparation of proteins and stored food items. Like all other plants, leguminous plants also absorb nitrates and nitrites from the soil by using roots.


But in case of leguminous plants, the plants use more amounts of all these nitrogenous substances for the formation of their seeds like beans and grams. For the formation of these beans and grams there is a requirement of more amounts of proteins. For the formation of the proteins nitrates and nitrites also required. So, these legume plants absorb more nitrogen from the soil but their absorbing capacity is insufficient to absorb sufficient quantity of nitrogen compounds to form seeds. As the plants are unable to absorb nitrogen from the atmosphere they will depend upon the nitrogen fixing micro organisms. For this purpose, they will attract the micro organisms like Rhizobium bacteria to get more amount of nitrogenous substances to prepare their seeds.


Nitrogen fixing bacteria present in the leguminous plants is Rhizobium leguminousarum. It converts atmospheric nitrogen to ammonia.


Ammonia is used by the plants to make amino acids. Some carbohydrates are transported to the root nodules as a food for the rhizobium bacterium. These carbohydrates are prepared by the plants during the process of respiration. In these carbohydrates, rhizobium uses some quantity as a food and the remaining quantity is used for the formation of ammonium ion (NH4+ ) from atmospheric nitrogen.





FLAVONOIDS are the chemicals produced by the legume plants and they are used to signal the rhizobium. In return, the rhizobium responds by producing a lipid-carbohydrates molecules. The lipid carbohydrate molecules stimulates the cells of the roots. The cells of roots divide rapidly to form nodules by pericycle (inner most layer of the root ). Root hairs to which the bacterium attached will curl up , thus enclosing the bacteria. Enzymes produced by the bacteria digest cell walls and enter the cytoplasm. The plant then creates a tube along which bacteria grow and delivers the bacteria to nodules. After few divisions, the bacteria lose their ability to divide and begin producing nitrogenase. The bacteria are now called bacterioid and lose the ability to survive independently.


NITRIFYING BACTERIA : These bacteria breakdown organic matter into nitrate ion ( NO3- ion ) and then to Ammonia (NH3).


Haber – Bosch process : It is the nitrogen fixation reaction. In this reaction, the N2 gas and H2 gas,in the presence of Iron or Ruthenium catalyst,produce Ammonia.


N 2 + 3H 2 ⇔ 2 NH 3


Tags: Nitrogen Fixation, plants, Nitrogen fixation in plants, Nitrifying Bacteria, Haber Bosch process, Flavonoids, leguminous plants, Rhizobium Bacteria, Ammonia