Salivary amylase, also known as ptyalin, is an enzyme produced and secreted by the salivary glands in the mouth, particularly the parotid glands. It is one of the first enzymes involved in the process of digestion. Salivary amylase's primary function is to initiate the breakdown of complex carbohydrates, such as starch and glycogen, into simpler sugars, specifically maltose and smaller sugar molecules. This process is known as enzymatic hydrolysis.

Unit 2,

Reference:  Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary (7th Edition, Kindle Edition) Oxford University Press 2020 ISBN-13: 978-0198836629, p935

Sodium-glucose transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2 inhibitors) are a class of medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. They work by inhibiting the action of the sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) protein in the kidneys.

Unit 8,

Reference: Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary (9th ed) Oxford University Press 2015 ISBN-13: 9780199687817, p2337

Somatostatin is a hormone that plays a crucial role in the regulation of various physiological processes in the body. It is produced by certain cells, primarily in the hypothalamus and the pancreas. Somatostatin acts as an inhibitory hormone, meaning it suppresses the release of other hormones and has a broad range of effects on different organ systems. In the pancreas it suppresses secretion of insulin and glucagon.

Unit 3,

Reference: Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary (9th ed) Oxford University Press 2015 ISBN-13: 9780199687817, p2363 

The spleen is a large dark-red ovoid organ situated on the left side of the body below and behind the stomach. The spleen is a major component of the reticuloendothelial system, producing lymphocytes in the newborn and containing phagocytes, which remove worn-out red blood cells and other foreign bodies from the bloodstream. It also acts as a reservoir for blood and, in the fetus, as a source of red blood cells.

Unit 3,

Reference: Oxford Concise Medical Dictionary (9th ed) Oxford University Press 2015 ISBN-13: 9780199687817, p2384

A narrowing, or constriction, of a passage, duct, opening, etc.

Sudomotor dysfunction refers to a disruption in the normal functioning of the sweat glands and their associated nerves. The sweat glands are part of the body's autonomic nervous system, and sudomotor dysfunction can result from damage or dysfunction of the nerves that control sweating. This dysfunction may lead to abnormalities in sweating, including either excessive or reduced sweating in affected areas.

Unit 5,

Reference: Cheshire WP. Sudomotor Dysfunction. Semin Neurol. 2020;40(5):560-568. 

Blood pressure the pressure of blood against the walls of the main arteries. Pressure is highest during systole, when the ventricles are contracting (systolic pressure), and lowest during diastole, when the ventricles are relaxing and refilling (diastolic pressure).

Blood pressure is measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg) by means of a *sphygmomanometer at the brachial artery of the arm, where the pressure is most similar to that of blood leaving the heart. The normal range varies with age, but a young adult would be expected to have a systolic pressure of around 120 mmHg and a diastolic pressure of 80 mmHg at rest. These are recorded as 120/80 mmHg.

Individual variations are common. Muscular exertion and emotional factors, such as fear, stress, and excitement, all raise systolic blood pressure (see HYPERTENSION). Systolic blood pressure is normally at its lowest during sleep. Severe shock may lead to an abnormally low blood pressure and possible circulatory failure (see HYPOTENSION). Blood pressure is adjusted to its normal level by the "sympathetic nervous system and hormonal controls.

Unit 5,

Reference: Oxford Concise Colour Medical Dictionary (7th Edition, Kindle Edition) Oxford University Press 2020 ISBN-13: 978-0198836629, p1069