Unit 4 Reflection

Unit 4 Reflection

         In this unit, the themes include how the body protects itself either with the physical or molecular components of the body. First, we started with the integumentary system and its basic functions; to protect the body from mechanical, chemical, thermal, and bacterial damage, ultraviolet radiation, and desiccation(drying out). it aids the body in  heat loss and the excretion of urea and uric acid. Starting off with the first and most outer structure of the skin is the epidermis which  is made up of squamous epithelium and has 5 layers called strata. This area does not have a blood stream of its own, is made up of keratin cells, and contains melanin that gives us the color of our skin and when in sun, the melanin is stimulated to reproduce causing more pigment. The Dermis structure is made up of dense connective tissue and contains collagen along with elastin fibers that make the skin go back into place when pulled on (the elastic-ness is lost as people get older causing wrinkles or sagging). There are 2 layers of the dermis; papillary layer, which supports epidermis, nourishes pain receptors and makes fingerprints, and the Reticular layer, which contains blood vessels, sweat, and oil glands, and where follicles of hair and nails form. The last layer of the skin is the hypodermis that is the deepest layer and is made of subcutaneous tissue and absorbs shock and insulator cushion (not actually a part of the skin). Within the skin, there are glands called the appendages of skin. the Cutaneous gland contains the oil glands (sebum product), and the sweat gland. There are the ceruminous glands that are found in ears and secretes cerumen which is the wax found in ears. Hair and hair follicles are flexible epithelial tissue where the root and bulb have a sheath and connects to the muscle at a base called the pili. Burns to the skin can cause problems but there are three degrees; the first is not bad but can cause redness, the second can cause blistering and some damage, and third-degree burns are detrimental to one's heath and can kill a person.
         Next, we learned about the internal defense system; both specific and non-specific. For the non-Specific, the skin is the first layer or protection. other layers include mucus, epiglottis, urin flow, vomiting, tears, and saliva. They all have their different ways of protecting the body. The other aspect of the non-specific defense system is the inflammatory system; when there is harm done to the body, the permeability of blood vessels increase to get more blood flow so that the neuropils are able to help at a faster rate. anti-bodies and clot forming chemicals, cytokines are leaks from capillaries which causes the pain and swelling. Phagocytes will migrate and engulf the microbes that are infecting the body. The repair aspect includes the tissue debris and white blood cells. Fever inhibits microbial growth and speeds up body reactions for the infection to be cleared sooner. Next, includes the specific immunity where helper T cells that are matured in the thymus activate the cytotoxic T-cells that bind to the infected cells and destroy them while sending out cytokines to attract more T-cells. Then there are also B-Cells that secrete antibodies and plasma cells that also secrete antibodies to neutralize the antigen. Cancer is spread by cells that have no control over their limits or they go through mitosis incorrectly and have 2 nuclei. The cancer is sometimes unrecognizable and the immune system is unable to help cure the body. From the debate topics, mine was CRISPR and the one thing that was emphasized was the idea that the immune cells can be taken out and the genes to fight the cancerous cells.
         My strengths are in the immune system and the area that I need more time to actively study is the integumentary system. Usually, when I study I go through and fill out a study guide so that I can refresh my mind. Then afterward, I use a whiteboard to write and draw out all of the ideas and main concepts and everything that I now from it so that I can test what I know and don't know. From the debates, I learned that there is a long waiting list for the organ transplants and that there is unknowing of organ donors situations which make people hesitant to be a donor. Also from the debate, I want to learn more about the CRISPR and how it works rather than just the pros and cons about it.
         I know that I am a visual learner and I learn best by working out the graphs and diagrams that I am learning. Here are my results

• Visual 12
• Aural 8
• Read/Write 3
• Kinesthetic 12

         I am not surprised by these results and I already study using the tools that are accessible to me. The one tool that i could use more of is studying my labs and redoing the explanation of it and connecting the ideas to the rest of the themes. 

Work Cited: 

"School of Life Sciences | Ask A Biologist." B-Cells | ASU - Ask A Biologist. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <https://askabiologist.asu.edu/b-cell>.

"Integumentary (Skin) System." DesiMD. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2016. <http://www.desimd.com/know-your-body/integumentary-skin-system>.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-04-07/crispr-gene-editing-technology-explainer/7217782

Unit 3 Reflection

Unit 3 Reflection

       Cardiovascular disease has many different implications involved with it. To begin, a heart attack is when the blood flow to the myocardium is severely reduced or stopped, aka an artery is blocked which can be as a result of atherosclerosis. Other effects include fibrillation; the disruption of normal heart beat rhythm and hazardous contractions. The long term effect includes dead myocardium, weakened heart, and a noncontractile heart.  The symptoms include chest pain, arm or side pain, shortness of breathing, and sweaty and cold skin. Because heart attacks are caused by atherosclerosis, it would be good to go into atherosclerosis and its causes and effects. 

       Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammation that is caused by an excess of sugars and polyunsaturated fats, excess omega 6, or damaged blood vessels. Blood tests can tell whether or not atherosclerosis is a factor because a person's LDL will be high and a person's HDL will be lower than usual. Fibrinogen is a blood clotting protein associated with cardiovascular disease.

Here are the steps taken in using a stent to create more blood flow

       To diagnose a heart attack, medics use EKG's which record the electrical signals as they send through the heart, and or a CK-MB, a heart enzyme that is usually elevated during a heart attack. The diagnosis of cardiovascular disease includes an Angiography where a dye is injected and an X-ray imagery is used to see the movement of dye in heart.  Echocardiogram includes images of the heart produced through sound waves, for the visual of valves nd chambers. Electrocardiogram's record EKG electrical signals as they go through the heart. The stress test uses a nuclear scanner while the patient walks on a treadmill and the radioactive substance takes the EKG. 

      Medical treatments for heart disease include beta blocks, aspirin, anti-coagulates, nitroglycerine, calcium ion blockers, and anti-lipids. Surgical ones include a pacemaker, a stent insertion, and a coronary bypass. 

       A stroke is a heart attack for the brain because there is a lack of blood and oxygen to the brain. The types include an Ischemic stroke were the artery becomes blocked, or Hemorrhagic stroke where the artery bursts. 

       Signs of strokes include numbness of face, arm, or leg, confusion or trouble talking, trouble seeing in one or both eyes, dizzy and or trouble walking. 

       The diagnosis of a stroke can be taken with a CT or an MRI. The treatments include TIA and or a stent, anticoagulant or anti-platelet drug.
       In my health, I can eat more foods that have little to no polyunsaturated fats because the buildup causes atherosclerosis, and I do exercise regularly but I could change up my exercise to get a wide variety of them. As I get older I will start to take aspirin every day, in a small dosage, in order to keep my blood thin and prevent my blood from clotting. 

Sheep Heart Dissection

Sheep Heart Dissection:

In our dissection, we observed the anatomy and the physiology of the heart.
1. The purpose of the pericardium is to give protection of the heart by fighting off infection and it also provides lubrication of the heart. The pericardium is a sac filled with fluid.
2. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood to other parts of the body and tend to be larger than the veins; the pulmonary valve carries blood from the heart to the lungs. Veins are blood vessels that carry blood from the body to the heart.
3. The Auricles are unique to sheep hearts and they are there so that the heart has more volume to carry more blood.
4. Since the atria, externally, have a larger cavity than the ventricle, the atria on the inside have a larger air space or capacity which shows externally.
5. The coronary sinus is on the right side because it collects blood from coronary circulation and takes it to the right atrium. This structure is not very large and is hidden.
The inferior vena cava is at the apex of the heart and the inferior vena cava sends deoxygenated blood  from the body to the heart .
the right atrioventricular valve, also known as the tricuspid valve, sends blood from the right atrium to the right ventricle and the flap that extends from the valve along with the cordinae tendenae that is attached to the papillary muscle restricts backflow of blood into the atrium. 
6. This here is a drawing of the tricuspid valve as it had the cordae tendinae attached to it which is then attached to the papillary muscle. 

7.  The anchoring of the cordae tendinae to the papillary muscle is important to the heart function because it prevents the backflow of blood. 

8. By my lowest glove finger, there are two indents which show the entry of the bicuspid valve and the cordae tendinae is underneath. 

 

9. The function of the semilunar valve is to prevent backflow of blood back through the heart once it goes through the aorta and or the pulmonary trunk. 

10. A person with valve disease on the right side may experience swelling in the feet and ankles because there is probably a leakage in the inferior vena cava too which would send blood to the inferior of the body i.e. feet and ankles. 

On the left side there maybe a swelled lung causing chest pain. 

11. On the left side of the heart there is the tricuspid valve that is bringing blood from the left atrium to the left ventricle and attached is the cordae tendinae and if you try to pull on it there is a feel of restriction on the papillary muscle. The same goes for the right side, but instead there are only two flaps  on the valve that attatch to the cordae tendinae. The coronary arteries were seen along to exterior anterior of the heart. 

12. The left side of the heart sends blood to the rest of the body whereas the right side sends blood to the lungs. Because of that, the left sides myocardium is much thicker compared to the right side because the contraction of the myocardium needs to be more forceful since the blood has to be pushed throughout the body. 

13. Here is a drawing of the structures visible to the interior of the cross section except for the aorta. The aorta is seen from the superior or the heart but adding it into the drawing showed where the aortic trunk leads to.