Recently I watched a video on Edmodo about Pituitary Gigantism and Acromegaly. Pituitary Gigantism is caused when there is a tumor on your pituitary gland that triggers a surge that causes excess growth hormones. This is what leads to the huge size of Pituitary Giants.
The excess growth hormones produce large internal organs. Pituitary giants have organs that are two times the normal volume of regular organs. Their organs are the right size for their bodies though becuase their bodies are two times the normal volume also.
The only organ that is the same size as the average human is the brain. This is because the excess growth hormaone makes the walls of the skull grow thicker. This gives the brain extra protection but it makes the cavity stay the same size. This prevents the brain from growing any bigger then the size of an average human.
Usually when you see a Pituitary Giant you associate their size with a lot of strenth. They do have a lot of muscle mass and have big muscles but giants are not as strong as they look. The excess growth hormones also cause an excess of salt in the muscle tissue. The salt makes the muscles swell up with water making the muscles bigger but not stronger. Their muscle development is also affected by the way their bones grew. In their extreme growth sometimes the nerves on one side of a muscle grow faster then the other side. This cause the bone to curve and it causes the muscles to be like rubber bands that are to long and to slack. In the end the muscles are weaker. Pituitary giants have bodies that are "wired" differently then the average person and this can also affect their muscle power. The excess of growth hormone causes problems with the peripheral nervous system. This makes a change on the way the skeletal muscles move. Their peripheral nerves span out from the centeral nerves of the brain and the spinal column. These nerves cause electrical impulses at very very high speeds(more than 200 miles per hour!) that cause the muscles to contract. These peripheral nerves are made of long cells that are surrounded by a protective insulation, think of electrical wires. In pituitary gigantism the excess growth hormone causes the inflimation to swell up. This restricts the movement of the nerve impulses and restricts the movement of the skeletal muscles. Their muscles lose strength and don't work like they usually would. Regular activities, like walking, can be tiring because of the excess growth hormone that gives them their size also makes them more tired.
Sometimes these hormones never stop. Sometimes surgery, radiation, therapy,and drugs can be used to get the excess growth hormone under control and stop the growing in pituitary giants. If the growth hormone doesn't get under control their bones still grow. The bones don't grow taller though. The bones grow thicker. This is called Acromegalic Gigantism. Once the body can't get any taller the bones start growing larger and becomemore prominent. The obvious signs of this are usually in the skull. Acromegaly causes a more prominent forehead, makes the eyebrow bones bulge, and causes more prominent cheekbones. It also causes the lower jaw to grow and push the bottom teeth out past the upper teeth. It can also cause a broader nose, thicker lips, and a larger tounge with a lower voice. Many giants have a male sounding voice. They can become winded very easily.
After doing further research I learned that most cases of Pituitary Gigantism can be helped with pituitary surgery. This surgery is known to usually cure most cases. The next choice of treatment for most people is medication. The most effective medications known are somatostatin analogs. These reduce the release of growth hormone. There is also a medication known as Dopamine agonists. These have not been proven as effective the other though. Sometimes radiation has been used as cures.
To see the video that taught me A LOT follow this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebhf1qKVA9A
To read the article I read follow this link:
http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/gigantism/overview.html
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
EMG Lab
To start off our unit on the Muscular System we had an EMG lab. EMG is a graphical recording of electrical activity within the muscles. When the muscles are activated by nerves it results in changes in ion flow across cell membranes. This generates electrical activity. In this lab we were trying to create a graph that represented the electrical activity of a muscle and how much energy was used when a muscle would contract. So for our experiment we did a chewing activity to evaluate the muscles in the jaw when chewing different types of food.
Hypothesis:
If our group tests the muscles in the jaw while someone chews different foods then the harder foods will make the muscles work more and will generate more electrical activity on the graph because your muscles in the jaw work harder to chew harder foods then they do to chew softer foods.
Materials:
Eater (to eat the different foods)
Different types of food
EKG probe and electrode tabs
Experiment:
After setting up the computer we hooked our "Eater" Sierra up to the probes. We put a probe on her upper jaw and lower jaw. First we set up a baseline by having Sierra clench her jaw 30 seconds. Then we gave Sierra different foods that were varying hardness to chew slowly. Sierra would rest her jaw for 5 seconds then start chewing the food until swallowing. The clenching data was used to compare to the other foods that were chewed. The foods Sierra tried were barbeque chips, a carrot, chocolate chip cookies, a banana, celery, beef jerky, and pudding. We also had her drink Dr. Pepper.
DATA:
Data Analysis:
From the data we collected you can see that the different foods caused higher and lower electrical activity. The clenching of the jaw we used as average jaw activity at 0.5 mV. The food that caused the highest amount of electrical activity was the pudding at 2.2 mV. We think this is because when people chew they normally don't open their mouth very much but when people eat pudding they tend to open their mouth wider. The food that caused the lowest amount of electrical activity was the chocolate chip cookie at 0.3 mV. Along with the cookie the Dr. Pepper also created electrical activity at 0.3 mV. The other foods rated everywhere between these two. The celery came the closest to the baseline at 0.6 mV.
Conclusion:
After our experiment we concluded that our hypothesis was not always true. Foods that are harder tended to make our jaw work harder but it is not always the case. Sometimes the way your mouth chews depends on the texture of the food. Something sticky and creamy like pudding can make your mouth open wider which causes more electrical activity. Our graph and analysis prove this.
Reflection:
I really enjoyed this lab. It was a really good way to start off the muscular system! I liked this lab because it made me think about muscles that I never really think about. I never thought about the jaw working in that way. Our group worked very well together to finish our project. I really enjoyed this lab because of how much fun we had doing it. It was also a good idea to call the lab a "Potluck!" I think our experiment was a great success and a lot of fun!
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Muscle Anatomy
To learn about the Musclular System our class split into different groups and picked one of three things to research: Muscle Anatomy, Sliding Filament Theory(FUN FACT: This is how we think muscles contract!), and Neuromuscular Junction.
Well Ali, Madison, and I all got together to create a poster about the structure of a muscle (muscle anatomy). We all worked together to research the muse anatomy(on our IPads by the way!) Something I learned while making this poster....I have a little talent in drawing! Well I hope you enjoy our poster!
Well Ali, Madison, and I all got together to create a poster about the structure of a muscle (muscle anatomy). We all worked together to research the muse anatomy(on our IPads by the way!) Something I learned while making this poster....I have a little talent in drawing! Well I hope you enjoy our poster!
Monday, December 5, 2011
Skeletal System
So I attempted another prezi! I tried to make this one a little more interesting and use different things like colors and turning my words. Hope you enjoy!
Here's the link to my prezi:
I wanted to take this time to do a little self anaylsis. I have been really proud of myself this quarter. For the most part I have stayed caught up with my blogs. I didn't let logs pile up and have to rush getting them done at the end of the semester. The most I got behind was getting this blog done. I have also been studying for my quizzes this year, unlike last year in Biology. I have not gotten under a 95% on any of my quizzes this year. I am getting better at using Anatomy class time for Anatomy work. I can still be better at using my time better but I am doing better then I was last semester.( this is a tongue twister I know!) My goal is to get an A for this semester. I think this is possible because I am understanding things better. The notes on the Ipad have really helped me! I feel like it gives me a direction on what information I need to provide. Last year I was always nervous that I wasn't writing the right information that Mr. Ludwig wanted. LJHS something to think about, I think you should supply Ipad's for all of Mr. Ludwig's classes. Just something for our school to think about....
Here's the link to my prezi:
I wanted to take this time to do a little self anaylsis. I have been really proud of myself this quarter. For the most part I have stayed caught up with my blogs. I didn't let logs pile up and have to rush getting them done at the end of the semester. The most I got behind was getting this blog done. I have also been studying for my quizzes this year, unlike last year in Biology. I have not gotten under a 95% on any of my quizzes this year. I am getting better at using Anatomy class time for Anatomy work. I can still be better at using my time better but I am doing better then I was last semester.( this is a tongue twister I know!) My goal is to get an A for this semester. I think this is possible because I am understanding things better. The notes on the Ipad have really helped me! I feel like it gives me a direction on what information I need to provide. Last year I was always nervous that I wasn't writing the right information that Mr. Ludwig wanted. LJHS something to think about, I think you should supply Ipad's for all of Mr. Ludwig's classes. Just something for our school to think about....
Friday, November 4, 2011
Integumentary System
So we continue or way through the study of our body. Next we come to the Integumentary system!
So when you hear someone talking about the integumentary system they are talking about your skin. Our skin is made up of three major regions:
-Epidermis: This is the outermost superficial region.
-Dermis: This is the middle region.
-Hypodermis: This is the deepest region. It is also referred to as the superficial fascia.
The Epidermis is made of keratinized stratified squamos epithelium. It consists of four distinct cell types and around four or five layers.
The cell types in the Epidermis include:
-Keratinocytes: These produce the fibrous protein keratin
-Melanocytes: These produce brown piment melanin
-Langerhans' cells: These are epidermal macrophages that help activate the immune system.
-Merkel Cells: These function as tough receptors in association with sensory nerve endings.
The outer protion of the skin is exposed to the external environment. It functions in protection.
The epidermis is split into different layers!
The first layer is the Stratum Basale or the Basal Layer. This is the deepest layer and is firmly attached to the dermis. The basal layer consists of a single row of the youngest keratinocytes. These cells undergo rapid division. (FUN FACT: It's alternate name is Stratum Germinativum!)
The next layer of the Epidermis is the Stratum Spinosum. It is also called the Prickly layer. The cells contain a weblike system of intermediate filaments attached to demosomes. Melanin granules and Langerhans' cells are very abundant in this layer.
Next comes the Stratum Granulosum, also known as the granular layer. This layer has around three to five cell layers, where drastic changes in keratinocyte appearance occurs. It is a thin layer where keratohyaline and lamellated granules accumulate.
The next layer is know as the Stratum Lucidum, or also called the clear layer. This layer is a thin, transparent band superficial to the stratum granulosum. It has a few rows of flat, dead keratinocytes. (FUN FACT: This layer is only present in thick skin!)
The top, or outermost layer of keratinized cells, layer of the epidermis is the Stratum Corneum, or the Horny layer. This layer accounts for three quarters of the epidermal thickness. This layer has three different functions; Waterproofing, protection from abrasion and penetration, and rendering the body relatively insensitive to biological, chemical, and physical assaults.
The next layer of skin is the Dermis.
This is the second major skin region. it contains strong, flexible connective tissue. The cell types in the dermis can include fibroblasts, macrophages, and occasionally mast cells and white blood cells.
The Dermis is split into two layers!
The Papillary layer is areolar connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers. This layer's superior surface has peglike projections that are called dermal papillae. The dermal papillae are made of capillary loops, Meissner's corpuscles, and free nerve endings.
The next layer in the dermis is the Reticular layer. This layer makes up around 80% of the thickness of the skin. The collagen fibers found in this layer add strength and resiliency to the skin, The elastin fibers stretch-recoil properties.
The next major layer of the skin is the Hypodermis. This is the subcutaneous layer deep to the skin. It is made of adipose and areolar connective tissue.
Everyone has different skin colors. We have three pigments that contribute to what color skin we have.
-Melanin: This is a yellow to reddish-brown to black pigment. It is responsible for dark skin colors. Freckles and pigmented moles result from local accumulations of melanin.
-Carotene: This is a yellow to orange pigment. It is most obvious in the palms and soles of the feet.
-Hemoglobin: This is a reddish pigment responsible for the pinkish hue in the skin.
Now everybody sweats but did you know we have different types of sweat glands that prevent the body from overheating.
-Eccrine Sweat Glands are found in the palms, soles of the feet, and the forehead.
-Apocrine Sweat Glands are found in axillary and anogenital areas.
-Ceruminous Glands are modified apocrine glands in the external ear canal that secrete cerumen.
-Mammary Glands are specialized sweat glands that secrete milk.
Our body also has another kind of gland: Sebaceous Glands. These are simple alveolar glands that are found all over the body. They secrete an oily secretion called sebum. They also soften the skin when its stimulated by hormones. (FUN FACT: You can blame these little guys for acne!)
FUN FACT: Have you ever wondered about your nails!? Well nails are a scalelike modification of the epidermis on the distal, dorsal surface of the fingers and toes!
Most girls love to have great hair! Some guys too! But do you really know everything there is to know about hair?!
Your hair is filamentous strands of dead keratinized cells that are produced by hair follicles. It has hard keratin! (FUN FACT: Hard keratin is tougher and more durable than soft keratin of the skin!) Your hair is made up of the shaft projecting from the skin and the root embedded in the skin. It also has a core called the medulla, a cortex, and an outermost cuticle. Your hair is pigmented by melanocytes at the base of the hair. (in other words that how you get your hair color!) You hair also has different functions!
-It helps to maintain warmth
-It alerts your body when insects are on your skin
-It guards the scalp against physical trauma, heat loss, and sunlight.
You can find hair anywhere on your body except for palms, soles, lips, nipples, and portions of the external genitalia.
Your hair grows from hair follicles on your scalp. A hair follicle is a root sheath extending from the epidermal surface into the dermis. The deep end is expanded forming a hair bulb. Wrapped around each hair bulb is a knot of sensory nerve endings, also known as a root hair plexus. If you bend a hair it can stimulate these endings. Our hairs act as sensitive touch receptors.
Our Integumentary System has different functions as a whole. Our skin is there for protection. It is a chemical, physical, and mechanical barrier. It also regulates our body temperatures. It can do this by Dilation, cooling, and constriction, warming, of the dermal vessels. Our exoreceptors can also sense touch and pain, which is known as the cutaneous sensation. Our skin also has metabolic functions and synthesis of vitamin D in dermal blood vessels. Our skin blood vessels store up to 5% of the body's blood volume. Our skin also goes through excretion where limited amount of nitrogenous wastes are eliminated from the body through sweating.
Our skin can get three major types of skin cancer; Basal cell carcinoma, squamos cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma, or the cancer of melanocytes is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. This is because Melanoma is highly metastic and is resistant to chemotherapy. You can tell if someone has melanoma by using the ABCD rule.
-A: Asymmetry; The two sides of the pigmented area do not match
-B: Border; It is irregular and exhibits indentations.
-C: Color; The pigmented area is black, brown, tan, and can sometimes be even red or blue.
-D: Diameter; The diameter is larger than 6mm, or the size of a pencil eraser.
This cancer is treated by wide surgical excision accompanied by immunotherapy. The chance of surviving is very poor if the lesion is over 4 mm thick.
Now its time to talk about burns.
In first-degree burns only the epidermis is damaged. The symptoms include localized redness, swelling, and pain.
In second-degree burns the epidermis and upper regions the dermis are damaged. The symptoms mimic first degree burns but blisters also appear.
In third-degree burns the entire thickness of the skin is damaged. The burned are appears gray-white, cherry red, or black. Your nerve endings are destroyed so there is no initial edema or pain.
The Rule of nines estimates the severity of burns. Your burns are considered critical if:
-Over 25% of the body has second-degree burns
-Over 10% of the body has third-degree burns.
-There are third-degree burns on face, hands, or feet.
Now I know what you're thinking...OH MY GOSH THAT WAS LONG! I bet you never thought there was that much involved in your skin. Well trust me there's even more information to know that I don't even know! Well I hope you now know more about our skin then you did before.
Be looking for my next very very very long post about our Skeletal System!!
So when you hear someone talking about the integumentary system they are talking about your skin. Our skin is made up of three major regions:
-Epidermis: This is the outermost superficial region.
-Dermis: This is the middle region.
-Hypodermis: This is the deepest region. It is also referred to as the superficial fascia.
The Epidermis is made of keratinized stratified squamos epithelium. It consists of four distinct cell types and around four or five layers.
The cell types in the Epidermis include:
-Keratinocytes: These produce the fibrous protein keratin
-Melanocytes: These produce brown piment melanin
-Langerhans' cells: These are epidermal macrophages that help activate the immune system.
-Merkel Cells: These function as tough receptors in association with sensory nerve endings.
The outer protion of the skin is exposed to the external environment. It functions in protection.
The epidermis is split into different layers!
The first layer is the Stratum Basale or the Basal Layer. This is the deepest layer and is firmly attached to the dermis. The basal layer consists of a single row of the youngest keratinocytes. These cells undergo rapid division. (FUN FACT: It's alternate name is Stratum Germinativum!)
The next layer of the Epidermis is the Stratum Spinosum. It is also called the Prickly layer. The cells contain a weblike system of intermediate filaments attached to demosomes. Melanin granules and Langerhans' cells are very abundant in this layer.
Next comes the Stratum Granulosum, also known as the granular layer. This layer has around three to five cell layers, where drastic changes in keratinocyte appearance occurs. It is a thin layer where keratohyaline and lamellated granules accumulate.
The next layer is know as the Stratum Lucidum, or also called the clear layer. This layer is a thin, transparent band superficial to the stratum granulosum. It has a few rows of flat, dead keratinocytes. (FUN FACT: This layer is only present in thick skin!)
The top, or outermost layer of keratinized cells, layer of the epidermis is the Stratum Corneum, or the Horny layer. This layer accounts for three quarters of the epidermal thickness. This layer has three different functions; Waterproofing, protection from abrasion and penetration, and rendering the body relatively insensitive to biological, chemical, and physical assaults.
The next layer of skin is the Dermis.
This is the second major skin region. it contains strong, flexible connective tissue. The cell types in the dermis can include fibroblasts, macrophages, and occasionally mast cells and white blood cells.
The Dermis is split into two layers!
The Papillary layer is areolar connective tissue with collagen and elastic fibers. This layer's superior surface has peglike projections that are called dermal papillae. The dermal papillae are made of capillary loops, Meissner's corpuscles, and free nerve endings.
The next layer in the dermis is the Reticular layer. This layer makes up around 80% of the thickness of the skin. The collagen fibers found in this layer add strength and resiliency to the skin, The elastin fibers stretch-recoil properties.
The next major layer of the skin is the Hypodermis. This is the subcutaneous layer deep to the skin. It is made of adipose and areolar connective tissue.
Everyone has different skin colors. We have three pigments that contribute to what color skin we have.
-Melanin: This is a yellow to reddish-brown to black pigment. It is responsible for dark skin colors. Freckles and pigmented moles result from local accumulations of melanin.
-Carotene: This is a yellow to orange pigment. It is most obvious in the palms and soles of the feet.
-Hemoglobin: This is a reddish pigment responsible for the pinkish hue in the skin.
Now everybody sweats but did you know we have different types of sweat glands that prevent the body from overheating.
-Eccrine Sweat Glands are found in the palms, soles of the feet, and the forehead.
-Apocrine Sweat Glands are found in axillary and anogenital areas.
-Ceruminous Glands are modified apocrine glands in the external ear canal that secrete cerumen.
-Mammary Glands are specialized sweat glands that secrete milk.
Our body also has another kind of gland: Sebaceous Glands. These are simple alveolar glands that are found all over the body. They secrete an oily secretion called sebum. They also soften the skin when its stimulated by hormones. (FUN FACT: You can blame these little guys for acne!)
FUN FACT: Have you ever wondered about your nails!? Well nails are a scalelike modification of the epidermis on the distal, dorsal surface of the fingers and toes!
Most girls love to have great hair! Some guys too! But do you really know everything there is to know about hair?!
Your hair is filamentous strands of dead keratinized cells that are produced by hair follicles. It has hard keratin! (FUN FACT: Hard keratin is tougher and more durable than soft keratin of the skin!) Your hair is made up of the shaft projecting from the skin and the root embedded in the skin. It also has a core called the medulla, a cortex, and an outermost cuticle. Your hair is pigmented by melanocytes at the base of the hair. (in other words that how you get your hair color!) You hair also has different functions!
-It helps to maintain warmth
-It alerts your body when insects are on your skin
-It guards the scalp against physical trauma, heat loss, and sunlight.
You can find hair anywhere on your body except for palms, soles, lips, nipples, and portions of the external genitalia.
Your hair grows from hair follicles on your scalp. A hair follicle is a root sheath extending from the epidermal surface into the dermis. The deep end is expanded forming a hair bulb. Wrapped around each hair bulb is a knot of sensory nerve endings, also known as a root hair plexus. If you bend a hair it can stimulate these endings. Our hairs act as sensitive touch receptors.
Our Integumentary System has different functions as a whole. Our skin is there for protection. It is a chemical, physical, and mechanical barrier. It also regulates our body temperatures. It can do this by Dilation, cooling, and constriction, warming, of the dermal vessels. Our exoreceptors can also sense touch and pain, which is known as the cutaneous sensation. Our skin also has metabolic functions and synthesis of vitamin D in dermal blood vessels. Our skin blood vessels store up to 5% of the body's blood volume. Our skin also goes through excretion where limited amount of nitrogenous wastes are eliminated from the body through sweating.
Our skin can get three major types of skin cancer; Basal cell carcinoma, squamos cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma, or the cancer of melanocytes is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. This is because Melanoma is highly metastic and is resistant to chemotherapy. You can tell if someone has melanoma by using the ABCD rule.
-A: Asymmetry; The two sides of the pigmented area do not match
-B: Border; It is irregular and exhibits indentations.
-C: Color; The pigmented area is black, brown, tan, and can sometimes be even red or blue.
-D: Diameter; The diameter is larger than 6mm, or the size of a pencil eraser.
This cancer is treated by wide surgical excision accompanied by immunotherapy. The chance of surviving is very poor if the lesion is over 4 mm thick.
Now its time to talk about burns.
In first-degree burns only the epidermis is damaged. The symptoms include localized redness, swelling, and pain.
In second-degree burns the epidermis and upper regions the dermis are damaged. The symptoms mimic first degree burns but blisters also appear.
In third-degree burns the entire thickness of the skin is damaged. The burned are appears gray-white, cherry red, or black. Your nerve endings are destroyed so there is no initial edema or pain.
The Rule of nines estimates the severity of burns. Your burns are considered critical if:
-Over 25% of the body has second-degree burns
-Over 10% of the body has third-degree burns.
-There are third-degree burns on face, hands, or feet.
Now I know what you're thinking...OH MY GOSH THAT WAS LONG! I bet you never thought there was that much involved in your skin. Well trust me there's even more information to know that I don't even know! Well I hope you now know more about our skin then you did before.
Be looking for my next very very very long post about our Skeletal System!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Histology!
Well for the first time I have done a prezi! I think for my first prezi I did a pretty good job!
I hope you enjoy all this information about Histology!
I hope you enjoy all this information about Histology!
Histology! on Prezi
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Tissue Engineering- Standard 2!
To read the article follow this link:
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1107/features/body.htm
Recently I read an article about the research into tissue engineering. The article talked about the team Joseph Vacanti and Bob Langer and their recent advances into the replacement of tissues and organs. They are looking forward to the day when replacement tissues will be available to people who need them. today there is a tissue engineered skins that is used on burn victims and people with severe skin sores. The research teams continue to make advancements in this goal.
It is very important to get everything exactly right when scientists are trying to cultivate tissues. You have to closely mimick the environment in which cells naturally grow. This is not easy and this was the first step for scientists as they started on engineering tissues.
Many contributions have been made to this field. Langer contributed with his work in biodegradable materials that can serve as scaffolding on cells that can be seeded. This scaffolding gives the cell better access to nutrients and waste removal. Langer and Vacanti hope that in the future bits of scaffolding that are seeded with young cells can be implanted into ailing organs. Then the body's own biochemistry would tell the young cells to grown into a patch of healthy tissues.
There are other contributions being made in this field. Dr. Gail Naughton patened a machine that is called a bioreacter. The bioreacter stimulates conditions that happen in a healthy body. It also put physical stresses on cells as they grow. This makes a stronger, more natural tissue. This container has been evolving since 1989. This is when it became more well known that cells needed a more steril environment to grow then a petri dish. In the bioreacter cells get in a constant, unidirectional flow of fluid that brings nutrients in and wastes out. This is exactly what happens in the body. Most recently, Naughton has cultivated cartilage, blood vessels, and heart valves. Naught on says that valves grown in the bioreacter have double the mechanical strength then those grown in a petri dish. The valves also secrete more important structural proteins like collagen and elastin.
NASA researchers developed their own version of the bioreacter that mimics the weightlessness you get in space in earth bound labs. They were first trying to find out how weightlessness affects astronauts bodies. Their bioreacter has a rotating cylinder that keeps the growing cells in perpetual free fall. Dr. Naught on says that liver tissues actually form much more naturally in this state of microgravity.
Developing entire organs is still far off in the future, though this is the main goal in the tissue engineering world right now. Around 74,000 Americans were waiting for an organ transplant in December of 2010. This is one thing these scientists are trying to fix. Naughton and her team have been working on a patch. This patch will essentially stimulate vessel growth in and around a diseased heart. Naughton believes that the patch could get rid of the need to grow hearts in labs.
These scientists say that tissue engineering "may be one of the most straightforward and most natural technologies around today." The scientists know that this may sound "Frankenstienish" but they believe it could help. These scientists don't use embryonic stem cells, they are not needed. Most just use cells from cadavers. They could use them but they don't want to get into "ethically clouded issues."
I have mixed feelings about tissue engineering. There are advantages that I feel could really help people if they figure out how to engineer entire organs. But I also feel it is kind of like playing God. It seems to me like it is another name for cloning. I can see both sides of this process.
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1107/features/body.htm
Recently I read an article about the research into tissue engineering. The article talked about the team Joseph Vacanti and Bob Langer and their recent advances into the replacement of tissues and organs. They are looking forward to the day when replacement tissues will be available to people who need them. today there is a tissue engineered skins that is used on burn victims and people with severe skin sores. The research teams continue to make advancements in this goal.
It is very important to get everything exactly right when scientists are trying to cultivate tissues. You have to closely mimick the environment in which cells naturally grow. This is not easy and this was the first step for scientists as they started on engineering tissues.
Many contributions have been made to this field. Langer contributed with his work in biodegradable materials that can serve as scaffolding on cells that can be seeded. This scaffolding gives the cell better access to nutrients and waste removal. Langer and Vacanti hope that in the future bits of scaffolding that are seeded with young cells can be implanted into ailing organs. Then the body's own biochemistry would tell the young cells to grown into a patch of healthy tissues.
There are other contributions being made in this field. Dr. Gail Naughton patened a machine that is called a bioreacter. The bioreacter stimulates conditions that happen in a healthy body. It also put physical stresses on cells as they grow. This makes a stronger, more natural tissue. This container has been evolving since 1989. This is when it became more well known that cells needed a more steril environment to grow then a petri dish. In the bioreacter cells get in a constant, unidirectional flow of fluid that brings nutrients in and wastes out. This is exactly what happens in the body. Most recently, Naughton has cultivated cartilage, blood vessels, and heart valves. Naught on says that valves grown in the bioreacter have double the mechanical strength then those grown in a petri dish. The valves also secrete more important structural proteins like collagen and elastin.
NASA researchers developed their own version of the bioreacter that mimics the weightlessness you get in space in earth bound labs. They were first trying to find out how weightlessness affects astronauts bodies. Their bioreacter has a rotating cylinder that keeps the growing cells in perpetual free fall. Dr. Naught on says that liver tissues actually form much more naturally in this state of microgravity.
Developing entire organs is still far off in the future, though this is the main goal in the tissue engineering world right now. Around 74,000 Americans were waiting for an organ transplant in December of 2010. This is one thing these scientists are trying to fix. Naughton and her team have been working on a patch. This patch will essentially stimulate vessel growth in and around a diseased heart. Naughton believes that the patch could get rid of the need to grow hearts in labs.
These scientists say that tissue engineering "may be one of the most straightforward and most natural technologies around today." The scientists know that this may sound "Frankenstienish" but they believe it could help. These scientists don't use embryonic stem cells, they are not needed. Most just use cells from cadavers. They could use them but they don't want to get into "ethically clouded issues."
I have mixed feelings about tissue engineering. There are advantages that I feel could really help people if they figure out how to engineer entire organs. But I also feel it is kind of like playing God. It seems to me like it is another name for cloning. I can see both sides of this process.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Organization of the Body
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BODY
Now sometimes learning what is in the body can be a little confusing but I laid out a way that I'm hoping can make it less confusing to learn about the organization of the body. Here we go!
The anatomical position of the body is:
-body erect
-feet slightly apart
-palms facing forward
-thumbs point away from body
There are different directional terms that describe the body and where things are:
-Superior~ This means toward the head end or upper part of the body. In other words above something.
EXAMPLE: The heart is superior to the stomach.
-Inferior~This means toward the lower part of the body or away from the head end. In other words below something.
EXAMPLE: The stomach is inferior to the heart.
-Anterior~This is toward the front of the body or in front of something. Another name for this is ventral.
EXAMPLE: The chest is anterior to the back.
-Posterior~ This is toward the back of the body or behind something. Another name for this is dorsal.
EXAMPLE: The spine is anterior to the rib cage.
-Medial~ This means toward or at the midline of the body or in the inner side of.
EXAMPLE: The nose is medial to the eyes.
-Lateral~ This means away from the midline of the body or on the outer side of.
EXAMPLE: The ears are lateral to the nose.
-Intermediate~This means between a more medial and a more lateral structure.
EXAMPLE: The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and the shoulder.
-Proximal: This means closer to the origion of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunck.
EXAMPLE: The knee is proximal to the ankle.
-Distal~This means farther from the origion of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.
EXAMPLE: The ankle is distal to the knee.
-Superficial~ This is toward or at the body surface. Or in other words external.
EXAMPLE: The skin is superficial to the bones.
-Deep~ This is away from the body surface or more internal.
EXAMPLE: The stomach is deep to the skin.
There are different terms that describe the regions of the body.
~ The axial describes the head, neck, and trunck.
~ Appendicular describes the appendages or limbs.
The body can be divided into different parts by planes:
~The Sagittal plane divides the body into right and left parts.
~The Midsagittal or Medial plane is a sagittal plane that lies on the midline.
~The Frontal or Coronal; plane divide the body into anterior and posterior parts.
~The Transverse or Horizontal plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts.
~The Oblique section are cuts made diagonally.
Midsagital Frontal Transverse
All humans are slightly different in external and internal anatomy. Most anatomical structures (over 90%) match the usual textbook descriptions but there are some differences. Nerves and blood vessels may be out of place somewhat. There can sometimes be small muscles missing. There are hardly ever extreme anatomical variations seen.
The body is split into different cavities. The Dorsal Cavity protects the nervous system. It is also divided into two subdivisions; the cranial cavity and the vertebral cavity. The cranial cavity encases the brain within the skull. The vertebral cavity is in the vertebral column and encases the spinal cord. There is also the Ventral Cavity. It contains the internal organs. This cavity is also divided into two subdivisions; the thoracic and abdominopelvic. The thoracic cavity is also subdivided into different cavities; the pleural cavities, the mediastinum, and the pericardial cavity. The two pleural cavities each contain a lung. The Mediastinum holds the pericardial cavity and it also surrounds the remaining thoracic organs. The pericardial cavity encloses the heart. The diaphragm separates the superior thoracic cavity from the abdominpelvic cavity. The abdominpelvic cavity is made up of two subdivisions; the abdominal cavity and the pelvic cavity. The abdominal cavity contains the stomach, intestines, spleen,liver, and other organs. The pelvic cavity is located within the pelvis and is made up of the bladder, all the reproductive organs, and the rectum.
The Oral and Digestive cavities contain the mouth and cavities of the digestive organs. The Nasal Cavity is located within and posterior to the nose. The eyes are housed in the Orbital Cavity. There is also a cavity known as The Middle Ear! It contains the bones that transmit sound vibrations. The Synovial contains the joint cavities.
There are different body cavity membranes. The parietal serosa lines the internal body walls. The visceral serosa covers all the internal organs. The serous fluid separates the serosae.
Now if you read my blog last year you might remember that I like to include fun facts in my blogs. Well its time for the first fun fact of the year! Now I know that everybody wants to have great abb muscles. FUN FACT!! Even your abbs are separated into different regions and quadrants!
Abdominopelvic Regions!
Abdominopelvic Quadrants!
Well I know there is alot in the Organization of the body, but I'm hoping you have learned a lot! FUN FACT: Guess what?! I aced my quiz on this! I'm talking 100%! Sorry I was really excited hahahahaha.
Well now its time for a little self evaluation (I need this standard filled!)
At the end of last year I was like "Okay next year I'm not going to get behind like I did last year! No more getting distracted!" Well I even went int o this year thinking that same thing. Well I started off ok but now Im getting behind again uhhh! I have been having a hard time writing my blogs because I havent been paying attention when Mr. Ludwig teaches in class. I have been woring on stuff for other classes. (the homework load grew about 50% this year!. Since I haven't been doing anatomy in my anatomy class I am getting behind. That's something I'm going to try to change next quarter. I need to use my anatomy class to learn anatomy.
Now sometimes learning what is in the body can be a little confusing but I laid out a way that I'm hoping can make it less confusing to learn about the organization of the body. Here we go!
The anatomical position of the body is:
-body erect
-feet slightly apart
-palms facing forward
-thumbs point away from body
There are different directional terms that describe the body and where things are:
-Superior~ This means toward the head end or upper part of the body. In other words above something.
EXAMPLE: The heart is superior to the stomach.
-Inferior~This means toward the lower part of the body or away from the head end. In other words below something.
EXAMPLE: The stomach is inferior to the heart.
-Anterior~This is toward the front of the body or in front of something. Another name for this is ventral.
EXAMPLE: The chest is anterior to the back.
-Posterior~ This is toward the back of the body or behind something. Another name for this is dorsal.EXAMPLE: The spine is anterior to the rib cage.
-Medial~ This means toward or at the midline of the body or in the inner side of.
EXAMPLE: The nose is medial to the eyes.
-Lateral~ This means away from the midline of the body or on the outer side of.
EXAMPLE: The ears are lateral to the nose.
-Intermediate~This means between a more medial and a more lateral structure.
EXAMPLE: The collarbone is intermediate between the breastbone and the shoulder.
-Proximal: This means closer to the origion of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunck.
EXAMPLE: The knee is proximal to the ankle.
-Distal~This means farther from the origion of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.
EXAMPLE: The ankle is distal to the knee.
-Superficial~ This is toward or at the body surface. Or in other words external.
EXAMPLE: The skin is superficial to the bones.
-Deep~ This is away from the body surface or more internal.
EXAMPLE: The stomach is deep to the skin.
There are different terms that describe the regions of the body.
~ The axial describes the head, neck, and trunck.
~ Appendicular describes the appendages or limbs.
The body can be divided into different parts by planes:
~The Sagittal plane divides the body into right and left parts.
~The Midsagittal or Medial plane is a sagittal plane that lies on the midline.
~The Frontal or Coronal; plane divide the body into anterior and posterior parts.
~The Transverse or Horizontal plane divides the body into superior and inferior parts.
~The Oblique section are cuts made diagonally.
Midsagital Frontal Transverse
All humans are slightly different in external and internal anatomy. Most anatomical structures (over 90%) match the usual textbook descriptions but there are some differences. Nerves and blood vessels may be out of place somewhat. There can sometimes be small muscles missing. There are hardly ever extreme anatomical variations seen.
The Oral and Digestive cavities contain the mouth and cavities of the digestive organs. The Nasal Cavity is located within and posterior to the nose. The eyes are housed in the Orbital Cavity. There is also a cavity known as The Middle Ear! It contains the bones that transmit sound vibrations. The Synovial contains the joint cavities.
There are different body cavity membranes. The parietal serosa lines the internal body walls. The visceral serosa covers all the internal organs. The serous fluid separates the serosae.
Now if you read my blog last year you might remember that I like to include fun facts in my blogs. Well its time for the first fun fact of the year! Now I know that everybody wants to have great abb muscles. FUN FACT!! Even your abbs are separated into different regions and quadrants!
Abdominopelvic Regions!
Well I know there is alot in the Organization of the body, but I'm hoping you have learned a lot! FUN FACT: Guess what?! I aced my quiz on this! I'm talking 100%! Sorry I was really excited hahahahaha.
Well now its time for a little self evaluation (I need this standard filled!)
At the end of last year I was like "Okay next year I'm not going to get behind like I did last year! No more getting distracted!" Well I even went int o this year thinking that same thing. Well I started off ok but now Im getting behind again uhhh! I have been having a hard time writing my blogs because I havent been paying attention when Mr. Ludwig teaches in class. I have been woring on stuff for other classes. (the homework load grew about 50% this year!. Since I haven't been doing anatomy in my anatomy class I am getting behind. That's something I'm going to try to change next quarter. I need to use my anatomy class to learn anatomy.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Friday, September 16, 2011
Welcome back with.....Homeostasis!
Well it's back to school for another year! And it's time for more Blog posts! This year I am in Anatomy and the first thing were talking about Homeostasis!
Well today in class we watched a video about a girl named Martina. We joined Martina as she ran a 42 kilometer marathon. As we watched Martina run we watched how the different parts in her body worked to stay in balance or in homeostasis.
Martina's body started working even before she started running the race. Her adrenal glands starting releasing adrenaline which made her heart start pumping.
A little after the race started you could hear Martina breathing harder. Inside her body her muscles were starting to work harder. Her muscles threw everything off balance. Her muscles started using more oxygen and blood so that had to make the heart and lungs work harder to supply oxygen to the blood stream.
As Martina worked harder she started to lose the glucose in her body. She was running out of energy. The liver had to start working harder to restore glucose and her body began to break down fat. During her race Martina was losing a lot or water threw sweating. She was drinking a lot of water but her kidneys were also working as regulators of water loss.
Throughout the race we saw how the different muscles in Martina's body worked together to keep her body in balance. That's what homeostasis is: keeping the body in perfect balance.
There are different variables that produce changes in the body.(Martina running out of energy). There are three interdependent components of control mechanisms in homeostasis.
-the first is a Receptor. The receptor monitors the environments and responds to changes (stimuli).
-the second is a Control Center. The control center determines the set point at which the variable is maintained.
-The Effector is the third mechanism. This provides the means to respond to the Stimuli.
So you are probably wondering how this all works together. Well when the Stimulus notices when a variable produces a change the Receptor detects the change. Then the information is sent along a pathway that takes it to the control center. Then the information is set on a different pathway that leads to the Effector. The response of the effector gives information to influence the magnitude of the Stimulus and it returns the variable into it's perfect state of Homeostasis.
Sometimes in Homeostasis you have something called negative feedback. In these systems the output shuts off the original stimulus. An example of this is the regulation of blood glucose levels. There is also something called positive feedback. In this system the output enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus. An example of this is the regulation of blood clotting.
Well I hope you enjoyed my first blog for the year! Be on the lookout for more!
Well today in class we watched a video about a girl named Martina. We joined Martina as she ran a 42 kilometer marathon. As we watched Martina run we watched how the different parts in her body worked to stay in balance or in homeostasis.
Martina's body started working even before she started running the race. Her adrenal glands starting releasing adrenaline which made her heart start pumping.
A little after the race started you could hear Martina breathing harder. Inside her body her muscles were starting to work harder. Her muscles threw everything off balance. Her muscles started using more oxygen and blood so that had to make the heart and lungs work harder to supply oxygen to the blood stream.
As Martina worked harder she started to lose the glucose in her body. She was running out of energy. The liver had to start working harder to restore glucose and her body began to break down fat. During her race Martina was losing a lot or water threw sweating. She was drinking a lot of water but her kidneys were also working as regulators of water loss.
Throughout the race we saw how the different muscles in Martina's body worked together to keep her body in balance. That's what homeostasis is: keeping the body in perfect balance.
There are different variables that produce changes in the body.(Martina running out of energy). There are three interdependent components of control mechanisms in homeostasis.
-the first is a Receptor. The receptor monitors the environments and responds to changes (stimuli).
-the second is a Control Center. The control center determines the set point at which the variable is maintained.
-The Effector is the third mechanism. This provides the means to respond to the Stimuli.
So you are probably wondering how this all works together. Well when the Stimulus notices when a variable produces a change the Receptor detects the change. Then the information is sent along a pathway that takes it to the control center. Then the information is set on a different pathway that leads to the Effector. The response of the effector gives information to influence the magnitude of the Stimulus and it returns the variable into it's perfect state of Homeostasis.
Sometimes in Homeostasis you have something called negative feedback. In these systems the output shuts off the original stimulus. An example of this is the regulation of blood glucose levels. There is also something called positive feedback. In this system the output enhances or exaggerates the original stimulus. An example of this is the regulation of blood clotting.
Well I hope you enjoyed my first blog for the year! Be on the lookout for more!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)