Jasmine's Anatomy and Physiology Blog

       I really enjoyed the Brain Health Fair field trip. I thought the whole field trip was very interesting and I immensely enjoyed the Be a neurologist for a day station. I thought it was really cool to see a glimpse of what a neurologist does in a day. I especially enjoyed the station where we got to attach the electrodes to the arm and send electrical signals causing the arms and hand to move and jolt. I also liked the station where we got to learn what it was like to live with MS. They had a simulation where you picked up things, walked on things, and sat on things and we got to see how difficult it is to live with MS. The brain health fair was very educational and I learned a lot of things I did not know and also got to review things about brain functions that I already knew.

Nanotech Speaker         I thought that the nanotech speaker lecture was very interesting. I learned that we use nanotechnology every day and I also learned the importance and advancements that can be made in nanotech. I also thought it was really interesting that the nanotech speaker started his own company. The research he has done is very important and I also really enjoyed when he brought out the samples of the coaster from his friend's company. I had always seen those hydrophobic coasters on the internet and was always amazed by the technology they used and hoped to one day experience it first hand. It was really cool that he brought it out for us and showed us how it worked with water. I thought it was amazing that they were able to use technology and copy the way plants function by repelling water. I enjoyed the lecture and look forward to learning more about nanotechnology in the future.  

Nervous System Disease: Demyelinating Disease         A demyelinating disease is a condition that causes damage to the myelin sheath which surrounds nerve fibers in your brain, optic nerves, and spinal cord. The myelin sheath is a layer of fat that surrounds the nerve fibers in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord and it aids in speeding up the messages. Without the myelin sheath, our bodies would not be able to receive messages from the brain and we would not be able to function. An example of a Demyelinating Disease is MS (Multiple Sclerosis). It is a degenerative disease of the CNS. There is currently no cure for MS but there are drugs and treatments that can be administered to improve the quality of life. You can go through chemotherapy, immunosuppressant, and steroids.  

Nervous System Career: Neurosurgeon         An intere sting career that has to do with the study of the nervous system is becoming a neurosurgeon.  A  neurosurgeon  is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system including congenital anomalies, trauma, tumors, vascular disorders, infections of the brain or spine, stroke, or degenerative diseases of the spine. A neurosurgeon studies the nervous system extensively in order to perform their job. They remove brain tumors, spinal tumors, clip aneurysms, and conduct research and studies to expand the knowledge of the human brain.  Neurosurgeons will  perform surgery on the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves in order to remove tumors, relieve chronic pain and treat wounds, vascular disorders and diseases such as Parkinson's and epilepsy. An example of a surgery that a neurosurgeon would do is a split brain...

Nursing Career        There are many things that you can do when you go into the nursing career. The school nurse came in to talk to us about it and gave us a lecture and told us the many different fields that we could go into. Each field of nursing requires a certain amount of years of schooling and requirements and credentials to be met. If you plan to be a nurse, you can become a clinical nurse, registered nurse, and a school nurse, just to name a few. In order to become a clinical nurse, you must be specially trained and have a masters of science in nursing degree or other graduate level program. You will also need an RN licensure and then take the CNS exam to become a clinical nurse specialist. To become a registered nurse you must have a degree in nursing, either a bachelors degree or an ADN. To become a school nurse you must a have bachelors degree in nursing and then become an RN and then gain work experience and credits. By pursuing a nursing career,...

Dear Mr. Lungs,            I am so glad that you are fully functioning and working. I am thankful that you have never had a pneumothorax, otherwise, I would not be able to breathe properly. It would be quite troublesome if I had a collapsed lung. I appreciate that you are healthy and that the pressure in my chest cavity does not fluctuate because of all your hard work. I will take good care of you, I will not smoke and will exercise to keep you healthy. It is important that the ribs protect you, so I will make sure to not break any ribs and jeopardize your safety. Thank you for always being there for when I need to breathe and scream and yell and sing songs. I do not know what I would do without you. Love, Jasmine

Lung Model/Ventilation        This model shows how the lungs function. The steps to make this model are to:  1. obtain a bottle  2.  cut the bottom of it off  3. screw a hole into the cap so the straw can fit perfectly through  4. fashion the straw to act as the bronchial 5. tape balloons onto the ends of the straw  6. put a ballon to cover the hole at the bottom and wrap a rubber band around it - the balloon at the bottom will act as a diaphragm.  The model shows how the lungs function. When you pull at the base of the diaphragm it causing it to expand and for air to fill the lungs. When you let go of the diaphragm (when it contracts), air leaves the lungs, causing them to shrink. 

Respiratory Career: Respiratory Therapist        A respiratory therapist is a person who diagnoses lung and breathing disorders and recommends treatment methods. They also interview patients and do chest exams to properly diagnose and treat. They also analyze breath, tissue, and blood samples to determine levels of oxygen and other gases. They will also manage the ventilators for patients who are unable to breathe on their own, respond to code blues, and provide families with information about lung disease.       To become a respiratory therapist you must earn an associates degree or a bachelor's degree in respiratory therapy. You must also have some hands-on experience and then be licensed and certified. The median salary for a respiratory therapist is about $60,000. Respiratory therapists treat patients suffering from asthma and emphysema through oxygen therapy. They also help patients who have had heart attacks and strokes to recover and b...

Respiratory Disease: Pulmonary Fibrosis        Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease. The tissue in the lungs becomes damaged or scarred. The lung tissue becomes thickened and causes problems in the lungs because they will not work properly. Pulmonary fibrosis will worsen without treatment, and you will become progressively more short of breath. The damage to the lungs, scarring and thickening, cannot be repaired, but their are medications and therapies to treat it. Some symptoms of are: dyspnea, dry cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, aching muscles and joints, and clubbing of the tips of fingers or toes. Pulmonary fibrosis makes it difficult for oxygen to enter your bloodstream and is caused by exposure to the environment. Silica dust, asbestos fibers, hard metal dusts, coal dust, grain dust, and bird and animal droppings can cause pulmonary fibrosis. Some complications that are caused by pulmonary fibrosis are, high blood pressure, right-sided heart failure...

Cardiologist        A cardiologist is a doctor with special training and skills in finding and preventing diseases in the heart and blood vessels. In order to be a cardiologist, you need 4 years of medical school, 3 years of general internal medicine, and then afterward the cardiologist spends about 3 years of training or more. In order to become certified, you must have completed at least 10 years of clinical and educational preparation. They also must pass a two-day exam that is administered by the American Board of Internal Medicine.  The exam tests their knowledge in the field and their judgment.         A cardiologist works in a medical office or a hospital. They review your medical history and perform a physical exam to asses your health, they check your BP, weight, heart, lungs, and blood vessels. A cardiologist may administer some of these exams: Echocardiogram, ambulatory ECG, cardiac catheterization. Not all cardiologists ...

Cardio/Blood Disease: Aplastic Anemia         Aplastic Anemia is a blood disease where your body fails to create new blood cells. This results in you feeling fatigued and you develop a higher risk of infections and uncontrolled bleeding. Aplastic anemia is rare and can develop and any age, it can occur suddenly or over time. You can treat it through medications, blood transfusions, or a bone marrow transplant. The symptoms of aplastic anemia are: fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heart rate, pale skin, bruising, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, rashes, dizziness, and headaches. Aplastic anemia is caused by damage to the bone marrow, causing the decrease in production of new blood cells. Exposure to toxic chemicals is one of the causes of aplastic anemia. Benzene, pesticides, and insecticides. Use of drugs can also cause aplastic anemia. Aplastic anemia is also confused with myelodysplastic syndrome because it is difficult to distinguish.

Muscle Poem  Biceps are important for you if you want to move  You do not need big biceps if you have nothing to prove  The deltoid muscle is triangular And you need this muscle if you want to move like a jaguar  Your intercostal muscles help you breathe  Without them, you would just seethe Muscles are important  Whoever tells you otherwise is unimportant.  Muscles will help you live life from day to day  and will have you saying yay when you play  

Muscle Disease: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy        Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a muscle disease. It is a genetic disorder that causes muscles to degenerate and become weakened. It occurs primarily in males and is very rare in females. It causes atrophy to the skeletal and heart muscles. DMD is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, which affects the protein dystrophin. Dystrophin is found in the heart and skeletal muscles, so the DMD gene causes the protein to not function correctly, resulting in the muscles atrophying. DMD is X-linked recessive, but it can also occur in people who have no family history of DMD. There is no cure for DMD, but there are medications to help treat the symptoms and improve the quality of life. Steriods are used to increase the strength and function of the muscles, and eteplirsen is used treat people with DMD. Deflazacort can also be used to treat DMD. 

Muscle Career          A physical therapist is a career that has to do with muscles. If you are interested in the human body and how muscles work and interact with each other to help the human body function, then a career in physical therapy will be ideal. The things that we learned about muscles in anatomy and physiology will help in being a physical therapist because it provides a good foundation. We learned about flexion, extension, and the 12 muscle principles.         To become a physical therapist, first, you must earn a physical therapists degree. The length of the programs are about 3 years and in those 3 years, you will be covering some if not all these topics:   biology/anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, ethics/values, management sciences, finance, sociology, clinical reasoning, evidence-bas...