THE JOURNEY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM LAB

PART 1: The Journey of the Digestive System

This video totally grossed my kids out, but I loved it!  Really cool perspective of the digestion journey!

PART 2:  Salivary Amylase and Other Digestive Enzymes

It took approximately 5.25 seconds to start tasting sweet - I think it was pretty fast.  I used a bit of bread since I didn't have salt free crackers.

Complete the chart.

Enzyme       Producing Organ  Site of Action     Substrate(s)

Sal. Amy.      Salivary Glands        Mouth                   Polysaccharides

Trypsin          Pancreas                 Small Intestine     Proteins

Lipase            Pancreas                 Small Intestine     Triglycerides

Pepsin            Stomach                  Stomach                Proteins


Questions.

1.  Name the end molecules of digestion for each of the following types of food.  In other words, what smaller pieces is each hydrolyzed into to be made available to the body?

a.  Proteins:  Break down into amino acids.

b.  Carbohydrates:  Break down into monosaccharides.

c.  Fats:  Break down into fatty acids and monoglycerides.


2.  Describe the process by which fats enter the blood.

Fat (or lipids) are digested by pancreatic and intestinal lipase's which break down the fat into fatty acids and monoglycerides.  The non-polar molecules are dissolved into micelles that are polar on the outside and non-polar on the inside.  This makes the molecules transportable to the the outside of a mucosal cell where it can be absorbed.  After it has reached the inside of the cell, both molecules come together again and form a triglyceride.  The triglycerides cluster together and are covered in proteins that make them water soluble.  At this point they are now called chylomicrons.  The chylomicrons now exit the cell via exocytosis and enter lacteals of the lymph vessels to be carried into blood vessels.

Part 3:  Food Tracker

The option I chose was My Weight Manager.  This one was the scariest for me, but I knew it would be beneficial and I was interested in what it was going to tell me.  After entering in my age, gender, height, weight and physical activity, the manager gave me my results.  It said that in order to reach my goal weight I needed to get at least 150 minutes of exercise a week and consume up to 1800 calories a day.  I need to eat 6 oz of grans, 2 1/2 cups of veggies, 1 1/2 cups of fruit, 3 cups of dairy and 5 oz of protein. I actually like having this information and signed up on the website to see if I can get more out of it.  Having solid numbers to go with helps me with creating attainable goals instead of winging it and hoping for the best!

NERVOUS SYSTEM AND NEURON MODELING

PART 1: MODELING NEURONS


The axon terminal is at the end of the dendrites (forgot to label it).

Unipolar Neuron

 The axon terminal is at the end of the dendrites on this one too!

Bipolar Neuron

Yes, you guessed it, the axon terminal is at the end of the dendrites!

Multipolar Neuron

CITATIONS:

Johnson, Michael D. (2014).  Human Biology Concepts and Current Issues.       Glenview, IL:  Pearson Education, Inc.

Jabr, Ferris (2012, May 16).  Know Your Neurons: How to Classify                    Different Types of Neurons in the Brain's Forest  [Web log post].   Retrieved from http://www.blogs.scientificamerican.com



What is a good idea to help remember the directions of afferent and efferent neurons sent messages to or from the central nervous system?

The way I remember the direction afferent and efferent neurons travel is by reminding myself that Efferent neurons are the effectors.  They are the signals that tell the body what actions to take which causes an effect.  By remembering that efferent means effect, I then know that Afferent does the opposite and sends information to the CNS.


Items used:  Dum-dum lollipop, cut in half for the nucleus. Colored paper for the nucleolus.  Green paperclip bent back and forth for the Golgi.  Small bits of rubber band for the Nissl Bodies.  Thick blue rubberband for the cytoskeleton.  Purple ribbon for the myelin sheath.  Paper, colored pencils and pens.

BLOOD AND LYMPHATIC SYSTEM LAB

PART 1.  Blood

Erythrocytes and Leukocytes

1.

Erythrocyte

2.

Leukocyte

Leukocyte

3. Leukocytes and their functions.

Basophils:  Contains histamines that cause body tissues to swell and eventually repair injuries.

Eosinophils:  Destroys large parasites by using digestive enzymes.  Also releases chemicals to temper allergic reactions in the body.

Lymphocytes:  B lymphocytes help make antibodies that defend the body against disease and infection.  T lymphocytes destroy more specific threats such as cancer cells.

Monocytes:  Often seen with chronic infections, monocytes differentiate into macrophages that "eat" dead tissue and foreign invaders.

Neutrophils:  First step in immunity.  Neutrophils fight bacteria and fungi by surrounding and "eating" the foreign invaders.


Sickle Cell Disease

Sickle Cell Anemia came about through natural selection.  In the body's attempt to fight the malaria, it created a gene that helped aid in resisting the infectious disease.  However, the side affect from the mutated gene was Sickle Cell Anemia.


Blood Typing

2. a.  The blood typing game took a minute to understand so I didn't get it right away.  But after a few minutes I was able to save all the patients. : )

    b.  I did great on the transfusion part!  That part was a bit easier to understand once I figured out the blood typing part.

3.  If a blood antigen received the wrong type such as A+ to B-, the blood would clump together and cause arteries and veins to become blocked, eventually damaging organs.

4.  An antigen is a cell protein that is "non-self" on the blood and recognizes foreign invaders.  Antibodies are proteins the body creates as an immunity defense against foreign invaders.

5.  When an RH negative woman carries her first child that is RH positive, there is no reaction.  However the body has developed antibodies to protect itself from future dealing with the foreign blood.  If a woman becomes pregnant again and the fetus is also RH positive the body will recognize the RH positive fetus as foreign and send an immune response to destroy the offending invader.



PART 2. Lymphatic System

Tonsil

Explain how the lymphatic system is physiologically and anatomically related to the cardiovascular system.

The tonsils are related to the cardiovascular system because they are highly vascular and they have lymphocytes that filter out organisms that come in through the mouth and nose.



PART 3. Nonspecific Body Defenses


1.  Name and explain three ways the integumentary system provides the first line of defense.

The skin provides a keratin barrier against bacteria and other harmful microbes and viruses preventing them from reaching the blood and internal organs.  Hair, an accessory organ of the integumentary system offers protection and insulates from the cold.  The skin also produces melanin that absorbs UV light from the sun that can damage cells underneath.

2.  Explain the protective role of cilia.  From what primary tissue type do cilia arise?

Cilia moves debris away from the body and carries it away so that it will not be absorbed. Cilia arises from epithelial tissue.

3.  Define and sketch phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis is the cells ability to engulf foreign invaders and destroy it using lysosomes that live inside the cell.

Phagocytosis

4.  Name and sketch two cell types that perform phagocytosis.

Neutrophil

Eosinophil

5.  Describe the process involved in the inflammatory response.  Include all chemicals and cell types.

Once a tissue is damaged, the damaged cells release a chemical that triggers mast cells to release histamine.  The histamine allows the vessels surrounding the damaged tissue to dilate.  Meanwhile, basophils are also releasing histamines.  The enlargement of the vessels allows phagocytes to enter the interstitial fluid and begin to destroy the foreign invaders and damaged cells.  There is also an increase in blood to the area that raises the temperature in the area, increases phagocytosis.  The interstitial fluid is leaking in as well, diluting the foreign substances and delivers clotting proteins.  The clotting proteins form a fibrin mesh over the damaged area where healthy tissue is then allowed to begin forming anew.