Throughout this Unit, some themes that were covered were the Digestive System, Metabolism, Diabetes, the Endocrine System, and the Lymphatic System.
The Digestive System is responsible for taking in food that we consume, mashing it up, digesting and breaking it down to smaller simpler molecules, then absorbing the nutrients to be used by our body cells and other organs. The digestive system begins in the mouth where food enters and is broken down by being chewed up by the teeth. The food now becomes bolus after being chewed up and is sent down the esophagus into the stomach. In the stomach, the stomach walls mash up the food along with digestive enzymes breaking it down, and the food is now referred to as chyme. In the small intestine, more chemical digestion occurs along with absorption of the nutrients to be used by the body. The chyme then enters the large intestine where all the indigestible food is dried out and exits out the rectum. The digestive system is a complicated and interesting process where food that enters our body stays in a one-way tunnel that never technically enters the body. Without having food or water, our body quickly begins to die which shows how important food and our digestive system is.
Our body requires an immense amount of energy to function all its daily needs. And how does our body get all the required energy? The answer is through metabolism. Metabolism is how the body uses certain molecules to meet our energy demand. We get our energy from ATP, and ATP is generated from our food. Our food (proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) are broken down into smaller molecules which are further simplified into Acetyl CoA. There are 3 stages of our time after digestion, called the Fed State, the Fasting State, and the Starvation State. The Fed State occurs directly after eating and involves sugars being absorbed by the intestines and traveling into the liver, the release of insulin, and glucose being sent to body cells. The Fasting State occurs about an hour after eating and insulin levels drop while glucagon levels rise, and the body starts using fats for energy to conserve glucose. After 4-5 days of not eating, the Starvation State occurs. In the Starvation State, the body begins to use adipose tissue and starts eating up our own body for energy.
An example of disruption in our regular fuel metabolism can be known as diabetes. Diabetes is where the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose levels. The body either can't make enough insulin or the body doesn't respond to insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to be used by the liver and prevents the use of adipose tissue. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin at all. It affects a smaller population of people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects the majority, and its victims' bodies do not respond to insulin signals. People with diabetes have decreased levels of blood glucose, so they should have a healthy constant intake of sugar. Some effects of diabetes can include blindness, tissue dehydration, high blood pressure, and death.
The endocrine system controls all the tissues and glands that secrete hormones which affect the process of movement and physiological equilibrium. Hormones are either steroid or non-steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are lipid soluble and bind to cells' DNA. Non-steroid hormones are not lipid soluble and they react with specific receptors outside the cell. The pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus and deals with hormones such as oxytocin, growth hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone. The thyroid gland secretes Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine, which increase protein synthesis and glucose uptake. Parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid which regulates plasma calcium and phosphate levels. The pancreas controls insulin, which regulates blood glucose, and glucagon, which increases blood glucose. Gonads monitor sex characteristics such as maturity, and the kidneys regulate red blood cell production.
The lymphatic system's functions include carrying immune cells, lipid absorption, and fluid recovery from the bloodstream. Lymph is a clear, colorless fluid that is similar to plasma. Lymphatic vessels are vein-like and follow the course of arteries and veins. Types of lymphocytes include T Cells, responsible for cell immunity and previously identifies pathogens, B Cells, where plasma cells produce antibodies to specific pathogens, and Natural Killer Cells, which provide non-specific immunological protection. Lymph nodes are bean-shaped and trap foreign substances that can later be destroyed by immune cells.
An example of disruption in our regular fuel metabolism can be known as diabetes. Diabetes is where the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose levels. The body either can't make enough insulin or the body doesn't respond to insulin, a hormone that allows glucose to be used by the liver and prevents the use of adipose tissue. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body doesn't make enough insulin at all. It affects a smaller population of people with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes affects the majority, and its victims' bodies do not respond to insulin signals. People with diabetes have decreased levels of blood glucose, so they should have a healthy constant intake of sugar. Some effects of diabetes can include blindness, tissue dehydration, high blood pressure, and death.
The endocrine system controls all the tissues and glands that secrete hormones which affect the process of movement and physiological equilibrium. Hormones are either steroid or non-steroid hormones. Steroid hormones are lipid soluble and bind to cells' DNA. Non-steroid hormones are not lipid soluble and they react with specific receptors outside the cell. The pituitary gland is controlled by the hypothalamus and deals with hormones such as oxytocin, growth hormone, and follicle stimulating hormone. The thyroid gland secretes Triiodothyronine and Thyroxine, which increase protein synthesis and glucose uptake. Parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid which regulates plasma calcium and phosphate levels. The pancreas controls insulin, which regulates blood glucose, and glucagon, which increases blood glucose. Gonads monitor sex characteristics such as maturity, and the kidneys regulate red blood cell production.
The lymphatic system's functions include carrying immune cells, lipid absorption, and fluid recovery from the bloodstream. Lymph is a clear, colorless fluid that is similar to plasma. Lymphatic vessels are vein-like and follow the course of arteries and veins. Types of lymphocytes include T Cells, responsible for cell immunity and previously identifies pathogens, B Cells, where plasma cells produce antibodies to specific pathogens, and Natural Killer Cells, which provide non-specific immunological protection. Lymph nodes are bean-shaped and trap foreign substances that can later be destroyed by immune cells.
Throughout the Unit, I felt that the Digestive System was extremely easy for me to go through. I have learned about the digestive system countless times back in middle school, biology, and now it just seemed like a review. However, I have always known that the small intestine absorbs nutrients from the food, but now, I understand the breakdown and how the small intestine specifically absorbs the food.
One of my struggles in this unit was learning about metabolism, because I never really understood the idea or concept of metabolism. I don't understand how ATP is produced from glucose, fatty acids, and protein, or how our body exactly used ATP. I also still don't understand how the broken down molecules of protein, lips, and carbohydrates become Acetyl CoA and what Acetyl CoA specifically does for our body.
One of the activities in the unit that we did that struck me was the Digestive System lab. In the Digestive System lab, I learned that my small intestine is 16 feet long. I thought this was an incredible length and was amazed how it could possibly fit comfortably in my body. I realized how intricate and complicated the design of our bodies are and how we have so many organs cover countless responsibilities from thinking, to transportation, to getting nutrients, defending the body against pathogens, all to keep us alive.
For my New year goals, I have started exercising. My goal is to exercise about 2-3 times a week. Currently, I exercise either twice a week or not at all, so my schedule for exercising varies on my schedule and how tired I get during the day. For eating salads in class, I haven't brought food into class much this semester, so the positive is that I am not eating any unhealthy foods. However, I will try to start stopping by Safeway and grabbing a salad once a week.
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