Unit 5 - Body Systems
This unit introduces the systems of the human body. Obviously, a brief unit such as this can hardly cover this broad topic in depth. So, what will I try to accomplish? I will try to establish a few fundamental principles that can be used as a basis for your future study, learning and perhaps teaching.

A common list of the body systems includes:
  • Cardiovascular
    • Heart
    • Lungs
    • Blood Vessels
    • Lymphatics
  • Endocrine
  • Gastrointestinal
    • Digestive
    • Excretory
  • Immune
    • Lymphatics
  • Integument (skin)
  • Muscular
  • Nervous
  • Reproductive
  • Respiratory
  • Skeletal
The fact that not everyone agrees that this is the exact way to define the systems--some might name the digestive system and excretory system as separate--actually makes an important point--no one body system functions by itself. Rather, the systems are linked to each other and depend on each other. Said another way:

The body is a system of systems.

Study Question: List specific examples of how the systems named above interact.

Class, Wednesday - March 20 (50 points): Hands-on exploration of:

  • Opposing forces achieve a balance
  • Homeostasis
  • Changes in the Brain

Prior to Class on Monday 4/1

Body Systems - Session Two

ASSIGNMENT TO BE HANDED
IN AT SESSION 3

Go to the following Health Information Site for consumers that is maintained by the National institutes of Health: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/healthtopics.html

Select one of the body systems discussed today in Session 2 and click on it.
Then select a disease or pathological condition related to that system and click on it.

Now, visit and rfead a representative set of the links that are shown to learn about the condition you chose.

Finally, write a description of the condition that you would hand out to students in 5th or 6th grade that includes a basic description of how the system works and what goes wrong when this condition occurs.

HOMEOSTASIS

Homeostasis and negative feedback cartoon with explanation (source)

Homeostasis-related positive feedback cartoon with explanation (source)

Homeostasis feedback loop demo (source)

Kidney example of homeostasis - simple (source)

Kidney example of homeostasis - complicated

Bone: normal and osteoporosis - failure of balance pictures (source)

(Other: homeostasis incubator interactive demonstration from first session)

DIGESTION

Digestive System animation (source)

Oral cavity movie (source)

Larynx movie (source)

Thorax virtual movie (source)

Endoscopy with heartbeat visible movie (gihealth)

Swan neck endoscopy video (source)

Stomach endoscopy movie (gihealth)

Duodenum endoscopy movie (gihealth)

Gastric ulcer endoscopy movie (gihealth)

Colon normal endoscopy movie (gihealth)

Colon polyp endoscopy movie (gihealth)

RESPIRATION

Ribcage and diaphragm cycle movie (source)

Mucus animation (source)

Alveolus circulation animation (source)

Breath sounds audio files normal, wheeze, crackle (source)

Asthma movies: understanding, treatments (source)

CIRCULATORY

Circulation loop animation (source)

Beating heart with valves movie (medmovie)

Beating heart with EKG movie (medmovie)

Realistic beating heart movie (source)

Heart sound animation (source)

Heart sound audio files (source)

Coronary arteries animated cartoon (Heartpoint)

Coronary occulsion animated cartoon (Heartpoint)

Coronary occulsion clearing animated cartoon (Heartpoint)

Coronary bypass animated cartoon (Heartpoint)

Cardiac bypass surgery movie (source)

Lymph system picture (source)

Lymph node animation (source)

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER REFERENCE

Virtual body systems slide shows from MEDtropolis

Body System tutorials:
Nervous, Reproductive, Circulatory, Respiratory, Digestive

Systems anatomy virtual dissections

Assignment Related to Session Three

Study the following Web sites:

Then, take the"Color the Brain" page handed out in class (and available online as a
PDF file) and add labels and colors that identify and summarize the basics of the structure and function of the parts of the brain, including some diseases or problems related to the brain. If you want or need to use a bigger sheet of paper, such as to make a small poster, you can cut out the pictures and paste them onto a larger sheet

In other words, this assignment is asking you to use an annotated diagram to synthesize the information you studied at the Web sites listed above, in a clear, concise and useful way. For example, you could imagine that you are preparing pictorial handout or posterintended for patients to read in a physician's waiting room. Don't try to include everything from the Web sites. Instead deal with major concepts and a few interesting examples. This assignment will be graded based on clarity, conciseness and visual interest.(100 points)