What Happens When You Stretch
From http://people.bath.ac.uk/masrjb/Stretch/stretching_2.html#SEC13
Summary/Relate and Review
The stretching of muscles has the effect like tapping a stack of papers on a desk, aligning all of them back into a workable fashion. The muscles fibers that are straightened are intra and extrafusal muscle fibers. The stretching/elongating of the muscles starts at the middle, then diffuses towards the end, which is why holding the stretch or repeating it is necessary to really get a good stretch. This actually increases your power of contraction because that is usually measured by comparing the length before and after.
Quotes
"Nuclear bag fibers...-all the way to- gradually extend under prolonged tension"
These few sentences are highly descriptive and resemble an animation playing out.
"lengthening reaction which inhibits the muscles from contracting and causes them to relax"
The golgi tendon organ is responsible for the management of muscles, tendons, and ligaments from damage by tension strain.
"as you stretch, the collagen fibers in the connective tissue align themselves along the same line of force as the tension"
This is also another scene where I can imagine an animation for, as the pulling apart/ expansion of the sarcomeres increasing the length of the muscle.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Owl Pellet Lab
FOCUS QUESTION: What are the similarities and differences in rodent or bird anatomy with human anatomy?
Groupmate: Shaya
Overview
This lab included a dissection where groups worked to excavate bones from a compressed owl pellet, and then work to identify which organism specific bones came from.
We were able to come to this conclusion with three pieces of physical evidence:
The humerus
The bone we excavated had a slight marking (a flap of bone jutting outwards) that was characteristic of the vole humerus bone.
The scapula
The pair of shoulder blades (scapula) we were able to find were characteristic of the vole's, once again, due to a flap of bone jutting out, and also to its broader shape, compared to the shrews' and moles'.
The skull
Using the skull key, we were able to determine that the skull was a vole's because of its characteristics of teeth with no gap (diastema) between front and back teeth, and also the fact that it had a cheekbone (zygomatic arch).
The skeleton of the vole had a fundamentally identical role as to that in humans, such as replenishing red blood cells, supporting the body, and protecting its soft internal organs. Some bones' shapes were also near identical, for example the vertebrae, which have a similar function in the vole anatomy. Another surprising similarity was the shape of specific bones, like the humerus we found, which was also a long bone in humans. However, the size of the bones, in general, varied drastically. They were basically a scaled-down version of the bones we have in our body, with a few minor surface changes, which was unexpected because of the size of osteoclasts, osteoblasts, and the fibers they made would not change, so I expected a different bone composition to make up for this drawback of just scaling down. Also, another big difference I noticed was the thinness of certain bones, like the scapula, because of the intense, quick movements that I have seen many rodents have, I was confused at the fragility of bones that helped soften the impact.
Thanks for reading
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Unit 5 Reflection
There are many organs in the body that each regulate unique functions using hormones specific to itself. In Unit 5, we explored the major(ly packed) organs of the digestive system- see http://mesocy.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-digestive-system-lab.html- and also the wide range of hormones and their effects on counteracting conditions adverse to homeostasis.
For example, we focused on the concentration of glucose in the blood, AKA blood sugar, and how it was affected by the diet that people consumed. See: http://mesocy.blogspot.com/2015/10/blood-pressure-virtual-lab.html
We differentiated it into three states: the Fed State, where a meal was just eaten; the Fasting State, where a meal has not been consumed for a few hours; and the Starvation State, in which the body's cells undergo autophagy, breaking down its proteins into energy sources in a desperate attempt to keep the cell functioning.
States occur in response to the concentration of blood sugar in the bloodstream. Since humans' blood sugar levels must be constantly maintained, as long as nutrients from the digestive system are anticipated, the pancreas will release insulin, which basically functions as a signal to remove glucose from the circulatory system as fast as possible. It signals a storage of glucose as a glycogen polysaccharide inside the liver and increase the intake of glucose by the body's various cells (mostly fat and muscle though) through promotion of a specific membrane protein, called GLUT-4. Usually GLUT-4 is stored inside the cell on a vesicle membrane, but in the presence of insulin, the vesicle fuses with the cell membrane and thus disseminates its proteins into the surrounding lipid bilayer. Now, when the blood sugar level decreases to a point where it is too low, the pancreas releases glucagon instead. Glucagon causes the stored glycogen polysaccharides to be broken down in the process of glycogenolysis for glucose, which can then be used for cellular respiration and, thus, energy. These ups and downs are simply represented on the left as double ringed, negative feedback loops.
I had a tough time in this unit memorizing all of the different organ, substance, and process names, and thus couldn't fulfill my objective of scrabbling together a nine hour sleep schedule. However, I have made progress on my SMART goal of studying, and have eliminated a few weaker strategies (e.g. outline format).
see: http://mesocy.blogspot.com/2016/01/smart-goals.html
I really would like to know why many organs have almost unintelligible, unrelated names, and why not change them, like the GLUT-4 protein. The number four seems to correspond with the affinity the integral transport protein has for insulin, and the GLUT portion is reminiscent of glucose-transferring protein. Just a thought.
Well, time to study for my AP Bio test tomorrow as well. Have a nice day!
 |
| Fasting State Poster |
We differentiated it into three states: the Fed State, where a meal was just eaten; the Fasting State, where a meal has not been consumed for a few hours; and the Starvation State, in which the body's cells undergo autophagy, breaking down its proteins into energy sources in a desperate attempt to keep the cell functioning.
States occur in response to the concentration of blood sugar in the bloodstream. Since humans' blood sugar levels must be constantly maintained, as long as nutrients from the digestive system are anticipated, the pancreas will release insulin, which basically functions as a signal to remove glucose from the circulatory system as fast as possible. It signals a storage of glucose as a glycogen polysaccharide inside the liver and increase the intake of glucose by the body's various cells (mostly fat and muscle though) through promotion of a specific membrane protein, called GLUT-4. Usually GLUT-4 is stored inside the cell on a vesicle membrane, but in the presence of insulin, the vesicle fuses with the cell membrane and thus disseminates its proteins into the surrounding lipid bilayer. Now, when the blood sugar level decreases to a point where it is too low, the pancreas releases glucagon instead. Glucagon causes the stored glycogen polysaccharides to be broken down in the process of glycogenolysis for glucose, which can then be used for cellular respiration and, thus, energy. These ups and downs are simply represented on the left as double ringed, negative feedback loops.
I had a tough time in this unit memorizing all of the different organ, substance, and process names, and thus couldn't fulfill my objective of scrabbling together a nine hour sleep schedule. However, I have made progress on my SMART goal of studying, and have eliminated a few weaker strategies (e.g. outline format).
see: http://mesocy.blogspot.com/2016/01/smart-goals.html
I really would like to know why many organs have almost unintelligible, unrelated names, and why not change them, like the GLUT-4 protein. The number four seems to correspond with the affinity the integral transport protein has for insulin, and the GLUT portion is reminiscent of glucose-transferring protein. Just a thought.
Well, time to study for my AP Bio test tomorrow as well. Have a nice day!
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
The Digestive System Lab
Digestive Organ Model
Questions
1. We took approximate measurements of our own digestive systems and used lengths of string or ribbons to create a crude model representing its length. It was interesting to see how much longer the small intestine was, even longer than all of the other sections put together. I would assume that that length makes the food take longer to pass through the small intestine, and thus allows more nutrients and material to be absorbed from the food.
2. height = 6' 0" = 72 in. = 1.8288 m.
ratio of height to length of digestive system- approximately 1 : 5.4
Since my digestive system is about five and a half times longer than my height, I can only assume it has been folded, squeezed, and stuffed to stay inside my belly.
3. I would think that food particles would take possibly a day or two- from 24 to 48 hours- from the moment they are swallowed to the time when they are finally excreted, varying based on posture and level of activity. However, I am surprised to learn that it actually takes, on average, "53 hours total transit time, from eating to elimination in stool" (Picco). I think that the horrendously long time that our digestive system takes to work is for completely sanitizing and breaking down swallowed food, absorbing as much of the nutrients as possible, and then packaging it (ewww) so that it can be removed efficiently.
4. Digestion is the breakdown of ingested foods and material into forms that the body is then able to manipulate and absorb nutrients from. Digestion involves the mouth (saliva), stomach (digestive enzymes), small intestine, and large intestine, while absorption occurs only in the small and large intestines.
5. How do stomach enzymes and acids break down the many different kinds of food we eat?
Are we born with DNA coding that is specific for each food / molecular substance?
| Digestive Organ | Material Used | Approximate Length (cm) |
| Mouth | red ribbon | 12.2 |
| Esophagus | gold ribbon | 39.5 |
| Stomach | purple ribbon | 14.6 |
| Small Intestine | white string | 731.52 |
| Large Intestine | blue ribbon | 182.88 |
| TOTALS | - | 990.70 => 9.9070m |
Questions
1. We took approximate measurements of our own digestive systems and used lengths of string or ribbons to create a crude model representing its length. It was interesting to see how much longer the small intestine was, even longer than all of the other sections put together. I would assume that that length makes the food take longer to pass through the small intestine, and thus allows more nutrients and material to be absorbed from the food.
2. height = 6' 0" = 72 in. = 1.8288 m.
ratio of height to length of digestive system- approximately 1 : 5.4
Since my digestive system is about five and a half times longer than my height, I can only assume it has been folded, squeezed, and stuffed to stay inside my belly.
3. I would think that food particles would take possibly a day or two- from 24 to 48 hours- from the moment they are swallowed to the time when they are finally excreted, varying based on posture and level of activity. However, I am surprised to learn that it actually takes, on average, "53 hours total transit time, from eating to elimination in stool" (Picco). I think that the horrendously long time that our digestive system takes to work is for completely sanitizing and breaking down swallowed food, absorbing as much of the nutrients as possible, and then packaging it (ewww) so that it can be removed efficiently.
4. Digestion is the breakdown of ingested foods and material into forms that the body is then able to manipulate and absorb nutrients from. Digestion involves the mouth (saliva), stomach (digestive enzymes), small intestine, and large intestine, while absorption occurs only in the small and large intestines.
5. How do stomach enzymes and acids break down the many different kinds of food we eat?
Are we born with DNA coding that is specific for each food / molecular substance?
Monday, January 4, 2016
SMART Goals
Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound Goals
I will also create a studying plan that works the most efficiently for myself, through experimenting with different formats and mediums: electronic, paper on a clipboard, outline style, diagram based, chicken scratch notes, etc. This will be implemented throughout the semester and be measured through test and temp-check scores.
Monday, November 16, 2015
Sheep Heart Dissection Lab
Questions
1. What is the purpose of the pericardium?
It is the outermost layer surrounding the heart, like a sac. It serves to protect the heart
2. Observe the blood vessels connecting to heart. How do arteries differ from the veins in their structure?
Veins are smaller. Arteries carries blood away from the heart and vein bring blood to the heart.
3) What function do you think the auricle serves?
The auricle flaps are placed inside the left and right atrium to increase the capacity of the atria.
4) Q: Observe the external structures of the atrias and ventricles. What are the differences?
A:The walls of the ventricles are thicker and more muscular than those of the atria. The right ventricles is the depository for deoxygenated blood from the right atrium. The job of this ventricle is to pump the blood to the lungs so that it can obtain oxygen. The left ventricles is the powerhouse of the heart.
6) (Draw a) picture of the tricuspid valve, including chordae tendineae and the papillary muscle.
7) Why is the “anchoring” of the heart valves by the chordae tendineae and the papillary muscle important to the heart function?
When the heart contracts, the pressure on the valve flaps by blood is counteracted on by the chordae tendinae, anchoring the flaps closed. This keeps blood from flowing backwards through the circulatory system.
8) Using pictures / words, describe what you see after making a cut from the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.
From top to bottom of picture
- bicuspid / mitral / left atrioventricular valve
- chordae tendinae
- papillary muscles
9. What is the function of the semi-lunar valves?
The semilunar valves stop blood from flowing back into the heart from the pulmonary artery and aorta.
10. Valvular heart disease is when one of the heart valves does not work properly. Improperly functioning heart valves can lead to regurgitation, which is the backflow of blood through a leaky value. Ultimately this can lead to congestive heart failure, a condition that can be life threatening.
a) If the valve disease occurs on the right side of the heart, it results in swelling in the feet and ankles. Why might this happen?
heart disease on the right side of the heart damages the inferior and superior vena cavas, thus blocking the path of blood back to the heart. The pressure will eventually build and cause the veins to expand to compensate.
b) If the valve disease occurs on the left side of the heart, what complications would you expect to see?
Fatigue, soreness, or, in extreme cases, death of tissue that is not able to acquire oxygenated blood due to damage to the pulmonary vein, on the left side of the heart.
11. Using pictures / words, describe what you see after opening the cut from the anterior aorta wall to the apex of the left ventricle.
green - aortic semilunar valve
red - chordae tendinae (bicuspid valve) [the strings]
white - papillary muscle (bicuspid valve) [the lumps of muscles, base of chordae tendinae]
12. Describe how the left and right sides of the heart differ from each other.
The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body through the aorta, and thus its myocardium is larger and thicker than the right side, which receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and only has to pump it a short way to the lungs.
13. Draw and label all structures visible in the interior of the cross-section.
1) Right Atrium
2) Tricuspid Valve
3) Right Ventricle
4) Left Arium
5) Bicuspid Valve
6) Left Ventricle
7) Chordae Tendinae
8) Papillary Muscles
9) Interventriclar Septum
1. What is the purpose of the pericardium?
It is the outermost layer surrounding the heart, like a sac. It serves to protect the heart
2. Observe the blood vessels connecting to heart. How do arteries differ from the veins in their structure?
Veins are smaller. Arteries carries blood away from the heart and vein bring blood to the heart.
3) What function do you think the auricle serves?
The auricle flaps are placed inside the left and right atrium to increase the capacity of the atria.
4) Q: Observe the external structures of the atrias and ventricles. What are the differences?
A:The walls of the ventricles are thicker and more muscular than those of the atria. The right ventricles is the depository for deoxygenated blood from the right atrium. The job of this ventricle is to pump the blood to the lungs so that it can obtain oxygen. The left ventricles is the powerhouse of the heart.
6) (Draw a) picture of the tricuspid valve, including chordae tendineae and the papillary muscle.
7) Why is the “anchoring” of the heart valves by the chordae tendineae and the papillary muscle important to the heart function?
When the heart contracts, the pressure on the valve flaps by blood is counteracted on by the chordae tendinae, anchoring the flaps closed. This keeps blood from flowing backwards through the circulatory system.
8) Using pictures / words, describe what you see after making a cut from the pulmonary veins to the left atrium.
From top to bottom of picture
- bicuspid / mitral / left atrioventricular valve
- chordae tendinae
- papillary muscles
9. What is the function of the semi-lunar valves?
The semilunar valves stop blood from flowing back into the heart from the pulmonary artery and aorta.
10. Valvular heart disease is when one of the heart valves does not work properly. Improperly functioning heart valves can lead to regurgitation, which is the backflow of blood through a leaky value. Ultimately this can lead to congestive heart failure, a condition that can be life threatening.
a) If the valve disease occurs on the right side of the heart, it results in swelling in the feet and ankles. Why might this happen?
heart disease on the right side of the heart damages the inferior and superior vena cavas, thus blocking the path of blood back to the heart. The pressure will eventually build and cause the veins to expand to compensate.
b) If the valve disease occurs on the left side of the heart, what complications would you expect to see?
Fatigue, soreness, or, in extreme cases, death of tissue that is not able to acquire oxygenated blood due to damage to the pulmonary vein, on the left side of the heart.
11. Using pictures / words, describe what you see after opening the cut from the anterior aorta wall to the apex of the left ventricle.
green - aortic semilunar valve
red - chordae tendinae (bicuspid valve) [the strings]
white - papillary muscle (bicuspid valve) [the lumps of muscles, base of chordae tendinae]
12. Describe how the left and right sides of the heart differ from each other.
The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body through the aorta, and thus its myocardium is larger and thicker than the right side, which receives deoxygenated blood from the body, and only has to pump it a short way to the lungs.
13. Draw and label all structures visible in the interior of the cross-section.
1) Right Atrium
2) Tricuspid Valve
3) Right Ventricle
4) Left Arium
5) Bicuspid Valve
6) Left Ventricle
7) Chordae Tendinae
8) Papillary Muscles
9) Interventriclar Septum
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