Chapter 12/13 Reflection

These chapters had a lot of information but I was able to follow along since there was a lot of diagrams. Familiarizing myself with the difference between gray and white matter was a challenge and where you can find the tracts. I am familiar with somatic and autonomic nervous systems, so I did not have to spend a lot of time on that. Learning about the glial cells found within the nervous system is a little challenging. I have been reviewing that section a lot. I particularly get confused with what cell produces cerebral spinal fluid. Lastly, chapter 12 talked about action potential and how neurons communicate. This sections I have to review because theres a lot of information and knowing what is released, when, and why. A section that I struggled with during chapter 13 is learning all of the nerves and what they innervate. I have been looking at a long of diagrams and also using flashcards to familiarize myself.

Chapter 11 Reflection

The muscular system has many muscles that help one bone perform a specific movement. Muscles names are grouped by location and what the movement it performs. To study the muscles, have been reviewing the diagrams and covering the muscles, also finding them on myself/ where the muscles can be generally found. I struggled with remembering what the difference is between origin, insertion, fixator, prime mover etc.

Chapter 10 Reflection

Learning about the muscle tissue was very interesting because the muscle is made up of many little parts. For example, many myofibrils are bundled together by the sarcolemma. I struggled the most with learning about how the sarcomere contracts, difference between thick and thin filaments. For this, I looked up videos and pictures to help me recognize each section and their roles, along with when actin and myosin are needed. Also, like any other chapter, learning which chemicals are needed to produce a contraction, how they flow through the body etc., gave me a hard time. I watched videos, reread the textbook, and made a flash card of the order from point A to point Z. I really hope I can get these topics down by next exam. When looking at resistance training like running, I relate that section to myself. In high school, I thought it was the bone pulling away from the muscle, but it is actually the muscle can not bear the strenuous activity.

Chapter 9 Reflection

This week I learned that joints are more complex than just a simple joint. For example, joints are classified by degree of motion and requirements of that particular joint. Joints can be immobile, amphiarthosis, or diarthrosis which all explain how much movement occurs at those joints. With this chapter, I found myself struggling on learning the different types of joints and where to find them in the body. For example, I thought that hinge joints could be found in the wrist because it can flex and extend, but the elbow is actually a hinge joint. When the autoimmune system attacks joints, is there a way to counteract those diseases, or does the individual have to deal with it fort the rest of their lives?

Chapter 8 Reflection

The appendicular skeleton makes up the extremities, or bone that attach to the axial skeleton. This section gave me some trouble because each section has many parts, landmarks to remember, and what bone attaches to what and how. Bones are formed by the mesoderm by intramembranous or endochondral ossification during development. Something interesting I learned from this section is that the bone stores and releases calcium which helps most body tissues to function.

Chapter 7 Reflection

Fun fact, I thought our body had less that 206 bones. I guess we don't think of all the small bones that make up the wrist and ankle. Depending what bone  you are looking at, they are made up differently for specific functions. Example, long bones absorb the stress of the body weight compared to flat bones which provide surface for muscle attachments. Remembering the bones can be tricky, so I will be using images from the internet and testing myself daily. The skull alone is made up of 22 bones and you wouldn't think it has that many. Bones help protect soft tissues, and help aid movement, but can also involve imbalances. For example, herniated discs in the vertebral column can affect the individual because the disc is pushing on spinal nerve affecting weakness, pain, and inability to move certain limbs.

Chapter 6 Reflection

The skeletal system supports, protects and is used in movements of the body. Bones also have a function with maintaining blood calcium levels and PTH. Remembering the difference between osteoblast, osteoclast, and osteocytes were a little hard to remember but with practice I will be able to differentiate the difference between the three. Studying all of the bones, girdles, and what makes up the bones were easy, interesting, and some what challenging. An interesting section was learning about the different fractures. I have never broken a bone before, so to see the different fractures was very amusing. I also wonder what it would be like to experience a broken bone, the healing process, and aftermath of the cast.

Chapter 4 Reflection

I didn't know that tissues were so complex. They have many cell junctions, many different ways they are classified, and features that help maintain homeostasis. The most challenging part for me was learning and understanding the different ways tissues are layered and functions of the different functions depending what type of epithelia is found. I made flash cards to help me learn the different types of epithelia. Another section that I struggled with are the mature connective tissues; what makes up each connective tissue, where it can be found in the body. Lastly, tissue regeneration was also interesting to learn about because healing can be affected if your health is not up to par. For example, nutrition and blood flow is very important for tissue regeneration.

Chapter 3 Reflection

Chapter 3 was a long chapter for me... Learning all of the components of the cell and their functions got overwhelming or me. I found that making a set of quizlet cards for the structures and definitions helped a little. I still have to make sure to review them everyday and reread my notes. I was amused that the plasma membrane was more than just a sac. The plasma membrane has integrins that  help the cell communicate, receptor proteins that attach to chemical signals. Diffusion and mediated transport sections were confusing to me. I had to reread them and I tried looking on youtube or online for a better explanation but its still a little unclear to me.

Chapter 2 Reflection

During chapter 2 I did struggle understanding all of the different chemical bonds, compounds, and chemical reactions. I had to read each section a couple of times and take breaks between my notes. I also found a couple of good youtube videos that helped clarify the differences between the type of chemical bonds and chemical reactions. For example, ionic bonds can gain or lose electrons, while covalent bonds share electrons. Also, to remember the pH scale, my friend asked me how many cigarettes do you need to affect your lungs? I said I don't know, he said 1; 1 means very toxic on the pH scale. I didn't really think if helped me remember the pH scale until my other friend needed a way to remember which side is more acidic.

Chapter 1 Reflection

When reading chapter 1, I was amused with the amount of information that's not known to an average human being. Yes we may know we are made up of atoms, muscles, tissues, etc. but who really talks to someone about that. While reading, I found my self taking notes, drawing diagrams, and repeating terms to help me become familiar with structures and terminology. I did struggle with the planes, so the youtube video helped me visually see the differences between each section. I liked looking at the links in the book, especially the links about different types of imaging, since I want to get into the radiology program.  Lastly, I liked how the book listed terms and definitions at the end, I imputed those into quizlet.