coming to an end

I just wanted to say thank you to Mrs./Ms. Peterson. I would like to think we would all agree that this class was different from most other science classes we have taken at Jeff State. There was a lot of material given to us, but it wasn't like most instructors he can barely explain it. You could actually teach us everything about a certain topic. Even going out side of the book some times just to make things clearer. Plus with all the other items assigned to us like; board games, community work, and blogging only helped to make us understand something a little better. So from behalf of my other classmates and I, welcome to Alabama and hope you enjoy it here.

P.S. You should go to Destin, FL it's a four hour drive and compared to many beaches I've seen around the world, this is one of the nicest.

digestion

there are six steps of processing food and they are; Ingestion, Propulsion, Mechanical Digestion, Chemical Digestion, Absorption, and Defecation. Food enters into the oral cavity and where our teeth and tongue grind up the food into smaller piecies. Food moves through the esophagus by a series of contractions that propel the food into the stomach. Here food is broke down more with the help of digestive enzymes and three muscles in the stomach; Longitudinal, circular, and oblique. food passes through the duodenum--->Jejunum--->and lleum. All are part of the small intestine. This is also where nutrients are digested into our body. next digestable food passes into the cecum--->ascending colon--->transverse colon--->descending colon--->and into the sigmoid colon. Finally unwanted food enters the rectum and into the anal canal.

viagra

I was looking through the book and found an article on Viagra. I thought this was an interesting article that has some interesting knowledge. I had know idea that 50% of males over the age of 40 may experience some form of erectile dis function. I had know idea that the numbers were that high. 20% of cases of erectile dis function are from some type of psychological or emotional cause. A common drug that we use to fight of allergies, antihistamine, can cause temporary impotence. A couple options that where used to cure impotence are; shots that are injected into the penis, a pill inserted into the opening of the urethra, and a penis vacuum pump, it's not mine baby, great line from Austin Powers. All of those are options but, sound very painful. Now in current times their are several pills like Viagra, Cialis, and levitra. The three pills are suppose to work within an hour and have no side effects. If you want to know more about this you can find it on pg. 1074 in your lecture book.

blood flow

blood comes in through the superior vena cava--->into the right atrium--->through the tricuspid valve--->now de oxygenated blood in the right ventricle is sent through the pulmonary valve where blood passes through the right pulmonary arteries. blood now travels to the lungs to become oxygenated. once blood off loads carbon dioxide and on loads four oxygen molecules in the capillary beds of the lungs, they start begin their journey back to the heart via left pulmonary arteries. blood enters into the left atrium through and passes through the bicuspid valve. Now blood is entering the left ventricle where the oxygenated blood passes through the aortic valve and into the aorta. oxygenated blood is now distributed through our body.

ADH

How is ADH, or otherwise known as Antidiuretic hormone, effected when consumption of alcohol takes place? When we first consume an alcoholic beverage into our body, our bodies will begin by metabolizing the alcohol when entered into our stomach. Eventually the alcohol is absorbed into our bloodstream where 25% of our blood, of each contraction of our heart, is sent to our kidneys for filtration of byproducts. When the alcohol starts making its way through our kidneys water is beginning to be pulled from all areas of our body. This is happening due to the effect of alcohol on our Osmoreceptors. The Osmoreceptors, which monitor our osmotic pressure and are located in the hypothalamus, are distracted. The osmotic pressure is able to fluctuate due to the lack of communication between the Hypothalamus and the Posterior Pituitary, which is where Antidiuretic hormone is found. Since there is no communication our body believes our osmotic pressure is to low resulting in the flow of water pass our kidneys, not being absorbed, and eventually out of our body.

JGA

The JGA (juxtaglomerular apparatus) is located in the Glomerus inbetween the Afferent arteriole, Efferent arteriole, and the limb of the ascending limb of Loop of Henle. Here is where we will find three different types of cells each having an important role.

First we have Granular cells which are located in the arteriole walls of the Afferent arteriole. Also called (JG cells) Granular cells are enlarged, smooth muscle cells that mainly monitor the pressure of the afferent arteriole. Some of it's other lighter less important duties include stimulating Beta 1 and decreasing NaCl absorption in the Macula Densa.

Next there are Macula Densa cells which are located on the ascending limb of Loop of Henle. These are columnar epithelium cells that are tightly packed together. Macula Densa cells along with the Granular cells play an important role in monitoring the systemic blood pressure. While monitoring pressure is it's main role they also can detects high amounts of Na and Cl. If high amounts are noticed by the Macula Densa cells, they will decrease the amount of renin released to lower the Na and Cl levels.

The third type of cell located in the JGA are known as Extraglomerular Mesangial cells. These are located in the Glomerulus and act as the bonds between the Glomerular capillaries. These cells contain both actin and myosin, which allows them to be able to contract when stimulated by a nerve. The roles of Extraglomerular Mesangial cells is still somewhat mysterious, but some believe that these cells are conducive cells for letting the Macula Densa and the Afferent Arteriole communicate.

I think what is neat is that red blood cells are anaerobic. That RBC perform all the task of transporting oxygen using hemoglobin. Within the hemoglobin are 2 alphas and 2 betas which is where you will also find iron. the red blood cells pick up oxygen in the capillary beds of the lungs and are transported to throughout the body, usually toward areas of lower concentrated oxygen levels. Remember the red blood cells aren't using the oxygen their carrying for energy, Red blood cells are powered by ATP. Quick note; when oxygen binds to iron it is known as oxhemoglobin and when oxygen departs from iron it is known as deoxyhemoglobin.

wow

As we gather our books to leave, I noticed that the classroom was fairly quiet. We had just had an hour long lecture primarily about the heart. It was awesome! It is absolutely amazing how are heart works. Just think about it, or not. Without any effort or thought exerted are heart is constantly pumping blood out to are extremities only to be brought back to be re oxygenated. It surely is an amazing process! Good luck to all this week. I think we are going to need it.