The Urinary System

Upon hearing from my teacher that tea and coffee are diuretics, meaning stimulates peeing, I was curious as to why that was. So I don't have a terribly specific question, rather, what can I learn about this?
The first interesting thing I discovered is that there are many websites and blogs dedicated to tea alone. But among these, I gathered many interesting facts on tea as a possible diuretic. 
Tea leaves that contain caffeine have diuretic properties, however, in order to experience diuretic effects one would have to drink enough cups of tea to take in 300 mg of caffeine which would be roughly 6 cups of regular caffeinated tea, according to these sites. 

http://theteamaestro.blogspot.ca/2012/03/does-drinking-tea-produce-diuretic.html

http://www.yourteahq.com/diuretic-tea/


While there are clear negative effects of ingesting too many foods with diuretic properties (such as dehydration), diuretics may be helpful in lowering high blood pressure and promoting the urinary system to excrete toxins in the blood. 
In fact, diuretic pills are used to help people with illnesses such as edema.

http://www.yourteahq.com/diureticgreentea/





















While tea may have many health benefits, the caffeine in the leaves can have diuretic effects, so when it comes to tea, there does exist the idea of having too much of a good thing. 

Nephrons

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bbR78OGg1c

We'll let the video do all the talking.


Created by Jamie and myself.

Playland!

After completing the respiratory and cardiovascular systems unit, we went on a field trip to Playland to further study these systems on a more personal level (as if dissecting a heart was not personal enough). Like the good little lab rats we are, we've discovered many different physical reactions that occur in an amusement park and take place in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems... and even in the digestive system. 

For example, while waiting in line for Playland's famous wooden roller coaster, our hearts were steady, though slightly faster from the excitement (and the speed walk across the park). This was much a different story when we finally planted our butts into the seats and the single metal bar that was to be the only thing preventing us from falling out, lowered and sealed our fate. And while we may have thought our pulse could not be faster than it was at the top of the first hill, we were proven wrong many, many times. By the end of the ride, with watery eyes, racing hearts, sweaty palms and brilliant smiles we had survived the physical turmoil of the wooden roller coaster. 

Little did we know, that there was much more to come.

As part of the 'fight or flight' tactic built into humans, when we approached and ended the roller coaster, our heart rate increased due to fear or stress. Something that no reasoning in our minds of only the most professional engineers having been chosen to construct the roller coaster could override. 

As a result, our hearts began to pump more blood and our nerves began to prepare for a swift response. 

Some other reactions included- but were not limited to- sweaty palms at the sight of the Hellovater, dizzy feelings from the Atmosphere, and that wonderful queasy 

Oh, and there was and unfortunate case of vomiting brought on by the amusement park food (but I won't name names).

As far as breathing rate goes, I felt I remained fairly consistent. 

I Spy, with my little eye, Ms. Phillips photo bombing...

Heart attack

What is a heart attack, how is it caused, and how can it be treated or prevented?
This site,
http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_condition_info_details.asp?channel_id=1055&disease_id=163&relation_id=17519
Offers a very detailed explanation of what exactly a heart attack is.
When the myocardium, which is the muscle that pumps the heart does not receive oxygen because a blot clot in an artery is preventing the flow of blood.
Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath as well as chest pain. These are signs that may lead up to a heart attack.
Irregular heart beats are also very common and may lead to death, such as when the left ventricle does not properly pump blood to the body.
Fun fact; less severe heart attacks can often be mistaken for heart burn.
This website,
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/heartattack/causes.html
Explains causes such as drug use, stress, smoking and of course poor diet that can lead to heart attacks.


And this site also shows an interesting video showing the two main causes.





While I understood that clogged arteries is often a cause of heart attacks, I was interested to discover that it is the coronary arteries (the arteries on the surface of the heart supplying blood to the muscle itself) that may cause this disruption of the heart's rhythm.

Circulation

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QTDf8PKyalU

Here is the link to our video explaining how blood flows through a four chambered heart. Created by myself and Evelyn G.

Collapsed Lung

Collapsed Lung
Today, we delve into the mucus-covered world of lungs. I've searched far and wide, to the furthest reaches of the internet to answer lingering questions surrounding the topic of a COLLAPSED LUNG.
What, pray tell, is a collapsed lung?
In accordance with this site, a collapsed lung is a collection of air in the space around your lungs which prevents the lung from expanding to the size of a normal breath, which, by the way is 500 ml. of air.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000087.htm

You may be wondering how can such a thing occur. Well, should the lung become punctured in some way, air would escape from it into the thoracic cavity, which is bad. Even worse, a spontaneous pneumothorax can occur, which is when lung collapse occurs out of the blue, without any evident cause.
Some people who are more prone to lung collapse are those with asthma, smokers, and very thin people.
Tell-Tale signs of this ailment range from sharp chest pains and shortness of breath to more extreme symptoms as changing of skin colour caused by lack of oxygen and rapid heart rate.
You can, however be tested and treated for these symptoms.

http://drugline.org/img/ail/102_103_3.jpg

http://benich.com/files/LAM.jpg

This Youtube video does a great job of explaining causes and symptoms of a collapsed lung.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-sZzZ4TMnY

Spirometer and Lung Capacity

After measuring our vital capacity through the use of a spirometer, our class got a variety of readings ranging from 2-5, or 2000-5000. My vital capacity reading was 3700 which represents 3.7 gallons of air that my lungs are capable of holding.
 I think the lung capacity of each person is often a good reflection of their physical health. People who exercise regularly will have a better lung capacity, especially if their sport of choice is swimming. Someone with a history of swimming and exercising their lung capacity would likely have a greater reading on the spirometer. There are other ways to expand your lung capacity such as through concentrated breathing exercises, which is all but synonymous to playing a wind instrument. I think that my years of playing clarinet were beneficial to me in this exercise. Another sizable factor is just that - size. The taller the person, the larger their lungs thus allowing more air capacity.
Avg. spirometer readings:
Girl at age 17: 2750
Boy at age 17: 4100
The average person's regular breath is 500 mls. However, we breathe deeper while exercising or experiencing increased heart rate. The opposite is true for times when our heart rate is slower, such as while sleeping.
Breathing out forcefully is different from regular exhalation because when we exhale naturally, that is our diaphragm relaxing and contracting. When exhaling forcefully muscles such as the abdomen contract creating pressure in the thoracic cavity which pushes air out.

False Lung Diagram

Edit

Inspiration in our respiratory system refers to taking in air into our lungs, which is the opposite of expiration. The diaphragm, when it contracts within the thoracic cavity, creates a suction forcing the lungs to expand and fill with air. Expiration occurs when the diaphragm muscle relaxes, forcing air out.

Interim report- March 6th

An experience in this class in which I felt successful. The feeling of pleasant surprise when I saw I did better on the first test of the semester than I had thought. And I dare say that I think my digestive system T-shirt was a success! Oh, and I think I speak on behalf of Evelyn and I when I say that we're proud of our mind map poster.
My work habits. I've kept up to date with all the assignments and handed everything in onetime such as the t-shirt assignment and poster. As well, keep my binder organized.
Collaborative working. As a group, our little corner of the classroom help one another and work together. During labs we pick groups that can work well together And for the group project for the digestive system unit, Evelyn and I stayed focused on our project and worked efficiently.
My goals for biology 12. Naturally, the first thing that comes to mind is that I want to end strong and with a good mark, but I also took this class because I'm interested in this study and I want to learn about biology. To do this I'll need to keep my effort consistent and put in a good amount of effort throughout the semester.

Feb. 18th

On Friday we completed a lab testing different food samples for the presence of lipids, starch and simple sugars. You can post your observation pictures and results chart(s) to your blog and then work on the following lab questions to post as well.

1. Describe a positive result for each of the tests that you performed in the lab.
      Lipids: butter tested positive as it left a greasy residue on the paper.
Carbohydrates: apple tested positive when the sample mixed with Benedicts solution was heated and turned an opaque orange.
Starch: bread mixed with a few drops of iodine showed it's true colours and turned a deep purple.

 
2. Starch molecules are large carbohydrate polymers. Find and post an image of the molecular structure of starch. What are the building blocks that starch molecules are made of?
      Starch molecules are made of two polysaccharides: amylose and amylopectin (which are made of glucose monomers).

STARCH! *

3. Thomas and Josh had interesting results to their simple sugar test - if you are following either of their blogs, look at their picture of their test tubes after they took them out of the hot water bath.
After 2 minutes, only 2 of the test tubes were yellow/orange, and the rest remained blue. They took the two positive test tubes out of the hot water bath and left the others in the hot water bath for 2 more minutes. At the end of the two extra minutes all the test tubes indicated a positive result. Based on your knowledge of carbohydrate molecules, why do you think they got these results?
     The single sugars such as glucose and fructose were able to break apart after two minutes, whereas it took longer to the polysaccharides to break their bonds in the Benedicts solution.

4. Making connections - Describe the passage of one of your food items through the digestive system, starting with the mouth & ending at the anus. Include the specific enzymes, accessory organ secretions & internal conditions the food/chyme would pass through from start to finish.
   Welcome carbohydrates, one and all, to the human digestive system. Our first stop will be the mouth, wherein you will be greeted by salivary amylase created just for you by the salivary glands, which will break you into simple sugars as you are ripped into small pieces by the teeth and tongue. Next, you will pass through the trachea and esophagus and into the stomach. Here you may rest in a pool of hydrochloric acid for a short while before continuing on into the small intestine. You will encounter pancreatic amylase to help you through the process of hydrolysis (though you may not visit the pancreas itself as it is an accessory organ), as well as maltase and sucrase which will further divide you into single sugars glucose and fructose. Later, in the large intestine, you will be absorbed with the help of villi, into the blood stream. Oh, and any left overs will be excreted out the rectum and anus. Well, enjoy your stay!

* Image found at this address:
http://www.patana.ac.th/secondary/science/ibtopics/ib%20human(05)/pages/5.1.htm

Feb 4th

Today we watched in awe as a the laws of gravity were supposedly defied by the mighty hydrogen bonds.

After watching this video....    http://www.youtube.com/watchv=7ctaA2mERzI&feature=player_embedded

we remain convinced that this is a falsity! 

Hydrgen bonds found in H2O, can only withstand so much before gravity takes hold. We became experts on this subject after yesterday's experiment wherein we dropped this magnificent compound onto an ordinary penny one tedious drop at a time. In this endeavour, we found that a small bubble of roughly 20-30 drops of water formed before it's collapse. It is for this reason that we find this video to be slightly... very exaggerated. An ordinary cup of water would not be able to hold its shape once the cup was removed, that's one of the defining aspects of a liquid. 

Sincerely, scientist Evelyn and Scientist Adrielle.

This will hereby be my biology 12 blog. Biology is the study of living things. I suppose that's why I'm here.
Well, that's all for now,
good day.