Digestive System

Our body needs a lot of nutrients and the digestive system is the one who delivers the nutrients throughout the body. It is the one responsible for the breaking down of food to convert it into energy and distribute or provides nutrients in all the parts of the body. Other functions of the digestive system is to absorb the digested molecules and eliminate wastes inside our body. The parts of the digestive system is the oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small & large intestine, liver and pancreas. Each of these organs has an enzyme that breaks down the small particles of the food into a very small molecules which are absorbed into the circulation and transported all over the body. Some of these enzymes are the salivary amylase which breaks down starch in the mouth, Pepsin which breaks down covalent bonds from proteins to form a smaller peptide chains, Peptidases which breaks down peptide bonds in proteins to form amino acids, and others.

Nutrition is the process by which food is taken into and used by the body. Our body needs nutrients which provides energy and building blocks for new molecules in the body. There are essential nutrients which are nutrients that must be ingested by the body because our body cannot manufacture them. Our body needs carbohydrates, some lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals.

GRADES AREN'T EVERYTHING, LEARNING IS (PART 2)

                On the 10^th chapter we have discussed about the endocrine system where we have learned about the different hormones produced by our body to maintain homeostasis. We also have learned the different diseases that may result due to the overproduction or less production of each hormone. Such example of this is the production of thyroid hormone, if less of it is synthesized and secreted, TSH-releasing hormone and TSH secretion increases above normal level and thus causes an enlargement of the thyroid gland.

From chapter 11 to 13 the discussion covered everything about the circulatory system. Our professor tackled about the Blood which he explained the history of red blood cells and how it is produced in response to decreased oxygen in our body. He discussed on the composition of blood and how some of the components of it prevent blood loss. He also focused on the blood grouping specifically the ABO Group and RH Group and the possibilities that may occur if possessing such blood type. We also did an experiment on our lab to determine our blood types. The discussion on the heart didn’t take that much long because he just taught us about the flow of the blood in the heart  to the pulmonary then back to the heart then the circulation of blood into our tissues. The discussion on the blood vessels was more on the location and the function of each whether to drain or supply blood to a specific organ.

Chapter 14 was all about the lymphatic system and immunity. Our discussion focused on the production of antibodies against microorganisms that invade our bodies. We have learned about the innate and adaptive immunity and different classifications of white blood cells.

The focus on respiratory system was basically on the flow of air in our bodies being affected by the pressure inside and how then it is being secreted.

On digestive system we have discussed about the breakdown of food from the moment we ingest it and learned different new terms such as mastication and deglutition.

On Chapter 17 the topic was all about nutrition and metabolism. It was more on the different essential nutrients that we must take in and must maintain in order to proceed in our daily living activities.

 On Chapter 18, our professor tackled about the formation and filtration of urine in our kidneys. He also focused on the structure of the functional unit of the kidney – NEPHRON and the regulation of extracellular fluid composition such as the Thirst Regulation and Ion Concentration Regulation.

The last part of our lecture covered the reproductive system and discussed on the formation of different gametes and structures of both male and female reproductive organs. Half of the reproductive also focused on the Development of an organism from a zygote to fetus and characteristics formed during different stages of development.