Unit 3 Reflection

Content Reflection

Last year in AP Biology, we touched on the pulmonary veins and its molecular significance of being a specific part. In this unit of Anatomy and Physiology, we learned about the circulatory system's functions and main parts. Major components of the circulatory system include the heart, network of tubes, and blood. Accessory organs include lungs, kidneys, and intestines. Blood pressure is a measure of the force exerted on the wall of the arteries. Blood pressure includes systolic pressure (result of the contraction of the ventricles) and diastolic pressure (result of ventricle relaxation). Blood pressure varies with weight, race, mood, activity level, and posture. 

The human heart has three layers of wall: epicardium, myocardium, and endocardium. There are four hollow chambers of the heart: the right atria, right ventricle, left atria, and left ventricle. The atria and ventricles are separated by the interventricular septum, which divides the heart longitudinally. The pericardium of the heart lubricates the heart so that there is less friction. The four chambers of the heart are used to receive and discharge blood and carbon dioxide. The SA node is found in the right atrium and is one of the reasons our heart pumps regularly. When impulses move from the SA node to the AV node, the heart contracts. The cardiac cycle is the systole and diastole of both atria and both ventricles. 

The arteries carry blood from the heart while capillaries connect arterioles to venules. Capillaries have thin walls and exchange gases between the blood and body. A thin weakened section of a blood vessel wall can cause an aneurysm. It can be treated with a stent graft inserted through the femoral artery. Atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque in the arteries, can be prevented by eating less fats in a diet. 

Sickle cell anemia, which got its name from the shape of the blood cell, results in an inadequate amount of oxygen provided to the body. Healthy red blood cells have no nucleus or genetic material. Neutrophils are active phagocytes that ingest bacteria. Basophils stimulate inflammation by releasing histamines. Eosinophils fight parasitic worms and inactivate inflammatory chemicals. Monocytes destroy more microbes than neutrophils. Platelets are cell fragments and initiate chain reactions that leads to blood clotting. 

Heart attacks, caused by atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, results in reduced blood flow. Cardiac arrest occurs when there is an electrical malfunction. There are two types of cholesterol, LDL (which sticks to arteries) and HDL (which cleans up the LDL). Angiography is when dye is injected in order to determine the issue. Echocardiograms produce images of the heart with sound waves. Hemorrhagic strokes occur when an artery in the brain bursts while ischemic strokes occur when an artery supplying the brain becomes blocked. 

The nose contains the sinuses, which are air pockets in the skull bones. The pharynx is the passageway for food and air. The lungs are air sacks and contain the aveolar sac, which contains the alveoli. The larynx contains the epiglottis and is the voice box. Chronic bronchitis is the inflammation of the bronchioles with increased mucous production. 

Reflect on your learning process and self growth 

I believe that I work better in group environments when it comes to studying or remembering terms. I still find the memorization of the heart terminology to be very difficult, but that is only because my memory is weak. I did worse this unit because I failed to create more study guides to supplement my classroom knowledge. 

This unit, I was able to sleep more due to the outlining of my goals. When I realized my problem, I worked towards solving it by finishing homework earlier and studying in advance. My diet is still fairly poor due to lack of change in this area, but I will work on this long term goal for the future.