this week we skinned her face and took out rose's eyeball. we have literally dissected every other part of her body and yet i felt invasive and shy when it was time to use tools on her eyeball. it took about 20 minutes to get the eye out of the socket. i was surprised how robust the eye muscles are, how deep the socket is, and how much fat is behind the eyeball. it makes sense that there is so much structure and protection for the eyeball, though. it is our most important sense, in terms of survival.
speaking of survival, i got to thinking about the optic chiasm and couldn't remember why the nerves cross, so i looked it up. at the optic chiasm, nerve fibers from half of each retina cross over to the opposite side of the brain. the fibers from the other half of the retina travel to the same side of the brain. because of this junction, each half of the brain received visual signals from the visual fields of both eyes. this is a great evolutionary benefit for humans because vision is so important for our survival.
11.17.2011
tea, please!
with the days getting shorter, darker and colder i find myself craving tea several times per day. i love the way it warms my shivering body, the smells that steam out of the mug, and the way it brings people together. fortunately, there are also some wonderful health benefits of tea.
1) tea contains antioxidants - it protects our bodies from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution
2) tea has less caffeine than coffee - avoid jitters, indigestion, and headaches
3) tea may reduce your risk of heart attack - keeps arteries smooth and clog-free
4) tea protects your bones - may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals
5) tea gives you a sweet smile - contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay, skip the sugar
6) tea bolsters your immune defenses - causes higher immune system activity in the blood
7) tea helps keep you hydrated - although it is a diuretic, it counts toward the daily fluid requirement
8) tea is calorie-free - as long as you don't add sweetener or milk
i'm so thrilled it is tea season again!!
1) tea contains antioxidants - it protects our bodies from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution
2) tea has less caffeine than coffee - avoid jitters, indigestion, and headaches
3) tea may reduce your risk of heart attack - keeps arteries smooth and clog-free
4) tea protects your bones - may be the work of tea's many beneficial phytochemicals
5) tea gives you a sweet smile - contains fluoride and tannins that may keep plaque at bay, skip the sugar
6) tea bolsters your immune defenses - causes higher immune system activity in the blood
7) tea helps keep you hydrated - although it is a diuretic, it counts toward the daily fluid requirement
8) tea is calorie-free - as long as you don't add sweetener or milk
i'm so thrilled it is tea season again!!
where is healthcare going?
as i explore my career possibilities in the wellness field, i am continuously hearing the phrase "integrative medicine is the future of health care." this is great news because i would like to study western biomedicine, eastern chinese medicine, yoga, nutrition, public health, culinary arts, etc, and teach people how to eat, move and be happy!
so of course i was surprised when i learned this morning that walmart wants to be in the healthcare business. npr reported that walmart "wants to dominate a growing part of the healthcare market, offering a range of medical services from basic prevention to management of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease". it started with little quick care clinics and now they want to do chronic disease management. i wonder if it is going to work. walmart is good at what they do; they sell cheap wares because they squeeze suppliers with bulk purchasing. how that carries over to healthcare is beyond me but if anyone can pull it off it would be them. it is reported that they intend to build a national, integrated, low-cost primary care healthcare platform and become the largest provider of primary healthcare services in the nation. in a shopping super store? i won't hold my breath.
so of course i was surprised when i learned this morning that walmart wants to be in the healthcare business. npr reported that walmart "wants to dominate a growing part of the healthcare market, offering a range of medical services from basic prevention to management of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease". it started with little quick care clinics and now they want to do chronic disease management. i wonder if it is going to work. walmart is good at what they do; they sell cheap wares because they squeeze suppliers with bulk purchasing. how that carries over to healthcare is beyond me but if anyone can pull it off it would be them. it is reported that they intend to build a national, integrated, low-cost primary care healthcare platform and become the largest provider of primary healthcare services in the nation. in a shopping super store? i won't hold my breath.
a chinese winter
the ancient chinese believed that human beings should live in harmony with the natural cycles of their environment. the cold and darkness of winter urges us to slow down. this is the time of year to reflect on our health, replenish our energy, and conserve our strength.
winter is yin in nature; it is inactive, cold, and damp. remain introspective, restful, and consolidate your qi through the season and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring.
“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.” - Huangdi Neijing Suwen
it is fascinating to learn about how different cultures view health, sickness, seasons, and all life systems. this is what the chinese believe about winter...
winter is ruled by the water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands. according to the philosophy of traditional chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the source of all energy within the body. they store all of the reserve qi in the body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully. during the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney qi. it is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted. our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter — rest, reflection, conservation, and storage.
foods for winter. winter is a time when many people tend to reduce their activity. if that’s true for you, it’s wise to reduce the amount of food you eat, too, to avoid gaining weight unnecessarily. avoid raw foods during the winter as much as possible, as these tend to cool the body. during winter you should emphasize warming foods such as soups and stews, root vegetables, beans, miso and seasweed, and garlic and ginger. eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep us nourished.
sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.
winter is yin in nature; it is inactive, cold, and damp. remain introspective, restful, and consolidate your qi through the season and prepare for the outburst of new life and energy in the spring.
“The wise nourish life by flowing with the four seasons and adapting to cold or heat, by harmonizing joy and anger in a tranquil dwelling, by balancing yin and yang, and what is hard and soft. So it is that dissolute evil cannot reach the man of wisdom, and he will be witness to a long life.” - Huangdi Neijing Suwen
it is fascinating to learn about how different cultures view health, sickness, seasons, and all life systems. this is what the chinese believe about winter...
winter is ruled by the water element, which is associated with the kidneys, bladder, and adrenal glands. according to the philosophy of traditional chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the source of all energy within the body. they store all of the reserve qi in the body so that it can be used in times of stress and change, or to heal, prevent illness, and age gracefully. during the winter months it is important to nurture and nourish our kidney qi. it is the time where this energy can be most easily depleted. our bodies are instinctively expressing the fundamental principles of winter — rest, reflection, conservation, and storage.
foods for winter. winter is a time when many people tend to reduce their activity. if that’s true for you, it’s wise to reduce the amount of food you eat, too, to avoid gaining weight unnecessarily. avoid raw foods during the winter as much as possible, as these tend to cool the body. during winter you should emphasize warming foods such as soups and stews, root vegetables, beans, miso and seasweed, and garlic and ginger. eating warm hearty soups, whole grains, and roasted nuts help to warm the body’s core and to keep us nourished.
sleep early, rest well, stay warm, and expend a minimum quantity of energy.
chinese medicine
i am fortunate to have met several chinese medicine practitioners in town, and that they all love to teach. it has been an eye-opening experience to discuss a totally different method of health care.
the practice of traditional chinese medicine (tcm) is based on a system unlike that used in western modern medicine. this model centers on the concept of qi, loosely translated as energy, and its effects on physiological function and health. tcm functions to promote the bodies ability to heal itself. it uses natural laws and energetic principles rooted in taoism with the application of needles, energy, and pressure to specific points on the body. each point provides a specific function in the body in regulating the free flow of vital energy for health and well-being.
when most people hear "chinese medicine," they think of acupuncture, but there are many different facets to the tcm system. the holistic and homeopathic treatments used in tcm include massage, stress-reduction, acupuncture, exercise, cupping, lifestyle change, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. i am most interested in the herbs for a variety of reasons. i like that they come from the earth. i like that they each have a purpose, but can be (and are usually) taken in combination with other herbs. i like that they can be acquired in raw bulk, granules or capsules. and i like that i will never know all of the herbs and their purposes because of the immense amount of information available and developing.
i am anxious to learn more about chinese medicine as well as a variety of other wellness-focused curricula. i am so fascinated with the body and i want to ensure that me, my family and my community are taking care of ourselves to the best of our ability.
the practice of traditional chinese medicine (tcm) is based on a system unlike that used in western modern medicine. this model centers on the concept of qi, loosely translated as energy, and its effects on physiological function and health. tcm functions to promote the bodies ability to heal itself. it uses natural laws and energetic principles rooted in taoism with the application of needles, energy, and pressure to specific points on the body. each point provides a specific function in the body in regulating the free flow of vital energy for health and well-being.
when most people hear "chinese medicine," they think of acupuncture, but there are many different facets to the tcm system. the holistic and homeopathic treatments used in tcm include massage, stress-reduction, acupuncture, exercise, cupping, lifestyle change, moxibustion, and herbal medicine. i am most interested in the herbs for a variety of reasons. i like that they come from the earth. i like that they each have a purpose, but can be (and are usually) taken in combination with other herbs. i like that they can be acquired in raw bulk, granules or capsules. and i like that i will never know all of the herbs and their purposes because of the immense amount of information available and developing.
i am anxious to learn more about chinese medicine as well as a variety of other wellness-focused curricula. i am so fascinated with the body and i want to ensure that me, my family and my community are taking care of ourselves to the best of our ability.
10.27.2011
diet
when did "diet" become a scary word? diet is simply a word to describe the foods and drinks we put into our mouths. because people have prescribed to strict diets, made unreasonable food restrictions, and become obsessed with body image, we live in a world where the word "diet" is scary.
but food should be fun and enjoyable and delicious. we should eat with family and friends, we should eat local and we should not be afraid of or worry about food so much.
on the other hand, there are real risks related to our relationship with food. many diseases are linked to the petrochemicals which are sprayed on our food, large feed lots require a disproportionate amount of our limited resources, and many diseases list "obesity" as a risk factor. in order to have the healthiest planet and species possible, we all need to think more about the food we eat in order to lower our impact on the earth and our hearts...
obesity is reaching crisis levels in much of the developed world. according to the cdc, one third of adults in the us are obese and another third are overweight. although weight loss can be described using a simple formula of calories in < calories out, it is much a more complicated equation when we consider all of the variables. marketing, convenience, and price are all major factors when people make food choices. many factors contribute to the problem of obesity and many people can avoid obesity with simple lifestyle changes. rather than throw yourself on the mercy of some diet guru and adopt a very restricted diet program, it would be far better to adopt a few lifestyle changes that you can incorporate into your daily life without much effort. looking at our own behaviors is where we need to start. and recognizing how we feel about food and how we let cravings dictate how we eat will go a long way to giving us clues about stopping the obesity epidemic.
people will always look for the quick fix and there seems to be an insatiable appetite for pills, potions, diet programs and anything that promises to help you shed pounds quickly and without any apparent effort. the weight didn't arrive overnight, so we can't expect to lose it in a short time without moderating diet and exercise.
but food should be fun and enjoyable and delicious. we should eat with family and friends, we should eat local and we should not be afraid of or worry about food so much.
on the other hand, there are real risks related to our relationship with food. many diseases are linked to the petrochemicals which are sprayed on our food, large feed lots require a disproportionate amount of our limited resources, and many diseases list "obesity" as a risk factor. in order to have the healthiest planet and species possible, we all need to think more about the food we eat in order to lower our impact on the earth and our hearts...
obesity is reaching crisis levels in much of the developed world. according to the cdc, one third of adults in the us are obese and another third are overweight. although weight loss can be described using a simple formula of calories in < calories out, it is much a more complicated equation when we consider all of the variables. marketing, convenience, and price are all major factors when people make food choices. many factors contribute to the problem of obesity and many people can avoid obesity with simple lifestyle changes. rather than throw yourself on the mercy of some diet guru and adopt a very restricted diet program, it would be far better to adopt a few lifestyle changes that you can incorporate into your daily life without much effort. looking at our own behaviors is where we need to start. and recognizing how we feel about food and how we let cravings dictate how we eat will go a long way to giving us clues about stopping the obesity epidemic.
people will always look for the quick fix and there seems to be an insatiable appetite for pills, potions, diet programs and anything that promises to help you shed pounds quickly and without any apparent effort. the weight didn't arrive overnight, so we can't expect to lose it in a short time without moderating diet and exercise.
10.19.2011
human genome
how does the human genome compare to that of a worm or a fruit fly?
"The relevance of the fruit fly to the human genome project reflects the remarkable conservation among genes in different animals. The fly genome, which was sequenced in the year 2001, is 165 million base pairs in length (spread over four chromosomes) and contains approximately 14 000 genes.
i think it is unimaginable that the human genome only has 3-4 times as many genes as the fruit fly! we are "so complex" compared to a fly. and yet the human has about 30,000-40,000 genes compared to the fruit fly which has 13,600. it was estimated that the human genome would have 80,000-100,000 genes. but this illustrates that size does not necessarily correlate with complexity. a fruit fly is actually a complex organism, with a nervous system, a digestive system, a muscular system, eyes, legs, and a kind of external skeleton. in addition, fruit flies have wings and antennae, which humans do not. when we consider the tremendous amount of biological complexity in those 13,600 genes, perhaps it is surprising that humans have so many more genes than the fruit fly.
"The relevance of the fruit fly to the human genome project reflects the remarkable conservation among genes in different animals. The fly genome, which was sequenced in the year 2001, is 165 million base pairs in length (spread over four chromosomes) and contains approximately 14 000 genes.
The human genome contains 3-4 times as many genes but most of these are thought to have arisen by two rounds of genome doubling during the evolution of vertebrates. Therefore, humans have more genes than flies but about the same number of gene families. Since it is easy to create mutants and carry out experiments on fruit flies, the functions of many fly genes have been established.
The relationship between fly and human genes is so close that the sequences of newly discovered human genes, including disease genes, can often be matched against their fly counterparts. This provides a lead towards the function of the human gene and could help in the development of effective drugs."
-Richard Twyman (http://genome.wellcome.ac.uk/doc_WTD020807.html)
i think it is unimaginable that the human genome only has 3-4 times as many genes as the fruit fly! we are "so complex" compared to a fly. and yet the human has about 30,000-40,000 genes compared to the fruit fly which has 13,600. it was estimated that the human genome would have 80,000-100,000 genes. but this illustrates that size does not necessarily correlate with complexity. a fruit fly is actually a complex organism, with a nervous system, a digestive system, a muscular system, eyes, legs, and a kind of external skeleton. in addition, fruit flies have wings and antennae, which humans do not. when we consider the tremendous amount of biological complexity in those 13,600 genes, perhaps it is surprising that humans have so many more genes than the fruit fly.
10.18.2011
anatomy of a cow
in preparation for my hunt, i watched a few videos about dressing an elk in the field, including skinning and de-boning. i find it fascinating that so many people are comfortable with the idea of hunting and harvesting an animal, but are uncomfortable with the idea of investigating the human body on a cadaver. there are a lot of similarities between the two, but it feels so different.
this lab experience gives be a more intimate knowledge of what parts of an animal i am eating. i can actually visualize the rump roast or the backstrap because i have made incisions in those areas on a body. it is a weird thing to compare, i know, but i like knowing where my meat comes from and this takes it to a whole new level.
i also have a more thorough understanding of massage; i can picture the direction of each muscle fiber and i can imagine myelin sheath being stripped during neuromuscular massage. and during acupuncture i can imagine the depth of the needle and which organ or muscle it contacts. i like that this lab experience has shed new light on other parts of my life.
this lab experience gives be a more intimate knowledge of what parts of an animal i am eating. i can actually visualize the rump roast or the backstrap because i have made incisions in those areas on a body. it is a weird thing to compare, i know, but i like knowing where my meat comes from and this takes it to a whole new level.
i also have a more thorough understanding of massage; i can picture the direction of each muscle fiber and i can imagine myelin sheath being stripped during neuromuscular massage. and during acupuncture i can imagine the depth of the needle and which organ or muscle it contacts. i like that this lab experience has shed new light on other parts of my life.
9.27.2011
imaging
unfortunately, i missed week 5 because i was in portlandia. fortunately, i got to attend my cousin's wedding and camp on the oregon coast!
my left knee has been aching on and off for about 8 weeks now. at first, it hurt for a few days and then felt fine for a few days. there was nothing specific that provoked it except direct massage. i could bike or drive to work, and there was no difference. i could ice it and take ibuprofen for short term relief when it hurt. i chose to treat the pain with massages and acupuncture. neither gave full relief. while i was in portland, a physical therapist loosely diagnosed a torn meniscus and suggested that an mri is needed to determine the severity. i went back to my chinese medicine practitioner yesterday to ask what acupuncture and herbs can do for a torn meniscus. tears and breaks are, unfortunately, not easily treated with chinese medicine. today i went to an orthopedic surgeon and he thinks it is a vascular tumor. he also suggests an mri for a better diagnosis. i scheduled an mri with gadolinium contrast. i am interested in how the "gad" affects the image.
it is one of the most commonly used contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (mri). it is usually injected into the body and is quickly excreted through the filtration of the kidneys. the fda declared gadolinium safe for use in mri scans in 1998 to provide greater detail when viewing the brain and connective tissues such as spinal discs, cartilage, scar tissue, soft tissue tears, tumors, etc. after gadolinium is injected, it surrounds the abnormal tissues creating an enhanced view of even the slightest abnormality. it creates a "glowing" effect within the body allowing technicians to see problem areas in very specific ways, especially location and size. the side effects include burning at the site of injection, mild nausea and headache.
my left knee has been aching on and off for about 8 weeks now. at first, it hurt for a few days and then felt fine for a few days. there was nothing specific that provoked it except direct massage. i could bike or drive to work, and there was no difference. i could ice it and take ibuprofen for short term relief when it hurt. i chose to treat the pain with massages and acupuncture. neither gave full relief. while i was in portland, a physical therapist loosely diagnosed a torn meniscus and suggested that an mri is needed to determine the severity. i went back to my chinese medicine practitioner yesterday to ask what acupuncture and herbs can do for a torn meniscus. tears and breaks are, unfortunately, not easily treated with chinese medicine. today i went to an orthopedic surgeon and he thinks it is a vascular tumor. he also suggests an mri for a better diagnosis. i scheduled an mri with gadolinium contrast. i am interested in how the "gad" affects the image.
it is one of the most commonly used contrast agents used in magnetic resonance imaging (mri). it is usually injected into the body and is quickly excreted through the filtration of the kidneys. the fda declared gadolinium safe for use in mri scans in 1998 to provide greater detail when viewing the brain and connective tissues such as spinal discs, cartilage, scar tissue, soft tissue tears, tumors, etc. after gadolinium is injected, it surrounds the abnormal tissues creating an enhanced view of even the slightest abnormality. it creates a "glowing" effect within the body allowing technicians to see problem areas in very specific ways, especially location and size. the side effects include burning at the site of injection, mild nausea and headache.
9.25.2011
breathe and beat
on week 4 we started class with an oral practical to test our knowledge of the back, arm, and brachial areas. it is amazing how easy it is to remember dozens of structures after spending time dissecting them.
human life is sustained, in large part, by our heart and lungs. one could argue, both physically and emotionally. so it was a powerful experience to hold her heart and lungs in my hands.
first, we removed rose's right lung. interestingly, there were two places that the lung was attached by an adhesion to the pericardial wall. this was unfortunate because the purpose of a serous membrane is to prevent adhesions from forming so that organs may move freely. i don't know what caused these adhesions, but i can imagine that they were not comfortable. when we finally pulled out her lung, we were surprised that the majority of her lung was in her posterior thorax because of her kyphosis. the body is so adaptable! in this case, i imagine she felt like she couldn't get a full breath, that she was a shallow breather because her lungs were so far posterior. also, her lungs were partially black as if she had smoked (or inhaled second hand smoke) for years, so perhaps she had difficulty breathing because of her degraded lung tissue.
next, we removed her heart from the pericardial sac, maintaining as much structure as possible so that other students can learn about the heart first hand. we were able to maintain the sac, the aortic arch, and several places where we can see and feel atherosclerosis. when i held her heart i felt overwhelmed with gratitude and powerful energy. this is a very special gift that we have received.
these two important organs are given a lot of credit in our daily lives - from breathing techniques in yoga to a broken heart when a loved one is lost. and they work together to maintain human life. the lungs exchange gas in pulmonary ventilation, or breathing. the lungs and blood exchange gas in pulmonary diffusion. the heart, lungs, and all of the adjoining blood vessels work together to keep the circulatory system healthy and working efficiently to sustain life. they are interdependent. the heart pumps blood, the lungs deliver oxygen, the blood vessels carry the required blood and nutrients to keep the heart and lungs going. and i was able to hold a human heart and a human lung!
human life is sustained, in large part, by our heart and lungs. one could argue, both physically and emotionally. so it was a powerful experience to hold her heart and lungs in my hands.
first, we removed rose's right lung. interestingly, there were two places that the lung was attached by an adhesion to the pericardial wall. this was unfortunate because the purpose of a serous membrane is to prevent adhesions from forming so that organs may move freely. i don't know what caused these adhesions, but i can imagine that they were not comfortable. when we finally pulled out her lung, we were surprised that the majority of her lung was in her posterior thorax because of her kyphosis. the body is so adaptable! in this case, i imagine she felt like she couldn't get a full breath, that she was a shallow breather because her lungs were so far posterior. also, her lungs were partially black as if she had smoked (or inhaled second hand smoke) for years, so perhaps she had difficulty breathing because of her degraded lung tissue.
next, we removed her heart from the pericardial sac, maintaining as much structure as possible so that other students can learn about the heart first hand. we were able to maintain the sac, the aortic arch, and several places where we can see and feel atherosclerosis. when i held her heart i felt overwhelmed with gratitude and powerful energy. this is a very special gift that we have received.
these two important organs are given a lot of credit in our daily lives - from breathing techniques in yoga to a broken heart when a loved one is lost. and they work together to maintain human life. the lungs exchange gas in pulmonary ventilation, or breathing. the lungs and blood exchange gas in pulmonary diffusion. the heart, lungs, and all of the adjoining blood vessels work together to keep the circulatory system healthy and working efficiently to sustain life. they are interdependent. the heart pumps blood, the lungs deliver oxygen, the blood vessels carry the required blood and nutrients to keep the heart and lungs going. and i was able to hold a human heart and a human lung!
9.24.2011
arms
on week three, we dissected rose's arms. we are moving quickly through the dissection.
it was fascinating to see the capsule of fascia that surrounds all of the forearm muscles. all of the muscles are held together by this white connective tissue which is unyielding to the muscles underneath. if a forearm muscle swells it can be extremely painful because the capsule doesn't allow for expansion.
if someone were to ask me about pain in their forearm, i could now explain it this way...
the forearms rely on the coordinated movements that happen between the flexor muscles (posterior) and the extensor muscles (anterior). in many cases, the muscles on one side of the forearms get overworked and begin to bind (the muscles "glue themselves together") to support one another through the strain. these adhesions are the main source of forearm pain. and these side-by-side muscles begin to act like one big muscle rather than smaller, more action-specific muscles. this leads to extreme fatigue and the chance for more serious injury. adhesions also prevent muscles from relaxing and lengthening fully - they are in a constant state of contraction which results in tired, overworked muscles.
these types of adhesions can be prevented by avoiding repetitive movements, stretching after exercise, and practicing good technique when using the forearm muscles.
it was fascinating to see the capsule of fascia that surrounds all of the forearm muscles. all of the muscles are held together by this white connective tissue which is unyielding to the muscles underneath. if a forearm muscle swells it can be extremely painful because the capsule doesn't allow for expansion.
if someone were to ask me about pain in their forearm, i could now explain it this way...
the forearms rely on the coordinated movements that happen between the flexor muscles (posterior) and the extensor muscles (anterior). in many cases, the muscles on one side of the forearms get overworked and begin to bind (the muscles "glue themselves together") to support one another through the strain. these adhesions are the main source of forearm pain. and these side-by-side muscles begin to act like one big muscle rather than smaller, more action-specific muscles. this leads to extreme fatigue and the chance for more serious injury. adhesions also prevent muscles from relaxing and lengthening fully - they are in a constant state of contraction which results in tired, overworked muscles.
these types of adhesions can be prevented by avoiding repetitive movements, stretching after exercise, and practicing good technique when using the forearm muscles.
9.23.2011
further reflection
week two (august 30) of bio 203 was interesting as we got to see the sciatic nerve! although not in line with grant's dissector, it was a fascinating dissection and very interesting to palpate. surprisingly, it is approximately the same size as the spinal cord, which means that after it diverges from the spinal cord it gets larger, unlike most spinal nerves.
during our class time, we further dissected the back to clean superficial muscles and reflect intermediate and deep back muscles. next, we cleaned several structures in the suboccipital region. finally, we were able to cut the laminae of the vertebrae to reveal the spinal cord. this was fascinating! it took us at least an hour just to saw and chisel the laminae after they were exposed. it gave me a new appreciation for how protected our spinal cord is.
during our class time, we further dissected the back to clean superficial muscles and reflect intermediate and deep back muscles. next, we cleaned several structures in the suboccipital region. finally, we were able to cut the laminae of the vertebrae to reveal the spinal cord. this was fascinating! it took us at least an hour just to saw and chisel the laminae after they were exposed. it gave me a new appreciation for how protected our spinal cord is.
rose
august 23 was week one of bio 203.
we met our cadaver, who we named rose. i felt overwhelming gratitude to have such a special opportunity - both the immeasurable gift of her body to my education and the invitation to be a part of this small lab class.
within the first few minutes we noticed:
-she is an older woman, probably early 80's
-she has a 6" incision on her abdomen which is half taped closed and half sewn closed with a thick twine-like material
-she has a lot of fat, probably borders on overweight and obese
-she has an iv gauze and tape on her wrist
i am excited to learn more about how her disease and distress manifested in her physical body.
the first chapter in grant's dissector instructed us to start with her back. there were a lot of protocols and techniques to learn, but we had enough time to clean the surfaces of the superficial back muscles.
the most interesting thing i saw was the impact of her kyphosis. there is no way to tell (yet) if it is a result of a damaged vertebra or poor posture (or a combination). for now, we can determine that she had kyphosis for a long period of time because all of the tissues along her upper thoracic vertebrae (approximately T2-T4) has hardened to the point that it almost feels like bone on the surface. i can't wait to see what other effects we will see when we get into her thorax!
we met our cadaver, who we named rose. i felt overwhelming gratitude to have such a special opportunity - both the immeasurable gift of her body to my education and the invitation to be a part of this small lab class.
within the first few minutes we noticed:
-she is an older woman, probably early 80's
-she has a 6" incision on her abdomen which is half taped closed and half sewn closed with a thick twine-like material
-she has a lot of fat, probably borders on overweight and obese
-she has an iv gauze and tape on her wrist
i am excited to learn more about how her disease and distress manifested in her physical body.
the first chapter in grant's dissector instructed us to start with her back. there were a lot of protocols and techniques to learn, but we had enough time to clean the surfaces of the superficial back muscles.
the most interesting thing i saw was the impact of her kyphosis. there is no way to tell (yet) if it is a result of a damaged vertebra or poor posture (or a combination). for now, we can determine that she had kyphosis for a long period of time because all of the tissues along her upper thoracic vertebrae (approximately T2-T4) has hardened to the point that it almost feels like bone on the surface. i can't wait to see what other effects we will see when we get into her thorax!
8.29.2011
change of course
for the past several months i have been questioning 'nursing' as my career choice. i don't know that i want to be on the crisis management side of health care. i don't know that i want to experience disease and distress every day. i think i would rather be on the proactive, promotional side of health care. and isn't that what i am doing right now? when i encourage residents to ride more and educate people about bicycle maintenance, aren't i essentially a community health nurse? that begs the question: why would i go back to school to get back into this position?
anyway, i decided to apply for nursing school to buy myself some time to consider my decision. unfortunately, in august, i received a "regretful" letter from nursing school. after only 24 hours i had recovered from my disappointment and felt thankful for the opportunity to reconsider all of my options. when one opportunity ends, all others are possible again.
that led me to my current interest in chinese medicine. i can't wait to read books, interview practitioners, and learn more about the possibilities...
anyway, i decided to apply for nursing school to buy myself some time to consider my decision. unfortunately, in august, i received a "regretful" letter from nursing school. after only 24 hours i had recovered from my disappointment and felt thankful for the opportunity to reconsider all of my options. when one opportunity ends, all others are possible again.
that led me to my current interest in chinese medicine. i can't wait to read books, interview practitioners, and learn more about the possibilities...
4.25.2011
family time
it is estimated that 605,479 women get pregnant each day.
in a traditional pregnancy, hundreds of thousands of sperm swim achingly toward one egg. if successful, one sperm will penetrate the egg and start the pregnancy cycle.
but what if the couple who wants a baby is sterile? what if they are gay or lesbians? what if they don't want to have a traditional pregnancy?
artificial insemination is the least expensive option; it is the process by which sperm is inserted into the vagina or uterus.
in vitro fertilization involves combining egg cells and sperm cells outside the uterus. the fertilized egg is then implanted in the woman's uterus and, if successful, begins the pregnancy cycle. the first baby realized from this fertilization method was born in 1978.
in a traditional pregnancy, hundreds of thousands of sperm swim achingly toward one egg. if successful, one sperm will penetrate the egg and start the pregnancy cycle.
but what if the couple who wants a baby is sterile? what if they are gay or lesbians? what if they don't want to have a traditional pregnancy?
artificial insemination is the least expensive option; it is the process by which sperm is inserted into the vagina or uterus.
in vitro fertilization involves combining egg cells and sperm cells outside the uterus. the fertilized egg is then implanted in the woman's uterus and, if successful, begins the pregnancy cycle. the first baby realized from this fertilization method was born in 1978.
in vitro is sometimes used in tandem with surrogacy. a surrogate mother carries and delivers a baby for another couple or person. this woman may be the child's genetic mother or she may carry an embryo conceived from two other individuals.
adoption is another alternative in which a couple can take on all rights and responsibilities of a child from the original parent or parents.
perhaps one day, not too far off, doctors will be combining two human female eggs to make an embryo. wouldn't that be something?! they are already practicing this procedure with mice.
if none of these options don't work for a couple, they can always call the stork...
4.19.2011
we only have one liver
it is common knowledge that excessive alcohol consumption can result in serious liver damage. how does the disease develop?
first, it is not completely understood how alcohol damages the liver. researchers know that alcohol produces toxic chemicals which can damage liver cells, but don't know why this only occurs in a small percentage of people.
the stages of disease are well documented. first, alcoholism causes the development of large fat deposits throughout the liver and can cause liver enlargement. at this point strict abstinence can lead to a full recovery. second, scar tissue forms and causes liver fibrosis; recovery is possible, but the scar tissue will remain. amazingly, the liver has a tremendous ability to regenerate and even if up to 75% of the liver is damaged it will still function as normal. and finally, cirrhosis is the late stage of serious liver disease marked by inflammation, fibrosis and damaged membranes, ending in scarring and necrosis. the liver fails. this damage is irreversible.
be nice to your liver!
4.13.2011
energy!
the word 'metabolism' makes people think about weight loss, thyroid, diabetes, and nutrition. and these are inextricably linked to metabolism - they are all results of our metabolic process.
metabolism is the chemical process of converting food into energy. it allows organisms to grow, reproduce, maintain structure and respond to their environment. there are two steps in metabolism, catabolism and anabolism. these two processes work in tandem to balance the building up and breaking down of body tissues and energy stores for optimal body function.
when food is eaten, catabolism breaks down the organic material to produce energy. proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are digested into their respective subunits (or monomers) and are then processed by the cell to produce energy (acetly-coa). when the cell no longer needs energy, it is converted to fatty acids which are stored in adipose tissue.
metabolism is the chemical process of converting food into energy. it allows organisms to grow, reproduce, maintain structure and respond to their environment. there are two steps in metabolism, catabolism and anabolism. these two processes work in tandem to balance the building up and breaking down of body tissues and energy stores for optimal body function.
when food is eaten, catabolism breaks down the organic material to produce energy. proteins, fats, and carbohydrates are digested into their respective subunits (or monomers) and are then processed by the cell to produce energy (acetly-coa). when the cell no longer needs energy, it is converted to fatty acids which are stored in adipose tissue.
next, anabolism uses the energy liberated from catabolism to form more complex structures. it is divided into three steps: first, the production of the precursors, such as amino acids and nucleotides; second, their activation into reactive forms using energy from ATP; and third, their assembly into complex molecules such as proteins and nucleic acids. in brief, anabolism uses ATP to build complex molecules and stores the rest of the energy for later use.
in summary, metabolism is extremely important to our overall health. it is essential to every living organism and for humans it is an important component of weight management and thus disease prevention.
so we must ask ourselves...
4.06.2011
cystic fibrosis
cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disorder characterized by lung congestion and infection and malabsorption of nutrients by the pancreas. the genetic defect underlying cystic fibrosis disrupts the functioning of several organs by causing ducts or other tubes to become clogged, usually by thick, sticky mucus or other secretions.
airways - clogging and infection of bronchial passages impede breathing. the infections progressively destroy the lungs. lung disease accounts for most deaths from cystic fibrosis.
liver - plugging of small bile ducts impedes digestion and disrupts liver function in about 5% of patients.
pancreas - occlusion of ducts prevents te pancreas from delivering critical digestive enzymes to the bowel in 65% of patients. diabetes can result as well.
small intestine - obstruction of the gut by thick stool necessitates surgery in about 10% of newborns.
reproductive tract - absence of fine ducts, such as the vas deferans, renders 95% of males infertile. occasionally, women are made infertile by a dense plug of mucus that blocks sperm from entering the uterus.
skin - malfunctioning of sweat glands causes perspiration to contain excessive salt. measurement of chloride in sweat is a mainstay of diagnosis.
symptoms vary greatly, but can include salty tasting skin, constant coughing or wheezing, frequent and prolonged cases of pneumonia, excessive appetite, inability to gain weight, and bulky stools.
currently, there is no cure for cystic fibrosis. treatment is dependent upon the individual's specific symptoms and the stage of the disease. the cf gene was discovered in 1989 and research focusing on a cure, including gene therapy, has been ongoing since then. more effective treatments and medications are constantly being developed.
here is an image explaining gene therapy:
airways - clogging and infection of bronchial passages impede breathing. the infections progressively destroy the lungs. lung disease accounts for most deaths from cystic fibrosis.
liver - plugging of small bile ducts impedes digestion and disrupts liver function in about 5% of patients.
pancreas - occlusion of ducts prevents te pancreas from delivering critical digestive enzymes to the bowel in 65% of patients. diabetes can result as well.
small intestine - obstruction of the gut by thick stool necessitates surgery in about 10% of newborns.
reproductive tract - absence of fine ducts, such as the vas deferans, renders 95% of males infertile. occasionally, women are made infertile by a dense plug of mucus that blocks sperm from entering the uterus.
skin - malfunctioning of sweat glands causes perspiration to contain excessive salt. measurement of chloride in sweat is a mainstay of diagnosis.
symptoms vary greatly, but can include salty tasting skin, constant coughing or wheezing, frequent and prolonged cases of pneumonia, excessive appetite, inability to gain weight, and bulky stools.
currently, there is no cure for cystic fibrosis. treatment is dependent upon the individual's specific symptoms and the stage of the disease. the cf gene was discovered in 1989 and research focusing on a cure, including gene therapy, has been ongoing since then. more effective treatments and medications are constantly being developed.
here is an image explaining gene therapy:
1 - cells are removed from patient
2 - in the laboratory, a virus is altered so that it cannot reproduce
3 - a gene is inserted into the virus
4 - the altered virus is mixed with cells from the patient
5 - the cells from the patient become genetically altered
6 - the altered cells are injected into the patient
7 - the genetically altered cells produce the desired protein or hormone
3.29.2011
origin of gender
intersex describes people who exhibit atypical physical features which would typically distinguish male and female. this can be a genetic sex reversal (xx male or xy female), genital ambiguity, sex development differences or a person with physical characteristics of both male and female sexes.
androgyny is different - this refers to people without gender-specific physical sexual characteristics or sexual preferences or gender identity, or some combination thereof.
i just watched a fabulous argentinian movie called xxy. the lead character, alex, is an intersexed 15-year-old. she is living as a girl, but she has male and female parts and doesn't know if she likes boys or girls. she takes loads of pills to maintain her "girlish" characteristics, including corticoid so she doesn't grow a beard. no one knows her 'secret' except her parents and her best friend, who is a boy. her parents were faced with the decision about whether to have "corrective" or "normalizing" surgery to the moment she was born. they decided to forego the surgery and moved their family to a remote area. they understood that teaching your child to be afraid or ashamed of their own body is one of the worst things you can do. during the movie, alex is faced with making the decision for herself - does she want to be a boy or a girl?
this movie brought up some interesting questions: what makes someone male vs female? how much of our gender is determined by genetics vs environment? if a baby is born with ambiguous genitalia, who decides if (s)he will have surgery? if the parents wait, at what age are children old enough to decide their gender for themselves? why is there so much pressure to assign a specific sex (one of two choices) to a newborn?
assigning sex is an extremely powerful concept. and it is scary. and there has not been sufficient long-term studies of people who have had "normalizing" surgery at birth to determine whether this is the best practice. in fact, the surgery is standard pediatric practice despite having its basis in research done on hermaphrodites and a single set of identical twins originally tracked more than two decades ago. thus, it is argued that there should be a moratorium on the surgery until more is known about outcomes of past interventions.
in addition, once parents choose to assign a sex (potentially reassign sex), they are told to raise their children without ambiguity. and, as a result, many adults who have had these operations in infancy have never been candidly informed of their medical histories.
excuse me, i need to call my mom...
androgyny is different - this refers to people without gender-specific physical sexual characteristics or sexual preferences or gender identity, or some combination thereof.
i just watched a fabulous argentinian movie called xxy. the lead character, alex, is an intersexed 15-year-old. she is living as a girl, but she has male and female parts and doesn't know if she likes boys or girls. she takes loads of pills to maintain her "girlish" characteristics, including corticoid so she doesn't grow a beard. no one knows her 'secret' except her parents and her best friend, who is a boy. her parents were faced with the decision about whether to have "corrective" or "normalizing" surgery to the moment she was born. they decided to forego the surgery and moved their family to a remote area. they understood that teaching your child to be afraid or ashamed of their own body is one of the worst things you can do. during the movie, alex is faced with making the decision for herself - does she want to be a boy or a girl?
this movie brought up some interesting questions: what makes someone male vs female? how much of our gender is determined by genetics vs environment? if a baby is born with ambiguous genitalia, who decides if (s)he will have surgery? if the parents wait, at what age are children old enough to decide their gender for themselves? why is there so much pressure to assign a specific sex (one of two choices) to a newborn?
assigning sex is an extremely powerful concept. and it is scary. and there has not been sufficient long-term studies of people who have had "normalizing" surgery at birth to determine whether this is the best practice. in fact, the surgery is standard pediatric practice despite having its basis in research done on hermaphrodites and a single set of identical twins originally tracked more than two decades ago. thus, it is argued that there should be a moratorium on the surgery until more is known about outcomes of past interventions.
in addition, once parents choose to assign a sex (potentially reassign sex), they are told to raise their children without ambiguity. and, as a result, many adults who have had these operations in infancy have never been candidly informed of their medical histories.
excuse me, i need to call my mom...
3.23.2011
how many licks does it take?
i was skeptical when i heard about oral sex leading to throat cancer. that means we are ALL going to get throat cancer. right?! i became even more skeptical when my girlfriend annelise, who is a pharmacist, hadn't heard of this research.
thanks to google scholar i have, unfortunately, confirmed the rumor.
maura l. gillison, md, phd, of johns hopkins university in baltimore is a longtime researcher of the hpv virus. she first found the correlation between head/neck cancer and oral hpv infection in 2000. since then, dozens of other studies have shown the same finding. we appear to have a consensus. more recent research has been examining the behaviors that contribute to risk. longtime heavy tobacco and alcohol use are among the strongest identified risk factors for head and neck cancer. but hpv is a stronger risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer, specifically. gillison says this type accounts for about one in four head and neck cancers. and having multiple oral sex partners topped the list of practices associated with an increased risk of developing orophyngeal cancer according to the study published in the May 2010 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
it is unclear whether the hpv vaccine will prevent hpv-driven throat cancer as it does for cervical cancer, but there is every reason to think it will, according to gillison.
the good news is that this is an uncommon cancer, so individual risk is quite low. but, you can always choose safe oral sex.
thanks to google scholar i have, unfortunately, confirmed the rumor.
maura l. gillison, md, phd, of johns hopkins university in baltimore is a longtime researcher of the hpv virus. she first found the correlation between head/neck cancer and oral hpv infection in 2000. since then, dozens of other studies have shown the same finding. we appear to have a consensus. more recent research has been examining the behaviors that contribute to risk. longtime heavy tobacco and alcohol use are among the strongest identified risk factors for head and neck cancer. but hpv is a stronger risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer, specifically. gillison says this type accounts for about one in four head and neck cancers. and having multiple oral sex partners topped the list of practices associated with an increased risk of developing orophyngeal cancer according to the study published in the May 2010 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
it is unclear whether the hpv vaccine will prevent hpv-driven throat cancer as it does for cervical cancer, but there is every reason to think it will, according to gillison.
the good news is that this is an uncommon cancer, so individual risk is quite low. but, you can always choose safe oral sex.
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