Apologia General Science, Module 16, The Human Nervous System

Interactive Study Links
►The Nervous System: 
(In these games, the motor nervous system and the sensory nervous system are collectively called the Somatic Nervous System.)
• Nervous System Game #1 - click and match
• Nervous System Game #2 - click and match
• Neuron Game - click and match
• Label the Neuron - drag and drop
• Label the Eye - drag and drop
• Label the Brain - drag and drop
• Label the Ear - drag and drop (The eardrum is also the tympanic membrane.  The ossicles - the hammer, anvil, and stirrup - are referred to by their scientific names.  See if you can find these names online or in a book.)

Other Study Links
►diagram of a neuron and a synapse (source - Great simplified article!)
►diagram of a human brain
►diagram of a human eye (source)
►diagram of the human ear (source)




(1) p. 387-392, Introduction; Neurons: The Basic Unit of the Nervous System



►Another video with Khan Academy, if you want it.


Neurotransmitters take the signal across the synapse (a gap between the axon of one neuron, and the dendrite of the next neuron).




Neurons are composed of cell bodies, dendrites, and axons.
Nerves are made of the dendrites and axons, but not the cell bodies of neurons.

The cell bodies of neurons tend to cluster together in groups, called ganglia.  Several ganglia clustered together is called a plexus (nerve center).





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(2)  p. 393-396, The Basic Layout of the Human Nervous System



White matter vs. gray matter
►See image (source)








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(3) p. 397-399, Our "Split" Brains

Right-brain vs. Left-brain.
This lady is hilarious! =D


This video seems to indicate that people who are left-brain dominant tend to take things literally.  I bet you probably  know someone like that!  And it's not always men.  But we are all different; no one is totally left- or right-brained only.  There are combinations.
And of course, the corpus callosum connects the right and left hemispheres of our brain.

►But here is another funny for your enjoyment.
A wife asks her husband, "Could you please go shopping for me and buy one gallon of milk, and if they have eggs, get 6."
A short time later the husband returns home with 6 cartons of milk.
The wife asked him, "Why did you buy 6 gallons of milk?"
He replied, "They had eggs." =D



What would happen if the corpus callosum didn't connect the two sides of your brain?







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(4) p. 400-401, The Brain and Blood

The Blood-Brain Barrier
Brain capillaries are different than other capillaries in the body.
Other capillaries are more permeable (penetrable) than brain capillaries, and have gaps between the blood cells in them.  They allow more substances to get in and out.
The capillaries in the brain have a barrier.  There are no gaps between the blood cells in these capillaries.  They are sealed with "gaskets."
Certain things, such as water, oxygen, and glucose are transported through the cells in the brain's capillaries, but there is no "leaking" (on purpose) as there is with other capillaries in the body.
Some things that are bad are able to break through the blood-brain barrier, such as drugs or alcohol.  When these get into the Central Nervous System, it can cause major problems!

"More than 100 years ago, it was discovered that if blue dye was injected into the bloodstream of an animal, that tissues of the whole body EXCEPT the brain and spinal cord would turn blue..."
►Read the rest of this simple explanation of the blood-brain barrier.

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(5) p. 402-405a, The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

The PNS is divided into three main divisions:

1. sensory nervous system - your 5 senses
2. motor nervous system - your skeletal muscles
3. autonomic nervous system - smooth muscles, cardiac muscle, and glands

The first two are controlled by voluntary muscles.
Watch this short video about the PNS, and that all the spinal nerves have both a sensory route and a motor route.

The autonomic nervous system is as the name sounds - automatic - and is controlled by involuntary muscles.
The autonomic nervous system is divided into two more divisions:
-sympathetic division - fight or flight
-parasympathetic division - rest and digest







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(6) p. 405-407, The Human Sense of Taste







►One more video, if you'd like to watch it.





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(7) p. 408-409, The Human Sense of Smell








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(8) p. 410-415a, The Human Sense of Vision
At 1:15, he mentions muscles that change the shape of the lens.
These are the ciliary muscles.  They change the shape of the lens so that you can change focus instantly between objects that are close or far away.

I have one eye that focuses slightly slower than the other.  In my "good" eye, I don't notice any change when I am looking down at a book, then glance up at the news playing on the television in the next room.  However, in my slow eye, it takes maybe half a second.  About as long as a medium-slow blink.
Years ago, I went to the eye doctor because of this, and because my pupils are different sizes.  I was told a long name for it, and that it wouldn't affect my vision.  I don't recall when I noticed my pupil being this way.  I do remember that I knew about it when I was a young teen, but I don't ever remember "discovering" this anomaly.  ;)









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(9) p. 415-417a, The Human Sense of Touch

I could find no suitable videos for this section.



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(10) p. 417-419, The Human Sense of Hearing
The small bones in your ear, the malleus, incus, and stapes, are sometimes called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup because of their shape.
Together these tiny bones are referred to as ossicles.
The cochlea is filled with fluid, which helps in transmitting signals to the brain.








Why we get dizzy when we spin:




This video is just so that you can get a better idea of the 3 dimensions of the semicircular canals.  (You do not need to learn this terminology that indicates positioning in the body.)
You can see that one is horizontal, and two are vertical, but in different directions.






When you are riding in a car then stop suddenly, your body keeps moving forward.
After you stop spinning, the fluid in your ear is still moving and makes you feel off balance.

Considering College?

Unsure of what to do?  How to proceed?  I think you'll find some great tips in this short article, "The Homeschooler's Guide to Getting into College."
From the article:

"There's a common misconception that homeschoolers have difficulty when it comes to getting into college. This may have been true 20 years ago, but these days, colleges are making the process of admissions for homeschoolers simple and fair. In fact, many colleges are now seeking out homeschoolers themselves, as homeschooled students tend to be excellent college students. Here, we've gathered several facts, tips, and helpful resources that you can put to work to ensure that your college admissions process as a homeschooler is smooth and successful."

Even if your child is a bit younger, it's never too early to start thinking about your options!

Apologia General Science, Module 15, The Human Lymphatic, Endocrine, and Urinary Systems

►What we did at Sahm-I-Am

Interactive Study Links 
-Lymphatic System
• Lymphatic System Game - click and match
-Endocrine System
• Endocrine System Game - click and match
• Endocrine Glands Game - click and match
-Urinary System
• Urinary System Game - click and match




(1)  p. 369-371, The Lymphatic System
How the lymphatic system works
The lymph system cleans out organisms and chemicals that it recognizes as disease-causing.

Body fluid is called lymph while it is in the lymphatic system.
Lymph flows in one direction - toward the heart.


Where your lymph nodes and lymph vessels are located.
The yellow spots are the nodes, and the white lines are the vessels.






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(2)  p. 372-375, Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes and sore throat?
Here's why.


The lymphatic system is composed of vessels lying next to the capillaries.
The lymph nodes clean the lymph before returning it to the body.



What to do if you're stopped up or have swollen lymph nodes.





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(3) 375b-377, Tears
The lacrimal glands produce tears that run through tiny tear ducts, then flow across the eyes.









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(4) 378-381, The Urinary System
Although the lymphatic system cleans out things it recognizes as disease-causing, the kidneys only clean out chemicals that become dangerous to the body when they reach certain levels.
See how the kidneys filter out some things (through nephrons) to keep them from reaching toxic levels, and let proper amounts be reabsorbed into the bloodstream.






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(5) 382-384, The Endocrine System
Hormones are released by endocrine glands, sometimes just called glands.

►The hypothalamus controls the pituitary gland (both are types of endocrine glands).
Both are located below the brain.
The pituitary gland is often referred to as the "master endocrine gland" since the hormones it makes control many other endocrine glands in the body.



Location and Function of the Endocrine glands



Animation of insulin and glucose.
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas.
The pancreas, in addition to being a digestive organ, is also an endocrine gland.


Slower, more detailed explanation of insulin and glucose.


Other glands produce different hormones.
These ↓ are also controlled by the pituitary gland, the "master endocrine gland."
►Adrenal glands -- "adjacent" means next to, and "renal" refers to the kidneys.  Adrenal glands sit on top of the kidneys.  This is also where we get the word adrenaline.
►Thyroid gland -- affects the basal metabolic rate.

Read your textbook for more information about these complex processes.

Apologia General Science, Module 14, The Human Respiratory and Circulatory Systems

►What we did at Sahm-I-Am


Interactive Study Links:
• Quizlet Flashcards
-Respiratory System
• Label the respiratory system - drag and drop
• Respiratory Quiz Game #1 - click and match
• Respiratory Quiz Game #2 - click and match
• Respiratory Quiz Game #3 - click and match
• Is it part of the Respiratory System? - click Yes or No
-Circulatory System
• Circulatory Quiz Game #1 - click and match
• Circulatory Quiz Game #2 - click and match
• Heart Quiz Game - click and match
• Label the circulatory system - drag and drop (Looks a little difficult?  Just do the ones you know first.)

Other:
• The Circulation Game, Print instructions and printable pages
• Labeled Heart Diagram with concise info
See these and more at Debbie's Educator's Resources.  (Thanks, Debbie!)



(1) p. 344-348, The Human Circulatory System
Arteries flow away from the heart, branching out into tiny, thin-walled capillaries.
Capillaries eventually merge to form larger vessels called veins, which flow back to the heart.




We learned the blood flow in this order:
right atrium, right ventricle, lungs, left atrium, left ventricle, body
This video starts with the blood flowing from the right ventricle into the lungs.
Don't get confused -- the order is the same; this video just starts at a different point in the circuit.






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(2) p. 348b-354a, The Heart and Blood Flow



A reader was kind enough to let me know that the two videos I had found for this section have been deleted from youtube.  =(  It can be difficult to keep check on all posts, so I really appreciate this.  
I will try to make time in the future to go back through and check videos in each post, but in the meantime, if any readers find suitable replacements for any 'broken' videos or links on any post, please do email me!
Thank you!



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(3) p. 354-356, The Components of Blood
Three kinds of blood cells:
Red blood cells, white blood cells, and blood platelets.


Coagulation (or clotting) of blood





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(4) p. 356b-359, Lungs and Blood Oxygenation






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(5) p. 360-363, The Respiratory System

(source)

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(6) p. 363-365, Circulation and Respiration Throughout Creation




►Watch Bill Nye on Respiration (full episode)
If that doesn't play, you can watch it in parts here.

Apologia General Science, Module 13, The Human Digestive System

From the printable digestive system link,
with a few tweaks and additions by me.  =)

►What we did at Sahm-I-Am

Interactive Study Links:
• Quizlet Flashcards
• Label the Digestive System - drag and drop
(Soft palate, pharynx, larynx, and trachea are not mentioned, so don't forget to study those.)
• Quiz Game part 1 - click and match
• Quiz Game part 2 - click and match

Other:
• Printable digestive system to use as a Poster Option in lieu of the Study Guide.  See suggestions at Debbie's site (top left).
See these and more at Debbie's Educator's Resources.  (Thanks, Debbie!)





(1) p. 321-322, The Process of Digestion

-Ingestion:  the taking in of food
-Physical Digestion:  chewing
-Chemical Digestion:  the salivary glands secrete saliva that breaks down starch (contains polysaccharides) into monosaccharides.
►For fats and proteins, the initial breaking down happens further on into the digestive tract.

-Digestive tract:  the pathway that food and liquids follow while passing through your body.
-Digestive system:  all organs that contribute to digestion, even if no food passes through them (such as the liver, the gallbladder, and the pancreas).






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(2)  p. 323-325, The Human Digestive System

She doesn't mention the liver or gallbladder.
In this video, the gallbladder is green, and the pancreas is a long structure with "veins" -- like a long leaf.
The liver makes bile, and bile is stored in the gallbladder until needed.  The pancreas produces digestive enzymes and other things.





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(3)  p. 326-328, The Mouth, Pharynx, and Esophagus

►Watch this video:  Organs of Digestion - excellent animation and narrative

Play close attention to the differences between:
• soft palate and epiglottis
• pharynx and larynx (Larynx isn't mentioned in the video, but is pictured in your book)
• esophagus and trachea (the opening to the respiratory system)

You can feel your larynx rise up during swallowing.  This causes the epiglottis to cover the larynx, which is the beginning of the path to the trachea (your windpipe).  The larynx is also called your voice box because it houses the vocal cords.
One of the cartilages that support the larynx is often referred to as the Adam's apple.
I have had laryngitis for a week, so my family is having to make phone calls for me, but when no one else is here, and I have to answer the phone, it is funny what others think I am saying!
In fact, whispering to my family here at home has even been quite comical!  =)
Class is tomorrow, so we'll see what happens!




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(4) p. 329-335, The Stomach and Intestines

The small intestine has folds all along its inner surface as well as thousands of tiny villi.  This provides extra surface area for more absorption.
Much like a wall with lots of projections built onto it will take more paint than a flat wall.

Hydrochloric Acid is produced in the stomach.



Colonoscopy (colon, scope)
In this video, see the indention of the opening of the appendix - it really is part of the digestive tract!
In a colonoscopy, the doctor is looking for irregularities - small bumps that might grow and form cancer.
My mom passed away in August from colon cancer.  When they did her colonoscopy in 2008, there was a large growth that nearly completely blocked the colon.  They were able to get it all, but the damage had been done, and cancer cells had already spread elsewhere in her body.
A colonoscopy doesn't sound like much fun, but it is really important.






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(5) p. 335-338, The Liver, Pancreas, and Gall Bladder




About 50% of enzymes are secreted by the pancreas.
The rest of the enzymes your body needs come from raw foods.  (That means fruits and veggies, not raw cookie dough, haha!)
Enzymes are only activated in water, so drink lots of water!







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(6) p. 338-340, The Micronutrients

What are micronutrients?


What is the difference between fat-soluble (or lipid-soluble) and water-soluble?
Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) can build to toxic levels if you take too many.



Cute way to remember the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.


The water-soluble vitamins are vitamin C and the vitamin B group.
In your book, some are listed separately, but they ARE in the vitamin B group.  Pantothenic acid is B5, biotin is B7, and folic acid is B9.  
These last two (biotin and folic acid), as well as vitamin K, are by-products of good bacteria in the large intestine.

Vitamin D can be taken in through food, but it also can be absorbed from the body's exposure to sunlight.  Vitamin K is also absorbed without being eaten in food.
Both of these are fat-soluble.

►See a list of vitamins, and some foods that contain them.  No food contains just one vitamin, so you will see the same types of foods listed for more than one vitamin.
You will also see the names of the B group vitamins, and the ones that are named in your textbook.