The Respiratory System

There are so many things that I've learned in this chapter. I've learned that the respiratory system is consists of two lungs, upper and lower airways that conduct or move gas in and out of the system, terminal sacs called alveoli, thoracic cage and muscles for breathing. Respiratory system is related with the cardiovascular system known as cardiopulmonary system. I've also learned the difference of ventilation and respiration. Ventilation is the bulk movement of air down to the terminal end of the lungs where the actual gas exchange takes place with the bloodstream and respiration is the process of gas exchange in which oxygen is added to the blood and carbon dioxide is removed. There are two types of respiration, the external and internal respiration. The external respiration is where the gas exchange in the lungs occurs between blood and the air in the external atmosphere while internal respiration is where the oxygenated blood is transported internally via the cardiovascular system to the cells and tissues.

I've also learned the functions of the different cells in the respiratory system. The bronchi and bronchioles are branching tubes that support the atmospheric gas deep within lungs. Alveoli are small air sacs and terminal end of the respiratory system. Alveolar capillary membrane is the combination of alveoli and capillary, this is where the gas exchange takes place.

The functions of the upper respiratory tract are the following:
1. Heating and cooling inspired gases to the body temperature.
2. Filtering particles from inhaled gases.
3. Humidifying inspired gases.
4. Olfaction
5. Phonation
6. Ventilating or conducting the gas down the lower airways.

I've also learned that nose has three regions: the vestibular region, olfactory region and the respiratory region. Sinuses are lined with respiratory mucosa. It help in the prolongation and intensification of sound and it provide further warming and moisturizing of inhaled gases. Pharynx is a hollow, muscular structure lined with epithelial tissues and it is also known as throat. Pharynx is composed of three sections, the nasopharynx which is the uppermost layer, the oropharynx located behind the oral/buccal cavity and the laryngopharynx which is the lowermost portion of the pharynx and is also known as voice box.

There are different disorders that can be developed in this system, those are the atelectasis, pneumonia, asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, pneumothorax, pleural effusion, tuberculosis and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Each system is rarely important to be learned by the people, with this things it helps us realized the things that we should do and not do. This topic is interesting, well every topic is interesting. But from here we can learn how our respiratory system works.

It could be more understandable if I made some activities for my classmates and if I have presented more clips in this chapter. But I hope so that what I reported was heard well by my calssmates.

Cardiovascular System Disorders

All about Endocrine System

What I've learned about the endocrine system is that it is a series of glands and organs in the body that secretes chemical messengers called hormones into the bloodstream. Hormones and neurotransmitters are both chemical messengers which are bind to receptors. Hormones are released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream and travel all over the body. Neurotransmitters work outside of cells and are cleaned-up quickly that have localized effect only and they are short live only. The major endocrine organs are hypothalamus, pituitary, posterior and anterior pituitary, thyroid gland, thymus gland,pineal gland, pancreas, adrenal gland, adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex which makes dozens of steroid known as adrenocorticosteroids. Steroids are lipid molecules which interact directly with the cell's DNA and is the most powerful hormone.Hypothalamus is located in the diencephalon and an important link between the two control system. Pituitary is also a part of diencephalon and known as mater gland, it acts only under orders from hypothalamus. Posterior pituitary is the extension of hypothalamus and anterior pituitary is also controlled by the hypothalamus that is an endocrine. Thyroid gland is a butterfly shaped organ responsible for secreting the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyroxine. Thyroxine and triiodothyroxine contains iodine and control cell metabolism growth. Thymus gland plays an important function in the immune system. Pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin. Pancreas is responsible for maintaining blood sugar levels at or near a setpoint. Parathyroid gland is stimulated to secrete parathyroid hormones which stimulates the level of calcium in the bloodstream.

Like in other body systems, endocrine has common diseases also and here are some. The Hashimoto's disease is a form of hypothyroidism caused by an autoimmune attack on your thyroid gland. For unknown reasons, the immune system begind to attack the cells in the thyroid releasing inflammation and damage to the gland. The Grave's disease is also an immune disorder that affects the thyroid but in this case, the immune system stimulates the thyroid resulting in hyperthyroidism and bulging eyes. The Pheochromocytoma is a tumor of the adenal gland and Addison's disease is caused by insufficient production of the adrenocorticosteroid cortisol. The deficiency can cause weight loss, muscle weakness, fatigue, low blood pressure and excessive skin pigmentation. Cushings's disease is caused by over secretion of cortisol.

There are also some side effects in taking steroids. Men can suffer from having a problem with sperm production and shrinking of their testicles. Cholesterol level increases, increase in aggressive behavior, suppressed immune function, deepening of voice for women and some cardiovascular diseases.

There are so many things that you can learn in studying this system. You can understand more how your body works together with the other systems.

The only possible way that I can suggest to the reporter to make this topic more interesting is that, she should research more about endocrine system because this topic has a large function in our body but overall it was a good report.