Self-Analysis

This quarter I've learned about the organization of the body, medical terms, homeostasis, epithelial tissue, and histology. I've found that I really understand the concept of homeostasis. I can tell when something is showing a positive or a negative feedback, and can give out two automatic examples of these processes, which are: clotting of the blood when an injury occurs, and shivering to raise a body's temperature. However, I have found that I am not very familiar with the medical terms used. I understand most of the terms and what they entail, for example, I know that the term superior means that something is more towards the top of the body, or is placed higher compared to another part of the body. Nevertheless, there are terms such as lateral that I cannot seem to remember at all. Even though I understand most of the terms, it will still take me a few moments of thinking before I am able to remember their meaning. This of course is something that needs to be fixed. In order to do this, I plan on making new flashcards, new diagrams, and some sort of quiz. Flashcards will help to make sure I remember each term and it's meaning. Diagrams in particular help me learn, so by making these I will able to have a better understanding of the body parts and where they are in relation to each other, and how to explain so correctly. Finally, I'll use the quiz to wrap everything up, so I'll know and completely understand these terms and how to use them.

The Body Shop

The Body Shop - This article is all about replacement parts. However, these parts aren't for a broken car or other machine, these are replacement parts for the human body. Fifteen years ago Joseph Vacanti and Bob Langer pioneered the new process of growing human tissues in a lab. Now, Langer, Vacanti and his brother, along with researchers around the world, look to the day when replacement organs and tissue will be ready for those who need them.

Today, tissue engineered skin is the first "neo-organ" approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  This new skin aids burn victims and even patients with severe skin sores or ulcers. It is the hope, that within the next few years, lab-grown cartilage and bone would be produced in labs.  However, growing these "neo-organs" isn't the simplest thing in the world. In order for tissues to grow in a lab, scientists must mimic the physical environment in which cells naturally grow. Joseph Vacanti and Bob Langer created a scaffold on which cells can be seeded. This scaffold consists of biodegradable materials that look like spaghetti strands attached together. This scaffoldings provide cells with better access to waste removal and nutrients. Also, the scaffoldings can be molded into any shape or size, which gives anyone a custom grown tissue. Ultimately, it is the hope that in the future, these custom-made organs and tissues would be used as solutions to even the most life-threatening illnesses.