Epithelial Tissue

In our class we took photos to demonstrate what different types of epithelial tissues there are. I put them in a slideshow above to show our examples. Here are each definition of each of them:

• Simple Squamous: Single layer of flattened cells with disc-shaped nuclei and sparse cytoplasm which provide a slick, friction-reducing lining in lymphatic and cardiovascular systems.
• Found in the kidney glomeruli, lining of heart, blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and serosae.
• Simple Cubiodal: Single layer of cube-like cells with large, spherical central nuclei which creates secretion and absorption.
• Found in kidney tubules, ducts and secretory portions of small glands, and ovary surface.
• Simple Columnar: Single layer of tall cells with oval nuclei; many contain cilia. It is used for secretion and absorption but the cilia helps move substances through internal passageways.
• Non-ciliated type line small bronchi, uterine tubes, and some regions of the uterus.
• Pseudo-stratified Columnar: Single layer of cells with different heights; some do not reach the free surface. Used for secretion and propulsion of mucus.
• Found in the male sperm-carrying ducts (non-ciliated) and trachea (ciliated).
• Stratified Squamous: Thick membrane composed of several layers of cells which is used for protection of underlying areas subjected to abrasion.
• Forms the external part of the skin's epidermis (keratinized cells), and linings of the esophagus, mouth, and vagina (non-keratiniezed cells).
• Stratified Cuboidal: Typically two cell layers thick and quite rare in the body.
• Found in some sweat and mammary glands.
• Stratified Columnar: Occurs at transition areas between two other types of epithelia with a limited distribution of the body.
• Found in the pharynx, male urethra, and lining some glandular ducts.
• Transitional: Several cell layers, basal cells are cuboidal, surface cells are dome shaped. Stretches to permit the distension of the urinary bladder.
• Lines the urinary bladder, ureters, and part of the urethra.

Project Homeostasis

For our first project in this class, we took the temperature of both Mikaella and myself, before doing any activities, with a temperature probe at our forearms. Mikaella started off with the temperature of 87.7 and I did with a temperature of 78.1. Then, Mikaella began to try to rise her temperature by exercising around the room such as jogging, push-ups and jumping jacks. I had the easy job and watched as I iced my forearm. We both waited out for 2 minutes continuing our activities then took the temperature of our forearms again. This time Mikaella's temperature was 89.1 and mine was 63.9. Mikaella and I continued on with our activities for another 3 minutes and once again took our temperatures again. Mikaella came in a whopping 90.1 while I actually rose a little to 64.8. Finally, we waiting out for 5 minutes going through the relaxation period. When we finally took our last temperatures Mikaella's was 88 even, and mine was 69.1. In the beginning we all had a hypotenuse that our bodies would respond with homeostasis, and we were correct. While going through the relaxation period our bodies tried to regain order, Mikaella by sweating, and me by shaking. It was a pretty neat experiment to do. I got to witness homeostasis in action! :)

Defying Physics, and your Mother

GoAnimate.com: Defying Physics and you're Mother by ddt83

Above, I created a video having to do with defying the laws of physics. We all know we can't really have superpowers like Fred, and can't blast away our friends, but how far CAN we push our bodies? Some more than others I suppose, but what body functions allow us to be able to push ourselves to a great extent. Homeostasis along with positive and negative feedback are just some of the couple of events occurring in our body that wraps it up, but it is far more complex than we would ever imagine. Negative feedback is the output shuts off the original stimulus, and positive feedback is the output enhances of exaggerates the original stimulus. All of this is just a more complicated way of saying that negative feedback is a process of shutting bodily systems off once a set level is achieved and positive feedback, it is a process that results in a strengthening of the response of a system to something happening outside the body. Positive and Negative feedback are VERY important to the body. Without it our body couldn't correctly respond to everything happening outside the body, as well as within. It keeps us going, and living :) And since it does it automatically, I'm pretty sure that's something far less scarier to worry about than Fred's mother.

Homeostasis working hard on the field

Homeostasis, an event occurring in my body every day without me taking a second thought about (or a first for that matter). You see, I have practice for softball pretty much five times out of the week, which involves me running, hitting, jumping, conditioning, and yes, even standing in the sun which hits me right back in the face at about 90 degrees. Sure, I've gotten a good tan out of it, but in order to even be able to stand out there for three hours every day I have to keep hydrated, and make sure that I'm helping my body maintain control to my surroundings. Usually when I begin to sweat I think to myself great, before you know it that will be going into my eye, blinding me. Now that we've been learning about homeostasis though, I've realized that it's just my body cooling me down, and trying to keep my internal environment stable. My body is constantly keeping tract of my outside surroundings and adjusting without me even thinking about it. The body does great such wonders, and learning about homeostasis makes me want to learn more about what could be happening! :)