The Body Shop

For this blog I read the article on page 1 called "The Body Shop". Here is the link to the webpage: 
http://www.pbs.org/saf/1107/features/body.htm


Recently, I read an article that explained how science is going into scientifically growing human body parts. Scientists like Bon Langer and Joseph Vacanti were called the pioneers of this increasingly experimental process. They were almost unsuccessful at showing others their work at first when both Langer and Vacanti couldn't even get there work published. Now, today, the first tissue engineered skin is called "Neo-organ" and was approved by the U.S. Food and drug administration. This could lead to many great things in the future like custom-made hearts, livers, breasts, corneas, kidneys,  and bone marrow. Some bladders could even be made, which could offer solutions to a lot of  life-threatening illnesses. Although this may take years upon years to accomplish, the idea of this actually coming true is amazing!


The fascinating part about this is by scientists doing this process they have already attempted and succeeded in growing an ear off of a mouse. Scientists had to combine the right kind compounds so that they could coax cells into growing and proliferating. They also had to pay special attention to the cells surroundings in order to make useful tissue. Which is good because I'm sure no one would want an ear created for them that didn't work because it wasn't biologically useful to them.


The whole process of growing an ear on a mouse was pretty remarkable to read about. First, tissue engineers actually mold the biodegradable scaffold into the proper size and shape for a human. Then, Researchers "seed" the scaffold with new cartilage cells and surgically implant the mold under the skin. The mouse, which is hairless and is specially bred to lack an immune system so that the human tissue won't reject it, takes care of the ear as the cartilage cells grow. As you can see from the picture that I posted below, the result comes out to ear grown on the mouse with a good shape and size. When the ear is removed from the mouse, the mouse is left unharmed and still in a healthy condition.


Eventually scientists are looking forward to trying to get the cells grow on their own through the body. They think by implanting the "seeds" into an ailing organ they can get to the scientific level of the body generically growing a "patch" of healthy tissues through its biochemistry. The shape of how the organ isn't so much important to them right now according to Joseph Vacanti. He stated, "Both functions are important but, in many circumstances, the shape is less important than the exchange of nutrients. "


I, for one, believe that if all goes well this will be a great scientific step in the world. There are a lot of people just in the U.S. that have been on waiting on lists for a transplant for a very long time. If scientists were able to help patients grow their own body parts that they needed think about about lives would be saved! I hope that all turns out good in the scientists experiments, because hey, you never know, I could be needing a body part when I'm older or something. Or even my children could. If this process is successful it will be a worldwide, life-changing process for everyone involved.

Histology Lab

Connective

1. Hyaline Cartilage

• Amorph, firm matrix with imperceptible network of collagen fibers 
• Chondrocytes lie in lacunae 
• Supports reinforces cushions and resists compressionForms the costal cartilage
• found in embryonic skeleton the end of the long bones nose trachea and laryn

2. Ground Bone, cs. Human

• Ring ring tree bark 

3. Ground Bone Compact

• some ring like tree bark

Epithelia

  1. Columnar Epithelia simple ciliated

• Branch like also looks like sponge

  2. Transitional Epithelia

• Several cell layers basal cells are cuboidal surface cells are some shaped
• Stretches to permit the distension of the urinary bladder
• Lines the urinary bladder ureters and part of the urethra

  3. Pseudostratified  Epithelia

• Single layer cells with different heights; some do not reach the free surface
• Nuclei are seen at different layers
• Function in secretion and propulsion of mucus
• Present in the male sperm-arrying ducts (non-ciliated) and trachea (ciliated)

Musle

1. Striated Muscle Teased Human

• Single Cells with bunch of things in the middle 

2. Cardic Muscle is human

• Branching striated uninucleate cells inter-locking at intercalated
• Propels blood onto circulation
• found in the walls of the heart

3. Muscle Cardic Purkinje Fibers

• long thin fibers that allow for stretch

Nervous

1. Neuron Motor

•  vein look like 
• some dark areas
• spider web look like

2. Brain Basal Ganglia 

• Packed Together

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! :)