Unit 5 Reflection

     Unit 5 was about the digestive system, endocrine system, and lymphatic system. We learned about the organs involved in the systems and all their functions. To further understand the digestive system we measured our alimentary canal and made it with string and ribbon. We learned about fuel metabolism and the fed, fasting, and starvation states. We went over how our organs work in different conditions, for example how the brain uses glucose for fuel and the muscles can use glucose, fatty acids, and ketone bodies for fuel. We learned a lot about insulin and glucagon, two hormones that regulate blood glucose levels. A big part of this unit was about diabetes, which I didn't know much about at first. Now I have a greater understanding of the way insulin works in our bodies and how diabetes can be caused by so many different factors such as genetics, stress, and physical inactivity.

     I enjoyed learning about the body systems because they were pretty straightforward. I struggled a little with understanding fuel metabolism because there were so many steps and hormones that played a part in the whole process. I wanted to learn more about metabolism and lactose intolerance and I got the chance to when we had researched and discussed articles in class. So far I have been keeping up with my New Year's goals. I still need to work on getting 7-8 hours of sleep everyday but I have cut down on my screen time.

Digestive System Lab

1. In this lab, I measured my digestive system out with ribbon and string. I learned that my digestive system stretched almost all the way across the classroom. I liked this lab because it really put into perspective how long our digestive system is and made me think about how the alimentary canal can fit into the human body.

2. The length of my digestive system is almost 5x longer than my height. My digestive system fits inside my abdomen because the small and large intestines are folded into a small

3. I think it takes a few hours for food to move through the entire digestive system. According to Mayo Clinic, however, food can take 24 to 72 hours to digest. This time varies based on age, amount of physical activity, and the type of food being eaten. For example, the body digests fiber very quickly compared to fruits and vegetables.

4. Digestion is breaking down food into smaller pieces. It begins in the stomach and occurs in the small intestine. Absorption is taking in nutrients and water, which occurs in the small and large intestine.

5. I want to learn more about the enzymes that break down the food and about the structures of the organs of the digestive system.

New Year Goals

      For 2016, one of my SMART goals is to cut down the time I spend watching TV or using social media. Spending time on my phone leads to procrastination and staring at a screen for hours isn't healthy. I will put my phone away while doing homework to steer clear of its distractions. Not getting work done efficiently has made me lose sleep as well. I'm constantly tired and can't focus during school. This is why my second SMART goal is to get more sleep. I will make sure to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night by making sure I finish my homework before 11 pm. Hopefully this will improve my grades as well. Both of these relate back to anatomy and physiology, especially getting some sleep.