Heart Dissection

  

External Anatomy

The heart seems to be a maroon and dark purple color, but there is a huge color differential on different parts of the heart. It weighs less than a pound, it is also uneasy to control due to its slippery conditions.  When viewed from the front, the heart is triangular. The base of the heart has a broader top end, from which the vessels enter and leave the heart. The heart narrows down to a rounded point. It was easy to spot the four chambers of the heart, the right and left atria and ventricles. The aorta and pulmonary trunk seemed to be flappy. The inferior and superior vena cava was difficult to spot because it seemed to be much smaller and thinner than expected.

Internal Anatomy

The internal anatomy was awfully sickening. The left ventricle wall seemed much thicker than the right ventricle wall. It was noticeable different because I was able to feel the thick layer of muscle covering the left ventricle while the right ventricle seemed very thin. The semi-lunar valve, aortic valve, left and right valves seemed all similar. They were all glutinous and thin. They felt like pieces of gum, but stronger and a lot more durable.

Questions:

1. What was the most surprising thing about dissecting the heart?  Describe what your expectations were and if they were met.

The most surprising thing about dissecting the heart was being able to see how condensed the parts of the heart actually are. Even though the heart is very compact and much smaller in size then I imagined, it amazed me how something that is comparable to the size of my fist can manage to pump blood throughout my entire body.

2. Why are the atria and ventricles so different (compare their structure to their function)?

The atria are the upper chamber of the heart and the ventricles are the lower chamber. The Atria receive deoxygenated blood while the ventricles receive blood from the atria and force it out to the aorta or the pulmonary artery. The atria have thinner walls due to low blood pressure and the ventricles have thick walls due to high blood pressure.

3. Why is the left ventricle more muscular than the right?

The reason the left ventricle is more muscular than the right ventricle is because the right and left ventricles both have different jobs. The right ventricles job is to send deoxygenated blood to the lungs so the lungs can collect the CO2 and give away 02 to the blood. Meanwhile the left ventricle has to send oxygenated blood throughout our entire bodies which requires a lot more strength, therefore it is more muscular because the left ventricle is doing a lot more work than the right which causes it to enlarge due to its amount of strength building up.

4. What are functions of the heart valves?  Describe how the structure of the valves relates to their function (including chordae tendinae).

When the left ventricle relaxes, the aortic valve closes and the mitral valve opens, to allow blood to flow from the left atrium into the left ventricle. The left atrium contracts, allowing even more blood to flow into the left ventricle, When the left ventricle contracts again, the mitral valve closes and the aortic valve opens, so blood flows into the aorta.

Voyage of a Red Blood Cell Assignment

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYHgt-Ef7UU&feature=youtu.be

Interim Report

I am the most proud of: The amount of happiness that comes from learning something you love. It's a rare occasion for me but I am proud of how we are being taught and the way my brain consumes new information in this program. 

The most interesting things I have learned about are:
The way blood is transported through our entire body, the different metabolic energy systems, and the variety of different exercise used to improve a certain aspect of your body. 

An example of when I really pushed myself in SuperFit is:
I haven't which has saved me from another hamstring tear, thank you Mrs. Phillips. 

I could make improvements in:

Encouraging others to try their best, bring a leader is a great quality everyone should have. 

I am really looking forward to:
Learning new fascinating things about the human body, especially human performance and how it can help us in our everyday lives. 

The Basics - WORK HABITS:

Attendance (classes missed and why) - I missed two classes due to sickness and an appointment with my lawyer.

Participation in field trips (woo kim, grouse grind, rock climbing) -I only went to woo Kim because I am not physically fit enough to do the grouse grind and I was absent during rock climbing. 

Lates (how many & reasons) - once, I forgot when the class started, it was flex day. 

Preparedness for class (gym strip &/or supplies) - N/A

Class time management (are you using your class time to complete your work?  engaged in class discussion? participating? following along? doing your best? or talking too much? ) -

I think I am doing everything pretty well mainly because I enjoy this class. I enjoy learning and I enjoy doing things in a variety of ways, which is what we have done this whole semester. 

Blog assignment completion - (out of 8 assignments) Comments?

I'm terrible at this. I definitely have to pick up my slack. 

Self evaluation of work habits for each class in coop - G/S/N

Biology 12: G
Exercise Science 12: G 
Super Fit 12: S

Grouse Grind

I wasn't able to attend the grouse grind field trip due to an injury, but I remember the previous time I went up the grouse grind which was 8 months prior to our field trip. I remember my inability to stay at a steady pace due to the build up of lactic acid. There was this burning sensation which was there continuously through out the whole 42 minute climb for me. My quadriceps, hamstrings, calves and shins. My heart rate and and breathing ratw varied depending on thr climb. For the most part it was steady, but on a certain inclines they both dramatically increased at the same time. My body temperate was probably at its highest point that it's ever been in my entire life, you were able to see the red blood vessels popping out of my skin. Glycolysis and aerobic system are the two metabolic systems being used in this physical activity. The grouse grind is a short walk which is less then 70-75% of your effort and lasts for about 30 seconds to a minute with short breaks In between each walk up the inclined hill. 

VO2 Max

My VO2 Max is 68.7, which is labeled as "excellent" according to the website used to calculate it. I think the metabolic engery system used is glycolysis because during the hill run, it is a burst of speed which lasts about 15-30 seconds and then a active rest period which is usually 40-60 seconds long.