Activity 1.1.1: Amazing Facts

Introduction

In Principles of the Biomedical Sciences, you were introduced to the workings of the human body from a variety of perspectives. You discovered that the human body is, in many ways, a complex “living machine,” capable of carrying out thousands of processes on a daily basis. You also discovered that errors in these processes can occur and that medical interventions are often needed to get the body back on track.

In Human Body Systems, you will delve deeper into the workings of the body and investigate the organs and organ systems that are at the core of our identity. We all have our own unique differences, but the processes that occur inside and the general organization scheme of our bodies unite us as humans. Over the course of the year, you will study specific human body systems, developing a greater understanding of how these systems function together to maintain good health and longevity.

Did you know that red blood cells make about 250,000 trips around the human body before returning to the bone marrow (where they were created) to die? Did you know that babies are born with about 300 bones, but by adulthood, we only have 206? In Activity 1.1.1, you will find a variety of amazing facts about a specific body system. You will review both the structure and function of the system and you will investigate how that system is capable of accomplishing the amazing feat described in these facts. As you tour interesting facts from other systems, you will decide if your system also plays a role in the process or function described in that fact. Throughout the course, you will see that our actions are the result of a coordination of many body systems. When this balance is lost or the communication between systems fails, disease or death can result.

During this activity, you will begin working with body system graphic organizers. You will use these diagrams throughout the course to compile information about specific body systems and draw and label key anatomy. Each handout has an outline of the body and you will designate each one to be used for only one system. When a handout becomes filled, you will get blank copies to continue the work. All of these will be kept in the front of your binder for references and study.

Equipment

  • Computer with Internet access
  • Chart paper
  • Markers – assorted colors
  • Colored pencils
  • Body system graphic organizers
  • Overhead projector
  • Laboratory journal

Procedure

  1. Form a team of four. Each team will be assigned one of eleven human body systems. Your assigned system is now referred to as your primary system.
  2. Obtain a blank copy of the body system graphic organizer from your teacher. Set this handout aside temporarily.
  3. Divide your team into two groups. Each pair should use the Internet to find ten unusual, interesting and/or amazing facts about your primary system. These facts must be things you would not expect your classmates to know. Choose facts that are fun and interesting!
  4. As a group, share your ten facts with the entire team.
  5. As a team, select the “Top 5” amazing facts for your primary system.
  6. Share the five facts with your teacher and get approval before going to the next step.
  7. Label the body system graphic organizer with the name of your primary system.
  8. Determine what specific organs from the primary system are involved in each of your five facts. Research the function of these organs and their locations in the body.
  9. Carefully draw and label these organs on the human body diagram using markers or colored pencils. Draw only the most important organs, and be sure you know how large the organs should be and where they should be located.
  10. Obtain one piece of chart paper and one colored marker for your team. Each team should have a different color marker. Neatly, in large print, write the name of the primary system you were assigned as a heading on the chart paper. List each one of your five facts, leaving space between each one. Use the same color marker for the heading and the facts.
  11. When your group is called to the front of the classroom, use tape to post your chart paper on the board. You may also display one complete body system graphic organizer for your primary system on the overhead projector. Present and explain each of your amazing facts.
  12. As each team presents their facts, decide if your primary system plays a role in any of the facts being discussed. Does your primary system act as a secondary system here? A secondary system is a system that has cells, tissues and/or organs that are impacted by or work with the primary system.
  13. Raise your hand and explain your connection to the presenting group. If the class decides that a relationship exists between these two systems, add the name of the secondary system under the appropriate fact on the chart paper. Your group can add the connection or a member of the other system group can come up and write on the chart paper. Write one sentence explaining the importance of this secondary system to the function or processes described in that fact. Include important secondary organs in this description or list them below the sentence. An example is shown in the next step.
  14. Read this example and view the sample facts below. Imagine your primary system is the respiratory system. You look at the poster for the cardiovascular system and see the fact listed below. You know that the respiratory system plays a role in this fact so you raise your hand and suggest that this system be added to the chart paper. The skeletal system team also feels their system plays a role in the fact and their information is added to the chart as well.
  • Fact: Red blood cells make about 250,000 trips around the human body before returning to the bone marrow (where they were created) to die.
  • Assigned (primary) system: Cardiovascular
  • Most important organs: heart, blood vessels (drawn on body system handout)
  • Secondary systems to include on the chart paper:
  • Skeletal: Bone marrow, located in the center of bones, creates red blood cells. Organ - bones
  • Respiratory: Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. Organs – lungs, diaphragm muscle
  1. Continue to share ideas and make connections between systems as each group presents.
  2. When all teams have presented, make sure you have at least five examples of how secondary systems are involved with primary systems.
  3. Return to your body system graphic organizer. In the space next to the human body outline, neatly write the facts associated with your primary system and draw a line to the organs identified as important. List associated secondary systems under each fact. Using information from the activity, draw in any secondary organs that play a role in the facts. Label each secondary organ with a “*”.
  4. Add an additional title at the top of the organizer that says, “Amazing Facts – A Relationship between Body Systems.”
  5. Keep your graphic organizer in the front of your binder. You will complete organizers for many other body systems over the course of the year. For now, you are the class expert in your primary system. You will get extra copies of the blank organizer as needed from the teacher. Be sure each one has the title of the system it represents. You may have more than one for each system by the end of the course.

Conclusion

  1. Describe an example that demonstrates how one human body system impacts the effectiveness of another.

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  1. Describe three body processes or functions that all humans have in common.
  1. Provide an example of an individual difference that may impact the functioning of one of the human body systems.
  1. Diseases and/or medical conditions often involve more than one system. In fact, the effects on a secondary system may be as serious as the primary system most associated with the problem. For example, heart disease can often cause fluid build up in the lungs. The primary system in this example is the cardiovascular system; the secondary system is the respiratory system. Fluid in the lungs will prevent the lungs from functioning properly causing the respiratory system to fail, yet the problem started with the cardiovascular system. Describe another medical condition or disease where the primary system causes a serious problem with a secondary system.

© 2014 Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Human Body Systems Activity 1.1.1 Amazing Facts – Page 1