10/31 "Interdependence of Organisms - 2".

I learned about symbiosis. I also learned how each animal affects the food chain.

Backward Looking Reflection Question 1: How much did you know about the topic before we started? What do you now know about the topic you did not know before? Well, last year in 4th grade, I learned about the Food Pyramid and the Food Chain. I did not know about Symbiosis. What I also learned this week was about Symbiosis's types.

Inward Looking Reflection Question 1: How do you feel about your work this week? What parts of it do you particularly like? Dislike? Why? I felt good working this week. I actually did not dislike anything. What I particularly like is the Symbiosis work on Tuesday and the Food Chain work Yesterday.

Interdependence of Organisms - 1

What I learned so far is where your food's energy comes from (the sun). I also learned about photosynthesis, food chains, and food webs.

Backward-Looking Reflection Question 1 On Schoolloop: How much did you know about the topic before we started? What do you now know about the topic that you did not know before?

Well, I knew about Omnivores, Carnivores, and Herbivores. I also knew photosynthesis and part of it's process last year. What I did not know before were Insectivores and where your food's energy comes from

Outward-Looking Reflection Question 2 On Schoolloop: What was especially satisfying to you about your work this week?

I found doing the Food Web work and the Food Energy satisfying because I found that I was learning as I was making mistakes in the Food Web game made me learn to fix it, and I was satisfied in the Food energy activity because I was learning about where the food's energy comes from.

Nervous System

Image Source: https://goo.gl/GNIwrV

The Nervous System:

Function:

     The function of the Nervous System is to help you control everything you do and control things you cannot control yourself such as your heart.

Organs:

     The organs that make the Nervous System is the brain which controls every part of your body, the spinal cord acts as a way for your brain to communicate to the rest of your body, and the nerve cells which are the cells that send messages to and from your brain and your body and makes up the spinal cord.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The Nervous System works with almost everything in your body. It works with the Muscular System by making the muscles and body move. The Nervous System also controls the heart pumping in the Circulatory System, and works with the Digestive System and moves muscles to help you digest food you eat. The Spinal Cord, which is part of the Nervous system is protected by the spine- part of the Skeletal System. It also helps the body feel and sense when something is touching the body.

Analogy:

Image Source: http://computerdays.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/cpu2.jpg

Explanation:

     The analogy that I chose for this system is a CPU. The function of a CPU is to send instructions to the computer and do simple thinking and math. The Nervous System does the same thing. This system's function is to do all the thinking that the body needs to do and send instructions to the rest of the body to do basic things such as moving. This is why I compared a CPU to the Nervous System

Structure and Function:

     The part of this system that I chose for this section was the brain. When looking at the brain, it seems like it is folded instead of being smooth. I think that the brain is shaped this way because it does something similar to the small intestine in the digestive system. The small intestine is folded down because when stretched out, it is about 20 feet. So it the small intestine is folded to fit inside the body. I think the same thing goes with the brain. The brain is folded in to pieces because it must be big, which makes sense since the brain is responsible for almost if not all actions in your body. The brain is folded so it could fit inside the skull.

Sources:

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Nervous System - I'm Sensing Something."Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Nervous System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_nervous.html>.

Wolfgang. "Human Brain Folds Explained." Human Brain Folds Explained. Ed. Steven Looi. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016. <http://www.brainhealthandpuzzles.com/human_brain_folds.html>.

Urinary System

Image Source: https://goo.gl/fdil3C

The Urinary System

Function:

The function of the Urinary System is to get rid of liquid, soluble waste.

Organs:

    The organs that make up the Urinary System is the Kidney which filters the urine. Then the urine goes down the ureters which is a pipe, and then into the bladder, where it stores the urine, until it is released by a muscle called the Urethra.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The Urinary System interacts with the Circulatory System by filtering blood that passes by the kidneys. When blood from the Circulatory System reaches the kidneys, the kidneys filter out harmful waste in the blood and add it in urine. The Urinary System also interacts with the Endocrine System. The Endocrine System works with the Urinary System by controlling the amount of urine that is released and produced. If you are dehydrated the Endocrine System will tell the Urinary System to not produce as much urine and if you drink a lot the Endocrine System will tell the Urinary System to produce more urine. 

Analogy:

Image Source: https://goo.gl/xQF0xF

Explanation:

     I compared the Urinary System to factory liquid/hazardous waste disposal pipes that dump harmful waste into water sources such as rivers. The function of these disposal pipes is to remove waste produced by the factory. When the factory uses materials to make products, it creates some substance that is not necessary for the creation of the product. The factory takes that substance and puts it through pipes and eventually dumps it out. The function of the Urinary System is to dispose of used liquids and potentially harmful substances. When the Urinary System no longer needs the water or has too much it dumps it out through the bladder, similar to how a factory removes waste products it no longer needs.

Structure and Function:

      The organ that I chose for this section was the bladder. The bladder is rounded in shape, hollow, and connects to the ureters. The bladder is also rubbery and is rather big. This is because humans (should) drink a lot of fluids to keep them hydrated and healthy, and since they drink a lot of fluids, they need something to carry that. Since the bladder is rubbery, it allows a lot of urine to go inside of it and if the bladder fills up, it expands since it is rubbery. The bladder is also big so it should take a lot of fluids to make the bladder expand.

Sources:

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Excretion Is Not Elimination." Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Excretory System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_excretory.html>.

Skeletal System

Image Source: https://goo.gl/iRALFV

The Skeletal System:

Function:

    The Skeletal System allows you to move your body, produce blood cells in the bone marrow, stabilizes your body, and protects all vital organs like the heart

Bones and Joints:

      The (major) Bones associated with the Skeletal System are the Skull which protects the brain, the Rib Cage which provides protection to the heart, lungs, and liver, the Foot which helps you stand and balance, the Pelvis which supports your spine, Hands which help you move your hands, and the Spine which protects the spinal cord. The Joints associated with the Skeletal system is the Ball and Sock Joint which is the reason why your arms are flexible and can move freely, the Saddle Joint which allows your arms and legs to bend, and the Pivot Joint which is a joint parallel to the top of a bone.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The skeletal system works with many other systems in the body. It works with the muscular system to help move your body and provides protection to the spinal cord, which is part of the nervous system. The skull, another part of the skeletal system provides protection for your brain and the rib cage provides protection to your heart which is part of the circulatory system, the lungs which is part of the respiratory system, and the liver, which is part of the digestive system. The skeletal system provides structure and support for the body. 

Analogy:

Image Source: https://goo.gl/7tVkEi

 

Explanation:

     This picture perfectly explains the skeletal system in real life. The skeletal system is the structure of the body, similar to this picture, which is the structure for the building. The skeletal system is made up of many bones and this picture is made up of many bars, metal, etc. Without the structure in that picture, the building wouldn't stand and would collapse, similar to the skeletal system. Without the skeletal system, the body would be a blob of skin, organs, and fluids.

Structure and Function:

     The major bone that I chose for this section was the spine. The spine is basically a straight line with aligned and parallel bones jutting out of that straight line. The function of the spine is to protect the spinal cord, which connects your brain to your body. I believe that the reason the spine is shaped like a straight line is to support your body perfectly and provide a safe way for the spinal cord to interact with your body. If the spine was not in a straight line, it might not be able to support your back or your back may be much weaker or unstable. 

  

Sources:

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Skeletons Inside and Out." Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Skeletal System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_skeletal.html>.

Nemours. "Your Bones." KidsHealth. The Nemours Foundation, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <http://kidshealth.org/en/kids/bones.html>

"Skeleton Quiz - Anatomy - Health." Skeleton Quiz - Anatomy - Health. Sheppards Software, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016. <http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/health/anatomy/skeleton/Skeleton_game_quiz.htm>.

The Muscular System

Image Source : https://goo.gl/YkGR1Y

The Muscular System

Function:

     The Muscular System allows you to move your body parts and do actions such as jumping, grabbing, and other things. This system works with the Nervous and Skeletal System

Organs:
     The organs that make up the Muscular System is the cardiac muscle which is found in your heart (never tires), smooth muscles which are found in your intestines, and voluntary and involuntary muscles. Voluntary muscles are muscles you can move- for example, you can move your hands, so the muscle in the hands are voluntary. Involuntary muscles are muscles that do actions you cannot control. These muscles control your internal organs.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The Muscular System works with the Nervous system. This is because to move, the Nervous system tells the Muscular System when to move. The Muscular System also works with the Skeletal System. The bones in your body provide structure for muscles. With the Muscular System, many organs move. The cardiovascular muscle pumps the heart and the smooth muscle helps the small intestine digest food.

Analogy:

Image Source: https://goo.gl/78WQBJ

Explanation:
     The reason why I chose a car motor for my analogy picture is because the function of the Muscular System is to help the body move. The motor for a car has the same function. The motor of a car uses energy to work the pistons of a car and make the car move. The Muscular System is similar because the Nervous System tells the muscles when to move.

Structure and Function:

      The muscle that I chose for this section is the rectus abdominis. The function of the rectus abdominis is to move the body forwards or sideways. This muscle is located in your middle abdomen and they are 2 x 6 bumps on your abdomen. I think that the shape of the rectus abdominis helps the body move forward and sideways because I think that the bumps of the rectus abdominis kind of fold inward to help the body move forward and move towards the side when moving sideways.

Resources:

BBC - GCSE Bitesize: Muscle Types. BBC, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2016. <http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/pe/appliedanatomy/3_anatomy_muscles_rev1.shtml>.

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Muscular System - Meat on the Bones."Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Muscular System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_muscular.html>.

Digestive System

Image Source: https://goo.gl/LppPSw 

The Digestive System

Function:

    The function of the Digestive System is to get rid of waste, send nutrients to the body, and break down food into liquid. The Digestive System works with the Circulatory system, Muscular System, Urinary System, and the Nervous System

Organs:

      The organs of this system is the mouth that chews down the food making it mush. There is also the esophagus which acts as a tunnel so the food can go to the stomach- another organ of this system. The stomach stores food, turns it into liquid, and transfers that liquid into the small intestine. The small intestine breaks down the liquid mixture and absorbs all the contents of the food to use it for energy. There are three other organs that help the small intestine absorb the contents of the food. They are the pancreas, gallbladder, and the liver. The pancreas makes substances that help absorb the fats and proteins and the liver creates a substance that helps fat get into the bloodstream. The liver also removes and filters waste, distributes the contents of food, and makes nutrient rich blood.  After the small intestine absorbed all the contents of the food, it goes into the large intestine. The large intestine is where the now useless and consumed food is put through. As the consumed food reaches the colon, the body has its last chance to absorb anything it didn't. Then the final product of the food is pushed out through the rectum.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The digestive system works with other systems by transporting nutrients, vitamins, fat, etc. to other parts of the body for energy. The liver also produces nutrient-rich blood and is used for the circulatory system to use.

Analogy:

Image Source: https://goo.gl/v573XY

Explanation:

       The reason why I chose this as my analogy is because a using gas for a car is similar to eating food for humans. When a car is almost out of gas (energy/food), you go to the gas station. Once the gasoline is put into the car, it goes through a process similar to the digestive system. The gasoline is converted into energy used to power every part of the vehicle and then after all the contents of the gasoline is used, the waste product is CO2. This is similar to the digestive system because when you are in need of energy (food in this case), you eat. When you eat the food is converted into energy and the waste product is made.  

Structure and Function:
     The organ that I used for this section was the small intestine. The small intestine is a flexible tube that stretches to 20 feet. The function of the small intestine is to take all the contents of the food that is in it and use it for energy for the whole body. The small intestine is a 20 ft. long tube because it takes time for it to absorb all the contents of the food. If the small intestine was only 10 inches, you wouldn't get much out of the food you eat since the food will pass by really quick. Since the small intestine is 20 ft long, it allows the body to absorb as much food content as possible.

Sources:

KidsHealth. "Your Digestive System." KidsHealth - the Web's Most Visited Site about Children's Health. The Nemours Foundation, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2016. <http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/digestive_system.html>.

Respiratory System

Image Source: http://respiratorysystem.organsofthebody.com/images/respiratory-system.jpg

Respiratory System:

Function:

    The Respiratory System's function is to provide oxygen for the body and eliminates all carbon dioxide.

Organs:

     The organs that make up the respiratory system are the lungs which bring oxygen in and out, the trachea which is a windpipe that carries the oxygen to the lungs, the bronchus that transport air through and from the lungs, and the diaphragm which contracts to pull air in and out.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

     The Respiratory System works with the Circulatory System by exchanging gases. The Circulatory System uses the oxygen that the Respiratory System brings in, uses it, then brings the leftovers (CO2) to the lungs again to breathe out. The ribs which are part of the Skeletal System interact with the Respiratory System by slightly expanding when breathing and protecting the lungs.

Analogy:

   

Image Source: https://goo.gl/RoUZEF

Explanation: 

       I chose a pump and a bike tire for this analogy. The function of the Respiratory System is to exchange gases in the body by giving oxygen to the body and disposing of carbon dioxide by breathing out. Now look at the function of a pump + bike tire. For this analogy, think of these two things as one item. The pump uses the air inside of it and gives it to the tire, allowing the tire to roll without flattening and to function in general. The tire eventually unintentionally disposes of this air from leaking, which means that you have to use the pump again to pump the air into the tire. The Respiratory System and the bike and pump are similar because they both exchange air and gases to function.

Structure and Function:

     For this section I chose the diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that contracts and relaxes the lungs when you breath. This organ is looks like a dome made of muscles located just below the lungs. The diaphragm is dome shaped to fit at the bottom of the lungs like a puzzle piece and perfectly pump the lungs. If the diaphragm was a different shape say rectangular instead of round and smaller or bigger, I think that the lungs might not contract and relax in the same length or measure or might pump and release oxygen too much or too little. 

Sources:

Respiratory System - BrainPOP. Perf. Tim and Moby. Respiratory System - BrainPOP. BrainPOP, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016. <https://www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/respiratorysystem/>.

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Respiratory System - All About Breathing."Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Respiratory System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 26 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_respiratory.html>.

   

       

Circulatory System

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Image Source: https://goo.gl/X26Rao

The Cardiovascular/Circulatory System:

Function:

The Circulatory System transfers oxygen, blood, and other fluids and chemicals to other parts of the body. 

Organs:

    The Circulatory System has many organs to it such as the Heart, Veins and Arteries. The function of the heart is to pump blood given from the veins and exchange it with oxygen. The veins carry blood to the heart and the arteries carry blood away from the heart.

Interactions w/ Other Systems:

      The Circulatory System interacts with other systems in many ways. The Respiratory System is given dissolved carbon dioxide from the heart to breathe out. The circulatory system also interacts with every part of your body since all your cells must have oxygen to survive and produce energy. 

Analogy:

Image Source: https://goo.gl/n4tx05

Explanation: 

     The reason why I chose this picture to represent the Circulatory System because the this system is like a pathway. The Circulatory System is a pathway that transports blood, oxygen, and liquids to other parts of the body. A pathway transports people to different parts of the building in the picture above. People can go the opposite direction of each pathway or forward, similar to how fluids go back and forth to the heart.

Structure and Function:

     The organ that I chose for this section is the arteries. The arteries transport blood produced by the heart to other parts of your body. The size of arteries in your body are usually the same- thin tubes that transport blood, oxygen, and other fluids around the body. I believe the arteries are shaped like that is so the arteries do not take up much space but also at the same time transport as much oxygen and blood to all parts of your body.

Sources:

Studios, Andrew Rader. "Circulation Is the Key." Biology4Kids.com: Animal Systems: Circulatory System. Biology4Kids, n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2016. <http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_circulatory.html>.