Human Health and Disease - Essay Example

• The skin forms a barrier between the external and the internal environment of the body
• The skin helps in regulation of body fluids.
• The skin controls the regulation of temperature inside the body through sweating and insulation by hair.
• It is sensitive to touch and hence can carry the stimulus of the external environment to the brain.
• It acts as a storage material for water and lipids.
• It can produce Vitamin D when UV light impinges on it.
• It is water-resistant and hence essential nutrients are not washed out of the body
• Different molecules can diffuse through the layers of the skin. For example, Nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen can penetrate the skin in small amounts. This finds a useful application in modern medicine as certain medications can be administered through the skin. However, it also has a potential drawback since certain small harmful substances like very small nanoparticles can also diffuse through the skin and cause damage.

The symptoms include constipation, bulky stool, thick mucus, short breath, and infections by uncommon bacteria. Possible management approaches include early detection and regular treatment and to also avoid substances that stimulate the creation of mucus.

Essay # 4

1. One of the most fascinating systems of the human body is the nervous system. The most basic unit of which is a cell, a neuron, or a nerve cell. Many different types of neurons give nerve tissue. These different tissues combine to form an organ like a brain. Different organs like the brain and the spinal cord make up the nervous system.
2. The smallest unit of matter is an atom whereas the smallest unit of life is the cell. All cells are made up of matter and hence atoms. We can draw an analogy between the levels of organization in each of them. Individual cells combine to give tissues, which coordinate with other types of tissues to give organs, and at the end, we get a system that is further amalgamated with other systems to give life. Similarly, starting from an atom, molecules are formed which give proper structure and in the end, we get a certain material that can be further organized into the higher structures.

Essay # 5

There are numerous joints present in the human body. Joints are areas where two bones meet and these joints coordinate movement with the bones. Arthritis is a condition in which inflammation of these joints occurs. There are four main types of Arthritis.

• Osteoarthritis: The cartilage present at the end of the bones gradually wears down and this causes osteoarthritis. It can affect any joint of the body and the main cause for this type of arthritis is not clear even though some people have a genetic predisposition to acquire it.
• Rheumatoid Arthritis: Muscle deterioration and tendon shrinkage are common in this type of arthritis. The exact cause for this is not known though it is suspected that it is an autoimmune disorder.
• Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: This is an autoimmune disorder with almost similar symptoms when compared to rheumatoid arthritis. This type of arthritis however can have its side effects on other organs like the lungs and heart. What type of immunity is the inflammatory process
• Infectious Arthritis: This is usually a consequence of an injury that allows the invading pathogens to attack the joints. This can occur as a result of bacterial as well as viral infection.

Histamine and some other chemicals are released from these damaged cells which make the blood vessels leaky and cause swelling. This is an attraction site for phagocytes which phagocytize the bacteria as well as the dead cells. This forms the pus or the white material which is usually formed.