Anatomy is a fundamental topic within the International Baccalaureate (IB) Sports, Exercise, and Health Science (SEHS) syllabus. Understanding the structure of the human body and its systems is crucial for comprehending how they function and how they are affected by exercise and health interventions. This study note document will break down complex ideas into manageable sections, ensuring that each part is explained clearly with examples where necessary.
Cell biology is the study of cells, their physiological properties, their structure, and the organelles they contain. It is important to understand cell biology as it forms the basis for understanding larger biological systems.
- Cell Structure: Cells are the basic building blocks of all living organisms. They can be prokaryotic (without a nucleus) or eukaryotic (with a nucleus).
- Organelles: Key organelles include the nucleus, mitochondria, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, and Golgi apparatus.
Example
In muscle cells, mitochondria are abundant to meet the high energy demands during exercise.
Molecular biology focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which genetic information encoded in DNA is able to result in the processes of life.
- DNA and RNA: DNA holds genetic information, whereas RNA is involved in protein synthesis.
- Protein Synthesis: The process by which cells build proteins, involving transcription (DNA to RNA) and translation (RNA to protein).
Example
During muscle repair after exercise, protein synthesis is upregulated to produce more muscle proteins.
Genetics is the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
- Genes and Chromosomes: Genes are segments of DNA that code for proteins, while chromosomes are structures that contain DNA.
- Mendelian Inheritance: Principles of how traits are passed from parents to offspring.
Example
Athletes might inherit genes that give them a predisposition to certain physical traits, such as fast-twitch muscle fibers.
Ecology is the study of interactions between organisms and their environment.
- Ecosystems: Communities of living organisms and their physical environment.
- Biotic and Abiotic Factors: Living (biotic) and non-living (abiotic) components of ecosystems.
Example
Training in high-altitude environments can affect an athlete's physiology, illustrating the interaction between organisms and their environment.
Evolution explains the diversity of life through processes such as natural selection and genetic drift.
- Natural Selection: The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.
- Speciation: The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution.
Example
The diversity of human physical traits, such as skin color and body type, can be explained by evolutionary adaptations to different environments.
Human physiology involves the study of how the human body functions. This section is divided into several subsections for clarity.
Overview
The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients, which are then absorbed into the bloodstream.
Key Concepts
- Digestive Organs: Includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas.
- Enzymes: Biological catalysts that speed up the breakdown of food molecules.
6.2.1 The Blood System: History
- Historical Perspectives: Early understanding of blood circulation and the role of different organs.
6.2.2 The Blood System: Vessels
- Arteries, Veins, and Capillaries: Different types of blood vessels and their functions.
6.2.3 The Blood System: Double Circulation
- Pulmonary and Systemic Circulation: The two circuits through which blood travels in the body.
6.2.4 The Blood System: Cardiac Cycle
- Heart Function: The sequence of events in one heartbeat, including systole and diastole.
6.2.5 The Heart Rate
- Regulation: How the body controls heart rate through neural and hormonal signals.
6.2.6 Skills: The Blood System
- Practical Skills: Techniques for measuring blood pressure and heart rate.
6.3.1 Skin
- Barrier Function: How the skin acts as a physical and chemical barrier to pathogens.
6.3.2 Blood Clotting
- Mechanism: The process by which blood clots to prevent excessive bleeding.
6.3.3 White Blood Cells
- Immune Response: The role of different types of white blood cells in fighting infections.
6.3.4 Antibiotics
- Function: How antibiotics work to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria.
6.3.5 Antibiotic Resistance
- Issue: The growing problem of bacteria becoming resistant to antibiotics.
6.4.1 Ventilation: Function & Structures
- Respiratory System: Includes the lungs, trachea, bronchi, and alveoli.
6.4.2 Ventilation: Mechanism
- Breathing Process: How air is taken in and expelled from the lungs.
6.4.3 Lung Diseases
- Common Conditions: Such as asthma, bronchitis, and lung cancer.
6.4.4 Skills: Monitoring Ventilation
- Practical Skills: Techniques for measuring lung capacity and respiratory rate.
Overview
Neurons are the basic units of the nervous system, and synapses are the junctions where neurons communicate.
Key Concepts
- Action Potentials: Electrical impulses that travel along neurons.
- Neurotransmitters: Chemicals that transmit signals across synapses.
6.6.1 Hormones
- Endocrine System: Glands and hormones that regulate bodily functions.
6.6.2 Hormones Continued
- Specific Hormones: Such as insulin, adrenaline, and growth hormone.
6.6.3 Reproduction: Background
- Reproductive System: Organs and processes involved in human reproduction.
6.6.4 Reproduction: Sex Determination in Males
- Male Reproductive System: Testes, sperm production, and the role of testosterone.
6.6.5 Reproduction: Sex Determination in Females
- Female Reproductive System: Ovaries, menstrual cycle, and the role of estrogen and progesterone.
6.6.6 Skills: Reproduction Diagrams
- Practical Skills: Drawing and labeling diagrams of the male and female reproductive systems.
Nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA are essential for storing and transmitting genetic information.
- Structure of DNA and RNA: Double helix structure of DNA and single-stranded RNA.
- Replication and Transcription: How DNA replicates and how RNA is synthesized from DNA.
These processes are essential for energy production and utilization in living organisms.
- Metabolic Pathways: Series of chemical reactions in cells.
- Cell Respiration: How cells convert glucose into ATP.
- Photosynthesis: How plants convert light energy into chemical energy.
Plant biology covers the structure, function, and growth of plants.
- Photosynthesis: The process by which plants produce energy.
- Plant Reproduction: How plants reproduce sexually and asexually.
This section delves deeper into the mechanisms of inheritance and the processes driving evolution.
- Advanced Genetics: Genetic linkage, recombination, and mutations.
- Evolutionary Mechanisms: Natural selection, genetic drift, and gene flow.
Advanced concepts in animal physiology, including more complex systems and their interactions.
- Advanced Systems: Nervous, endocrine, and immune systems in detail.
Overview
Dissection is an essential skill for understanding anatomy and physiology.
Key Concepts
- Lab Equipment: Proper use of scissors, scalpel, tweezers/forceps, and dissection board.
- Safety Procedures: Wearing lab coat, gloves, and eye protection.
- Dissection Techniques: Identifying structures in biological specimens, such as heart dissection.
Tip
Always follow safety procedures to avoid injuries and contamination during dissections.
Note
Understanding the theoretical aspects of anatomy is crucial, but practical skills like dissection provide a hands-on understanding of biological structures.
Common Mistake
A common misconception is that all veins carry deoxygenated blood and all arteries carry oxygenated blood. However, the pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart, and the pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
Anatomy in the context of SEHS is a broad and detailed subject that requires understanding both theoretical concepts and practical skills. By breaking down complex ideas into smaller sections and using examples, this study note document aims to make the subject more digestible and easier to comprehend.
