informationalhealing.com Blog

I know you Advanced AP students are busy studying for exam 3 so here are some tips:

1. Learn the processes from general to specific using as much common sense as possible.

Example: Gas Exchange (in with the good air and out with the bad air)

General—learn that O2 goes from lungs to blood to tissues. The lungs are the source of O2 (in with the good air) so the PO2 is highest there. The tissues use O2 so the PO2 is lowest there. The reverse is true for CO2. PCO2 is highest in the tissues because they are the source of CO2. CO2 has to move from tissues to blood to lungs (out with the bad air). Once you understand this you just need to plug in the specifics.

Also for some of those specifics. The way I remember the PO2s and PCO2s is to just remember the number 104. I then take the last 2 digits, 0 and 4 and flip them to make 40. So there is my PO2 104–40. I then add 5 for the CO2–45–40. I know it’s wierd but that’s how my brain works…

2. Practice–practice–practice (don’t just write em–recite em!)

Practice writing our your exam answers. Again you could start with just a general statement or flowchart describing the process then fill in the specifics. Also, if you are in a group, take turns reciting the process to one another. Don’t just read your answers. Reading can become passive. I have had my share of reading long boring descriptions of physiological processes. Sometimes I would read a whole page and not remember what I just read! Make your learning active.

3. Make sure you answer the questions.

Sometimes students think they have the answer but they just partially read the question. Don’t jump to conclusions. Make sure you have the complete answer.

4. Decrease your chances of blanking out.

If you are well-prepared you will decrease your chances of blanking out. In my humble experience coaching for 14 years and teaching for 6 I have found that the more you use passive techniques the less prepared you are. You have to make your learning active. Do this by writing answers, reciting them, describing the process in a different format like a flowchart or mindmap. Passive techniques include reading your answers, listening to the podcasts over and over and sitting in a study group and not participating.

5. Get a good night’s sleep.

You need to have your brain working well so get a good night’s sleep and make sure you are hydrated and have food in you. Your brain needs lots of glucose.

6. Caffeine can help.

My drug of choice for studying. Some studies show it helps.

7. Don’t multitask while studying.

Don’t check emails, ims, watch the kids, cook dinner or drive while studying.

8. A little time goes a long way.

Everyone has their limit. And your limit for studying should get longer the longer you are in school. I still prefer to study in shorter times more frequently than sitting for a whole day–or night…

9. If you blank…. do the multiple choice questions.

Sometimes anxiety gets in the way and your brain is flooded by thoughts of failure. Hey, it happens to me too. You can help to wake up those neurons by tackling those nasty mc questions. Hey, the right answer is in there somewhere.

Okay Advanced A&P students. Here are some tips on urinary physiology.

Remember the basics first.

Rule 1.
There are only 3 main processes of urine formation. Filtration, reabsorption and secretion. All 3 happen in the nephron.

Rule 2.
Your body needs constant regulation of fluid and electrolyte volume and a lot of this happens in the kidney so all 3 processes have regulating systems.

Filtration
Happens in the glomerulus and glomerular capsule. Substances are filtered based on size only. So whatever is small enough to fit through the filter’s holes is filtered. Example–small stuff in the blood. The filter is also regulated by regulating the pressure entering the filter. Example–turn on the spigot to a hose connected to a sprinkler. If you turn it full on–there is more pressure and more water moves through the sprinkler. If you turn it down, the pressure drops and less is filtered.

Reabsorption/Secretion

Reabsoption–move stuff from tubule to blood.
Secretion–move stuff from blood to tubule.
Because most of the small stuff falls through the filter we need to reclaim a lot of it because our bodies need it. For example water falls though and since 70% of our bodies is water we need to get that water back. Water moves back to the blood via a process called tubular reabsorption. Likewise other substances move the other way (like potassium) via tubular secretion.

Okay Gen A&P students here are some pointers on CV anatomy. I know that exam 3 is just around the corner.

Blood flow…Blood flow…Blood flow

A good way to learn the structures of the heart is to follow the blood flow through it. Look at the basic function of the heart–to pump blood from the body to the lungs and back to the body. So the heart has 2 jobs and thus 2 sides to do these 2 jobs.

Job 1—pump blood from body to lungs.

This is the easier job and done by the right side of the heart–so it is smaller. Why is it easier? Think of how far the lungs are from the heart–not too far eh?? So the heart doesn’t need to work too hard to do this. Both sides of the heart have 2 chambers to accomplish their jobs. A receiving chamber (atrium) and a pumping chamber (ventricle) move the blood.

Job 2—pump blood from lungs to body.

This is a harder job done by the left side of the heart. The heart has to push this blood all the way to your big toe. Again 2 chambers to do this.

Once you know the basic jobs it becomes easier to learn the parts.

Circulation

One thing students get stuck on is learning the arteries and veins. One thing that may help is to think of them as a highway system. You can practice by giving directions to different parts of the body. For example lets say you are traveling from the heart to the brain. The directions would be:

Take aorta street north until you hit common carotid way. Turn left and go north. You will see an intersection at internal and externat carotid lanes. Take the exit for internal carotid lane and follow it into the skull.

I just returned from the League for Innovation’s national conference on information technology in Nashville, TN. I presented a 1-hour program on some new approaches to teaching A&P online.

The conference was great. Very professionally run with excellent equipment and resources. Kudos to all who worked to make this a success. I was impressed!

I was able to attend a few workshops and here are some highlights:

Online Courses

In my opinion the sky’s the limit when it comes to online learning. In other words the growth of online students and the demand for online courses continues at a rate that exceeds enrollment in traditional courses. I used a few quotes from the Sloan Consortium report to emphasize this in my presentation. Online A&P continues to be a challenge because of its 3 dimensionality and difficult terminology. I really believe that at some point online students need to hear how these terms are pronounced.

Podcasting–Podcasting–Podcasting

There were a number of presentations on podcasting. I know I need to improve on this because I just take a digital recorder and place it on the lecturn to record my 2 hour lectures. I think some file compression is necessary as well as perhaps using shorter lengths of time by breaking up the lectures. I may work on this more over the xmas break.

The general consensus at the conference was that students want podcasting. I feel it is a great way for students in A&P to learn the anatomical terms.

Technology, etc…

Lots of technology at the conference including a variety of content management systems, and course management systems. Big investments though with lots of support needed.

I left with my head spinning–not from visiting the establishments ringing with C&W music but with ideas about how to improve my courses. Just need more time!!

I’ve been meaning to do this for a long time now and have finally gotten to it. That is blogging about the challenging world of learning anatomy and physiology. My hope is to provide some insight regarding learning about the body as well as teaching it.

I hope you find this interesting…

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!