Digestive System Lab

1) In the Digestive System Lab, we made a model to represent the length of our digestive system from mouth to anus. To do so, we used different colored yarn to represent each different organ/part of the system, and measured certain parts of our bodies and heights to calculate the size of each organ. For example, our stomach was the length of our thumb to pinkie finger while making the "hang loose" sign. Our bodies are very specialized, and remarkable in almost unimaginable ways. Many people describe me as "tiny," so it's crazy to think that so much stuff is in my body. We calculated the length of our digestive system, which is staggeringly longer than expected. The "takeaway" from the lab is that organs so long and large can fit into such a small space.

2) I am 5 foot 2 inches tall, fairly short for my age and gender. This is 62 inches. The length of my digestive system is 8.604 meters, or 338.74016 inches. That is actually insane to think about. I think the only way this length of organs is able to fit in my abdomen is through tons and tons of folding and coiling. It is compressed into many micro-folds, increasing surface area while maintaining the small volume.
3) I think it takes 3 1/2 hours for food to move through the digestive system. I shall now look up the answer. It actually takes about 6 to 8 hours. I find this surprising because sometimes when I eat dairy foods, (I am intolerant) it seems to only take 20 minutes to pass through. (TMI) I know that this is the body's mechanism of getting the dairy out of my body as quickly as possible, but it seems surprisingly fast compared to the normal 6 to 8 hours. This may be a factor that influences the time it takes, in addition to things like fiber intake.
4) Digestion is the breaking down of food into smaller particles and molecules, done mostly by the mouth, the stomach, and the small intestine. Absorption is the actual intake of those broken down molecules into the bloodstream for use throughout the body, taking place mainly in the small intestine and large intestine.
5) I want to learn more about dietary intolerances, mostly because of my lactose intolerance, and also because I have friends who have Celiac disease.

New Year Goals

1. As a newly minted Second Semester Senior™, I am bound to suffer from the plaguing disease currently crippling the class of 2017: Senioritis. I will not let my diagnosis detract from my academic successes; I will finish the year with no grades lower than a B-. I will do so by maintaining the amount I study for tests, and continuing to attend classes. By allowing myself some Bs, I can regain lost sleep time from 3 1/2 stressful years and relax more before I leave for college. 

2. I will fit into my NCL Presents dress by March 4, with no visible fat rolls or reliance on Spanx. 

I will do this by consistently going to the gym, at least 3 days a week in addition to being more active while I teach dance classes. This will knock 2 birds out with 1 stone, allowing my students to have a more engaged and fun instructor while I get in shape myself. I will practice my dance solos more, so I can win first overall at competitions and get more confidence about myself. I will eat healthier, and stop taking late night Yogurtland runs. I will enlist others to help me keep my goals and have a selection of gym-buddies to accompany me on my workouts, making it a little more fun. Although weight shouldn't be the driving factor, I want to lose at least 7 pounds, hopefully more.