The folds in the small intestine, which increase surface area
for better absorption.
This unit was focused on a few major organ systems in the body: the digestive system, the endocrine system, and the lymphatic system. Each system is interestingly interconnected. The digestive system consists of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, appendix, small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, to ileum), the large intestine (ascending colon, transverse colon, to descending colon), rectum, and anus, traveling through those organs respectively. This pathway is the alimentary canal. The digestive system consists of digestion and absorption, digestion being the mechanical and physical breakdown of food through various processes. These can include peristalsis, which is the contraction movements of the esophagus, stomach walls contracting, chemical changes in the acidic stomach, and digestive juices/enzymes in the small intestine. Absorption is the absorbing of the broken down nutrients into the blood stream. This occurs due to the many folds in the small and large intestines, which are actually over 28 feet! We explored the surprising length of the intestines in our lab, which I debriefed here.

We also learned about fuel metabolism, which changes depending on what state your body is in. If you have just eaten, you are in the fed state, and the sugars you absorbed in the digestive system travel to the liver, where they are converted into glycogen. The pancreas releases insulin to stop the release of glucagon. The amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose are sent to body cells to be stored as adipose tissue. If a person consumes and does not expend the energy stored in the form of fat, said fat will accumulate, causing obesity. Obesity can lead to many health complications, one of which is diabetes. Diabetes is a disruption in fuel metabolism. Diabetes can be one of two forms: Type I diabetes or Type II. Type I occurs when insulin is not correctly produced by the body, and those who are diagnosed are dependent on insulin shots. Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to be absorbed into cells, triggering the migration of Glut4 receptors to the outside of the cell membrane, which allow glucose to enter the cell. This only affects 5-10% of all people with diabetes. The more common form of diabetes is Type II, which occurs when the body is insulin-resistant, meaning that insulin's intended effects do not work in the body. If not correctly managed, diabetes can be deadly. My grandfather had Type II diabetes, and my brother was pre diabetic until he changed his lifestyle.

Insulin's effect on Glut4 receptors in cells. Exercise also
triggers the movement of the Glut4 receptors.
The main struggle I had this unit was missing the Fuel Metabolism lecture. The printed handout had run out by the time I went to get one, so I had to write the whole thing by hand, which muddled the information, and also meant I don't have some diagrams in my notebook. I also realized that it was incredibly complex, and I am still slightly confused on exactly what some terms mean. In regards to my New Year goals, I am doing mas o menos. I completely forgot that we had a temp check, and at that point I still had not done my Fuel Metabolism notes, so that went poorly. I wish I had taken initiative and done them earlier. However, I am eating much healthier, and I've eliminated my snacking habit. Now I stick to my 3 wholesome meals a day, with one small snack before I go to work. Having a job and being a second semester senior is a catch 22; now that it is competition season, I have increasing obligations and commitments to my students, (including rhinestoning over 45 costumes...) and I have to continue to do well in school while juggling changing social aspects.