Forever FIt by Jessica Blankenship

Forever Fit Health Facts For Teens Jessica Blankenship and Kassidy Windham

Table of Contents: About the authors………………………………………………….………Page 2 Introduction………………………………………..………………………Page 3 Chapter 1: Chemistry of Life………………………………………………Page 4 Chapter 2: Our Bodies…………………………………………………..…Page 8 Acknowledgements……………………………………………………...…Page 12 Dedications…………………………………………………………...……Page 12 Works Cited……………………………………………………………..…Page 13

Ignacio Garcia

Devlin Patoka

Page 1

About the Authors Jessica Blankenship and Kassidy Windham Jessica Blankenship is a senior at New Tech High @ Coppell, a newly formed high school that strives to teach students in a new and innovative way–project based learning. She is currently enrolled in a senior level Anatomy/physiology class under the loved direction of Mrs. Kim Wootton. Jessica currently lives in Coppell, Texas with her parents and two brothers. In the fall of 2013, she plans to attend Texas A&M University to study civil engineering. In her free time, Jessica loves hanging out with friends, practicing taekwondo, and reading. As a co-author of this book, Jessica hopes to spread the importance of health not only in teens, but in all.

Jessica Blankenship

Kassidy Windham is also a senior at New Tech High @ Coppell, and in the same Anatomy/physiology class as her peer Jessica. She lives with her parents and two sisters. Kassidy currently lives in Coppell Texas. The fall of 2013 is still undecided for Kassidy but she plans on furthering her education somewhere. She plans to graduate with a political science and journalism degree but still has her options open. As a co-other of this book, she hopes to spread awareness of anatomy and how it can and will affect health in all humans.

Kassidy Windham

Page 2

Author Introduction! This booklet explaining the key terms of Anatomy is important to write because it gives teens the understanding of how the body actually works. In modern day society we have the kind of technology to help cure many illness’s we incounter through out our lives. I feel that it is necessary to know how the body works in order to know how to take care of it properly. I know that it is important to be aware of your health because your body is essentially what makes you, you. I hope to personally help inform the general public and specidically teenagers about how the body actually takes care of itself and why that is so important. My personal goal changed through out writing this booklet. At first I knew I wanted to educate not only other teens but myself. I found it interesting that I cannot see any of me, yet, this is how the human body runs. I now know that I not only need to educate myself more but it is also important to live my life being aware of how healthy I am and creating healthy habbits for myself. While writing this booklet I learned a lot about how havng the write balance is key to health. I hope that with the information I have gained while writing it I can spread to others to help keep a healthier world. -Kassidy Windham

I am writing this guide so that people just like me can better understand how their bodies work and why it is so important to live a healthy life. In this day and age it can be very easy for teenagers to be unconcerned or unaware of their health. I want to change that, because it is my belief that a healthy life is a good life. The purpose of this book is to inform people and to make this world a better and healthier place to live in. My personal goal through writing this book is not only to teach other teenagers, but also to leran for myself ways I can maintain my health even more so than I am currently. I want to live the healthiest life that I can, inside and out. To me, weight is not a determinant of health, however I would love to figure out what is and to overall become healthier than I am at the start of this book. Hopefully I will learn how to treat my body, in eating habits, exercise, and any other way necessary. I hope that everyone who reads our book can learn the same. -Jessica Blankenship

Page 3

Chapter 1: The Chemistry of Life Sub-Chapter 1: Chemistry in our bodies A human is a multicellular animal and can be compared to a chemical factory. The elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are united to form organic compounds. There is two types of classified compounds. First, we have inorganic compounds, which is made out of molecules that do not contain the element carbon. A few exceptions to this would be carbon dioxide and calcium. Water is the most important inorganic compound to living organisms and comprises between 55%-65% of human body weight. The other type of compound is the organic compound. These make up all living things and are much larger than inorganic compounds. They also always contain the element carbon and sometimes a mix with hydrogen and other elements. The four main types of organic compounds include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates are compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They are classified in 3 different types. These types include monosaccharide’s, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Lipids are molecules containing the elements carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They have much less oxygen in comparison to hydrogen compared to carbohydrates. Lipids are fats that are essential for our health. The are an important source of stored energy. They make up the essential steroid hormones and help insulate our bodies. It is when excessive amounts of lipids are consumed that health problems may occur. Examples of lipids are fats, phospholipids, and steroids. Proteins are organic compounds containing carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen and most times, phosphorus and sulfur. They are found in every part of a living cell; and are also an important part of the outer protein coat of all viruses. Proteins also serve as a binding and structural components of all living things such as fingernails, hair, cartilage, ligaments, tendon, and muscle. Large protein molecules are called amino acids. Enzymes are specialized protein molecules found in all living cells. They help control the various chemical reactions occurring in a cell. Enzymes also help provide energy to the cell.

Page 4

Nucleic acids are organic compounds containing the elements carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The two major types of nucleic acids are deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA). They are the largest known organic molecules. DNA is involved in the process of heredity. The nucleus of every human cell contains 46 (23 pairs of) chromosomes, creating a long coiled molecule of DNA. The chromosomes contain about 10,000 genes. The genetic information tells a cell what a structure it will possess and what its function will be. The DNA molecule passes on this genetic information from one generation to the next. The RNA nucleotide is single stranded, whereas DNA is double stranded. The three different types of RNA include the messenger RNA, the transfer RNA, and the ribosomal RNA.

Sub-Chapter 2: Organ Systems Our bodies aren’t easily run; there is no one system that operates the entire body. We can function because of all the organs, organ systems, chemical reactions, cells, tissues, neurons, and other parts of our bodies, which are constantly working together to allow us to function. Organ systems are essential to our bodies working without fail. Each system has an important job to do, and each job effects the other systems, ultimately causing our health and proper functioning to depend on the collaboration of our organ systems. When trying to understand what makes us healthy, it is imperative to understand what is chemically going on within our organ systems, so that we can better see what to do to make our inside healthy. The integumentary system, in its most simple definition, is skin and the skin derivatives, such as hair, nails, and glands. This organ system has six key functions—protecting internal organs, regulating body temperature, manufacturing Vitamin D, containing nerves, temporarily storing fat, glucose, water, and salts, and absorbing other chemical substances. This may seem like a lot to take in, but we already know the majority of what the skin does from observing our own skin, so you’re already ahead of the game! We’ll start with regulating temperature in the body. In order to do this, the skin must evaporate sweat and regulate blood flow to the dermis. To put it simply, when we are hot, our integumentary system causes us to sweat, which, through evaporation, cools us down. Moving on to another vitally important organ system to our bodies, the digestive system. The functions of the digestive system are to break down food, change food into fat, carbohydrates, and protein, and to absorb nutrients. The breaking down of food is easy to grasp, your mouth

Page 5

simply chews the food to physically break up the food and when it is small enough, the esophagus carries the food to your stomach. In the stomach, chemicals such as pepsin, gastric juice, and hydrochloric acid work to chemically break the food down and turn it into fuel for the body. Once the food enters the small intestine, the digestible particles are absorbed and the non-digestible parts are passed to the large intestine. Within the stomach, the digestion of carbohydrates consists of starch to double sugars, to simple sugar, or glucose. Fats are digested as fats to emulsified fats, to fatty acids and glycerin. Lastly, protein is digested from protein to amino acid. Each of these results are then carried to other organs in the body through the blood. This is one of the most important parts of the digestive system. Absorption is the key chemical process that provides crucial nutrients to our bodies, because all of our energy is obtained from the food that we eat. When looking at chemistry within the digestive system, it is always important to consider what types of food that will provide healthy nutrients, and which will only deliver fat. Eating too much processed food or sugar, and not enough fiber, fruits, and vegetables is extremely detrimental to our health and can lead to digestive problems. Proteins and grains are also essential to a healthy diet. Later we’ll explore further the world of healthy eating! Now for the respiratory system: seemingly one of the most important systems to our lives. The two main functions of the respiratory system are to provide the structures for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, and to produce sound through the vocal cords. Breathing is a key action, chemically, when observing the body and its health. Respiration is the process in which the body supplies its cells and tissues with oxygen, which is needed for metabolism, a process that plays a huge role in your health. Without oxygen, our bodies would not be able to function properly. Lastly in regards to organ systems, we’ll talk about a system so important to your health, you would be dead from disease without it: the immune system. The immune system protects your body from diseases, and needs to be able to detect all types of agents and distinguish them from the body’s own healthy tissues, in order to function properly. Your bodies’ ability to fight agents such as viruses is what keeps your body healthy and safe. In order to do this, the immune system has to be adaptive and possess multiple defense mechanisms to recognize pathogens.

Page 6

In order to keep your immune system working the way it needs to be, here are some helpful tips to boost your immune system! Firstly, eat your vitamins! Foods with Vitamin C, vitamin E, and zinc all contain nutrients that will enhance your immune system. Next, manage your stress and work out regularly. When you’ve done both of those, always remember to drink water! Water helps to cleanse the body and remove toxins. Lastly, get enough sleep! Now that we have discussed four vitally important organ systems within your body, their functions, and how, chemically, they play a role in your health, you may have a better understanding of what goes on in your body. There are many ways to determine if any one of your organ systems are not functioning properly, which we will go into further, later on. Just know that your skin, digestion, respiration, and immunity are all detrimental to your health, so take great care when deciding how you treat them!

Fun Fact #1!

The esophagus is approximately 25cm long.

Health Tip #1!

People whose diets are rich in potassium may be less prone to high blood pressure. Besides reducing sodium and taking other heart-‐healthy steps, eat potassium-‐packed picks such as bananas, cantaloupe, and oranges.

Page 7

Chapter 2: Inside Our Bodies All living things whether it is a plant or animal, unicellular or multicellular, large or small – are composed of cells. Cells are microscopic and are the basic unit of structure and function of all living things. The cell is bounded in by what we call a cell membrane. The cell membrane has many openings but separates the cell from its external environment and from its neighboring cells. It also regulates the passage or transport of certain molecules going in and out of the cell. The cell membrane consists of protein and lipid molecules arranged in a double layer. The nucleus is the most important organelle within a cell. It has two vital functions: to control the activities of the cell and to facilitate cell division. The nucleus stains vividly because it contains DNA and protein. Surrounding the nucleus is a membrane called the nuclear membrane. Materials can pass through these openings from either the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Cytoplasm is the material found between the nucleus and the cell membrane. The outer layer of the nuclear membrane is continuous with the endoplasm reticulum of the cytoplasm and may have small rounded projections on it called ribosomes. Nucleoplasm is a clear material that fills the spaces around the chromatin and the nucleoli within the nucleus. Within the nucleus are one or more nucleoli. Each nucleolus is a small round body. It contains ribosomes composed of ribonucleic acid and protein. There is ribosome aid in protein synthesis. Cytoplasm is a sticky, semifluid material found between the nucleus and the cell membrane. Embedded in the cytoplasm are organelles, or cell structures that help a cell to function. Centrioles are two cylindrical organelles found near the nucleus in a tiny round body called the centrosome. During mitosis, or cell division, the two centrioles separate from each other. This helps to equal distribution of these chromosomes to the two daughter cells. Crisscrossing the cellular cytoplasm is a fine network of tubular structures called the endoplasmic reticulum. The endoplasmic reticulum provides passages through which transport of substances occurs in cytoplasm. The two types of endoplasmic reticulum are rough and smooth. Rough endoplasmic reticulum has ribosomes studding the outer membrane. The ribosomes are the sites for protein synthesis. The smooth endoplasmic reticulum has a role in cholesterol synthesis, fat metabolism, and detoxification of drugs. Mitochondrion serves as sites of cellular respiration and energy production. The Golgi apparatus manufactures carbohydrates and packages secretions for discharge from the cell. Lysosomes serve as centers for cellular digestion. Peroxisome enzymes oxidize cell substances. Centrosome and centrioles function during animal cell division. Cytoskeleton, the last cell organelle to talk about forms and internal framework for the cell.

Page 8

Animal Cell:

For cells to maintain their structure and function, chemical reactions must occur inside the cell. These chemical reactions require energy most commonly from the molecule called ATP (adenosine triphosphate.) ATP is created from the decomposition of organic molecules from the carbohydrates, proteins, and fats we eat. Calories released from the decomposition of food are used to synthesis ATP. ATP is the available to be used for maintenance of a cellular structure and function. This is how the cell keeps up a healthy metabolism.

Plant Cell:

Page 9

When we have a group of cells, it forms a tissue. Within our bodies, there are four major tissue types—connective, nervous, epithelial, and muscle. These four tissue types are responsible for so much that goes on in our bodies, it would be detrimental to our understanding of how to stay healthy if we didn’t learn about them. Connective tissue is one of the most diverse tissues and is found throughout the entire body, including in tendons, ligaments around joints, cartilage, and most importantly, blood. Blood functions to transport oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, and wastes to and from the body's cells. Blood cells consist of erythrocytes (red blood cells), leukocytes (white blood cells) and thrombocytes (platelets). Without this connective tissue, our bodies wouldn’t survive even a minute. In general, connective tissue has several functions such as storage of energy, protection of organs, and connection of body tissues. When connective tissue is damaged, just like everything else, it needs repairing. In order for this to happen, fibroblasts in the area multiply rapidly and secrete large amounts of collagen and other macromolecules that help to seal the wound. This is how connective tissues repairs itself. Collagen is an essential part of this process, which may seem trivial, but in reality, this could be very important to you one day. With old age, connective tissues begin to diminish, which is why many people receive Botox injections—as it happens, collagen is a key ingredient in Botox. Another on of the four tissue types is epithelial tissue, which covers the entire surface of the body. The function of epithelial tissue is to protect internal organs and other tissues, transport materials, and absorb water. When an epithelial tissue is damaged it repairs itself by releasing cytokins, which dilates blood vessels and causes increased blood flow. Knowing this is key to understanding the body and how it is repaired. In order for us to keep our epithelial tissues healthy and in tact, we can eat vitamins and make sure to keep our skin clean. Keeping our skin clean makes an essential job of the epithelial tissue much easier. This is something very easily done, that can make our skin healthier, prettier, and sturdier.

Page 10

Moving on to nervous tissues—we have a tissue that is the main component of the nervous system. Nervous tissue is specialized to react to stimuli and to conduct impulses to various organs in the body, which invoke a response to the stimulus. Nerve tissues are all made up of neurons. Neurons are easily stimulated and transmit impulses very rapidly. Lastly, we have muscle tissue. Muscle is responsible for movement of the body and changes in the size and shape of internal organs. There are two types of muscle tissue— smooth and skeletal. Smooth tissues regulate the blood pressure and flow of blood in arteries and are found in the digestive system in the stomach and intestines to cause the peristalsis movement. Skeletal muscles are involved in the movement of bones and the breathing process. Eating nutritious foods such as protein and calcium can help keep our muscle tissues healthy and strong.

Smooth Muscle

Skeletal Muscle

Fun Fact #2! An adults stomach can hold approximately 1.5 liters of material.

Health Tip #2!

For sore muscles and joints, apply a cream or ointment that contains capsaicin, the active ingredient in chile peppers, two or three times a day. The heat from the peppers has been shown to help relieve pain.

Page 11

Acknowledgments We want to acknowledge on of the most creative and supportive teachers in the world: Mrs. Kim Wootton. Without her help, this book would not have been possible. Nearly all of the information presented in this book was given to us by this wonderful lady and we couldn’t be more appreciative. She gave us all the tools that we needed to create this book for you. Thank you.

We would also like to acknowledge the school that made this book possible: New Tech High @ Coppell.

To all the individuals in out Anatomy class, we also want to acknowledge you for your support and help throughout the creation of this book.

Dedication We dedicate this book to the one and only, Mrs. Kim Wootton

Thank you so much Mrs. Wootton for supporting us, believing in us, and teaching us everything we needed to know to truly create and publish this book. We love you and we dedicate this book solely to you, our dearest teacher.

Page 12

Work Cited Ann Sensisi Scott, E. F. Body Structures & Functions. Thomson Delmar Learning. Bentor, Y. (1996). Periodic Table. Retrieved November 27, 2012, from Chemical Elements: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&tbo=d&biw=1281& bih=564&tbm=isch&tbnid=DmH8Gf33p0pwM:&imgrefurl=http://www.chemicalelements.com/&docid=eKO3CgCZU0ydfM&i mgurl=http://www.chemicalelements.com/graphics/table.gif&w=563&h=305&ei=nxK 1ULf3O43U9ASjhIHwBw&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=1&sig=118351328322948861700& page=1&tbnh=135&tbnw=250&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:86&tx=168&ty =276 Cell Biology. (n.d.). Retrieved from Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cell_%28biology%29 Davidson, M. W. (2005, May 14). Molecular Expressions. Retrieved November 27, 2012, from Cell Biology- Cell Nucleus : http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/nucleus/nucleus.html Elmers Products, N. G. (2012). DNA RNA - Chemisry . (L. Foundation, Producer, & Society for Science for kids & the Public) Retrieved November 27, 2012, from Science News: http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/2012/05/dna-rnaand-xna/ Harvard Health Publications. (2000). Retrieved 10 24, 2012, from How to Boost your Immune System: http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boostyour-immune-system.htm Science Learning Hub. (2007). Digestion Chemistry. Retrieved 10 24, 2012, from Science Learning: http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Contexts/Digestion-Chemistry National Geographic. (n.d.). Digestive System. Retrieved October 2012, from National Geographic: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/health-‐and-‐human-‐ body/human-‐body/digestive-‐system-‐article/ Structure of the Human Digestive system. (2010). Retrieved October 2012, from TutorVista.com: http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-‐iv/animal-‐ nutrition/human-‐digestive-‐system-‐structure.php Farabee, M. (2010, May). The Respiratory System. Retrieved October 2012, from http://www.emc.maricopa.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/biobookrespsys.html

Page 13

Sara. (2011, October). Integumentary System. Retrieved October 2012, from http://insetawesomenamehere.blogspot.com/2011/10/integumentary-‐ system.html Muirbrook, J. (2012, February). The Immune System. Retrieved October 2012, from Epic Nutrition: http://epicnutritiontoday.com/boost-‐your-‐immune-‐system/ Gallik, S. (2009). Loose Connective Tissue. Retrieved October 2012, from Histology: http://histologyolm.stevegallik.org/node/99 Epithelial Tissue. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2012, from http://www.stegen.k12.mo.us/tchrpges/sghs/ksulkowski/TissueSlides.htm Wikipedia. (2012, October). Nervous Tissue. Retrieved October 2012, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nervous_tissue Developmental Biology Online. (n.d.). Muscle Tissue. Retrieved October 2012, from Developmental Biology Online: http://www.uoguelph.ca/zoology/devobio/210labs/muscle1.html Gallik, S. (2011). Histology of Muscle. Retrieved October 2012, from Histology OLM: http://stevegallik.org/sites/histologyolm.stevegallik.org/htmlpages/HOLM_Chapte r07_Page04.html

Thanks for Reading! Stay Healthy! J

Page 14

Forever Fit Health Facts For Teens This book is a fresh look into how our bodies work, how to keep them working smoothly, and what parts of our bodies need to be focused on. This book is for teens, by teens so each tip is given with a direct purpose. All of the information given is essential to understanding our bodies and how they work. This book will give teens the knowledge that they need to stay healthy. Forever Fit explains the operations of our bodies starting from the smallest of cells, to tissues, organs, and organ systems. With the information in this book teens will never again question what tasks should be done to keep the inside of your body healthy so that the outside looks just as healthy. We will cover the digestive, respiratory, integumentary, and the immune system. Also we will go into the types of cells and tissues essential to our bodies. As anatomy students ourselves as authors, we have researched this information solely to understand it and to relay it onto our generation so that we all can be healthy inside and out!