Skeletal Extra Credit Blog

In "Egil's Bones" by Jesse L. Byock, Egil is "deaf, often lost his balance, went blind, endured headaches,[and  had] unusual disfigurements of his skull and facial features" The anatomy and physiology of the bones that produced these symptoms are centered on the bone cells due to Pagets disease. In Paget's disease the Osteoblasts (the building cells) continually put down new matrix and bone material, yet the osteoclasts (the destroying cells) aren't working to help make room for new bone. This causes the bone to continually thicken and get bigger in ways that are not normal or healthy. This uncontrollable bone growth is the cause of Egil's disfigurements because his bone is regulated by the osteoclasts and osteoblasts and one of them was not working properly as a team. These disfigurements left the bones shaped unusually and caused a loss of weight balance due to unusual and uneven bone mass and unsound structure.  Also because the new bone isn't growing and shaping the right way we see a lot of Egil's problems especially in the skull area. Literally the bones in his skull grew to big to allow other parts of the body to function. For example the eyes in their sockets become crushed as well as the nerves of the eyes that help you see. Without the proper connections and room the eyes loose vision and that is why Egil became blind. The same type of thing occurs with the ears. The loose of hearing comes from the bones crushing the inner ear that allows for hearing. And from here you could probably guess why he had headaches, but you'd probably be wrong. You might think comes from the skull crushing the brain, it actually comes from the vertebrae crushing the spinal chord that brings nerves from the body to the brain. So in these few ways of hearing loss, blindness, headaches, and unusual disfigurements Egil's problems could be explained by Paget's Disease.


http://www.viking.ucla.edu/Scientific_American/images/scan1.jpg
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/services/disability-benefits/benefits-determined/entitlement-eligibility-guidelines/pagets
http://my.clevelandclinic.org/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/hic-pagets-disease.aspx

Write-Away Friday: Run or Dye

1. What tasks have you completed recently?  
This morning I ran a 5K in El Paso called Run or Dye with my two sisters, Hannah and Heidi, and my brother in law Sam. We were able to keep a good pace and we completed it in about half an hour including all the pictures and what not. At the very end it was pretty neat because there was a bunch of people at the end screaming "way to go" "good job" or just "Woohoo". We ran down the rows and gave a lot of people high fives, it was pretty neat. I really had a lot of fun and I momentarily felt like a celebrity. And after that we all got in a big group and were dancing and shouting and music was playing and then on cue we all threw a hand full or more of dye in the air. It was crazy and mostly hard to breath but it looked cool and was a great experience.
2. What have you learned recently? 
On Friday I was telling people I was going to a run or dye event the next day. It took some people awhile to realized I meant DYE in stead of DIE. They thought that I was just some super athletic person or something. This really taught me a lesson about perception and what people mean when they say something. A lot of times we compare ourselves to what people say about themselves and we think "wow they do this or that and I am not even close to doing it" while in reality things aren't as hard as they seem or made out to be different then they really are. You can never truly know how it is for someone else because you are not them and you were not there. Therefore, don't compare yourself to others because the person you compare yourself is based on your perception and isn't how it is.
3. What are you planning on doing next?
Next I plan on doing tons of homework because there is a lot of information that I need to learn about history, the bones, Pre-Calculus, and a little bit this weekend in Chemistry. Also I plan on working on my Orchestra playing test.

Skeletal System Blog

How does the Integumentary System and Skeletal System work together to help the body perform its function?

In the body the bones support and anchor soft organs. Which means essentially bones hold things up. For example the Sphenoid bone in the Skull is under the brain and literally supports its weight and holds things up. Similarly, the skin is support, but instead of holding things up, it holds things in. It creates a barrier from both sides. Both holding things up and holding things in is required to stand, walk, and move. Another function of the body is to allow the organs to do what they need to do. Without the skin and bones there wouldn't be a sufficient amount of protection to allow the body to do what it needs to like think, breath, and keep everything alive. The skin keeps things out like disease, UV radiation, and a ton of other harmful things and protects against major damages, while the bones make a casing for lungs, heart, brain, and other organs so that your body is able to protect itself from day to day bumps, bruises, and situations that it can find itself in. In both cases the body is able to continue to function even after most accidents (if not too serious) happen because the bones and skin help to increase the durability of the body. In the skin the process to synthesize Vitamin D begins which is then used for mineralization in the bones, especially Calcium which is where the body stores calcium until it is needed. Also the body is constantly using energy to move, and do everything that you do every day. In both skin in the Hypodermis, and bone in the Medullary Cavity there is fat. Which the body uses to store energy and and insulate the body to help regulate temperature. Also as I said before the skin is a barrier. This barrier also keeps in moisture. Bones are wet and the organs are wet and this is great because it helps keeps the body from drying out (which would cause you to die) . The Last thing is the body needs blood to live. You can NOT live without blood. Blood forms (aka Hematopoesis) within the red marrow of certain bones. This blood is then transported to every living cell in the body. And it is not exclusively used like that to keep cell alive. Within the skin the blood is used to help regulate heat so that the body doesn't over heat or get too cold. In these ways and many more the Integumentary System and Skeletal System are physiologically related. 
http://www.faqs.org/health/Body-by-Design-V2/The-Skeletal-System-Design-parts-of-the-skeletal-system.html

Write-Away Friday: Performing with Misty

1. What tasks have you completed recently? 
 I had the opportunity of  performing with a group of local musicians and Misty Boyce.  She is truly a talented musician that performed with Sara Bareilles, Naked Brothers Band, and many musicians of that caliber.  It was such an honor to work with her, because as a student in high school it is not common to play with people who actually are renown musicians. It was interesting to see how pop musicians like her are not all that great at reading written music and symbols, but can just come up with a melody and play it on the spot.  At some points in the program I saw her improvising on stage. The audience probably couldn't tell but between each rehearsal some solo parts continually changed, but it was amazing how each time it sounded great and I couldn't decide which way I liked best. They were always equally fantastic. It was two performances that I had to play with her.The first was good, but the second one had a very different feeling from the audience and the musicians around me. I had the feeling of "we got this" that just made it fun and the confidence actually boosted by playing. 

2. What have you learned recently? Of course in order to play with Misty I had to learn the music. These past few months the Orchestra and I have been working tirelessly to tune our notes, but  also to learn the syncopated rhythm common in pop music. It took a lot of time but we pulled off a very successful concert.Oh and I also learned that famous people are real people too. I mean that seems obvious but its not until you know one that that becomes real to you   3. What are you planning on doing next?Next we have to learn the music for the Holiday concert. This time though it wont be as exciting for us as it will be for the eighth graders that will be eager to play with older "cool" kids. I think for this next concert I will focus on perfect pitches and a good bow technique in order to play my BEST!!!

http://lcps.k12.nm.us/2013/10/30/mayfield-orchestra-performs-oct-29-30/