b.) While going through the course I frequently visited Dartmouth's website to get a better understanding of what I was learning. I was going through the course kind of quickly to make sure that I'd finish it by the time the assignment was due, so the extra source of info was real helpful.
"Basic Human Anatomy: A Regional Study of Human Structure (online version)." -
Ronan O'Rahilly, M.D.
Fabiola Müller, Dr. rer. nat.
Stanley Carpenter, Ph.D.
Rand Swenson, D.C., M.D., Ph.D
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~humananatomy/index.html
c.) See Hours Log
d.)
For my independent component I completed the free online course "Anatomy + Physiology" offered by Carnegie Mellon's Open Learning Initiative. It was a weighty course that ended up being more time consuming than I thought, I ended up having to put in a little more time than I anticipated, even while trying to rush through the course the last week or so.
"Anatomy + Physiology" Homepage^
INTERPRETIVE :
The course consisted of 15 Units that contained a total of 57 modules. Each Unit focused on one particular body system and generally had around 4 modules detailing the structures and functions of the system, the levels of organization, the way that the system achieves homeostasis, and the way it integrates with the rest of the body. Every module outlined the learning objectives at the beginning and came with practice questions and interactive bits that checked for understanding of the content. The class as a whole was not graded, but there were three scored tests in the program.
Scored Portions of the program ^^^
APPLIED:
Above all, taking this course has reinforced my belief that the human body, with all it's complexities and difficult-to-pronounce structures, is a machine like any other. With science and technology we're able to predict to a T how the human body will react in virtually any situation, and with that knowledge we as humans can control these vessels with frightening accuracy and confidence. This component has also brought to light how powerful the brain is in it's ability to essentially coordinate every possible function in the body. I can apply what I've learned here to all three of my answers, which is kind of exciting. For one, my first answer is about initial evals and how they are vital to the care process. I now know that most every system in our body integrates with the others, and neglecting to thoroughly examine one part of the body could harm the others.
This also helps my third answer in a mind-blowing way. The brain is an unbelievable muscle. It's self-aware; it knows that it's a brain. So, as humans we're also able to learn about and comprehend the mechanics of our brain's vessel, the human body. I can eat a piece of toast and step by step explain exactly what's going on in my digestive system, what chemicals and hormones my endocrine system is sending out, and also how my central nervous system is responding. The fact that one person can be conscious of all that is crazy enough, so the phrase "two minds are better than one" is especially true. The basis of patient centered care is basically to bring multiple individuals together to solve one individual's problem. It's like pooling intellectual and cognitive capitol together, which I've concluded will yield the best possible care. Science has made it so all humans have the capacity to become experts on the body, so it makes sense that multiple experts on the human body would provide better care than simply one expert.
