Evaluate the importance of various technologies, including Canadian contributions, to our understanding of internal body systems (digestive, circulatory or respiratory)
Introduction
Technological advancement in the world of science has allowed doctors to better understand all internal body systems. One very important invention is the x-ray, which allows doctors to view the inside of your body without surgery. They are able to analyze major organs like the heart, brain, and lungs to every last detail. The x ray also enables physicians to spot a number of deadly diseases such as pneumonia, pleurisy, and tuberculosis. Another huge breakthrough comes from Canadian Fredrick Banting who discovered insulin. Insulin is a hormone that regulates glucose levels in the body which is currently being used to treat diabetic patients. Finally, the defibrillator is a type of treatment that releases an electrical shock in order to restore the heart’s normal rhythm. This device is extremely useful if someone is undergoing a cardiac arrest. These technological advancements have further increased our knowledge of how our internal body systems function. Doctors are able to use this information to create solutions for many medical issues.
X Ray
The x ray was first discovered by Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen in 1895. He learned that electromagnet waves are able to penetrate layers of the body exposing bone, fat, and muscle. The first x ray was used on the hand of Wilhelm’s spouse, revealing all the different bones. With the increased technology of the modern world, doctors are able to use the x ray to scan every single part of the human body. The chest x ray permits physicians to get a detail view of the heart and lungs. This is very useful because doctors are able to view possible problems in these major organs making sure the cardiovascular system is running smoothly. It is useful in diagnosing different pulmonary diseases, cancers, and cardiac diseases which are life threatening without care. The x ray is able to set a universal standard of the function and appearance of all body parts which allows doctors to keep learning. Having the ability to see these major organs at work helps doctors understand and learn each body system without having to resort to surgery. CT scans and MRIs are another form of x ray that produces a cross section of soft tissue organs like the brain and liver. They are very beneficial because it depicts an image that looks at the body part from the inside. This advancement helps spot abnormalities in soft tissue organs and shows us everything that is going on inside the actual organ.
Insulin
Fredrick Banting is credited with the discovery of insulin that is used to treat diabetics. He is a Canadian born man and won a noble peace prize for his findings. He learned that insulin is a hormone that regulates glucose levels in the body and stops fat from being used as energy. Those who have high levels of insulin use fat as a major source of energy. On top of that insulin causes cells in the liver to receive glucose in the blood stream. Those with type one diabetes take insulin shots because their body is unable to produce this hormone naturally. His accidental findings have opened the doors, teaching us why people suffer from high glucose. His discovery of insulin increases our knowledge of the whole digestive system.
Defibrillator
The defibrillator is another technological breakthrough that is currently benefiting the medical world. It is mainly used
to return the heart to its regular rhythm following a cardiac arrest or arrhythmia. Cardiac arrhythmias prevent the heart from pumping blood through the body which can cause life lasting problems or fatal death if not treated quickly. This electric shock restores the heart, returning it to its normal pace. The body is only able to last without the heart working for only a couple minutes teaching us the importance of steady blood flow and a healthy heart.Conclusion
Technology has greatly provided the medical world with essential information in all internal body systems. The breakthrough in the x ray, insulin, and defibrillator are just some of many examples. The defibrillator teaches us that an electrical charge can restore the heart, allowing it’s rhythm to return to normal. Insulin has brought forth information on the ability to break down glucose and reasons why people are diabetic. This led to the discovery of other deficiencies in the digestive system that cause serious disease. Finally, the x ray has enabled doctors and the world to view every body part. Doctors can easily spot out problems in major organs that affect our body systems. Without these technological findings doctors and scientists would not be able to understand our internal body systems the way they do now.
Sources http://inventors.about.com/od/xyzstartinventions/a/x-ray.htm http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Defibrillation.html http://www.brighthub.com/health/technology/articles/7398.aspx http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Ce-Fi/Chest-X-Ray.html http://www.emedicinehealth.com/ct_scan/article_em.htm
Dear Sir Romeral,
ReplyDeleteGreat work on your blog. I think you touched on a lot of key points, and you have obviously done thorough research on the history of medical technology. You effectively used pictures and headings to break up the text, and even added some personal reflections of your own. Nice job bud!