Instructional Content Background
Organism
Organisms are living things that react tostimulation,reproduction,growth andhomeostasis. The cells in the body have different functions, some working independently, while others may form into clusters to form a shape like organs, tissues, bones, vessels and other important parts in and on the body. The whole body is a system within a system beginning with the macroscopic systems to the microscopic systems.
Organs
Organs are groups of cells clustered together to carry out a function. These specialized organs have specific designed tissues that conduct demanding tasks to keep the body working together to stay alive and healthy. They are known as "major organs."
The first major organ is the brain; it is the control center for the body because the brain operates the central nervous system and involuntary or voluntary functions. The brain contains three main parts; the cerebrum which is divided into two hemispheres, the cerebellum which beneath the back of the cerebrum and controls the sensory of balance using the muscles and joints, and the medulla which is the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord and control involuntary processes and receives and sends sensory impulses.
Other major organs are located in the chest cavity. The heart is an organ mainly made of cardiac muscle tissue and is about the size of a fist with upper chambers known as the right and left atrium and lower chambers known as the right and left ventricle. Between the chambers are valves that control blood flow of oxygen rich blood (throughout the body) and oxygen poor blood (to the lungs). The "lub-dub, lub-dub" is the sound of the valves closing and blood flowing in and out of the heart.
Next, there are the two lungs, one on the left and one on the right side in the chest. The left side is slightly smaller because it is making room for the heart. The lungs contain bronchial tubes that have small air sacs call alveoli attached at the end of the tubes. It has over three million alveoli which are covered with tiny capillaries that carry carbon dioxide blood and oxygen rich blood. The carbon dioxide, waste gas moves out of the blood into the air and is exhaled through the trachea which oxygen rich blood travels to the heart and is pumped throughout the body.
The liver is the largest reddish brown organ in the body. It is located below the right lung and under the heart and above the stomach. Its function is to break down and distribute glycogen, remove toxins, and regulate amino acids. The liver is an important organ because it removes poison from other organs and help organs maintains the body's functions.
Moving further down into the chest cavity is the digestive system which includes the stomach, the small and large intestines. The stomach is an expandable sac-like organ between the esophagus and the duodenum. The stomach has four parts, the first part is the cardia which obtains food from the esophagus, the second part is the fundus which is the loop arc chamber of the stomach, third is the corpus and pylorus which the central portion of the stomach, and fourth the antrum which is the bottom portion which empties the content to the duodenum. The stomach lining contains various layers for producing acids, mixing and moving food (chyme) to the small intestine in small increments. The main function is to assist in digestion of food and mixing it with digestive acids and enzymes.
The small intestine is an organ that process and absorbs digested nutrients like carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. It is over six meters long and classified into three sections beginning with the duodemun which mixes chyme with fluids from the liver and pancreas, the jejunum contains long villi, and the ilium contains short villi. The structure contains millions of microscopic folds with many finger-like ridges known as villi. Within each villi there are many more folds with minute microvilli which contains small blood vessels that transport and absorb nutrients to the outer surface cells. The inner lining of the small intestine carry special molecules that absorb certain chemicals and nutrients through the small intestine walls and diffuses nutrients into the blood vessels.
The large intestine begins with the cecum, joins with the ascending right colon where the small intestine connects to the larger colon. Moving up the ascending colon the large intestine begins to lie horizontally through the abdominal cavity between the stomach and small intestine. The horizontal portion of the large intestine is known as the transverse colon, and then the colon descends down the left side of the cavity as the descending colon. The descending colon ends into the sigmoid colon and rectum. The function of the large intestine is to absorb salt and water from fecal matter making it more solid. It also absorbs certain vitamins and stores the fecal matter until it is time to excrete the matter from the body.
The kidneys are two reddish bean shaped organs located behind the stomach and intestines in the lower back. The function of the kidneys is to filter the blood. The renal artery brings unfiltered blood to the kidneys and the renal vein takes filtered blood from the kidneys back into circulation. Inside each kidney there are more than a million nephrons. Each nephron contains two parts; the renal corpuscle and the renal tubule. Within the renal corpuscle there are two more parts, which are the glomerulus and the Bowman's capsule (or glomerular capsule). The glomerulus contains a network of capillaries that drive the blood to increase pressure and help push out waste, excess water and other unwanted materials out of the blood and into the Bowman's capsule. Then the Bowman's capsule filters waste and other materials through its double walled sac membranes while keeping blood and proteins out. After the filtration of the Bowman's capsule, the waste and other materials enter the renal tubule which reabsorbs useful molecules back into the blood. The remaining materials are urine products which are sent to the collection duct. Then numerous nephrons pool the materials into collection ducts, which drain the remaining materials into the ureter. From the ureter the urine is collected in the bladder until it is full then can be excreted from the body.
Pancreas
A functioning pancreas is about the size of the index and middle finger together of an average person's hand to the wrist, with an oblong flat shape. Its job is to produce the right amount of insulin that is distributed to various organs and to different parts of the body. The cells in the body are designed so that they function best when the fluid sugar glucose surrounds them. Too much glucose in the body will turn the fluid that surrounds the cells into saturated sugar that obstructs many normal functions of these cells. The pancreas is located deep in the abdomen in between the stomach and the spine. It is made up of glandular tissue and a system of ducts with many bifurcation branches on the sides. Although the pancreas is one whole gland, it is described in sections because medical staff will explain to the patient's the portion that is not functioning properly. The uncinate process is the wide section which bends backwards containing important blood vessels called the superior mesenteri artery and vein that cross. The head of the pancreas is the widest part of the gland and connected to the duodenum, which is the beginning part of the small intestine, extending from the stomach. The neck is a thin section between the head and the body. The body is in the middle between the neck and tail. The tail is at the thin tip of the gland and close of the spleen.
The pancreatic duct (digestive enzymes) secretes juice from the Acinar cells to the duodenum to balance the acid in the gastric juice and aid in digestion of food. The bile works with the pancreatic juice to digest triglycerides and other fats. The pancreas is an organ with glands; it supplies digestive enzymes to the juice. The digestive enzymes are microscopic cutters that chop larger molecules like meat (protein) into smaller particles. The pancreas produces numerous enzymes that digest protein in various places like the sides or in the center and helps the body use energy. The Islets of Langerhans are located in the cells of the pancreas which secrete insulin and glucagon. The two hormones work together to regulate the proper sugar level in the blood that travels into the blood stream and to the cells and inform them that food is on the way.
Diabetes
Glucose is the body's basis of energy, but glucose must get inside cells to generate the energy that the cells need to function. Cells have a membrane covering around the outside that will not let glucose in. This is where insulin becomes important, because insulin opens up the cell membrane to let glucose enter the cell. Sustaining a steady level of glucose and the production of insulin is a fragile process that is controlled by the pancreas. During normal conditions, glucose levels in the blood guide the pancreas to release just the right amount of insulin to keep the amount of glucose in the blood stream and surrounding the cells at a constant level. The insulin attaches to a place on the cell like the way akey would fit into a lock. The door opens for glucose to enter the cell like a muscle cell. For example, the insulin will open up the muscle cells to allow glucose to enter and eventually create the energy needed for the muscle to contract.
One cause of abnormal pancreas function in diabetics is insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is when the cells stop responding to insulin, so the key does not unlock the door and the cells are not allowing glucose to enter. Eventually the amount of glucose in the blood will increase and increase. The pancreas will continue to produce insulin until the glucose level goes down. When the cells in the body have become insulin resistant, the amount of glucose in blood will never go down. Then, the pancreas will go on to try to lower glucose levels by producing more and more insulin, but eventually it will wear out and cannot keep up with the body's demand for insulin. Glucose began to accumulate in the tissues of the kidneys, eyes, heart and around nerves. The build-up can cause serious complications. This is the first cause of diabetes which becomes lifelong chronic disease. Not enough energy within cells makes people sick.
There is no cure for diabetes but, monitoring and controlling the sugar level, medication, diet and exercise will prolong life and prevent symptoms of sickness.
There are three types of diabetes: type 1and type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes is usually seen in children and young adults. In this disease, the pancreas produces little or no insulin and daily injections of insulin are needed. Researchers do not know the cause but have found there are many contributing factors like genetic, viruses, or immune complications.
Type 2 diabetes is more common because there are more cases than type 1. It is usually found in adults, but more young people are being diagnosed with type 2 in recent years. Many people with type 2 are unaware they have the condition and do not find out until they end up in the hospital. Type 2 is becoming more common because of obesity and insufficient exercise.
Gestational diabetes happens during the pregnancy of a woman that does not have diabetes. High blood glucose develops anytime during pregnancy and the mothers are at risk of getting type 2 and cardiovascular disease during their late stages in life.
Treatment
Type 1 diabetes can start suddenly and have severe effects. People who are recently diagnosed end up in the hospital. The goals of treatment are to prolong life, reduce the symptoms and prevent further complications like blindness, heart disease, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs. Monitoring and control of blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels are important. Regular exercise and foot care are important educational benefits for diabetes. Regulating meals and weight control are important factors, too. Medications like pills or insulin needs to be utilized properly. The management skills for diabetes will prevent the need for emergency care. Medical science is constantly discovering new developments so keep up with current information on new research about treating diabetes.
Dine' Philosophy of Education
Today most Dine view their culture and tradition as inferior to Western society and prefer the modern conveniences of the dominant society. Exposure to Anglo ideology and livelihood is desired, like the easy life of fast food and vehicles, and advanced technology. They lack the education, practice and application of fitness (physical), diet, spiritual, and balance (hozho) which should have been taught from their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. The fast and easy life practices are among the causes of diabetes and other sicknesses. Diabetes is commonly known as the sugar disease on the Dine' Nation, because explaining the pancreas and its function is difficult in the Dine' language. It is a modern killer and enemy the contemporary families lack understanding and are vague on what diabetes really means. On the other hand, the hataaliis know and consult about diabetes. The hataaliis are our Dine's encyclopedia and they know all about enemy and why it is here. They are very knowledgeable about the origins of everything in the universe, life, plants, animals, and Mother Earth. Even educating our children about healthier living practices through traditions and modern medical science will help our students use diet, fitness, balance, and hozho beginning at the bottom of your feet teaching holistic information ascending to the top of your head to the feather. And to teach hozho is to begin with all parts of being. It is to begin with the reason behind why hozho is important.
As the Indian Health Service taught Western preventive techniques the staff had to bring in hataaliis to assist with healing and the spiritual healing because both are linked. More and more Dine's were diagnosed with diabetes, the elders stated we need to change our modern life style to the traditional way of life, when our children use to rise early to address and acknowledge the dawn, run to the East and prepare and set positive thinking for the day, nitshakaas. Each of the Four Direction is interwoven components which encompass a Dine as a whole. With other natural elements he or she influences positive or negative thinking. The natural elements of each direction begins with self on how the individual approaches the day beginning with early dawn (east), the day (south), evening (west), and darkness (north). The day, the season, the sacred mountains, life from birth to old age, thinking to reflecting, all beings like animals and plants, the Earth and sky elements are all interwoven cycles. Our home is here on the Earth and we are in the sacred place with Early White Dawn Spirit-East which is the thinking process, Blue Twilight Spirit-South which is planning together, Yellow Evening Yellow Twilight Spirit-West which is conducting the planning, and Folding Darkness Spirit-North which reflection. The sacred directions include the sacred mountains, Blanca Peak, Sisnaajini in the East representing white shell, Mount Taylor, Tsoodzil in the South representing turquoise, San Francisco Peak, Dook'o'sliid in the West representing abalone shell, Mount Hesperus, Dibe' Nitsaa in the North representing black jet. The directions, mountains, and colors have the foundation of a Hogan, a traditional home Dines conduct their daily living and ceremonies.
According to the teachings from our past generations, stories were told of the coyote and how his choices of mental, physical, and spiritual actions were based on trial and error. These stories provide lessons to be learned. These coyote stories were told during the long winter nights. Like the story of Coyote and the Horned Toad. Of how Coyote ate Horned Toad because he was very hungry and while Toad was inside the Coyote, Toad would squeeze and twist Coyote's organs. Toad even pulled and squeezed the pancreas and that is why diabetes came about. Even the story of how the Dine was created using the elements of the Earth which were the light, water-mist, and air-wind, light, and the sacred minerals, vines, plant pollen and earth mist pollen. That is why we are like a seed and plant, like the sacred white and yellow corn. Our blood veins are composed of our mother's blood-white, our father's blood red, our cheii's blood yellow, and our nalii's blood black. As Dines, we have male and female elements and that is why a man can create a daughter and a woman can create a son. Our whole body like the arteries, veins, fleshes and bones are made of sacred stones of white shell, turquoise, abalone shell, and black jet and red beads.
(Note, Dine Philosophy of Education a life giving teaching guidance, to live and uses life according to the natural elements of life, a law that is bestowed on us by our elder. We are obligated to teach our children and it is taught everyday in the home and globally. That is why our children become leaders, educators, healers, and artist.)
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