Session 6 (Nine Systems of the Body)

This is Session 6 in a series of Sessions for Harmony Alternative Pet Therapists.

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Respiratory System

The respiratory system consists of several major components which include the nose, mouth, pharynx, trachea and lungs and diaphragm.  In the lungs are tiny little sacs called alveoli and this is what takes on the carbon dioxide from the blood and expels it, allowing us to exhale carbon dioxide. The alveoli also take on oxygen. At the bottom of the lungs and the rib cage is a muscle called the diaphragm. It relaxes when we exhale and is also partially responsible for inhaling as well. It is a muscle that separates the rib cavities or the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity. The pharynx is a tube that extends from the base of the skull down to the esophagus which is the tube that carries food into the stomach. The pharynx contracts when swallowing and helps to propel food down the esophagus. It also closes off the esophagus to help keep air from going into the digestive tract instead of the trachea (or windpipe) when we breathe, which is the role it plays in respiration.

We’ll discuss more about this system when we look at exercise therapy.

TEST

1)      Name the parts of the Respiratory System.

2)      Where is the diaphragm located?

3)      How is oxygen and carbon dioxide expelled and received in the lungs?

4)      Another word for the trachea is?

5)      The pharynx really works with both respiration and digestion. (T or F)

ANSWERS

1)      Nose, Mouth, Trachea, Pharynx, Lungs and Diaphragm.

2)      Between the thoracic and abdominal cavities.

3)      By the alveoli.

4)      Windpipe.

5)      T

The Digestive System

Consists of: the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum and anus. Memorize these parts for use in a later course on Nutritional Therapy.

Urinary System

Consists of: Kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra, penis or vulva (depending on sex).

Endocrine System

 Consists of: Glands and organs associated with those glands. These include the hypothalamus, pituitary, pancreas, adrenal, liver, kidneys, spleen, ovaries and testes. This system regulates growth, metabolism and development. These too will be studied in detail in an upcoming course.

Reproductive System

Consists of: (In males); the testicles, penis and additional glands and ducts. (In females); the ovaries, ovary ducts, uterus, vagina and external genitalia.

Conclusion

You know the nine systems of the body, the parts associated with each system in some detail and the way in which those systems function…with greater detail in some systems than others at this point. This is a huge accomplishment, and it sets you up nicely to begin learning the numerous therapies that support and maintain these systems. It gets exciting now to begin applying the knowledge you have learned thus far, to the alternative pet therapies you will now concentrate on. It is always helpful to review the information you have learned. Can you explain it out loud?  This is an important step in the learning process. For instance, can you explain in general terms the flow of blood through the body beginning at the right ventricle?