For my STEAM project I covered objectives from the reproductive unit to rope in knowing the structure and functions of the female reproductive organs, describing ovulation, and menstrual cycles. I will briefly describe the cycles of menstruation, ovulation, hormonal birth control, and the structures of the uterus. These objectives link directly into my topic of research, uterine polyps. My brochure explains in a simplified fashion the symptoms, clinical diagnosis, treatment, and statistic surrounding the sparse literature on uterine polyps.
Two models are shown: one will show the normal development of tertiary follicles and dominant follicles, and the other will show the disrupted development in a woman with PCOS related to hormone imbalances.This shows the follicular phase. As you can see, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) production. In the case of PCOS, too much LH is produced, resulting in several more follicles. Continuing out the follicular phase, a dominant follicle produces estrogen, leading to a decrease in GnRH, LH, and FSH. In the ovary of a woman with PCOS, a dominant follicle does not emerge, and the regular estrogen production may not occur. This shows the beginning of the ovulatory phase. The dominant follicle survives in the follicular phase, secretes estrogen, and triggers a positive feedback loop in that causes LH and FSH production to rise again. For a woman with PCOS, this positive feedback loop is never triggered. During the luteal phase, the released oocyte travels towards the uterus while the granulosa and theca cells in the follicle form the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone. With PCOS, there is no corpus luteum and therefore no progesterone production.One Comment
Course Objective: Explain how neurons carry an electrical charge
This short comic explains how an action potential is used in a neuron to cause a sudden clench to an individual’s hand who has a condition known as dystonia. This comic will demonstrate how much like roads neurons allow for energy to be carried throughout the body in order for multiple different functions, such as movement. To best understand this comic please read right to left.
These paintings are over 6ft in height and 3ft wide in total and were installed in a stairwell where the top image can be over 12 feet above your head depending on where you are standing. The physical scale and height were important to impart the feeling of being far removed from air/oxygen.
The topic of my STEAM project is how Hydrogen Cyanide gas lethally obstructs the hemoglobin in our red blood cells from picking up and transporting oxygen. Our cells and organs suffocate from lack of oxygen even though we keep breathing, this is called metabolic asphyxiation. When hydrogen cyanide is inhaled it does not damage the respiratory system itself but it stops our ability to carry oxygen with results in systemic failure and rapid death. We basically drowned on the gas, much the same as we would in deep water, thus the painting instillation I created.
There is a great deal of information about the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning associated with fires and heating equipment. At this point most Alaskans have CO alarms in their homes right next to the smoke detector. Unfortunately, another danger to first responders such as firefighters and medics, along with victims encountering fire smoke, especially in structure fires, is hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Research indicates that HCN is 35 times more toxic than CO. This is a common and deadly threat that could affect any of us, so sharing this information is vital.
For my steam project, I wanted to know how Spina Bifida affects the lower appendicular skeleton. There are a couple drawings of some of the different deformities that are common with Spina Bifida.
