Introduction
The human body is a single formation that is made up of different kinds of cells which give it form and structure. It is vital to understand the structure and functioning aspects of the human body since the survival of an individual depends on his body’s maintenance or restoration of homeostasis of the internal environment (Aveyard, 2014). The basic human life process comprises a series of activities such as metabolism, respiration, growth, reproduction, digestion, excretion, etc. Thus the proper understanding of the relationship between the body functioning aspects and detailed anatomy and physiology attributes is a must.
Health and social care play a significant role since the routine information shared by it on proper care of individuals such as blood pressure, diabetic stability, Body Mass Index (BMI) can be used to keep dangerous medical conditions at bay. So to improve the health conditions of people the healthcare system plays an active part.
Task 1
1.1 Main anatomical features of the human body
The human body consists of various biological systems that are responsible to perform specific functions that are necessary for everyday survival. The main anatomical features of the human body include the circulatory system that moves blood, oxygen, nutrients, etc. all inside the body, the digestive system that comprises of a number of organs that allow the body to break down the consumed food and remove it in form of wastes, an endocrine system which includes 8 main glands that release hormones into blood, nervous system which basically controls the voluntary and involuntary actions of the body, respiratory system that helps in the process of breathing, a reproductive system that assists in reproduction, etc.(Bircher & Kuruvilla, 2014).
The proper functioning of all the body systems is crucial for the healthy survival of an individual. There is the urinary system that enables the elimination of waste known as urea from the body. The system includes kidneys which produce urine which travels down the ureters to the bladder and is discharged from the body using the urethra (Fisher & Dickinson, 2014). The muscular system comprises around 650 muscles that help in blood flow, movement, and other body-related functions. The immune system is known as the defensive shield that protects the body against various pathogens, bacteria, etc. It includes boon marrow, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, lymph ducts, white blood cells, etc.
Thus the various systems that are present in the human body must function in a proper way so that a person can lead a healthy life. The structural features and functional aspects have been presented together since the knowledge of a single aspect is incomplete without the knowledge of another aspect.
1.2 Interaction of body systems to ensure body function and growth
The various systems that exist in the human body interact with each other so that the body can function properly. Even though all the systems have unique functions, they are connected and dependent on one another.
Growth is a complicated process that takes place due to the effective interaction between different body systems. The growth hormone refers to the protein hormone that is synthesized and produced by cells known as somatotrophs. It is a vital component that controls numerous complex physiological processes like metabolism, and growth. This hormone has certain direct and indirect effects (Fortinash & Worret, 2014). The direct effect occurs when the growth hormones bind their receptors on the target cells. The indirect effect is caused by IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor) that is secreted from the liver and some other tissues. Most of the growth and development takes place when the IGF-I acts on the target cells. The ultimate growth that takes place is caused by the coordination of various hormones. The primary role of the growth hormone is to stimulate the liver and other tissues so that IGF-I can be released that can stimulate body growth. The generated protein invigorates the proliferation of cartilage cells that enable bone growth.
The growth hormone has a significant metabolic effect. In most cases, the hormone leads to protein anabolism in various tissues. It also improves the utilization of fat in the body by enabling the breakdown of triglycerides and the oxidation of adipocytes. It also reduces the capacity of insulin to stimulate the absorption of glucose in peripheral tissues (Meadows et al., 2015).
Task 2
2.1 Normal body responses to everyday activities
When a young man aged 25 years who is a full-time college student attends college daily from 10 am to 5 pm his body functions in a particular manner. Breathing forms an involuntary activity that takes place in the background when he performs his everyday activities at college. The body would be in a state of equilibrium which is known as homeostasis if there would be the absence of any sort of illness or sickness. In this physical state, the human body would perform a series of activities in order to maintain a balanced and stable state. There would be stable breathing since there would not be much physical activity involved during the class session (Oliver, Foot & Humphries, 2014). Various chemical reactions in his body would be at an average range. In the respiration system, the individual would inhale fresh air from the nostrils that would pass through the nasal passage, throat, and lungs up to the alveoli. In that region the oxygen-rich blood would travel from the lungs to the left chamber of the heart and arteries would pump it to different needy body organs and tissues. So the breathing activity would be normal in the individual without any abnormal signs (Stuart, 2014).
2.2 Body responses explained by cellular and tissue structure and physiology
The body cells are the most basic and functional units of life that are fundamentally responsible for the various physiological functions that take place in the body. When the cells come together, they form tissues which in turn are the primary components of the organs in the human body (Tilley & Cameron, 2014). There are basically four kinds of tissues that constitute the body structure and are responsible for its functioning. They are connective tissue, nervous tissue, muscular tissue, and epithelial tissue. The cells and tissues together have numerous functions that help the body to respond in the aptest manner.
The epithelial tissue is the group of cells that covers the entire body surface and creates the lining for the majority of the internal cavities. Its main function includes protection, absorption, secretion, and filtration. The best example is skin, which is nothing but an organ that is made up of epithelial tissue that primarily shields the body from dust, dirt, etc. The connective tissue is the tissue that is most widely dispersed in the human body. Examples of such tissue include fat tissue, bone, cartilage, blood, etc. (Taggart & Cousins, 2014). The muscular tissues are of 3 types namely skeletal, cardiac and smooth. The skeletal muscle helps in the contraction of various skeletal areas. The cardiac muscle is present in the walls of the heart and the smooth muscle is present in the walls of the internal organs and blood vessels. The nervous tissue basically conducts impulses from and to all sections of the body.
2.3 Coordination of body’s internal activities
Homeostasis is the physiological process that helps the body to have a sustainable internal environment so that normal functioning can take place. Maintaining the human body in the state of rest requires significant internal energy since numerous systems come into play. The feedback loop is used to control the interior conditions of the body since acts as a receptor that identifies changes in a variable and brings about alterations to adjust to change.
The internal environment of the body is constituted of the tissue fluids those envelopes all the cells that make up the body. It is vital that the composition of the tissue fluid must be constant so that cells can sustain and remain healthy. The tissues that play a vital role to maintain the coordination of the body’s internal activities include the nervous system and the endocrine system.
The nervous system is responsible to control all the body functions through the peripheral, central, and autonomic nervous systems. The peripheral and autonomic nervous system makes sure that the internal environment is stable and necessary changes are done. The central nervous system governs the overall body and mind. The endocrine system is responsible to carry out the systematization of internal activities (Oliver, Foot & Humphries, 2014). It includes a number of glands that enable muscles to reflex, perform the reproduction cycle, etc. It also monitors a series of tissue functions and balances the internal environment in the body. Thus it is vital to understand that the internal system cannot be managed by just a single system. So these two systems are primarily responsible to manage all the internal activities that take place inside the body.
Task 3
3.1 Recording and usage of routine measures in HSC
In the given scenario, a 65-year-old man has hypertension that indicates that he has high blood pressure due to which he has developed chest pain and has reported to the GP Practice. High blood pressure is a silent killer since it can cause serious medical conditions like heart attack, heart failure, loss of vision, etc. At such a delicate time, it is necessary for the health and social care to record the routine measures like BMI, pulse, respiration rate, blood pressure, etc. after taking into consideration all the ethical aspects like rights, privacy, and dignity of the patient (Fisher & Dickinson, 2014).
In such a scenario the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996 plays a key role since it helps people to protect their privacy relating to their medical condition. It aims at offering protection not just to the patients but also to the medical team relating to the confidentiality of records. It focuses on the ethical aspects and makes sure that sensitive data is not revealed to any third party. Thus in this scenario also the act would protect the patient’s dignity and respect his privacy. The use of routine measure is critical in the health and social scenario since it eliminates a series of barriers that otherwise exists in the care model. Such measures can be used in the 65-year-old man’s case so that a proper assessment of his health can be conducted (Bircher & Kuruvilla, 2014). This would allow in sharing of feedback with the medical staff so that the routine and functional issues can be identified and accordingly treatment can be modified. The legal issues would include the application of ethical practices while providing healthcare services.
3.2 Information furnished by routine measures regarding body functioning
In the human body, there are a number of vital measures that have a fundamental function such as body temperature, blood pressure, pulse rate, etc. The vital signs indicate the existence of various health problems. The body temperature generally varies based on gender, age, etc. The normal body temperature of an individual should be between 97 degrees Fahrenheit and 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Anything below the range could impact the plasma epinephrine and the body’s platelet density distribution.
The pulse rate refers to the measurement of heartbeat in a minute. The normal pulse rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute (Aveyard, 2014). A lower pulse means the heart is more efficient and functional. In the old person’s scenario, since he was suffering from hypertension, his pulse rate would vary depending on the daily routine activities.
When the human heart beats, it applies pressure and pushes blood into arteries to the various body parts. The force that is exerted is the blood pressure. It sometimes varies and this variation could cause problems in the kidney. Due to issues in the kidney, an individual can suffer from chest pain, headache, loss of appetite, etc. So in the healthcare scenario of the hypertension patient, the kidney and blood pressure must be diagnosed through a blood test or urine test so that necessary actions can be taken to improve his health condition.
3.3 Information revealed about body functioning used in care planning for individuals
For the old man’s medical condition, the health and social care must adopt a number of strategies so that his blood pressure can be maintained within the acceptable range. Various physical activities must be planned for him that would help in reducing his blood pressure level. In addition to these, various points must be considered during the care planning process so that the available information relating to his health condition can be used so that his hypertension and chest pain can be managed effectively.
There are various risks associated with cardiac output such as ventricular rigidity, etc. So the care model must plan certain intervention techniques so that the blood pressure can be monitored and the chances of heart failure or stroke can be minimized. In addition to available information on his medical condition, the central, as well as peripheral pulse, must be checked frequently to control his blood pressure (Tilley & Cameron, 2014). The patient might suffer from pain due to potential issues. The medical team must use intervention techniques in order to minimize such pain so that the blood pressure can be maintained.
Thus based on collected details on the medical condition of the old man, better intervention techniques can be adopted by the physicians so that his hypertension level and chest pain can go down and he can lead a normal life.
Task 4
4.1 Impact of age on body structure and functioning:
The condition of the woman in the care home is characterized by type 2 diabetes as well as arthritis of the knees which have a considerable impact in the context of her age i.e. 85 years which is reflected in complicacies in the nervous and respiratory system. Aging is considered a complicated event and the process is associated with loss of general physiological function thereby impairing ability. On a molecular level, the changes in the body structure with respect to the nervous system are observed in the depreciation of nerve cells which can be compensated in various other ways. The loss of cells is compensated by the formation of new nerve cells in certain areas of the brain even at an old age, connections between remaining nerve cells, and redundancy (Taggart & Cousins, 2014). Redundancy reflects on the abundance of cells that could be needed for executing the majority of the brain’s functions. Older people do not have the required spontaneity to respond to common tasks and the conditions of other organs due to diseases such as diabetes and arthritis could be complicated with the changes in the nervous system of the woman. The respiratory system is also liable to experience formidable issues with respect to her age thereby leading to formidable impacts on physiology. The changes in the context of age and other extrinsic factors include the prominent chances for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), reduced pulmonary function, and the subsequent reduction in physical performance. Noticeable change in the respiratory system leads to the outcomes of depreciation in the strength of respiratory muscles as well as compliance of chest wall. Therefore the probabilities of chronic respiratory diseases could also influence the existing condition of the 85-year-old woman alongside leading to complicacies in other organs.
4.2 Impact of body condition on structure and functions:
The effect of type 2 diabetes is observed in the decrease of the functional health status of a patient and involves clear impairment of physical fitness. Research studies have indicated the association of cardiovascular diseases with consistent improvement in the duration of diabetes. Previous outcomes from studies have also pointed out the fact that the mental health of patients is not affected due to diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body’s response by pulling sugar thereby creating requirements for insulin medication. The condition is profoundly noticed among the older population and involves the dysfunction of the pancreas for the utilization of insulin (Tilley & Cameron, 2014). However, the condition can be effectively managed with the implementation of preventive measures in earlier stages with changes in lifestyle. However, the arthritis of the 85-year-old woman, as well as a considerable lack of zeal for exercise, leads to complexities in dealing with diabetes. The symptoms of arthritis are profoundly observed in sustained periods of joint pain, swelling, problems for normal movement of joints, stiffness, joint swelling, and pain as well as the perception of tenderness upon touch in the joints. Therefore, these conditions could lead to the generation of other consequences for the health of the 85-year-old woman. The treatment of the different conditions such as diabetes and arthritis in elderly people can be a potential setback according to the morbidities observed in their metabolic condition as well as the possible physiological changes noticed profoundly in hepatic, renal, and other significant organ systems.
4.3 Effects of medical conditions:
The condition of type 2 diabetes of the 85-year-old woman is responsible for contributing to the complicacy of the recent injury on her leg which could be further agonizing for her when considering her case of arthritis. The impact of type 2 diabetes on the healing of diseases is prolonged thereby implying that the wound would be taking much time for healing. The prolonged time taken for regeneration of the tissue could lead to concerns for other detrimental infections that could be physically as well as mentally impactful on her mental condition. The injury could also lead to later changes in her body composition alongside reforms in the autonomic neuropathy as well as low content of sugar. Low muscle strength and bone quality which are essential characteristics of type 2 diabetes could create potential issues in the existing scenario of the old woman since her injury could create potential orthopedic and muscular infections. The conditions of arthritis for a considerable period of time have also created stiffness and swelling in the joints thereby leading to a profound lack of flexibility. Diagnosis of commonly observed and documented instances of arthritis suggests the prominence of rheumatoid arthritis among women rather than men and the variations in response to treatment can be limitations for treatment. Implementing appropriate treatment can be accounted as the most suitable approach involving regular exercise and other surgical treatment approaches such as joint replacement, non-steroidal medications, and removal of synovial fluid (Meadows et al., 2015). While the concerns observed in the symptoms of the 85-year-old woman are directed towards long-term afflictions such as type 2 diabetes and arthritis they can be treated with long-term methods. Consideration for the age of the woman is another potential factor that could influence the medical conditions. The age of the patient is most likely to affect her physical structure thereby limiting her access to generic medical facilities as well as care services such as treatment, anti-stress techniques, exercise, and diet reforms.
References
Aveyard, H., 2014. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
Bircher, J., & Kuruvilla, S. 2014. Defining health by addressing individual, social, and environmental determinants: New opportunities for health care and public health. Journal of public health policy, 35(3), 363-386.
Fisher, L., & Dickinson, W. P. 2014. Psychology and primary care: New collaborations for providing effective care for adults with chronic health conditions. American Psychologist, 69(4), 355.
Fortinash, K. M., & Worret, P. A. H. 2014. Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Meadows, G. N., Enticott, J. C., Inder, B., Russell, G. M., & Gurr, R. 2015. Better access to mental health care and the failure of the Medicare principle of universality. The Medical Journal of Australia, 202(4), 190-194.
Oliver, D., Foot, C. and Humphries, R., 2014. Making our health and care systems fit for an ageing population. King’s Fund.
Stuart, G. W. 2014. Principles and Practice of Psychiatric Nursing-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Tilley, L. and Cameron, T., 2014. Introducing the index of care: A web-based application supporting archaeological research into health-related care. International Journal of Paleopathology, 6, pp.5-9.
Taggart, L. and Cousins, W., 2014. Health promotion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. McGraw-Hill Education (UK).
