Biomedical Science Notes

Biomedical Science Career Paths

  • Biomedical science careers often require additional education after high school.
  • Each career track has specific requirements, coursework, certifications, and professional resources.
  • Some positions need a college degree, while others may require specific certifications or training.
  • Many healthcare positions require at least an Associate’s degree.
  • Some jobs require no education beyond a high school diploma or certification.

Healthcare Jobs with Limited Additional Education

  • Home Health Aide:
    • Provides medical care to patients at home.
    • Assists with medications, cooking, feeding, dressing, bathing, laundry, shopping, and errands.
  • Phlebotomist:
    • Draws blood for transfusions, donations, and medical tests.
  • Medical Equipment Technician:
    • Maintains medical equipment.
    • Sets up machinery and performs routine upkeep.
  • Medical Transcriptionist:
    • Converts voice records from medical professionals into written reports.
  • Dental Assistant:
    • Prepares patients and tools for dentists or hygienists.
    • May take x-rays, clean tools, and assist the dentist.
  • Sonographer:
    • Obtains images of the body to assist doctors with diagnosing medical ailments and symptoms.
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Paramedic:
    • Responds to emergency calls and provides assistance.
    • EMTs need CPR certification and wound dressing skills.
    • Paramedics can transport critically ill patients.
  • Medical Billing and Coding Specialist:
    • Acts as a liaison between the doctor's office and insurance providers.
    • Codes services, procedures, diagnoses, and treatments.
    • Tracks payments and corrects rejected claims.
  • Pharmacy Aide:
    • Prepares and dispenses prescription medications.
    • Processes insurance information and works with pharmacists and patients.

Pursuing Higher Education in Biomedical Science

  • A typical next step is an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in a biomedical science program.
  • Choosing a college or university can be overwhelming.
    • Decide which biomedical science area aligns with your interests.
    • Consider personal needs and goals when selecting a school.
  • Many careers (e.g., medical, dental, occupational therapy, physical therapy, veterinary) require education beyond a Bachelor’s degree.
  • These often require a Bachelor's degree in biology, kinesiology, or other broad sciences.
  • Graduate work usually narrows the focus.
  • If graduate school is a goal:
    • Research requirements.
    • Work with an academic advisor.
    • Budget accordingly.
    • Gain hands-on experience.

Career Connections: Physical Therapists (PTs)

  • Physical therapists help prevent, treat, and rehabilitate patients after injuries.
  • PTs assist patients in improving function, movement, and overall quality of life.
  • The field includes various specialties, allowing application of skills to diverse patients and problems.

Patient Terminology

  • Cohort Patient: The patient for whom students create a physical therapy and wellness plan.
  • Cohort Patient Partner: A pair of students working together on a cohort patient.
  • PT Cohort: A group of five students, each with different cohort patients.
  • Cohort Patient Chart: A document for recording medical information, sketches, and a care plan.
  • GNMH Outpatient Center Portal: A digital space for accessing cohort patient information.

Overview of Body Systems

  • The human body is composed of 11 systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive.

Integumentary System

  • Major organ: Skin.
  • Largest organ of the body, approximately 22 square feet and 10-11 pounds in adults.
  • Accessory organs: hair, nails, sweat glands, and oil glands.
  • Functions:
    • Protection: mechanical, chemical, and biological barrier against invasion and fluid loss.
    • Thermoregulation: control of internal temperature by regulating heat loss.
    • Sensations: receptors for touch, temperature, and pain.
    • Waste elimination and vitamin D production.

Skeletal System

  • Composed of bones (each bone is an organ).
  • The human skeleton contains 206 bones, weighing about 22 lbs in a 125 lb person.
  • Joints and cartilage complete the system.
  • Functions:
    • Support for the body and protection of organs.
    • Sites for muscle attachment and leverage for movement.
    • Blood cell formation.
    • Mineral storage (calcium and phosphorus).

Muscular System

  • Made up of over 600 (or 700, depending on classification) skeletal muscles.
  • Muscles make up 50-63 lbs of the weight in a 125 lb adult.
  • Attach to bones and contract/relax to cause movement.
  • Stabilizes the body and generates heat.

Nervous System

  • Composed of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and special sense organs.
  • Capable of producing electrical messages for communication within milliseconds.
  • Functions:
    • Monitoring the internal and external environments with receptors.
    • Interpreting stimuli.
    • Responding to stimuli by sending electrical messages to nerves, muscles, or glands.
    • Regulating body activities.
    • Special senses: taste, smell, sight, hearing, and equilibrium.

Endocrine System

  • Composed of glands that secrete hormones.
  • Glands include pineal, pituitary, hypothalamus, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, testes, ovaries, and hormone-producing tissue in other organs.
  • Hormones: chemical messengers released from glands, affecting a target organ.

Cardiovascular System

  • Composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
  • The heart is a four-chambered pump.
    • The left side pumps blood through arteries to capillaries.
    • The right side pumps blood to the lungs for carbon dioxide release and oxygen intake.
  • Blood Vessels:
    • Arteries: carry blood away from the heart (usually oxygen-rich, except for Pulmonary and Umbilical Arteries).
    • Veins: carry blood back to the heart (usually oxygen-depleted, except for Pulmonary and Umbilical Veins).
    • Capillaries: facilitate the exchange of nutrients, oxygen, and waste products between blood and tissues.
  • In one minute, all the blood in the body circulates through the heart.
  • Functions:
    • Supplies cells with nutrients and oxygen.
    • Removes waste products from cells.
    • Regulates acid-base balance (pH), water volume, and temperature.
    • Helps defend against disease and repair damaged vessels.

Lymphatic System

  • Composed of the spleen, thymus, lymph, lymph nodes, tonsils, and lymph vessels.
  • Functions:
    • Returns fluid and proteins to the bloodstream.
    • Transports lipids from the small intestine to the bloodstream.
    • Houses lymphocytes to defend against microbes, foreign cells, toxins, and cancer cells.

Respiratory System

  • Composed of the nose, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs.
  • Functions:
    • Brings air into the lungs.
    • Warms and moistens air in the nasal cavity.
    • Transfers oxygen to the blood and exchanges it for carbon dioxide.
    • Helps regulate acid-base balance (pH).
    • Produces sound via vocal cords.
    • Healthy adults breathe 12-18 times per minute, exchanging 6 liters of gas.

Urinary System

  • Composed of two kidneys, two ureters, one bladder, and one urethra.
  • Functions:
    • Filters blood and eliminates waste products.
    • Regulates fluid and chemical composition of blood.
    • Maintains acid-base balance and mineral homeostasis.
    • Produces urine.
    • Each day, 180180 liters of water are removed from the blood, with 178−179178-179 liters returned, producing 1−21-2 liters of urine.
    • Regulates red blood cell production.

Digestive System

  • Composed of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, and anus.
  • Accessory organs: teeth, tongue, salivary glands, gallbladder, liver, and pancreas.
  • Food is not considered “in” the body until digested and absorbed.

Reproductive Systems

  • Female Reproductive System:
    • Consists of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and vagina.
    • Produces, stores, and transports eggs.
    • Produces hormones (estrogen and progesterone).
    • Nourishes and supports developing embryo/fetus.
    • Delivers a baby.
  • Male Reproductive System:
    • Composed of testes, epididymis, ductus deferens, and penis.
    • Produces, stores, and transports sperm.
    • Produces hormones (testosterone).
  • Both systems work together to produce offspring.

Historical Highlights of Anatomy

  • Anatomy is the oldest scientific discipline of medicine.
  • First documented scientific dissections occurred in the third century B.C.
  • The human body became a primary source of inspiration during the Renaissance.
  • Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo performed dissections for art.
  • Leonardo da Vinci dissected over 30 human corpses.
  • His anatomy sketches were found in personal journals in the 1900s.
  • Da Vinci wrote mirrored (right to left) to prevent smearing (being left-handed) or to protect ideas.

Anatomical Position

  • Standard body orientation for describing body parts and locations.
  • Body is standing straight with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.
  • Provides a common language for medical professionals.

Anatomical Terminology

  • Directional terms: describe the location of one structure relative to another.
  • Regional terms: describe specific regions or locations on the body.
  • Body planes: act as a coordinate system to describe the human body.
  • Body cavities: describe the spaces containing internal organs.
Directional terms:
  • Anterior: front
  • Posterior: back
  • Superior: higher up
  • Inferior: lower down
  • Medial: toward the middle
  • Lateral: away from the midline
  • Distal: away from the point of origin (extremities)
  • Proximal: nearest to the point of origin (extremities)
  • Superficial: on the surface
  • Deep: away from the surface
  • Ventral: front (anterior)
  • Dorsal: back (posterior)
Regional Terms:
  • Axial: head, neck, and trunk.
  • Appendicular: appendages or limbs
  • Abdominal: abdomen (belly)
  • Antecubital: inner forearm
  • Axillary: armpit
  • Brachial: arm
  • Buccal: mouth
  • Calcaneal: heel
  • Carpal: wrist
  • Cephalic: head
  • Cervical: neck
  • Coxal: hip
  • Digital: finger or toe
  • Femoral: thigh
  • Gluteal: buttocks
  • Inguinal: groin
  • Lumbar: lower back
  • Nasal: nose
  • Occipital: back of the head
  • Olecranal: elbow
  • Oral: mouth
  • Orbital: eye sockets
  • Patellar: anterior knee
  • Pelvic: pelvis
  • Popliteal: behind the knee
  • Sacral: sacrum
  • Scapular: shoulder blade
  • Sternal: sternum
  • Tarsal: ankle
  • Thoracic: chest
  • Umbilical: navel
  • Vertebral: vertebral column
Body Planes:
  • Coronal (frontal): divides the body vertically into anterior and posterior portions.
  • Sagittal: divides the body vertically into unequal right and left portions.
  • Transverse (horizontal): divides the body horizontally into superior and inferior portions.
  • Median (midsagittal): divides the body vertically into equal left and right portions.
Body Cavities:
  • Cranial cavity: contains the brain.
  • Dorsal body cavity: cranial cavity and spinal cavity.
  • Pelvic cavity: urinary bladder, urethra, uterus, vagina (female), large intestine, and rectum.
  • Ventral body cavity: thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity.
  • Thoracic cavity: esophagus, trachea, lungs, heart, and aorta; consists of pleural cavity (lungs) and mediastinum (heart, aorta, trachea, esophagus, and thymus gland).
  • Vertebral cavity: spinal column and spinal cord.
  • Abdominal cavity: stomach, intestines, liver, spleen, gallbladder, pancreas, ureters, and kidneys.
  • Abdominopelvic cavity: abdominal cavity and pelvic cavity, which contains the urinary bladder, part of the large intestine, and the internal reproductive organs.

Levels of Organization in the Human Body

  • Cells: the smallest unit of life.
  • Tissues: groups of functioning cells.
  • Organs: groups of tissues performing a specific function.
  • Organ systems: groups of organs working together.

Types of Tissues

  • Nervous tissue: found in nerves, spinal cord, and brain; specialized cells called neurons receive, interpret, and respond to signals.
  • Epithelial tissue: composed of epithelial cells in sheets; lines outer surfaces of organs, blood vessels, mouth, and human surfaces; functions in absorption, secretion, protection, and sensing (e.g., skin and respiratory tract lining).
  • Muscle tissue: makes up muscles; types include striated (skeletal), smooth (internal organs), and cardiac (heart).
  • Connective tissue: supports and connects other tissues; holds organs in place, attaches muscle to bones, links bones with joints (e.g., adipose tissue).

Career Connections: Histologist

  • Histology: the study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues.
  • Histologists analyze tissue samples for changes indicating damage, disease, or other conditions.
    • Example: analyzing biopsied moles for cancer.
  • Histologists work in veterinary offices, dermatology practices, hospitals, research labs, and private practices.

Bell’s Palsy

  • Neurological disorder affecting the facial nerve (seventh cranial nerve).
  • Causes weakness or paralysis of facial muscles on one side.
  • Caused by: dormant viral infection, impaired immunity, inflammation of the facial nerve, or damage to the myelin sheath.

Bones of the Skull

  • 22 bones make up most adult human skulls: frontal, parietals (2), temporal (2), occipital, sphenoid, ethmoid, nasal conchae (2), nasal bones (2), maxilla bones (2), palatine bones (2), lacrimal bones (2), zygomatic bones (2), mandible, and vomer.

Muscles of the Head

  • 26 muscles on the head.
  • Orbicularis oculi: closes eyelids.
  • Orbicularis oris: encircles the mouth.
  • Temporalis: used in mastication (chewing).

Bone Characteristics

  • Bones are light, flexible, and strong.
  • Bone is living tissue and stronger than concrete (pound for pound).
  • Cells and protein fibers are wrapped in hard mineral salts.
  • Cells are constantly remodeling and replacing old or damaged bone.
  • Blood vessels and nerves provide nutrients.
  • Bones withstand stress and protect organs.

Types of Bones

  • Flat bones: spongy bone between two layers of compact bone; have marrow but no marrow cavity (e.g., frontal, parietal, occipital, nasal, lacrimal, vomer, sternum, scapula, and ribs).
  • Long bones: shaft and two ends, longer than wide; thick outside layer with a marrow-filled cavity; ends contain spongy bone (e.g., humerus, ulna, radius, femur, tibia, fibula, metacarpals, metatarsals, and phalanges).
    • Epiphysis: ends, covered with hyaline cartilage, cancellous bone.
    • Diaphysis: shaft, covered with periosteum; medullary canal with yellow and red marrow; compact bone.
  • Irregular bones: thin layers of spongy bone surrounded by compact bone; do not fit other descriptions (e.g., vertebrae, sacrum, coccyx, temporal, sphenoid, ethmoid, zygomatic, maxilla, mandible, palatine, inferior nasal concha, and hyoid).
  • Short bones: cube-shaped, roughly equal dimensions; mostly spongy bone with a thin layer of compact bone (e.g., carpals and tarsals).

Compact Bone

  • Dense, stress-bearing bone.
  • Consists of Haversian Systems, which contain:
    • Lamellae: concentric cylinder-shaped calcified structure.
    • Lacunae: small spaces containing tissue fluid.
    • Osteocytes: facilitate calcium exchange.
    • Canaliculi: canals connecting lacunae to the haversian canal.

Spongy (Cancellous) Bone

  • Light, spongy bone found in low-stress areas.
  • Ends of long bones, ribs, sternum, hips, vertebrae, and cranium.
  • No haversian systems; web-like arrangement.

Bone Marrow

  • Soft, fatty tissue in the center of most bones.
  • Yellow marrow: fat storage in the medullary cavity of long bones.
  • Red marrow: hematopoietic tissue producing red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
  • Found in all cancellous bone in children and vertebrae, hips, sternum, ribs, cranial bones, and proximal ends of the femur and humerus in adults.

Bone Composition

  • Collagen (organic constituent).
  • Inorganic calcium salts (Vitamin D essential for absorption).
  • Deposition favored by estrogen/testosterone, alkaline phosphatase, thyrocalcitonin, and mechanical stress.
  • Weakening favored by parathormone and inactivity.

Bone Cells

  • Osteoblasts: bone-building cells, repairing cells in the periosteum.
  • Osteocytes: mature bone cells within the bone matrix.
  • Osteoclasts: reabsorb old bone.
  • Periosteum: dense, fibrous membrane covering bone, containing blood vessels, essential for bone cell survival and formation.

Bone Growth

  • Grows in length at the epiphyseal line and in width by adding bone to the surface.
  • Controlled by Human Growth Hormone (HGH) produced by the anterior pituitary.
    • Insufficient HGH: dwarfism.
    • Excessive HGH: gigantism.
    • Excessive HGH after puberty: acromegaly (enlargement of bones in hands, feet, and face).

Skeletal System Overview

Here is a list of Major bones in the human skeletal system

  • Cranium
  • Mandible
  • Clavicle
  • Scapula
  • Humerus
  • Radius
  • Ulna
  • Carpals
  • Metacarpals
  • Phalanges
  • Vertebral column
  • Ribs
  • Sternum
  • Ilium
  • Sacrum
  • Соссух
  • Ischium
  • Femur
  • Patella
  • Tibia
  • Fibula
  • Calcaneus
  • Tarsals
  • Metatarsals