Initiating the 3d Printing Process

On my topic I have learned a lot about the different mechanisms that the human hand has so it can move the way it does. In my goal to create a prosthetic hand I have started to 3d print some of the parts necessary to put it together. I am currently still working on the final model of the hand and will continue to 3d print the rest of the parts. Through this process I have learned that I really enjoy designing and modeling things to be 3d printed. The setbacks that I have encountered mainly relate to finding the different electronics parts necessary to initiate the movement of the hand. The next steps in this process is to continue to 3d print the parts and start the code for the movement of the hand. I will also need to plan out exactly how the electronics will work.














This is the first 3d printed part of the prosthetic hand

Unit 7 Reflection

This unit covered the muscular system. In this unit we learned all about the different muscles that are in the human body and what movement they carry out. We learned about the fast twitch muscles and slow twitch muscles as well as which exercises are suited for each type of muscle. Slow twitch muscles are suited for long distance cardiovascular exercise while fast twitch muscles are best for short bursts of high intensity cardiovascular exercise. We also learned about the 12 steps of muscular contraction and the different processes involved in this. Finally we learned about performance enhancement supplements and while they may produce many appealing short term effects, their long term effects are extremely dangerous

I still want to learn more about the different diseases of the muscular system. I want to learn what types there are, the treatment available, and how these different diseases affect the anatomy of the muscular system. I still wonder about the question of how much potential our muscles really have. I wonder about why we are able to lift so much weight with just our hand, and almost no other mechanical device can do the same task with such efficiency.

As a student I believe I have grown. I tried to keep my notebook in check. I did all of the homework that was assigned. I did watch the vodcasts multiple times to try to understand them as well. I also paid very close attention to the labs we did as they were really interesting.

Pictures of the Chicken Dissection Lab


























Link to the Video on the Steps of Muscle Contraction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V97qYN_Uf4I&feature=youtu.be

Performance Enhancement Reflection

Performance enhancement substances are becoming more prevalent in the athletic world. People often take these to give them an edge. The substances are designed to help an athlete become stronger, faster, have more endurance, and obtain many other athletic benefits. Although these short term benefits sound tempting, one must not overlook the negative effects performance enhancing drugs can have on the body. Substances such as steroids can completely mess up the hormonal balance of teenagers. They can also cause shrinking of the testicles and a reduced sperm count. Caffeine can often lead to heart problems, and cardiovascular diseases. Other substances if overused can even cause kidney and liver damage. Although many of these substances have negatives, there are some performance enhancement substances that are natural and beneficial. These include carb loading, massages, and creatine. Creatine however, can prove damaging to the kidney if taken too often. Many people should refrain from these harmful performance enhancement substance no matter how tempting they may seem. In the long term these just prove to not be worth the short term benefit.

Chicken Dissection Lab

03/21/16

1. During this lab we dissected a full chicken. We were primarily examining the different muscle groups in the chicken. We saw how the different muscles and tendons interact. We also examined the type of movement the muscle allows for the chicken. Movement is allowed by the muscles as the muscles connect to the bones of the chicken. These muscles are connected to the bones via tendons. When the muscle contracts the bird is able to move its body one way and when the muscle relaxes it can move the other way. One example of this is the pectoralis major. When this muscle contracts it allows the birds wings to flap downward and when it relaxes the wings return to its original position. An origin is a fixed attachment of the muscle, while the tendon of insertion moves as the muscle contracts or relaxes. One muscle in the chicken that is similar to humans is the bicep brachii. Both muscles allow the arm to flex or extend via contraction and relaxation. Another muscle is the pectoralis. Both species have this muscle however, in the chicken it is one of the largest muscles in the body. This is primarily due to the breeding the chickens undergo for large breasts. The last muscle is the latisimus dorsi. However, in the chicken this muscle is extremely small, again resulting from the process the chickens are bread from.

Semimembranosus: Responsible for the flexion of the leg
Semitendinosus: Responsible for flexion of knee extension of hip

Biceps Femoris: Helps with the flexion of the knee

Quadriceps Femoris: Plays large role in running, and jumping

Biceps Brachii: Responsible for flexion of arm
Tracips Humeralis: Responsible for extension arm
 Deltoid: Causes the rotation of the arm 

Brachioradialis: helps flex the elbow and aids in supination
Flexor carpi ulnaris: responsible for abduction of the hand

Trapezius: moves the scapulae and supports the arm
Latisimus dorsi: responsible for extensions, abduction, rotation, and flexion of the shoulder joing

Pectoralis Major: Responsible for the flapping down of the wings
Pectoralis Minor: responsible for bringing the wings back up

Iliotibalis: Splits into superficial deep layers, and anchors into the thigh
Sartorius: Is the longest muscle in the body, rotates the thigh at the hip joint

Tibialis Anterior: functions to lock the ankle, toe-kicking

Gastrocnemuis: responsible for plantar flexing of the foot

Prosthetics 20 Time 1st progress report

March 17, 2016

The first thing I researched about my topic are the major problems that are affecting people who have lost limbs. These problems have to do with the current market of prosthetics. The major problems are the expense and manufacturing of prosthetics. Prosthetic limbs are extremely expensive and many people cannot afford them. The limb manufactured also use the same technology since the 1900's and are very outdated and uncomfortable. Some even prefer not to wear them. I have researched the solution of implementing 3d printing and other new technology to help fix this. I have learned through this research, that prosthetics are something that interest me greatly and it is something that i want to pursue further in college. Because I want to build my own prosthetic hand, many setbacks have arose. The primary ones are those relating to obtaining the materials neccessary, as of now. I have handled this through extensive research of finding the parts and ordering them online. The next step is to find out more about how these new technology's can solve the current problems in prosthetics and continue to build my own prosthetic hand. I can apply everything I have learned as this is something I want to further pursue in college. I will use my knowledge gained to help me find summer internships, as well as help shape the major i choose in college.

What Happens When You Stretch

Title: What Happens When You Stretch

Quotes:

"When you stretch the muscle fiber is pulled out to its full length sarcomere by sarcomere"
This explains what is happening to the fibers as the muscle is stretched. The sarcomeres work in sync to extend the muscle.

"Sarcomere"
This is the smallest of contraction in a muscle. Muscle consists of many of these working in unison to relax and contract the muscle

"Proprieceptors"
These are nerve endings that allow us to be aware of our body's position and movement.

Relate and Review:

This article is about understanding what happens to our muscles when we stretch. It talks about the different components of the muscles that are involved. These include the different muscle fibers such as intrafusal and extrafusal muscle fibers. It also talks about sarcomeres, what they are and their function in muscles. Also talks about how these muscle fibers interact with connective tissue. Finally it talks about the most effective ways of stretching using the natural tensions between muscle fibers and connective tissues.

Unit 6 Reflection

This unit was all about the skeletal system of the human body. We learned about bones, and the different parts and cells that make them up. We also learned the locations of majority of the bones in the human body. We learned about fractures and the different types there are. Finally we learned about joints and how they add mechanical advantage to the human body. One thing I truly want to learn more about is how bone implants work. I want to learn more about the mechanisms that go into having a metal implant put inside your body to help support the bones. I also want to know more about how bones can be fractured and how joints are damaged as I will apply this knowledge to keep myself same as I exercise. During this unit I have grown much. I used my time much more efficiently in studying for the test. I also kept my notebook up to date. My goals for the next year however, are to have no late assignments and to organize myself better.