Life Cycle of the Sperm and Egg Essay examples - 1351 Words

This is a story about Spike and Edna and how they created new life. Spike is a sperm that is very excited about his day. Edna is an egg that feels like the luckiest egg ever. Spike and Edna both feel lucky because they were chosen for fertilization today. Spike and Edna are going to fertilize by combining together to create a new life. Edna has been waiting for this day since she was created in Katie’s ovaries while she was just a fetus. Edna was not the only egg created while Katie was a fetus. Edna is just one of five million other eggs but today is Edna’s lucky day. Today Edna has been chosen especially for fertilization. Spike has also been one of many to be chosen to participate in fertilization. Spike is just one of 500 million sperm†¦show more content†¦Edna has waited a very long time for this day. Even though Spike is only a couple of months old, Edna is 23 years old just like Katie. You see, Edna was created inside of Katie when she was just a fetus. Edna is so very excited because none of her 183 that have left already have had the opportunity to be fertilized and there are still 216 other eggsthat could be fertilized. You see when an egg is ready to be fertilized, it is called ovulation and only 400 of Katie’s 500 thousand eggs will get the opportunity to ovulate. Edna learned that ovulation is a grand experience that happens within a matter of a minute or two. Ovulation is when Edna the egg (aka ovum) is released from Katie’s ovary (Rathus, Nevid, Fichner-Rathus, 2007, p. 86). What happens is a small part of Katie’s follicle that faces her abdomen bursts and a fluid runs out which is full of millions of cells. Amongst all of these cells is Edna and the cells with her provides nourishment for her. Now that Edna is ready to experience ovulation, Katie’s fallopian tubes are getting signals that they should get ready for Edna to come on down. Edna has experienced ovulation now and is beginning to trav el down Katie’s fallopian tubes. Little fingers-like tubules caught Edna as she started down the fallopian tubes. Edna decides to hang out in Katie’s fallopian tubes and get herself ready to meet up with Spike to create another person. Now that Katie is ready, she is waiting for Spike to come throughShow MoreRelatedThe Development of the Egg and Sperm884 Words   |  4 PagesThe Development Of the Egg and Sperm your name PSY/265 May 20, 2012 Nicole Pansey The sperm and the egg are the key to reproduction. Without the sperm fertilizing the egg there would no reproduction. They both start off in very different places and in different ways but come together to create a life. The journey to create a life is a very interesting one and in this paper I will be outlining it in detail, describing the male and female sex organs and the role of both theseRead MoreSimilarly to the male reproductive system, the female reproductive system is an intriguing and1600 Words   |  7 Pagesto reproduce; they produce eggs that can then be fertilized by sperm as well as secrete hormones. The fallopian tubes are narrow tubes that are attached to the upper part of the uterus and serve as tunnels for the ova (egg cells) to travel from the ovaries to the uterus. Conception, the fertilization of an egg by a sperm, normally occurs in the fallopian tubes. (WebMD) Without the ovaries, females would not be able to reproduce due to the fact that there would be no eggs to fertilize. Even if it wereRead MoreIn Vitro Fertilization1281 Words   |  6 Pagesin reproductive technology, there is hope for these couples who desperately wish to have children. One of these advances is In Vitro Fertilization, also known as IVF. IVF, or, in vitro meaning, â€Å"in glass† fertilization is the process by which eggs and sperm are combined outside the woman’s body in a glass petri dish and then later transferred back into the uterus in hope of achieving a pregnancy. This amazing technology has been around since the late 1970’s and the first child was born through IVFRead MoreThe Menstrual Cycle Essay769 Words   |  4 PagesThe menstrual cycle occurs in the uterus and the ovary as a part of making sexual reproduction possible. The menstrual cycle is a monthly occurrence and happens so the ovary can produce eggs and the uterus can get ready for an egg becoming fertilized. (Wikipedia) The menstrual cycle is a complex cycle and is contro lled by hormones produced by many different glands. The hypothalamus causes the pituitary gland to produces chemicals which then cause the ovaries to produce the sex hormones oestrogenRead MoreThe Ethical Issues Of Procreation Essay1389 Words   |  6 Pagesother ways to overcome this devastating scenario. In our present day, there are numerous outlets and technologies people can take that can help assist them in creating an offspring. Whether it is intra-uterine insemination, which is conducted by sperm or egg donation, by in vitro fertilization or surrogate motherhood arrangements, there are different technologies in our present day people can choose when it comes to creating an offspring. What are these technologies and how do they work? EthicallyRead MoreStages of In Vitro Ferlization Essay1102 Words   |  5 PagesIn Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is a procedure in which an egg (oocyte) from a woman’s ovaries is removed and separately fertilized with male sperm in a laborat ory before being implanted into the woman’s fallopian tubes. 1 2 The first stage of IVF is called superovulation. Follicles are structures within which the oocyte develops, in order to retrieve multiple follicles several hormone and drug combinations are administered. Consequently, the ovary stops function and allows the follicles to ripen atRead MoreBrief Description Of Technology And Assisted Reproductive Technology1453 Words   |  6 Pagesthis involves transferring eggs and sperm into the woman s fallopian tube. Fertilization occurs in the woman s body. However, not many practices offer GIFT as an option. †¢ Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) - this is often used for couples with male factor infertility. Sometimes it is also used for older couples or for those with failed IVF attempts. In ICSI, a single sperm is injected into a mature egg as opposed to typical IVF fertilisation where the egg and sperm are placed in a petri dishRead MoreInfertility And The Fertility Related Issues1712 Words   |  7 Pagescarrying a pregnancy to term, regardless of marital status called impaired fecundity. (http://www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/infertility) In order for a couple to become pregnant she must release an egg from one of her ovaries and a male sperm must join the egg. After the two meet the fertilized egg must travel through a fallopian tube and attach itself to a women uterus. When this process does not happen the infertility doctor will begin to proceed with a semen analysis on the male and tubal evaluationRead MoreThe Human Genome Project : Hiv Cocktails, Stem Cell Research, Cancer Therapies And The List Goes On Essay1173 Words   |  5 Pagesof families every year is In-Vitro Fertilization or commonly known as IVF. IVF in itself is the procedure of fertilization where an egg and sperm is combined in a laboratory by a doctor then is proceeded to be transferred into a woman’s uterus. In the cycle of pregnancy, the male normally ejaculates into a woman which then leads to the male’s sperm enter the woman’s egg then it would then become fertilized. An issue that many women face is becoming pregnant natu rally due to complications in the bodyRead More The Reproductive System Essay1026 Words   |  5 Pagesreproductive system are the testes, the penis and several glands. Male sperm carries genetic information and are produced continually from the start of puberty. The primary spermatocyte divides by meiosis make two secondary spermatocytes and then four, which have half the amount of chromosomes as the mother cell (46 in humans) therefore sperm (spermatozoa) has 23 chromosomes (genetic information). Sperm produced in the testes in a sac called the scrotum is 3 °C cooler than

Type 2 Diabetes A Silent Killer - 1419 Words

Type 2 diabetes is a silent killer that often has no symptoms. Diabetes is a life-long chronic disease that affects your whole body. Being overweight, eating unhealthy, and not exercising leads to a lot of health complications that may increase your risk of type 2 diabetes. Lifestyle choices such as healthy foods and moderate physical activity are important for an individual to stay healthy. Practicing a healthy lifestyle is essential in preventing the development of type 2 diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Nine out ten people do not know they have prediabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fifteen to thirty percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years.†¦show more content†¦The glucose builds up into the bloodstream instead of moving into your cells. The pancreas will try to keep up with the body and make extra insulin to keep your blood glucose levels normal. Overtime your pancreas will not be able to keep up and make enough insulin for your body. This is called being insulin resistant. Diabetes is caused by a problem in the way your body makes or uses insulin. Insulin is needed to move glucose into cells, where it is stored and later used for energy. When glucose builds up in the blood instead of going into the cells it can cause two problems. Cells are in need for energy and high blood glucose levels occur affecting many major organs, including your heart, blood vessels, nerves, eyes , and kidney. Practicing a healthy lifestyle can help prevent health complications. Moderate physical activity and incorporating a healthier diet can stop an individual from getting type 2 diabetes. First of all, an unhealthy lifestyle can lead to many health problems. The lack of physical activity and poor diet can lead to obesity. Becoming obese will put an individual at risk for many health complications such as type 2 diabetes. Obesity is defined as an excessively high amount of body fat in relation to lean body mass (Signorino and Winter 2008). According to, Nath, Heemels, et al., there is a growing number of children that are being diagnosed with obesity related type 2 diabetes. Obesity and type 2 diabetes

Education and Qualifications Free Essays

I have successfully completed an Introducing Childminding Practice course, which is a part of CACHE Level 3 Certificate in Childminding Practice. Currently I am studying for a Teaching Assistant course via Distance Learning College, which is a NCFE Level 3 Accredited course. Experience/knowledge/skills I have a year experience in working as a Nursery Assistant for a private nursery. We will write a custom essay sample on Education and Qualifications or any similar topic only for you Order Now I have also been volunteering for past 6 months in a Toddler Group for a Charitable organisation. As a Nursery Assistant I have an experience of working and caring for children under various age groups ranges from 6 months old babies to 5 years old preschoolers. I had to be a hands-on member of a staff team who provide a caring, motivating and safe environment in which babies and young children are supported and encouraged to achieve their full potential. I had to provide full practical support in the day to day running of the nursery. As a Nursery Assistant I had to develop good knowledge of children and learn what makes them happy and engaged in activities. I had to gain knowledge of being able to instruct them in a way that they can readily understand. Whilst I have good understanding of caring and supporting children from work experience, I also have an experience of being a mother of 3 children (including twins). So over the years I have developed a good understanding of early childhood development and learning. Until recently I had chosen to leave my full-time employment to concentrate on raising a young family. As a part of my role as Nursery Assistant , I had been provided with training to ensure the provision of a high quality environment to meet the needs of individual children from differing cultures and religious backgrounds and stages of development. There are many legislation, policies and codes of practices for supporting children and young people in the UK. Legislations such as the health and safety act Work Act, Data protection Act and Children Act are some of the main and important legislations for the schools and nurseries. I understand that under the health and safety at work Act I have a responsibility to make sure that I carry out my duties safely without risking myself, children, visitors and other staffs. I also have to cooperate with others who have duties for health and safety by reporting any unsafe practices. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe by the schools and child care providers. There have been recent changes as simpler framework for the EYFS was published on 27 March 2012, for implementation from 1 September 2012. The new EFYS framework sets a number of improvements such as simplifying the statutory assessment of children’s development and reducing the number of early learning goals from 69 to 17. It puts a stronger emphasis on the three prime areas which are most essential for children’s healthy development, which are communication and language, physical, and personal, social and emotional development. In my previous role as Nursery Assistant my duties also included acting as a key worker for children, monitoring their progress and sharing information about their development with their parents. I also had specific child care tasks around the preparation and completion of activities to suit the child’s stage of development. I am IT literate and able to use word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Internet and Email. I am fluent (both written and spoken) in Punjabi and Hindi language. I have an ability to work well on own initiative and demonstrate a self-reliant required to work in pressurised working environments. I am also a good team player with the ability to understand group dynamics and always keen to learn and adapt to new ideas, innovations. I am fortunate for having valuable experience both from my professional and personal life for working with children and ensuring that they are cared for in a happy, safe and stimulating environment. Now I am looking for a position that offers further knowledge, experience and long term career development opportunities. I feel I have the compassion for and understand of young pupils needs which would enable me to succeed in being an effective learning assistant. While I was in India, I taught at a primary school for over 3 years. My work there helped me to develop my teaching skills. I supported the development of my pupils, literacy and innumeracy skills, giving more confidence. I kept written records of pupil’s progress and was better able to support them through these reports. My reports also allowed me to look at each of my pupils individually, giving them support when and where it was needed. Through my work I have also developed an understanding of the factors affecting children’s learning. For example, my job at the early years involved planning activities, documents the progress of the children, playing with the children, supervising, reporting to the manger and meeting up with parents, working with group of children and with individual children, monitoring and display children’s work and attending staff meetings. Throughout I used my verbal and written communication skills. I feel it is important to gain the relevant training to be able to support a child’s to highest standard. Last month I just started volunteer with Rebecca cheetham nursery age group is 3 to 5 and I am gain more work experience with that age of group. I learn more about children development and health and safety which is really good experience for me. In that sitting they preparing the children for school. I am prepared to undertake any other relevant training being offered me. I am able to work calmly and with patience. In my role as a child care worker, I understand full barriers to children’s learning and development. The barriers of learning can be visual impairment, learning difficulties, health issues, lack of confidence and low self esteem. I regard pupils as individual in their own right and respect and value each and every one. This sets a good example for the pupils to learn. Pupils learn from adult, from example, if the pupils see that I hold door open for another member of staff and other member of staff replies by saying Thank you, the pupils see that we respect each other and therefore will follow this example. I strongly believe that education should be accessible to every one and that every pupil has the right to be included. For example: a pupil I have worked with has poor motor skills and poor hand and eye-coordination, therefore the pupil needed to use a thicker pencil and other tool. With in my role I make sure that my setting is inclusive and where every one feels welcome and where the pupil can focus on their learning. Having considered my personal characteristics and previous work experience, I believe I have that right attitude to carry out the roles and responsibilities required for the post. I know I will vary effective in this a role. I have the right blend of personal qualities, such as; being supportive, patient and respectful, people orientated and have huge amount of motivation. I feel I am ready for the challenge and would maintain high standards role at your school. How to cite Education and Qualifications, Papers

Sociological Perspectives on Health and Illness free essay sample

How can we define health? Imagine a continuum with health on one end and death on the other. In the preamble to its 1946 constitution, the World Health Organization defined health as a â€Å"state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity† (Leavell and Clark 1965:14). In this definition, the â€Å"healthy† end of the continuum represents an ideal rather than a precise condition. Along the continuum, people define themselves as healthy or sick on the basis of criteria established by themselves and relatives, friends, co-workers, and medical practitioners. Because health is relative, then, we can view it in a social context and consider how it varies in different situations or cultures. Why is it that you may consider yourself sick or well when others do not agree? Who controls definitions of health and illness in our society, and for what ends? What are the consequences of viewing yourself (or of being viewed) as ill or disabled? By drawing on four sociological perspectives—functionalism, conflict theory, interactionism, and labeling theory—we can gain greater insight into the social context that shapes definitions of health and the treatment of illness. Functionalist Approach Illness entails breaks in our social interactions, both at work and at home. From a functionalist perspective, being sick must therefore be controlled, so that not too many people are released from their societal responsibilities at any one time. Functionalists contend that an overly broad definition of illness would disrupt the workings of a society. In U. S. society, people who are sick are supposed to stay home and†¦ Sickness requires that one take on a social role, if only temporarily. The sick role refers to societal expectations about the attitudes and behavior of a person viewed as being ill. Sociologist Talcott Parsons (1951, 1975), well known for his contributions to functionalist theory, outlined the behavior required of people who are considered sick. They are exempted from their normal, day-to-day responsibilities and generally do not suffer blame for their condition. Yet they are obligated to try to get well, which includes seeking competent professional care. This obligation arises from the common view that illness is dysfunctional, because it can undermine social stability. Attempting to get well is particularly important in the world’s developing countries. Modern automated industrial societies can absorb a greater degree of illness or disability than horticultural or agrarian societies, in which the availability of workers is far more critical (Conrad 2009b). According to Parsons’s theory, physicians function as gatekeepers for the sick role. They verify a patient’s condition either as â€Å"illness† or as â€Å"recovered. † The ill person becomes dependent on the physician, because the latter can control valued rewards (not only treatment of illness, but also excused absences from work and school). Parsons suggests that the physician–patient relationship is somewhat like that between parent and child. Like a parent, the physician helps the patient to enter society as a full and functioning adult (Weitz 2007). use your sociological imagination Describe some situations you have witnessed that illustrate different definitions of the â€Å"sick role. The concept of the sick role is not without criticism. First, patients’ judgments regarding their own state of health may be related to their gender, age, social class, and ethnic group. For example, younger people may fail to detect warning signs of a dangerous illness, while elderly people may focus too much on the slightest physical malady. Second, the sick role may be more applicable to people who are experiencing short-term illnesses than to those with recurring, long-term illnesses. Finally, even simple factors, such as whether a person is employed, seem to affect one’s willingness to assume the sick role—as does the impact of socialization into a particular occupation or activity. For example, beginning in childhood, athletes learn to define certain ailments as â€Å"sports injuries† and therefore do not regard themselves as â€Å"sick. † Nonetheless, sociologists continue to rely on Parsons’s model for functionalist analysis of the relationship between illness and societal expectations of the sick (Curry 1993). Conflict Approach Conflict theorists observe that the medical profession has assumed a preeminence that extends well beyond whether to excuse a student from school or an employee from work. Sociologist Eliot Freidson (1970:5) has likened the position of medicine today to that of state religions yesterday—it has an officially approved monopoly of the right to define health and illness and to treat illness. Conflict theorists use the term medicalization of society to refer to the growing role of medicine as a major institution of social control (Conrad 2009a; McKinlay and McKinlay 1977; Zola 1972, 1983). The Medicalization of Society Social control involves techniques and strategies for regulating behavior in order to enforce the distinctive norms and values of a culture. Typically, we think of informal social control as occurring within families and peer groups, and formal social control as being carried out by authorized agents such as police officers, judges, school administrators, and employers. Viewed from a conflict perspective, however, medicine is not simply a â€Å"healing profession†; it is a regulating mechanism. How does medicine manifest its social control? First, medicine has greatly expanded its domain of expertise in recent decades. Physicians now examine a wide range of issues, among them sexuality, old age, anxiety, obesity, child development, alcoholism, and drug addiction. We tolerate this expansion of the boundaries of medicine because we hope that these experts can bring new â€Å"miracle cures† to complex human problems, as they have to the control of certain infectious diseases. The social significance of this expanding medicalization is that once a problem is viewed using a medical model—once medical experts become influential in proposing and assessing relevant public policies—it becomes more difficult for common people to join the discussion and exert influence on decision making. It also becomes more difficult to view these issues as being shaped by social, cultural, or psychological factors, rather than simply by physical or medical factors (Caplan 1989; Conrad 2009a). Second, medicine serves as an agent of social control by retaining absolute jurisdiction over many health care procedures. It has even attempted to guard its jurisdiction by placing health care professionals such as chiropractors and nurse-midwives outside the realm of acceptable medicine. Despite the fact that midwives first brought professionalism to child delivery, they have been portrayed as having invaded the â€Å"legitimate† field of obstetrics, both in the United States and Mexico. Nurse-midwives have sought licensing as a way to achieve professional respectability, but physicians continue to exert power to ensure that midwifery remains a subordinate occupation (Scharnberg 2007). Inequities in Health Care The medicalization of society is but one concern of conflict theorists as they assess the workings of health care institutions. As we have seen throughout this textbook, in analyzing any issue, conflict theorists seek to determine who benefits, who suffers, and who dominates at the expense of others. Viewed from a conflict perspective, glaring inequities exist in health care delivery in the United States. For example, poor areas tend to be underserved because medical services concentrate where people are wealthy. Similarly, from a global perspective, obvious inequities exist in health care delivery. Today, the United States has about 27 physicians per 10,000 people, while African nations have fewer than 1 per 10,000. This situation is only worsened by the brain drain—the immigration to the United States and other industrialized nations of skilled workers, professionals, and technicians who are desperately needed in their home countries. As part of this brain drain, physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals have come to the United States from developing countries such as India, Pakistan, and various African states. Conflict theorists view their emigration out of the Third World as yet another way in which the world’s core industrialized nations enhance their quality of life at the expense of developing countries. One way the developing countries suffer is in lower life expectancy. In Africa and much of Latin America and Asia, life expectancy is far lower than in industrialized nations (Bureau of the Census 2009a; World Bank 2009). Figure 15-1 Infant Mortality Rates In Selected Countries Conflict theorists emphasize that inequities in health care have clear life-and-death consequences. From a conflict perspective, the dramatic differences in infant mortality rates around the world (Figure 15-1) reflect, at least in part, unequal distribution of health care resources based on the wealth or poverty of various nations. The infant mortality rate is the number of deaths of infants under 1 year old per 1,000 live births in a given year. This measure is an important indicator of a society’s level of health care; it reflects prenatal nutrition, delivery procedures, and infant screening measures. Still, despite the wealth of the United States, at least 46 nations have lower infant mortality rates, among them Canada, Sweden, and Japan. Conflict theorists point out that, unlike the United States, these countries offer some form of government-supported health care for all citizens, which typically leads to greater availability and use of prenatal care (MacDorman and Mathews 2009). use your sociological imagination From a sociological point of view, what might be the greatest challenge to reducing inequities in health care? Interactionist Approach From an interactionist point of view, patients are not passive; often, they actively seek the services of a health care practitioner. In examining health, illness, and medicine as a social institution, then, interactionists engage in micro-level study of the roles played by health care professionals and patients. Interactionists are particularly interested in how physicians learn to play their occupational role. According to Brenda L. Beagan (2001), the technical language students learn in medical school becomes the basis for the script they follow as novice physicians. The familiar white coat is their costume—one that helps them to appear confident and professional at the same time that it identifies them as doctors to patients and other staff members. Beagan found that many medical students struggle to project the appearance of competence that they think their role demands. Sometimes patients play an active role in health care by failing to follow a physician’s advice. For example, some patients stop taking medications long before they should. Some take an incorrect dosage on purpose, and others never even fill their prescriptions. Such noncompliance results in part from the prevalence of self-medication in our society; many people are accustomed to self-diagnosis and self-treatment. On the other hand, patients’ active involvement in their health care can sometimes have very positive consequences. Some patients read books about preventive health care techniques, attempt to maintain a healthful and nutritious diet, carefully monitor any side effects of medication, and adjust the dosage based on perceived side effects. Labeling Approach Labeling theory helps us to understand why certain people are viewed as deviants, â€Å"bad kids,† or criminals, whereas others whose behavior is similar are not. Labeling theorists also suggest that the designation â€Å"healthy† or â€Å"ill† generally involves social definition by others. Just as police officers, judges, and other regulators of social control have the power to define certain people as criminals, health care professionals (especially physicians) have the power to define certain people as sick. Moreover, like labels that suggest nonconformity or criminality, labels that are associated with illness commonly reshape how others treat us and how we see ourselves. Our society attaches serious consequences to labels that suggest less-than-perfect physical or mental health (H. Becker 1963; C. Clark 1983; H. Schwartz 1994). A historical example illustrates perhaps the ultimate extreme in labeling social behavior as a sickness. As enslavement of Africans in the United States came under increasing attack in the 19th century, medical authorities provided new rationalizations for the oppressive practice. Noted physicians published articles stating that the skin color of Africans deviated from â€Å"healthy† white skin coloring because Africans suffered from congenital leprosy. Moreover, the continuing efforts of enslaved Africans to escape from their White masters were classified as an example of the â€Å"disease† of drapetomania (or â€Å"crazy runaways†). The prestigious New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal suggested that the remedy for this â€Å"disease† was to treat slaves kindly, as one might treat children. Apparently, these medical authorities would not entertain the view that it was healthy and sane to flee slavery or join in a slave revolt (T. Szasz 2010). According to labeling theorists, we can view a variety of life experiences as illnesses or not. Recently, premenstrual syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorders, and hyperactivity have been labeled medically recognized disorders. In addition, the medical community continues to disagree over whether chronic fatigue syndrome constitutes a medical illness. TAKING SOCIOLOGY TO WORK Lola Adedokun, Independent Consultant, Health Care Research Probably the most noteworthy medical example of labeling is the case of homosexuality. For years, psychiatrists classified being gay or lesbian not as a lifestyle but as a mental disorder subject to treatment. This official sanction became an early target of the growing gay and lesbian rights movement in the United States. In 1974, members of the American Psychiatric Association voted to drop homosexuality from the standard manual on mental disorders (Conrad 2009a). Table 15-2 summarizes four major sociological perspectives on health and illness. Although they may seem quite different, two common themes unite them. First, any person’s health or illness is more than an organic condition, since it is subject to the interpretation of others. The impact of culture, family and friends, and the medical profession means that health and illness are not purely biological occurrences, but sociological occurrences as well. Second, since members of a society (especially industrial societies) share the same health care delivery system, health is a group and societal concern. Although health may be defined as the complete well-being of an individual, it is also the result of