Household Behavior and Demand Essay Example for Free

Household Behavior and Demand Essay Household behavior is one of the any basic concepts in economics which has an effect on market trends. Household demand, for instance, can be seen as related to consumer choices in terms of which products are mostly bought in the market and which products need more supplies in terms of item production and its corresponding allocation. One of the many essential features of household demand is its corresponding effect on what is being provided in the market and, more importantly, the quantities or stock that is being allocated in the market. It seems quite obvious that the quantities of certain products in the market—for instance, in a certain area or a certain supermarket—are patterned according to the existing demand and the foreseen demands a some point in the future, say within a frame of a few weeks time. Household behavior, for its effects on market trends to be realized and understood, must be taken from a general and collective standpoint since a single specific household behavior cannot entirely be taken into account as the precise and sole measure in determining the overall household behavior true for all o most instances with regard to market trends. For example, it has been observed that Chinese people rely largely on the prices of products in determining which ones are the best buys. Paul French notes that â€Å"for pragmatic Chinese shoppers, price remains the bottom-line† which translates to the idea that â€Å"win on price and you win† (French, 2007). Hence, in the context of Chinese households, producers of certain goods should greatly consider the fact that Chinese households will most likely prefer goods which are relatively lower in price as compared to other products in the market in order stay atop the competition. To be able to gain control of the price index of a certain product in the market means to be able to win the market competition if the Chinese household behavior is the primary basis to be used. The perception appears simple enough: household behavior determines household demand which, in consequence, affects a large portion of certain market trends. Thus, to analyze a specific market trend for a specific product entails the analysis and understanding of certain trends in household demand caused by household behavior. An existing household demand, say, for breakfast cereals can be looked upon the collective household behavior in terms of cereal consumption for the past six months for the locality of Chicago, for example. Given a relatively high consumption rate for breakfast cereals with the price not exceeding $4 per box among families, companies producing breakfast cereals may have the corresponding decision to pattern their product according to the existing demand. Although it may not essentially be the case that companies will sacrifice prices of their products in order to meet the demand for the value of the products, being able to adjust product prices in accordance to the existing market prices will most likely lead to favorable results on the part of the companies since market demand is met. Quite on the contrary, there are still other related factors which hinder the feat of lowering prices according to the budget and income of households which determine their capacity to buy and consume certain products. More recently, several instant-noodle corporations in China have difficulties in lowering the prices of their products due to escalating prices in wheat and other farm commodities (Zhu, 2007). With prices in instant-noodles—a popular product among individuals with meager budget—soaring, even the household demand or low-cost instant-noodles may hardly deter companies from lowering the prices of their goods just to meet the existing demand in the market. On the part of households, proper allocation of income can be one remedy in order to curb unnecessary spending so as to be able to allocate budget on goods which the households deem as a dire part of their income-spending. In this case, household behavior and demand appears to be patterned according to the existing market trends which is the opposite or reverse case of what has been provided earlier. Hence, it is also possible to have a household behavior or consumer choice that is based on existing market trends apart from the possibility that market trends may also be based on existing consumer choice and household behavior. Allocating income to maximize utility is one household behavior that determines consumer choice in the long run. For instance, there is the observation that â€Å"household expenditure patterns are affected by the share of household income accruing to women† (Hopkins, Levin, Haddad, 1994). Given this perception, the choices of consumers over a vast array of products competing in the market is not only affected by external elements determined by companies but also by internal elements sprouting from household consumption patterns of certain goods in relation to the household’s budget allocation. In terms of income and substitution effects, the changes in the prices of certain goods are proposed to alter the demands for such goods. Changes in relative prices as well as changes in the purchasing power of the money income can greatly alter the existing demands for, say, a breakfast cereal. Even if the prices for breakfast cereals remain the same for a given period, alterations in the income will result to an equal change in the budget constraint (Hamermesh, 1977). On the other hand, if the price of breakfast cereals changes, the budget constraint will change accordingly. One concrete way in further understanding the situation is that in order to maximize the utility with the decreased budget constraint, the household will tend to have shifts in their patterns of consumption. For instance, with the budget constraint arising from the decrease in the money’s purchasing power, households will tend to maximize the utility of money by increasing the segregation of purchases of goods based on low-cost preference. An example to this is when households purchase goods with relatively lower prices given a budget of $20 which results to more purchases of various goods while on the other hand households purchasing goods with relatively higher prices will result to lesser maximization of the utility or lesser goods purchased with the $20 budget. Hence, wage rates also share a crucial part in determining household behavior and demand as well as consumer choice. It has been seen that the rates of wages of certain groups of people have corresponding implications on the purchasing power of households. To arrive at the observation that the wage of a household is decreased corresponds to the observation that the purchasing capacity of the same household proportionally, if not significantly, decreases. A higher wage, then, will translate to a higher capacity to purchase goods in the market. In the larger scheme, a group of households with a high rate of wage will most likely have higher purchasing capacity thereby inducing the household behavior of increased spending assuming the household has lesser tendencies to save their income. In effect, a certain market demand will be conjured in such a way that a certain good, for instance, will experience an increase in demand which calls for a corresponding increase in goods being supplied. Thus, it can be noted that the overall rate in household demand will relatively increase given the increase in wages. On the other hand, interest rates may greatly alter or shift the persisting demand from households towards a certain good. For instance, a higher interest rates for purchased loans by households will certainly result to a higher real cost of purchase in the fulfillment of all payments made for the loan. It is quite apparent that an increase of 2% in interest rates from 4% to 6% will most certainly have a corresponding effect on the actual cost of the good purchased. For the most part, higher interest rates translate to higher cost of purchases, decreased household spending given a fixed rate of wages, and a lesser spending on other goods which result to a corresponding decrease in the demand for those other goods. The price of leisure also has a significant role in comprehending the patterns in household demand and consumer choices. For instance, higher prices in the cost of airplane travels would entail that the consumer will opt for the airline provider with the least cost. A decline in the preference for airlines with comparatively higher airline prices will most likely be felt assuming that a given set of consumers have fixed income. Budget constraints in an environment of increasing prices in leisure enable one to view the household demand for existing leisure. Indeed, it has been observed that several market trends can be viewed and analyzed using the perceptions on household behavior and demand for certain goods and products. The interrelationships existing between the market trend and the household behavior is clear although at some point several exceptions would have to be made. Essential to this understanding is the view that there may or may not be actual budget constraints and that prices of commodities may actually shift even without the presence of the shift such as a decline or incline in the demand from households. Nevertheless, there are many cases in which household behavior has its implications on the existing market trends. References French, P. (2007). When the Best Buy Is No Buy. The Wall Street Journal(August 7). Hamermesh, D. S. (1977). A Note on Income and Substitution Effects in Search Unemployment. The Economic Journal, 87(346), 312. Hopkins, J. , Levin, C. , Haddad, L. (1994). Womens Income and Household Expenditure Patterns: Gender or Flow? Evidence from Niger. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 76(5), 1219. Zhu, E. (2007). Chinas Battle Against Inflation Puts Noodle Makers in Hot Water. The Wall Street Journal(August 29), B11.

Structure And Functions Of The Skeletal System

Structure And Functions Of The Skeletal System HUMAN SKELETON is the internal structure that holds the human body up and with the help of the muscular system allows us to move, also works to protect the delicate and vital organs found inside it from being damaged. At birth the human skeleton is made up of 275 different bones and as the body matures some of these bones start to fuse together leaving only 206 bones in an adult human. A skeleton has got five different job roles which are: Blood production. Movement Shape Protection DIAGRAM: BACK FRONT (@Google) There are two major systems of bones in the human body which are Axial Appendicular skeleton. AXIAL SKELETON it is essentially suited for protection. It forms the main axis/core of a human skeletal system. It consists of: Cranium protects the brain. Made up of hard sheets of bones with fixed joints. Sort of a ball shape at the back. It is comprised of eight cranial and fourteen facial bones. The cranial bones make up the protective frame of bone around the brain. The facial bones make up the shape of a human face. DIAGRAM: (@Google) Thorax takes part in both protecting the heart and lungs, and also helps in shape of the body. Made up of a sternum and 12 pairs of ribs. Forms a concave shape. Ribs are flat bones that are close together and make a concave shape that goes around the internal organs that are vital such as heart and lungs. DIAGRAM: fully labeled on next page. (@Google) Vertebral column (spine or backbone) consists of a series of 33 irregularly shaped bones that are called vertebrae. Extends from the base of the cranium to the pelvis, providing a central axis for the body Accounts for around 40% of a human overall weight. The vertebrae of a human spine are held together strongly by powerful ligaments that allow little movement between your adjacent vertebrae but afford a considerable degree flexibility along the spine as a whole. Its main job role is to protect the spinal cord even though it also helps by supporting the ribcage by maintaining the balance between it and the abdominal cavity. The bones of a vertebral column have got cartilage joints. It is divided into parts which are: Cervical vertebrae (seven) these are the vertebrae in the neck. The first two are known as the atlas (C1) and the axis (C2). These two form a pivot joint that allows the head and neck to move freely. It is the smallest and most vulnerable vertebrae of the vertebrae column but it is the most important because it sends signal to the thoracic from the head. Thoracic vertebrae (twelve) these are the vertebrae of the mid spine, which articulate with the ribs and are also found in the thorax. The thoracic vertebrae are larger than the cervical ad increase in size from top to bottom. Lumbar vertebrae (five focused) these are situated at the lower back and are the largest of the movable vertebrae. They are required to support more weight than other vertebrae and provide attachment for many of the muscles of the back. The discs that lie between these vertebrae produce a concave curve in the back. Sacral vertebrae (five) these are fused to form the sacrum. This is a triangular bone located below the lumbar and it forms the back wall of the pelvic griddle sitting between the two hip bones. Coccygeal vertebrae (four focused) this is the last part of the vertebral column which has got four fused bones that form a coccyx or a tail bone. DIAGRAM: (@Google) APPENDICULAR SKELETON it is for movement/leverage, shape, and blood production. It can also sometimes take part in protection Consists of 126 bones makes body movement possible and protects the organs of digestion, excretion, and reproduction. The word appendicular means referring to an appendage or anything attached to a major part of the body, such as the upper and lower extremities. The appendicular skeleton is the part of the skeleton that includes the pectoral girdle, the upper limbs, the pelvic girdle, and the lower limbs. The appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton together form the complete skeleton Pectoral griddle consists of two shoulder blades (scapulae) and two collar bones (clavicles). These bones articulate with one another, allowing some degree of movement. Shoulder blades (scapulae) is a flat triangular bone which stretches from the shoulder to the vertebral column at the back. On the back side it has a bony ridge for the attachment of the muscles. The bony ridge forms a major projection, the acromion, above the shoulder joint. Beneath the collar bone and just on the inside of the shoulder joint, is another bony projection of the shoulder blade, the coracoid process, which also serves for the attachment of muscles. The upper outer corner of the shoulder blade ends in the glenoid cavity into which fit the head of upper arm bone forming a ball and socket joint. collar bones (clavicle) has got a rod-shaped and forms a roughly S-shape It lies horizontally and articulates with the upper end of the breastbone, right in the middle and front, just above the first rib The lateral end articulates with the acromium. Collar bones serve as a support for the shoulder blades in front and keep the shoulder blades back so that the arms can hang freely at the sides of the body. They prevent the pectoral girdles from getting out of joint easily and sufficient movement of the shoulders. (@Google) Pelvic girdle is composed of two coxal (hip) bones that are located at the base of the spine. It is also known as the hip girdle. It is the bony structures to which the last limbs of a vertebrate are attached to. 1. Ilium is the upper part of the bony pelvic which is also the largest. It has a prominent ridge running along its upper surface called the iliac crest. (@biology) 2. Iliac crest is for the attachment of body wall muscles. 3. Symphysis pubis is the midline cartilaginous joint uniting the left and right pubic bones. Upper limb can be divided into five main regions which are: The Upper Arm (Humerus) is a single bone. The upper end consists of a hemi-spherical ball which fits into the socket of the shoulder blade to form the shoulder joint. The lower end of the humerus forms a shallow ball and socket joint with the radius and a hinge joint with the ulna in the elbow. Forearm (Radius Ulna) the ulna is the larger of two bones situated in the inner side of the forearm. The upper end of the ulna articulates with the lower end of the humerus forming a strong hinge joint in the elbow region. The lower end of the ulna is slender and plays a minor role in the formation of the wrist joint. The radius is situated on the thumb side of the forearm and its upper end articulate with both the humerus and the ulna. The broad, lower end of the radius forms a major part of the wrist joint, where it articulates with the wrist bones (carpals). The radius also allows the forearm to be rotated. The radio-ulnar joints are pivot joints in which the moving bone is the radius. As the head of the radius pivots at these joints, the lower end of the radius moves round the lower head of the ulna. The Wrist The wrist consists of eight carpal bones. These are small, short bones that are arranged in two rows of four. They have articulating facets which allow them to slide over one another. The Palm of the Hand The palm is supported by five long metacarpals. The metacarpals articulate with carpals at one end and with the phalanges at the other end. The Fingers The fingers are made up of fourteen phalanges. There are three phalanges in each finger but only two in the thumb. Task 1b The bones in the skeleton are classified according to their shape and size. They are divided into different categories such as: Long bones they are found in the limbs. These have a shaft known as the diaphysis and they consist of two rounded ends known as the epiphysis. They act as levers. Short bones these are small, light, strong and cube-shaped bones. They are like sweet with a hard shell and a soft centre. Flat bones these are thin, flattened and slightly curved. They have a large surface area. Sesamoid bones these are bones found in the tendons, such as the patella in the knee. Irregular bones these are bones with complex shapes and cannot be classified under any of the other categories. Cranium The cranium is a box-like cavity that consists of interlinking segments of bone that gradually fuse together during first few years of life. It contains and protects the brain. Clavicle They are long and slim bones. They provide a strong and mobile attachment for the arms and are designated for the performance of complex movements. Ribs The ribs are long, thin, curved, flat bones. They form a protective cage around the organs in the upper body. Sternum This is a long and flat bone that lies at the centre of the chest. It is commonly referred to as the breast bone and it divided into three sections: the top, the mid and the lower section. It forms the rib cage that protects the heart, lungs and major blood vessels. Humerous The humerous is the largest bone in the upper limbs. Its a long bone and its head joins with the scapula to make the shoulder joint. The end of this bone joins with radius and ulna to make the elbow joint. Radius and ulna The ulna and radius articulate distally with the wrist. The radius contributes more to the movement of the wrist than the ulna and is also the longer bone. The convex shape of the radius allows it to move around the ulna to make the hand turn. Scapula The scapulae are large, triangular, flat bones that form the posterior part of the shoulder girdle. It serves as an attachment for several muscles. Movements of the scapula are brought about by scapular muscles. Ilium The Ilium is the wide flat upper portion of the pelvis that is connected to the base of the vertebral column. It supports the lower abdominal organs. The ilium is the largest part of the innominate bone. Pubis The pubis is also known as the pubic bone. It makes the lowest part of the innominate bone. Ischium The Ischium is located below the ilium and makes the middle of the innominate bone. Carpals These are the bones that make up the wrist. They are made of regular and small bones which are fit closely together and kept on place by ligaments. Metacarpals On the palm of the hand metacarpals are padded by a thick layer of fibrous, connective tissue on the back of the hand and they can be seen and felt through the skin. The heads of the metacarpal bones form the knuckles. Metacarpals join the carpals with the phalanges and help support movement of the fingers. Phalanges These are small bones that make up the skeleton of the thumbs, fingers and toes. The phalanges at the top of the fingers are and toes are called distal phalanges, the ones that join the bones of the hands and feet are known as the proximal phalanges. Patella The patella (knee cap) is the triangular shaped bone in front of knee joint. It protects the knee joint. Tibia and fibula The tibia is the inner and thicker of the two long bones in the lower leg. It is also called the shin bone and is the supporting bone of the lower leg. The fibula is the outer and thinner bone of the lower leg. The fibula provides attachment for the muscles. Tarsals These are short and irregular bones. They help to support the weight of the body and provide attachment for the calves. Metatarsals The metatarsal is one of the five long, cylindrical bones in the forefoot the forefoot is responsible for supporting body weight and balance pressure through the balls of the feet. Femur This is the longest bone in the body. The top of it fits into the sockets of the pelvis to make the hip joint, and the lower ends joins with the tibia to make the knee joint. The femur supports the weight of the upper body and enables movement of the legs. JOINTS Joints provide the link between bones. A joint is formed wherever two or more bones meet. There are three types of joint, each classified according to the degree of movement they allow. Fixed A fixed joint occurs where the margins of two bones meet and interlock. Bands of tough, fibrous tissue hold the bones together. They are also known as fibrous or immovable joints. An example of a fixed joint is between the plates in the cranium. Slightly movable These allow some slight movement as the name suggests. The ends of bone are covered in hyaline cartilage which is separated by pads of white fibro cartilage. Slight movement is made possible because the pads of cartilage compress. Between most of vertebrae is an example of this type of joint. Synovial They offer the highest level of mobility at a joint and they consist of two or more bones, the ends of which are covered with articular cartilage, which allows the bones to move over each other with minimum friction. Synovial fluid lubricates and nourishes the joint. The joint capsule is held together by ligaments. This provides the strength to avoid dislocation, while being flexible enough to allow movement. Synovial joints can be divided into groups according to the type of movement they allow. Hinge These allow movement in one direction only. Elbow and knee are typical examples of hinge joints. The types of movement allowed are flexion and extension. Ball and socket It allows movement in all directions. The types movement allowed are flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, circumductiom, rotation, pronation, supination, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, inversion, evasion and hyper extension. Examples include the hip and shoulder joints. Ellipsoid These are a modified version of ball and socket. Movement is backward and forwards and from side to side. They are also known as condyloid joints and the wrist joint is an example. Ellipsoid joints allow circumductiom, inversion and eversion. Gliding These allow movement over a flat surface in all directions, but this is restricted by ligaments or bony prominence, for example carpals and tarsal. Gliding joints allow inversion, dorsiflexion, plantar flexion and eversion. Pivot These allow rotation only about a single axis. An example is in the neck, where the atlas and axis join. Saddle These are similar to ellipsoid joints but the surfaces are concave and convex. Movement occurs backwards and forward and from side to side, as at the base thumb. SKELETAL RESPONSE TO EXERCISE Synovial Fluid movement at joints stimulates the secretion of Synovial fluid. Becomes less thick range of movement at joints increases. Mineral Content increased by physical activity on bones e.g. increase of calcium collagen to keep up with the demand pressed on your bones. Cartilage- becomes thicker becoming better at shock absorption, with regular exercise it also connects the ribs to the sternum. Tendons they become thicker and are able to withstand greater forces applied when we take part in a physical activity. Ligaments these will stretch causing an increase in flexibility so that the person taking part in the physical activity is able to twist and turn without getting any injuries. (it helps increase agility) Bones becomes stronger denser as a result of the demands you place on them through physical activity exercise. So it becomes hard for the bones taking part in an activity to break compared to that of a person who is not taking part in any activity. MUSCLES The main function of the muscles is to move the bones of the skeleton. There are three different types of muscle tissue which are: Cardiac Is an involuntary muscle that forms the wall of the heart and works continuously. It is highly resistant to fatigue. Each contraction and relaxation of the heart muscle as a whole represents one heart beat. Skeletal It is also known as striped or striated muscle. They are attached to the bones of the skeleton by tendons and they usually work in pairs. These muscles are voluntary i.e. works under conscious control. Smooth It is an involuntary muscle that functions under the control of the nervous system. it is located in the walls of the digestive system and blood vessels and helps to regulate digestion and blood pressure. All skeletal muscles contain a mixture of fast and slow twitch fibres. Type 1 muscle fibres slow-twitch This type of muscles contract slowly with less force. They are slow to fatigue and suited to long duration aerobic activities. They are recruited for low intensity activities likes long-distance running. Type 2a muscle fibres fast-oxidative They contract very quickly, are able to produce a great force as well as resistant to fatigue. These muscle types are suited for middle-distance evens like 800m and 1500m running. Type 2b fast-glycoltic This type of muscle fibre contracts rapidly and can produce large amounts of force; they are better suited to activities that require sudden bursts of power such as high jump. They also tire easily. MAJOR MUSCLES Origin muscles origin is attached to the immovable bone. Insertion muscles insertion is attached to the movable bone. BICEP Function flexes the lowers arm. Location inside of arm. Movement the origin is the scapula, which is movable, and the radius is the insertion that moves with contraction. Sporting/exercise when taking a jump shot in basketball the insertion moves back as the biceps contracts to pull the arm. Agonist when making the shot. Concentric contraction. TRICEP Function extends the lower arm. Location outside of upper arm. Structure Movement Sporting/exercise when Agonist when lowering then arm. Antagonist when working against biceps. DELTOIDS Functions abducts, flexes and extends upper arm. Location forms cap of shoulder. Origin clavicle, scapula and acromion. Insertion humerus. Sport/exercise forward, later and back-arm raises, overhead. PECTORALS Functions flexes and abducts upper arm. Location large chest muscle. Origin sternum, clavicle and ribcage. Insertion humerus. Sports/exercise all pressing movements. RECTUS ABDOMINIS Functions flexion and rotation of lumbar region of vertebral column. Location six pack muscle running down abdomen. Origin pubic crest and symphysis Insertion Xiphoid process. Sports/exercise sit-ups. QUADRICEPS Rectus femoris Vastus lateralis Vastus medialis Vastus intermedius Functions extends lower leg and flexes thigh. Location front of thigh. Origin Ilium and femur Insertion tibia and fibula Sports/exercise knee bends, squats HAMSTRINGS Semimembranosus Semitendinosus Biceps femoris Functions flexes lower leg and extends thigh. Location back of thigh. Origin ischium and femur. Insertion tibia and fibula. Sports/exercise e.g. running (extending leg and flexing knee) GASTROCNEMIUS Function plantar flexion flexes knee. Location large calf muscle. Origin femur Insertion calcaneus. Sports/exercise running, jumping and standing on tiptoe. SOLEUS Function plantar flexion. Location deep to gastrocnemius. Origin fibula and tibia. Insertion calcaneus. Sports/exercise running and jumping. TIBIALIS ANTERIOR Functions dorsiflexion of foot. Location front of tibia on lower leg. Origin lateral condyle. Insertion by tendon to surface of medial cuneiform. Sports/exercise all running and jumping exercise. ERECTOR SPINAE Function extension of spine. Location long muscle running either side of spine. Origin cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Insertion cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Sporting/exercise prime mover of back extension. TERES MAJOR Function rotates and abducts the humerus. Location it is found between the scapula and humerus. Origin posterior surface of the scapula. Insertion intertubercular sulcus of humerus. Sporting/exercise all rowing and pulling movements. TRAPEZIUS Function elevates and depresses scapula. Location large triangular muscle at top of back. Origin continues insertion along acromion. Insertion occipital bone and all thoracic vertebrae. Sporting/exercise shrugging and overhead lifting. LATISSIMUS DORSI Functions extends and abducts the lower arm. Location large muscle covering back of lower ribs. origin vertebrae and iliac crest Insertion humerus. sporting/exercise rowing movements OBLIQUES Function lateral flexion of trunk. Location found on the waist. origin pubic crest and iliac crest insertion -fleshly strips to lower eight ribs Sporting/exercise oblique curls. GLUTEUS MAXIMUS Function -0 extends the thigh. Location large muscle on the buttocks. Origin ilium, sacrum and coccyx. insertion femur Sporting/exercise knee-bending movements, cycling. RESPONSE TO EXERCISE Short-term responses these are the responses that happens immediately and do not continue to be like that after the physical activity. An increase in muscular temperature and metabolic activity. Muscles become more pliable which increases their flexibility and reduce the risk of injuries. Long-term responses this is sort of an outcome that is achieved after a long time of training Muscle bulk and size will increase. Tendons become thicker and stronger. Articular cartilage becomes thicker. There is an increase in muscle tone and possibly reduction in body fat. Cardiovascular System Structure The cardiovascular system consists of heart, blood vessels and blood. It is also referred to as the circulatory system. This system is the major transport system in the body by which food, oxygen and all other essential products are carried to the tissue cells. The heart is the centre of the cardiovascular system. It is a muscular pump which pumps blood to the working muscles. It is situated in the left side of the chest beneath the sternum. An adult heart is about the size of a closed fist. The heart wall is made up of three layers: the epicardium (the outer layer), myocardium (the strong middle layer that forms most of the heart wall), and the endocardium (the inner layer). The septum separates the right and left side of the heart. Each side has two chambers which function separately from one another. The atria are the upper chambers of the heart. They receive blood returning to the heart from either the body or the lungs. The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the superior and inferior vena cava. The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the left and right pulmonary veins. The ventricles are the pumping chambers of the heart. They have thicker walls than the atria. The right ventricle pumps blood to the pulmonary circulation for the lungs and the left ventricle pumps blood to the systematic circulation for the body. Valves prevent backflow of blood. The bicuspid valve allows blood to flow in one direction only, from the left atrium to the right ventricle. The tricuspid valve allows blood to flow the right atrium to the right ventricle. The pulmonary valve prevents backflow from the pulmonary artery. The aortic valve prevents backflow from the aorta into the left ventricle. Chordae tendineae are cord-like tendons that connect to the bicuspid and tricuspid valves. They prevent the valves from turning inside out. The aorta is the main artery in the body and it originates in the left ventricle and carries oxygenated blood to body tissues except the lungs. The superior vena cava receives deoxygenated blood from the upper body to empty into the right atrium of the heart. The inferior vena cava receives deoxygenated blood from the lower body to empty into right atrium of the heart. The pulmonary vein carries oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the heart. The pulmonary artery carries deoxygenated blood from the heart back to the lungs. It is the only the artery in the body that carries deoxygenated blood. As the heart contracts, blood flows around the body in a complex network of vessels. The structure of the different vessels within the cardiovascular system is determined by their different functions and the pressure of blood exerted within in them. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and with exception of the pulmonary artery they carry oxygenated blood. They have thick muscular walls to carry blood at high speeds under high pressure. The contractility of the arteries helps to maintain blood pressure in relation to changes in blood flow. Arterioles have thinner walls than arteries. These vessels control blood distribution by changing their diameter. Capillaries form an extensive network that connects arteries and veins. They are the smallest of all blood vessels, narrow and their walls are just one cell thick. Veins facilitate venous return the return of deoxygenated blood to the heart. They branch into smaller vessels called venules, these collect blood leaving the capillarie s and transport it to the veins. CARDIO VASCULAR (CV) Functions Delivery of Oxygen and Nutrients the key function of the circulatory system is to supply oxygen and nutrients to the tissues of the body. Blood carries nutrients absorbed from the intestine to the of the body, along with oxygen and water. Removal of waste products the circulatory system is responsible for the removal of waste products from the tissues to the kidneys and liver returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. Thermoregulation the cardiovascular system is also responsible for the distribution and redistribution of heat within the body to maintain thermal balance. CARDIO VASCULAR Responses to Exercise During exercise, the heart beats faster and harder in order to meet the demands of the energy by the working muscles. If these demands are repeated frequently, the heart eventually becomes stronger. The heart and blood vessels of the circulatory system adapt to these repeated demands. Short-term responses Anticipatory heart rate before starting exercise the heart rate usually increases above resting levels to meet the demands of an exercise. Heart rate at onset of exercise this is the heat rate as exercise begins. Redirection of blood flow at the start of exercise, nerve centres in the brain detect an activity resulting in the rate and pumping strength of heart to increase. Regional blood flow is changed in proportion to the intensity of the activity to be undertaken. Vasodilatation this is the widening of blood vessels in order to increase blood flow when it is getting pumped out in high amounts. Vasoconstriction this is the narrowing of blood vessels to reduce blood flow. Long-term Responses Cardiac hypertrophy this is when the heart increases in size and blood volume. The wall of the ventricle thickens, increasing the strength potential of its contractions delivering more oxygenated blood to the working muscle so that they do not fatigue easily. Increased stroke volume the volume of blood pumped out each beat increases. Increased cardiac output the volume of blood pumped in one minute increases as a result the of increased heart rate, stroke volume or both. Decreased resting heart rate the heart rate returns to normal after exercise quickly. This reduces the work load on the heart. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM Nasal cavity this is the passage above and behind the nose. Air enters the body through the nostrils. Small hairs within the nostrils filter out dust and all sorts of foreign particles before the air passes into the two nasal passages of the nasal cavity. The air is then further warmed and moistened before it passes into the nasopharynx. A mucous layer within this structure traps smaller foreign particles, which the cilia transport to the pharynx to be either swallowed or spit out. Pharynx This is a funnel shaped that connects the nasal cavity and the mouth to the larynx and oesophagus. Commonly known as the throat, the pharynx is a small length of tubing that measures approximately 10-13cm from the base of the skull to the level of the sixth cervical vertebrae. The muscular pharynx wall is composed of skeletal muscle throughout its length. It is a passage way for food as well as air. This outlines that it has to have special adaptations to prevent choking when swallowing food or drink. Larynx it has got rigid walls made up of muscles and cartilage and it contains the vocal cords and connects the pharynx to the trachea. Trachea It is also known as windpipe and it is approximately 12cm long and 2cm in diameter in size, containing rings of cartilage to prevent it from collapsing. It travels down the neck in front of the oesophagus and branches into two bronchi. Bronchus the main aim for the bronchi is to conduct air into the lungs. The right bronchus is shorter and wider than the left. When air is inhaled and reaches the bronchi, it is warm, clear of most impurities and saturated with water vapour. Onc

Macbeth-gloomy Indeed :: essays research papers

Is the Shakespearean play â€Å"Macbeth† a gloomy play full of darkness and evil? Every way you look at this play it seems very dark and gloomy, whether from a historians point of view, an actors, a casual reader of plays, etc. Three of the main features that add to the dark and evil feel of this play are the atmospheric scenery, the homely and repugnant characters and the homicidal hot-headed back stabbing. The scenery depicted in this play is very gloomy indeed. This gloomy scenery would fit the time period in which this play roughly takes place in. Three very intricate parts of this play happen on a â€Å"moor†(Act1,sc1 & Act1,sc3 & Act4 sc1). In the first act, first scene the witches first meet on a barren , gloomy landscape (Moor). The second time they are on the moor where they begin their shit disturbing. The third time they give Macbeth some more information, about his dark demise. Weather adds to the â€Å"gloominess† of this play. The quote â€Å"Hover through the fog and filthy air† (Act1,sc1) really gives gloomy mental picture. Even the most de-sensitized person can understand how a violent storm is gloomy. This quote, â€Å"As whence the sun’gins ... shipwracking storms and direful thunders break.†(Act1,sc2), tells of one such storm during the battle in the beginning of the play. Storms, battles, that’ll make anyone a â€Å"gloomy Gus†. Lightning is a very gloomy sort of deal because with lightning there is rain and dark clouds and its scary. In this play there are a lot of scenes where lightning and thunder is the weather of choice by Shakespeare (Act1,sc1 & Act1, sc3 & Act3, sc5 & Act4,sc1). The lightning is always present when the witches are involved in a scene. â€Å"Macbeth† comes complete with rather gloomy looking roles like the witches. Banquo explains how horrid these witches look in this quote, â€Å"By each her choppy finger laying upon her skinny lips : you should be women, and yet your beards forbid me to interpret that you are so.†(Act 1,sc3). Women with beards?...... gloomy indeed. And if women with beards weren’t gloomy enough there are old fat ladies in â€Å"Macbeth†. The quote â€Å"...the rump-fed ronyon cries†(Act1,sc3) which tells of a fat old lady. Also, back then no one bathed, and a mixture of fat old ladies (and men) who don’t bathe, would ruin even the most utopian of days. Besides looks, the mysterious power that the witches possess is considered dark.

Underlying Messages in Everything That Rises Must Converge and Good Cou

Underlying Messages in Everything That Rises Must Converge and Good Country People      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Flannery O'Connor's "Everything That Rises Must Converge" and "Good Country People" have extremely complex story lines. What makes these stories so involved is how the characters relate to others. Discovering who the characters in the stories are and what they represent becomes the reader's purpose and goal. In order to truly understand her stories the reader must look deeper than the surface. The underlying messages must be searched for as a person looking for hidden treasure.         Ã‚  Ã‚   In the first story the character Julian is the key to unlocking the meaning behind the story. Julian has gone to college and has developed his mind. Because of this he views himself as superior to those around him, especially his mother. The mother, although given to prejudices, has a kind heart. This seems to be the main difference between these two characters. Julian puts more stock in how educated a person is and the importance of having a well-developed mind. He sees his mother as lost in the past. He says to her, "You haven't the foggiest idea where you stand now or who you are" (1081). Her sky-blue eyes are described as "innocent and untouched by experience as they must have been when she was ten" (1080). Although Julian's mother is proud of his education, she knows a heart full of love is more important than a head full of empty knowledge. He believes that it is foolish to let feelings get in the way of facts. He believes that he is "unafraid to face f acts" (1085). Is he really though? He has cut himself emotionally free from his mother and from society in general; but is he completely objective? According to Way... ...hey had been educated, they saw the rest of the world as inferior. In reality they were blind to the real world. Their education only made it harder for them to see what was going on around them. In both cases it took something drastic and terrible in order for them to break out of the fetters of education that were holding them captive.       Works Cited    Booth, Wayne C. "A Rhetorical Reading of O'Connor's 'Everything That Rises Must Converge.'" The Story and Its Writer. 5th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 1634-37.    O'Connor, Flannery. "Everything That Rises Must Converge." The Story and Its Writer. 5th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford/St Martin's, 1999. 1080-91.    ---. "Good Country People." The Story and Its Writer. 5th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 1999. 1091-1105.

Truth and Goodness in Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas Essay

Immanuel Kant and St. Thomas Aquinas account for the existence of truth in sharply contrasting ways. Kant locates all truth inside the mind, as a pure product of reason, operating by means of rational categories. Although Kant acknowledges that all knowledge originates in the intuition of the senses, the intelligibility of sense experience he attributes to innate forms of apperception and to categories inherent to the mind. The innate categories shape the â€Å"phenomena† of sensible being, and Kant claims nothing can be known or proved about the â€Å"noumena,† the presumed world external to the mind.1 Aquinas agrees that all knowledge comes through the senses, but disagrees with Kant in arguing that categorical qualities do not originate in the mind but inhere in the objects themselves, either essentially (determinate of their mode of being) or accidentally (changeable without loss of essence by the object).2 Aquinas further agrees with Kant that all the kn owledge derived from sense experience is knowledge of the essence of things only insofar as it is understood by reason, and thus sense experience is insufficient to constitute knowledge by itself.3 But Aquinas defines knowledge as conformity by the mind to things as they really are, and thus believes the external world is knowable by the mind, both in the essences of things (what they are) and in the act of being (that they are).4 Moreover, for Aquinas, entities are related to each other analogously according to their modes of being, since being is a quality that all existent things share. Thus, being in general is knowable systematically according to a language of existential analogy.5 Kant, in contrast, begins with the assumption that metaphysics is invalid as knowledge... ... 25 Immanuel Kant, Grounding for the Metaphysics of Morals, Translated James W. Ellington, 3rd ed. (Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing, 1993), 9. 26 Immanuel Kant, Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics, 842. 27 Immanuel Kant, Introduction to the Metaphysicsof Morals, IV, 24, quoted in Heinrich A. Rommen, The Natural Law: A Study in Legal and Social History and Philosophy (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998), 89. 28 Immanuel Kant, The Philosophy of Law. An Exposition of the Fundamental Principles of Jurisprudence as the Science of Right, quoted in Rommen, 88. 29 Heinrich A. Rommen, The Natural Law: A Study in Legal and Social History and Philosophy (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1998), 119-121. 30 W. Norris Clarke, S.J., The One and the Many: A Contemporary Thomistic Metaphysics (Notre Dame, Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 2001), 12.

Hamlet Second Soliloquy

In the last scene of act I Hamlet is told by the ghost that his father has been murdered by Uncle Claudius, the brother of the deceased king. Hamlet once mournful and grim turns revengeful, he promises the ghost to â€Å"sweep† to revenge. But he is tormented with doubts. The ghost has taken its toll on Hamlet but has not been convincing enough, he cannot fully trust it given that it might also be an evil spirit willing to make him change course, misleading him to murder an innocent man and be â€Å"damned† as Hamlet puts it in his words full of fear and anxiety.For such reasons Hamlet conceives a plan, he is going to wear a mask of madness, or put on ‘the antic disposition’, which Hamlet considers will make things easier for him: Hamlet under the mask of madness intends getting people talk more freely in his presence and thus he might easily find the truth about his uncle. But, far from working his plan turns to be counterproductive. Soon, Hamlet draws eve n more attention to himself, the royal court is intrigued by his strange behavior and King Claudius summons Hamlet’s school friends Rosencratz and Guildernstern asking them to go spy on him.Hamlet is suspicious of his own friends and soon conceives a new idea to trap his uncle: the reenactment of his father’s murder under the cover of a play called â€Å"The Murder of Gonzago†. In this particular soliloquy, which comes right after, the audience is waiting to see a more determined Hamlet ready to avenge his father’s murder: indeed it has been a while since Hamlet promised to act. Instead we are presented with an even more confused character, not only uncertain of the world surrounding him but also himself. Shakespeare through the soliloquy paints Hamlet’s character.Thus, the audience finds out that Hamlet is self-loathing -Hamlet’s opening words: expression of self-disgust: â€Å" O what a rogue and peasant slave am I! †, Hamletâ€℠¢s self-critic is obvious here, he reduces himself to the state of a slave. The Prince must really be mad at himself. Shakespeare’s choice of the word â€Å"slave† might signify Hamlet’s inaction, passiveness, just like a slave is chained to his master and incapable of acting against his will, so is Hamlet attached to the shackles of thought and meditation, which impede him from acting, acting freely. -The first layer’s acting has left Hamlet with a sense of amazement. How come the actor can get himself to cry for something that is imaginary, for â€Å"Hecuba†, dead thousands of years ago and Hamlet, who has real, true reasons to cry proves unable to express his anguish over the loss of his father and the incestuous remarriage of his mother: â€Å"can say nothing, – no not for a king†. -Hamlet suggests here that his inability to express himself is like a betrayal, for Hamlet seems to have forsaken his duty of avenging his father. He c alls himself â€Å"A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause†.The choice of the adjective â€Å"dull† reminds the audience of what the ghost told him in Act I. If Hamlet didn’t take revenge the ghost said that he would be â€Å"duller than the fat weed/ That roots itself on Lethe wharf†. Hamlet seems to be accusing himself of not having the player's passion, of not hating Claudius strongly enough, of not loving his father strongly enough. Hamlet is mad at himself not because he hasn’t killed Claudius but because he hasn’t said anything. So Hamlet instead of plotting against Claudius dwells on himself.Another character trait is being developed by Shakespeare, one that the audience is very much familiar with since Hamlet’s first soliloquy where he extrapolates his own grief over Denmark, the world in general. It is Hamlet’s egocentric side. -Note the abounding number of personal pronouns (I, my, me) used by Hamlet in the soliloquy. It is as if the world revolved around him. When Hamlet shows the actor’s passion and enthusiasm about his role it is only to stress on his own lack of passion. It is as if the actor were a tool that Hamlet makes use of in order to urge himself into action. The soliloquy is presented as a dialogue between Hamlet and himself. The prince is willing to work himself into a state of passion, revengefulness: â€Å"Am I a coward? † The use of the future tense at the end of the soliloquy when Hamlet confirms his intentions concerning the mouse trap is also significant, in sense that Hamlet seems like convincing himself that he will finally do something, that he has a plan, he projects himself into the future trying to influence it â€Å"I’ll observe his looks, I’ll tent him to the quick (†¦) I’ll catch the conscience of the king.At some stage he seems to imagine someone insulting him, â€Å" Who calls me a vi llain, breaks my pate across, plucks off my beard and blows it in my face†. This helps building his rage which culminates when he remembers Claudius in the following lines†Bloody bawdy villain! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless, villain! Oh, vengeance† Note the emotiveness of the passage, Hamlet breaks into an emotional climax; he is outraged at the simple thought of his father’s murderer.One could imagine him spitting these words out loud with his finger pointed at an imaginary Claudius accusing him of all of his crimes and ultimately stabbing him with an imaginary dagger with† vengeance† in his mind. -But, this is only an imaginary vengeance or Hamlet trying to rehearse in order to get himself in the mood. In the lines that follow Hamlet’s focus is again back on himself and how pathetic the whole buildup of passion has been† What an ass am I†.The prince thinks that it is not fit for him to curse himself, as he sou nd like a â€Å"whore† or a â€Å"drab† or a male whore â€Å" a scullion†. Hamlet here is putting on his misogynist character, he cannot tolerate women that in his opinion are all â€Å"whores†, like his beloved Ophelia who betrayed him, or his mother who betrayed his â€Å"dear† father. This negative vision, attitude toward women is consistent with Hamlet who in his first soliloquy has already made a sweeping condemnation of the latter â€Å"Frailty thy name is woman†. So the prince’s main target in this soliloquy is himself.He is concerned with questions related with whether he is a coward or not, whether he should act or continue â€Å" like a whore unpack my heart with words†. We could therefore ask ourselves what purposes this passage serves in the play apart from characterizing Hamlet. -It has little dramatic value given that there is no action. The tension is released, Hamlet is alone on stage meditating yet again and a part from the bits where he gets over agitated the tension in the passage is kept at the minimum. -The passage has also little value in terms of its contribution to the plot.The plot hardly advances in the soliloquy, the mouse trap idea that Hamlet comes up with at the end has been conceived earlier when he asked the first player to prepare for the Murder of Gonzago right before the soliloquy. -The passage therefore rather confirms the plot and serves as a means of delaying the Murder of Gonzago as well as the eventual Hamlet’s murder of Claudius. The mouse trap seems to be the first practical idea that Hamlet has ever had since the beginning of the play. It is a relatively reliable plan which would help him find out whether or not his uncle has anything to do with his father’s death.But the audience wonders if this is not simply another excuse for not acting. Indeed, if Hamlet really wanted to kill his uncle the soliloquy would be unnecessary. Hamlet’s characte r is pretty ambiguous. On the one hand he considers that his uncle is the most sinful person that has ever existed â€Å"Bloody bawdy villain, remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindles, villain†. On the other hand, this enumeration of adjectives that negatively qualify his uncle is counterbalanced by the fact that the ghost might also be a misleading â€Å"devil†, a possibility which Hamlet reconsiders at the end of the soliloquy.This uncertainty that revolves around Hamlet’s character brings us back to the central question of the soliloquy: is Hamlet a coward? Is he ever going to act? The later developments of the play reinforce the doubt. -It is also important to mention the theme of appearance versus reality that is embedded in the central figure of the soliloquy, that of the actor. For Hamlet the actor stands for â€Å"conceit†, or in other words deception, which Hamlet despises and is disgusted with. In this sense Uncle Claudius, the ultimate liar and deceiver of the play is certainly viewed by Hamlet as an actor as well.Ironically enough, in order to uncover the truth and show Claudius’ deceptive nature Hamlet resorts to deceit as well by conceiving the mouse trap. For Hamlet therefore deception is a way of revealing the truth, and he certainly views theater as a powerful tool capable not only of putting masks on but also dropping the others. But, what is more striking is Hamlet’s obsession with the idea that there is often a disconnect between what people appear to be and what they really are â€Å"is it not monstrous.. †.Note the mocking tone with which he relates to the actor’s job, one filled with admiration as well, given that Hamlet finds himself unable to do the same for his genuine reasons. In the case of his uncle, Hamlet has been told by the ghost that he is a serpent, but the ghost itself under his father’s outfit could also be the devil. Hamlet cannot trust anybody, especially not women who he associates with deception; he is disgusted with human nature â€Å"that one can smile and smile and be a villain†, which is again ironic when Hamlet realizes that in his world lies and deceit take a necessary part of the daily life.So the passage is the occasion for Shakespeare to further characterize Hamlet, to show his exacerbated feelings towards himself and those who deceive. Two of Hamlet’s character traits are confirmed in the passage: he is self-loathing and egocentric. Also, this passage explores one of the fundamental themes of the play: the theme of appearance versus reality. Also, Shakespeare through the figure of the actor, and the play within the play demonstrates and acclaims the powers of theater.

School Uniform Should Not Be Abolished

Joanna Chong 06. 12. 2011 School Uniforms Should Not Be Abolished Good morning to all my friends. Imagine if you need to choose which clothes to wear to school every morning so that you will look pleasing to everyone in the school, how will you feel? Would you feel very troublesome? Our school plans to abolish school uniforms and allows students to wear any clothes to school. This issue becomes a talking-point in our school. I am totally against the idea as I think uniforms are totally necessary to build proper school culture. Today, I am here to convince you that school uniforms should not be abolished.The reasons why school uniforms should remain are because it brings a lot of advantages to students. First, school uniforms promote a sense of belonging and create good school culture. When all the students wear the same uniform, the spirit of learning in school will be uplifted. It shows that the school expects high standards and students respond with better behavior. Wearing school uniforms also can prevent students especially girls from wearing clothes which harsh to the eye such as miniskirt, sexy dress, short pants and so on.On the other hand, boys can focus on their study if girls wear proper uniforms in school. Besides, equality among students can be maintained in school. No matter what family background are the students having, they will wear the same uniform and the difference between rich and poor is smaller. A student who comes from less fortunate family does not need to worry about being bullied or being disdained in school just because he wears older clothes. Apart from that, students can save their time in the morning to do other things like having breakfast by just simply wearing school uniforms.This is because they do not have to waste time thinking of what to wear to school and how to decorate themselves by putting some decorations on their clothes. Moreover, school uniforms help students to focus on study instead of fashions and trendy clothes. Futhermore, wearing a uniform helps to prepare students for working in the future. This can help students to adapt with the condition of wearing uniforms to work in the future. People like nurses, doctors, the firemen and the policemen wear uniform as part of their job.Other working adults also wear suits to work. In conclusion, school uniforms should not be abolished. Reasons are that school uniforms give a sense of belonging to us, maintain equality among students, help students to focus on study and help them to prepare for working in the future. Therefore I urge all of you, my friends, to sign a petition to the school administration board so that they can take into consideration of the benefits of having us, students to wear school uniform. Thank you. (460 words)