Overview
The final project for this course is a PowerPoint presentation investigating one organ system. This assignment’s overall task is to identify and study the anatomy and physiology of one organ system in the body, assess how this primary organ system interacts with a secondary organ system, and study one specific disease that affects the primary organ system. Imagine the 11 intricate body systems working together simultaneously to maintain homeostasis, keeping internal conditions within an optimal range. As you read these guidelines, your body is performing hundreds of tasks. Your brain is processing the sensory information you are reading, your heart is pumping your blood throughout your body, your small intestine is breaking down your last meal, and this list continues. Anatomy studies the structures that comprise the body, and physiology studies how the anatomical structures work together to achieve a particular task. This final project provides an opportunity to explore one of the 11 body systems and communicate your knowledge and insights on human anatomy with your peers.
The project includes three milestones submitted throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensures quality final submissions. You’ll submit these milestones in Modules Two, Four, and Six. You’ll submit the final PowerPoint presentation, a summation of each milestone consolidated and condensed into one presentation, in Module Seven.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes:
Identify and explain the structure and function of the body’s cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems
Illustrate the highly connected pathways of all body systems by participating in a class project that demonstrates these connections
Critically analyze current issues in human health and medicine, and demonstrate the application of that knowledge to our own bodies and life experiences
Prompt
You’ll choose one organ system to investigate in detail through this course and develop a PowerPoint presentation on the chosen organ system summarizing the required information. Next you’ll explore an understanding of this organ system and its interconnectedness with other organ systems by preparing three formative milestones and one final presentation. The 11 organ systems that comprise the human organism are the circulatory system, digestive system, endocrine system, excretory system, integumentary system, lymphatic system, muscular system, nervous system, reproductive system, respiratory system, and, lastly, the skeletal system. Each system has distinct differences and similarities that are important to understand. This knowledge is needed to comprehend current issues in human health and medicine and their implications for your well-being.
By completing this cumulative task, each student will gain greater experience in scientific writing and obtain a greater appreciation and respect for the intricacy of the human body. Students will use the knowledge gained in this class, the accompanying e-text, and Mastering A&P to achieve the following three specific goals:
To assess the anatomy and physiology of one chosen organ system
To evaluate how this primary organ system interacts with a secondary organ system.
To describe and analyze one illness affecting this primary organ system.
Presentation Resources: Your final presentation will be submitted in PowerPoint or another presentation format such as Google Presentation. You can also visit https://www.openoffice.org to download a program called Apache OpenOffice Impress. It lets you create a PowerPoint presentation with a free, compatible program through OpenOffice. A free Word program is also available at this web address.
Writing Resources: References and additional formatting should be done in APA 6th Edition format. If you need help with APA citation and reference formatting, please consult the class Reading and Resources folder. You’ll find more information on formatting at the Purdue Online Writing Lab website. The Shapiro Library at SNHU also has some great writing resources, as well as searchable databases of academic works to consult. For example, the ProQuest Biology Journals database provides access to a wide range of biology topics, including some of the most popular information resources for users in academic, government, and public research environments. For this project, using reliable academic resources is important for ensuring the presentation of accurate and timely material. Academic resources include your textbook, journal articles, and government websites. Please avoid sites like Wikipedia and Ask.com since they are not considered academically reliable.
Specifically, address the following critical elements:
Describe the anatomy of the primary organ system in 2–3 slides, ensuring that you:
Provide a description of the organ system’s location, as presented in the anatomical position within the human body.
Describe the organs and structures contained in this organ system.
Identify key cell or tissue types contained in this organ system.
Provide a labeled diagram or image illustrating the organ system’s location relative to other organ systems.
Explain the physiology of the organ system in 2–3 slides, including:
A description of the major physiological functions of the organ system
A labeled diagram or image illustrating one of the functions of the organ system
Describe the relationship of the primary organ system to a secondary organ system in 2–3 slides, specifically:
The interactions of the two systems, including physiological functions that require the two systems to perform together
The dependence of the human body on this specific relationship, that is, its significance.
Discuss common medical issues and diseases affecting the primary organ system in 2–3 slides, describing for each:
The nature of the condition or disease (who can have this and when it can occur)
The implications of the condition or disease (such as the impaired function, the ultimate consequences).
The cause(s) of the condition or disease.
The prevalence of the condition or disease in the American population.
Milestones
Milestone One: Organ System Assessment
In Module Two, you will submit your organ system assessment in a bulleted list, describing the organ system you have chosen for the final project. You must include the anatomical location of the particular organ system, key anatomical features, key physiological functions, and histology. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric.
Milestone Two: Organ System Interrelationship and Disease Assessment
In Module Four, you will submit your organ system interrelationship and disease assessment in a bulleted list describing the homeostatic interrelationship between the primary organ system and one secondary organ system. Describe one disease or medical illness that affects the primary organ system you are reviewing. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Peer Review of Draft PowerPoint Presentations
In Module Six, you will submit a draft of your final PowerPoint presentation based on the information that you identified in Milestones One and Two to the discussion board for your fellow classmates to review. You will review others’ work and provide feedback. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Submission: Organ System Investigation PowerPoint Presentation
In Module Seven, you will submit your PowerPoint presentation on your chosen organ system. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This presentation will be graded with the Final Project Rubric.
What to Submit
Your final presentation should be a minimum of 8–10 slides, incorporating at least two pictures, diagrams, graphs, or other visual information. You must include both a cover page and a reference page, not included in the 8–10 slide minimum. Use APA format citations for references and visual information.
