Paper Example on Anatomy and Physiology 1010

In this course, Anatomy and Physiology, I have come across several materials that have materials and topics that I can relate to my life. We have looked at the scientific study of the body structures, with both gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy looked at. The study of the brain has interested m the most. It is something that directly relates to my life because while still in high school, I had a friend who had a mental illness; he had mental breakdowns. My interest in studying the brain developed as a result. The brain is a complex structure that contains billions of nerve cells or rather neurons; the neurons work together and communicate with each other using electrical signals. These electrical signals are transmitted with the help of select chemicals known as neurotransmitters. There are different types of neurons and various types of neurotransmitters. From the course, research on mental illness shows that abnormalities in particular functions of brain circuits are what contribute to the development of several mental illnesses. Different connections between one nerve cell and other nerve cells along specific circuits in the brain can lead to issues with how the brain works and may result in abnormal behavior, perception, or moods.

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Apart from the reason mentioned above that causes mental illness, mental disorders have also been linked to genetics, infections, prenatal damage, and brain defects or injury. My friend's mental illness was severe, and later, he was admitted into an asylum. Throughout this course, I have been trying to find answers that can explain my friend's illness. We grew up together, and he was doing just fine up to the point when he was 15 years old. He did not abuse drugs, so it cannot get linked to drug abuse. Psychological trauma comes close to explaining his condition. When he was 12 years old, he lost both his father from cancer. Severe psychological trauma gets linked to mental illness. However, it is not just my friend; I have grown up around people with mental illness, different kinds of mental illness. One of these disorders is depression. Depression is a common mental disorder, and according to the World Health Organization, it is one of the leading causes of disability in the whole globe. Depression symptoms include sadness, lack of interest, feelings of guilt, disturbed sleep, and low self-worth. Depression can lead to severe mental problems. Other mental illnesses that are common or I have experienced with friends, relatives, or other people include bipolar disorder, Dementia, autism, schizophrenia, and other psychoses.

With this course anatomy and physiology, I get to study the body structure and especially the brain structure. With the knowledge, some of the burning questions that I had, including what happens to the structure of the brain that leads to a mental disorder, get answered. The science of anatomy is old; the human body was first studied by observing the exterior of the body and looking at the wounds of soldiers and their injuries. While anatomy is about the structure of the body, physiology deals with the physics and chemistry of the body structures and how these structures work together to support life functions. In the future, I intend to do researches and carry out experiments that will advance my understanding of mental illness, its causes, how the brain functions, and the possible treatments. I intend to specialize in one particular field of anatomy. Also, after my experience with my friend, I felt that there is a need to fight against stigma on people who have a mental illness. Stigma against mental illness people is pervasive.

Reference

Anderson, L (2020). Anatomy Study #2