UNIT 1 : THE HUMAN BODY 1.1.- KNOWING YOUR BODY The first thing we need to do before starting the P.E. class, it s to make sure that we really now our own body. But not only its parts, but also how does it work. The human body is made up of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs, and it is made to stand erect, walk on two feet, use the arms to carry and lift, and has opposable thumbs (able to grasp). There are many systems in the human body: Circulatory System (heart, blood, vessels) Respiratory System (nose, trachea, lungs) Immune System (many types of protein, cells, organs, tissues) Musculo-Skeletal System (bones,muscles) Excretory System (lungs, large intestine, kidneys) Urinary System (bladder, kidneys) Endocrine System (glands) Digestive System (mouth, esophogus, stomach, intestines) Nervous System (brain, spinal cord, nerves) Reproductive System (male and female reproductive organs) Teacher Flor Izquierdo Vaquero 3
On this unit we are going to see only four of them: Circulatory System Your heart is a muscle that pumps blood through your circulatory system. The blood gets oxygen from your lungs and takes it to all parts of the body. Respiratory System Your lungs help your body breathe and get oxygen. Air comes in through your nose and sometimes your mouth. The air is sucked down your trachea and bronchial tubes, and into both of your lungs. Your lungs can hold about the same amount of air that is in a basketball. Your lungs help you push out carbon dioxide when you exhale. The muscle that helps lungs do all this work is called a diaphragm. The diaphragm pushes air out of the lungs and expands to get air in like balloons. Teacher Flor Izquierdo Vaquero 4
Musculo-skeletal System It is called musculo-skeletal system because your skeleton works with your muscles. Your skeleton gives your body shape with 206 different bones. It also helps protect your organs such as the brain, heart and lungs. Muscles are connected to your bones by tendons and bones are connected to each other by ligaments. The places where your different bones are connected are called joints. Muscles that make bones move are connected to two different bones; for example when you bend your arm at the elbow or your leg at the knee. There are four types of bones in your body. They are long bones, short bones, flat bones, and irregular bones. Bones need muscles to make them move. Your muscles make your arms, eyes, tongue, legs, and everything in your body move. They help you chew food, stand, walk, sit, run, and play. You have more than 600 muscles in your body and they are made out of stretchy cells and fibers. Your Joints The place where two bones meet is called a joint. Some joints move and others don't. Teacher Flor Izquierdo Vaquero 5
Fixed joints are fixed in place and don't move at all. Your skull has some of these joints. Moving joints are the ones that allow you to twist, bend, and move different parts of your body. Some moving joints, like the ones in your spine, move only a little. Other joints move a lot. One of the main types of moving joints is called a hinge joint. Your elbows and knees each have hinge joints, which let you bend and then straighten your arms and legs. These joints are like the hinges on a door. Just as most doors can only open one way, you can only bend your arms and legs in one direction. You also have many smaller hinge joints in your fingers and toes. Another important type of moving joint is the ball and socket joint. You can find these joints at your shoulders and hips. They are made up of the round end of one bone fitting into a small cup-like area of another bone. Ball and socket joints allow for lots of movement in every direction. 1.2.- WHY EXERCISE IS WISE You've probably heard countless times how exercise is "good for you." But did you know that it can actually help you feel good, too? Getting the right amount of exercise can rev up your energy levels and even help improve your mood. REWARDS AND BENEFITS Experts recommend that teens get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. Here are some of the reasons: Exercise benefits every part of the body, including the mind. Exercising causes the body to produce endorphins, chemicals that can help a person to feel more peaceful and happy. Exercise can help some people sleep better. It can also help some people who have mild depression and low self-esteem. Exercising can help you look better. People who exercise burn more calories and look more toned than those who don't. In fact, exercise is one of the most important parts of keeping your body at a healthy weight. Exercise helps people lose weight and lower the risk of some diseases. Exercising to maintain a healthy weight decreases a person's risk of developing certain diseases, including type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. These diseases, which used to be found mostly in adults, are becoming more common in teens. Teacher Flor Izquierdo Vaquero 6
Exercise can help a person age well. This may not seem important now, but your body will thank you later. Women are especially prone to a condition called osteoporosis (a weakening of the bones) as they get older. The three components to a well-balanced exercise routine are: aerobic exercise, strength training, and flexibility training. 1.3.- THE PULSE Your beating heart creates a pulse. Your heart has to push so much blood through your body that you can feel a little thump in your arteries each time the heart beats. The most common places to feel a pulse is on your arteries placed on your wrist (Radial Pulse) and your neck (Carotid Pulse). Of course you can also feel your pulse placing your hand on your chest (where your heart is). Now, use your fingers, try to find your pulse and feel the beat. Radial Pulse: place your index and middle fingers together on the opposite wrist. Carotid Pulse: to take your heart rate at the neck, place your first two fingers on either side of the neck. Once you find a pulse, count the number of beats you feel within a one minute period. You can also count the beats for 6 seconds, and then multiply the result by 10 or count for 10 seconds and then multiply by 6 to get the number of beats per minute. Teacher Flor Izquierdo Vaquero 7