2013 Project Lead The Way,

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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 1



Project 6.1.1: Student Response Sheet

Introduction
Anna Garcia was only 38 when she died, meaning that at least one of her body
systems was no longer able to support life. The failure of one or more of her body
systems may be the result of injury due to an accident or could be the result of an
illness or a combination of illnesses. Before we can determine which system or
systems failed or what caused the failure which led to her death, we have to learn
more about the human body.

The human body is an amazing machine composed of many interrelated systems
which are in turn composed of cells, tissues, and organs that act independently and
interdependently within the body. No individual component of a human body works
alone. Components of each system in the body affect or interact with every other
system. The body is dependent upon the many interactions between all systems and
structures to maintain homeostasis and health. In this activity you will investigate the
different body systems that make up the human body and explore all of the ways
Annas various illnesses affected each body system, potentially resulting in her
premature death.

Procedure:

1. Look back in your course file and list all of the ways each body system was
impacted by the illness or disease Anna Garcia experienced in her life.
2. Reference Autopsy Reports, Medical Histories and past lab activities to help you
organize this information.
3. Record any evidence that shows how the illness or disease may have been
involved with her untimely death.
4. Be specific about relationships between body systems and illness. You will use
this chart to help construct your final timeline that explains how Anna died.
5. You will need to eventually upload this document to your e-portfolio under Annas
Cause of Death.










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Inc.
PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 2


Part II: Annas Illnesses

Illnesses Effect on System (if applicable)

Diabetes Sickle Cell
Anemia
Heart Disease Urinary
Tract
Infection
Cardiovascul
ar









A person may
experience
shortness of
breath with
activities,
pressurelike
chest pain, or
feelings of
fatigue. This can
also lead to a
heart attack and
possible death.
Sometimes
signs of
ischemia can be
found on an
electrocardiogra
m (ECG or
EKG) when the
symptoms are
more
pronounced. A
stress test
almost always
helps to
determine if a
patient has
ischemia from
narrowing heart
vessels
(coronaries).
Adding smoking
and family
history of
cardiovascular
disease
increases the
risk of
complications
and premature
death.
SCA continues to
present
opportunities for
elemental
observations of
basic science and
pathophysiologic
clinical
mechanisms-in
particular, those
associated with
cardiopulmonary
and circulatory
disorders. Data
indicate that
cardiomegaly
results from
increased work
caused by the
anemia and that
myocardial
ischemia may
result from the
combined effects
of severe anemia,
microthrombi,
and increased
blood viscosity
producing
myocardial
dysfunction,
scarring, and
elevated filling
pressures. Sudden
death has resulted
from frank
myocardial
infarction and
ischemia-induced
rhythm
disturbances.
Cardiovascular disease
includes a number of
conditions affecting the
structures or function
of the heart. They can
include:Coronary
artery
disease: (narrowing of
the arteries), Heart
attack, Abnormal heart
rhythms or
arrhythmias, Heart
failure, Heart valve
disease, Congenital
heart disease, Heart
muscle
disease(cardiomyopath
y), Pericardial disease,
Aorta Disease and
Marfan syndrome,
Vascular
Disease (blood vessel
disease).
Cardiovascular disease
is the leading cause of
death for both men and
women in the U.S. It is
important to learn
about your heart to
help prevent heart
disease.

Filtered
blood will
not be able
to properly
dispose of
bodily
wastes
because
they need to
pass through
the area
where the
UTI is
located.
Patiens with
sickle cell
anemia have
a greater
risk of
having a
UTI
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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 3




















Myocardial injury
may also be
associated with
bone marrow
embolism.
Mortality risk
factors include
systemic
hypertension,
pulmonary
hypertension, and
possibly
subclinical
electrical
instability.
Digestive









Gastroparesis
may be caused
by damage of
the vagus nerve
when blood
sugar has been
high for a period
of years. As a
result of the
damage, the
food that enters
the stomach is
not pulverized
and sits in the
stomach for a
longer period of
time.
Bilirubin
gallstones - sickle
cells die in 20
days; liver breaks
down the
bilirubin; extra
bilirubin can
become a
gallstone in the
gallbladder


(bilirubin forms
bile)





The damaged digestive
system can cause ulcers
and dead intestinal
tissue. It becomes
impossible for the
intestines to absorb
food and nutrients. The
result is bloody stools
or diarrhea. Left
unattended, infection
and gangrene can
result. Intestinal
ischemia can lead to
death.

Loss of
appitite
from not
wanting to
use the
restroom.
Immune









The disease
causes the
immune system
to destroy
insulin
producing cells
within the
pancreas. The
immune
response is also
much lower in
Directly affected
by sickle cell
anemia because
immune cells
reach their target
areas through the
blood flow.
Sickle cells block
or reduce blood
flow, decreasing
the delivery of
Gut Flora: Good
bacterias improve
immune system
function, while
inhibiting the growth of
bad bacterias in the
stomach.
Increased
production
of
lymphocyte
s (B & T
cells) and
antibodies
against the
bacteria;
Inflammator
y response
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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 4

people who
have diabetes so
they are more
susceptible to
getting
infections that
could result in
the loss of a
limb.
oxygen as well as
germ-fighting
immune cells to
parts of the body.
This leads to
increased
infections, skin
ulcers, illness and
slowed healing.
The spleen is also
an important
immune system
organ, and
damage to the
spleen or removal
of the spleen
increases the risk
of infection in the
body, particularly
in children.
(may
increase
additional
UTI and/or
damage to
urinary tract
structures.
Nervous









If blood glucose
levels remain
high for
extended
periods of time
over a number
of years, the
blood vessels
which feed the
nerves can
becom damaged
and can lead to
the nerves
themselves
becoming
damaged.
Damage to the
nerves can lead
to loss of feeling
in extremities
such as the
hands and lower
legs.
Although overt
stroke occurs in 1
in 10 children
with Hemoglobin
SS, "silent
cerebral infarcts"
are even more
frequent. Both are
associated with
significant
neuropsychologic
al deficits. The
end result of
these effects on
the CNS often is
diminished
school
performance. The
use of
transcranial
Doppler
ultrasonography
screening allows
the identification
of patients at high
risk for clinical
stroke as well as
stroke prevention
by chronic
The brain may not be
able to receive enough
blood to carry out daily
tasks. Blood flow to
the limbs may also be
limited/ reduced.
Can develop
a UTI when
using a
catheter
because the
area is
exposed to
people who
have
nervous
system
issues.
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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 5

transfusion.
Respiratory









Affect our
breathing in a
number of
different ways.
Breathing
difficulties dont
affect everyone
with diabetes
and the risk of
having difficulty
breathing can be
reduced by
maintaining
good diabetes
control and a
healthy body
weight.
According to the
National Heart,
Lung and Blood
Institute, acute
chest syndrome
occurs when
sickle cells
become trapped
in the chest,
blocking the flow
of blood and
oxygen to the
lungs. This
causes
pneumonia, fever,
pain and severe
coughing. It can
also lead to
permanent
damage to the
lungs. Cellular
respiration, or
delivery of
oxygen to the
cells of the body,
is also impacted
by sickle cell
anemia because
oxygen-carrying
blood flow is
blocked or
reduced. This
leads to slowed
growth and
development and
decreased
metabolism and
energy levels.
May cause shortness of
breath, pain in chest
from excessive heart
rate to get oxygen to
the lungs and demand
for blood
The immune
system can
potentially
become
affected that
could in the
long run
affect the
respiratory
system.
Urinary









Short term: high
blood glucose
levels can
promote
bacterial growth
which can raise
the risk of
urinary tract
infections or
thrush
Urinary tract
infections are
more common in
individuals with
sickle cell
syndromes. These
are caused by the
"usual"
organisms seen in
the general
The kidneys will have
to work harder and
more often to filter the
blood. Heart disease is
interconnected to
kidney disease.
Bacteria can
grow and
spread to
the urthrea
and/or the
kidneys that
can cause
serious
infection if
untreated.
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PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 6

developing.
Long Term:
kidney damage
and damage to
nerves
controlling the
bladder can
result in
diffuclty
urinating or
urinary
incontinence.
population.
Asymptomatic
urinary tract
infections may be
a precipitating
event for a pain
crisis.
Pyelonephritis
may precipitate
life threatening
complications in
sickle cell
patients. Sickle
cell syndromes
cause a renal
concentrating
defect which may
cause frequency,
nocturia, and
contribute to
enuresis.

Sources Used:

Diabetes Infromation:
http://healthymagazine.com/diabetes-and-its-effects-on-the-cardiovascular-
system/
http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_section_details.asp?text_id=5847&channel
_id=143&relation_id=105540
http://www.diabeticconnect.com/diabetes-videos/general/1977-how-
diabetes-affects-immune-system
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/nervous-system.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/respiratory-system.html
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/body/urinary-system.html
Sickle Cell Anemia Information:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19245069
http://www.livestrong.com/article/128264-systems-body-affected-sickle-cell/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17364568
http://www.livestrong.com/article/128264-systems-body-affected-sickle-cell/
https://scinfo.org/problem-oriented-clinical-guidelines/specific-problems-
urinary-tract-symptoms
Heart Disease
http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/diseases-cardiovascular
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5006038_artery-disease-affect-digestive-
system.html




2013 Project Lead The Way,

Inc.
PBS Project 6.1.1 Student Response Sheet Page 7