Lesson 16 — Activity 3: Using Technology



Explore

Technology is used to diagnose and treat illnesses and diseases and to correct or improve homeostasis. In this activity, you will learn about some of the technologies that help keep your digestive and circulatory systems in working order.  

                          
 

 

A pacemaker is a device that is implanted under a person's collarbone. It releases electrical charges to stimulate a steady heartbeat. The heart continues to beat normally after its natural pacemaker no longer works properly.


Created with BioRender.com

 

If a person has a blocked artery, a procedure called an angioplasty is used to clear it. A balloon is threaded into a hollow tube. When it reaches the blocked area, the balloon is inflated. This enlarges the artery and restores normal blood flow.


Stent with Balloon Angioplasty


  1.  Build up of cholesterol partially blocking blood flow through the artery.
  2. Stent with balloon inserted into partially blocked artery.
  3. balloon inflated to expand stent.
  4. Balloon removed from extended stent.


BruceBlaus, CC BY-SA 4.0 


 

 When a person's kidneys no longer function, kidney dialysis is used. A system of tubing allows blood to flow into a machine that removes waste products. Purified blood is then put back into the body.

 

  

GYassineMrabetTalk✉  This W3C-unspecified vector image was created with Inkscape ., CC BY 3.0


Digging Deeper

Click on the Play button to watch a video where teens talk about their kidney dialysis treatment.




Self-Check

Try This!

Try the questions below on your own first and then click on the tab to check your answers!

1. What does a pacemaker do to stimulate a steady heartbeat?
2. What might cause the blocking of an artery?
3. Explain how kidney dialysis works.


1. A pacemaker releases electrical charges to stimulate a steady heartbeat.

2. A buildup of cholesterol might cause the blocking of an artery.

3. Kidney dialysis involves a system of tubing that allows blood to flow into a machine that removes waste products. Purified blood is then put back into the body through other tubes.