Unit B Section B4 Introduction Medical Research to Aid Human Functions
Completion requirements
Section 4: Medical research provides insight into healthy human functions.
Unit B: Section 4 – Introduction
Figure B.S.4.1 – The polio vaccine stopped the paralyzing disease from spreading.
Figure B.S.4.2 – Jonas Salk developed the polio vaccine in 1955.
Figure B.S.4.3 – Some polio patients used an “iron lung” to breathe.
Poliomyelitis, or polio for short, is an infectious disease caused by the poliovirus. Polio spreads through infected feces and contaminated water. Sometimes polio only causes mild symptoms similar to the flu, such as a fever, headache, or sore throat. However, when poliovirus infects the central nervous system, it can cause body paralysis.
Although people of any age can get polio, young children have the greatest risk of becoming paralyzed by polio. During the early 1900’s, many polio outbreaks occurred around the world. Sometimes a polio patient’s breathing muscles were paralyzed by the virus. These patients lived inside an “iron lung” machine to keep them breathing. An iron lung is a big metal cylinder that lowers air pressure in the body, which causes air to enter the lungs.
In 1955, a medical researcher named Jonas Salk developed a polio vaccine. This vaccine is now given to most young children, which is why polio has been eliminated from most countries around the world. However, if people stop getting polio vaccinations, the paralyzing disease could start spreading again.
Words to Think About:
Check out the word cloud below. It pictures the important words that you are going to learn in this section. Watch for these words, and combinations of these words, as you read. When you see them highlighted, you can click on them to learn more about
what the word means. You can also visit the course glossary and read definitions for all of these words.
Lessons in This Section
Lesson B14: Researching Systems and Disease
Key Question – How has medical research improved human health?
Lesson B15: Diseases and Treatments
Key Question – What are some examples of diseases that negatively affect human health?
Lesson B16: Active Lifestyles and Health
Key Question – How do exercise and good nutrition help people stay healthy?
Reading and Materials for This Section
Science in Action 8
Reading: Pages 154–166
Materials Lists for Unit:
Watch More
Polio Continues to Plague the Modern World
The poliovirus infected many people in the early 1900’s. Watch this video to learn more.
The poliovirus infected many people in the early 1900’s. Watch this video to learn more.
This video explains how “iron lungs” helped polio patients to breathe.
This news report from 1955 explains how Jonas Salk discovered a vaccine for polio.
Polio has not yet completely disappeared around the world. This news report explains the challenges of vaccinating people in Pakistan, and how health workers are trying to educate people about the benefits of vaccines.
Watch this video to learn about brave volunteers who are vaccinating children in Syrian war zones.