1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:24,040 Hi, I'm Lisa Leslie, pro basketball player for the Los Angeles Sparks. 2 00:00:24,040 --> 00:00:29,440 Though I'm very talented athletically, I'm even more talented academically. 3 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:35,960 I'm here because, like you, I believe in the value of education, its capabilities to enlighten 4 00:00:35,960 --> 00:00:42,480 and enrich, and if we believe strong enough, to transform our lives. 5 00:00:42,480 --> 00:00:47,240 While playing pro basketball, I earned my graduate degree in business administration. 6 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:51,080 Please don't sell yourself short by not performing well in school. 7 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:55,440 The key to life is getting a good education, and it starts when you're young. 8 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:00,880 On this episode of NASA Connect, you'll learn all about building better muscles and bones. 9 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,120 And just like education, the key to building better muscles and bones also starts when 10 00:01:05,120 --> 00:01:06,880 you are young. 11 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:12,440 So stay tuned as host Jennifer Pulley takes you on another exciting episode of NASA Connect. 12 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:16,440 Stress, building better muscles and bones. 13 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:52,440 Hi, I'm Jennifer Pulley, and welcome to NASA Connect, the show that connects you to math, 14 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:57,440 science, technology, and NASA. 15 00:01:57,440 --> 00:02:02,440 I don't know how you deal with stress after a long day at school, but for me, after work, 16 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,440 I hit the gym. 17 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:09,440 You know, stress can be caused by many things, such as being overworked, mentally tired, 18 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,440 or just overwhelmed by our daily lives. 19 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:18,440 In fact, how many of you get stressed out over an important test? 20 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:23,440 I get stressed when I don't have enough time in the day to complete all my work. 21 00:02:23,440 --> 00:02:26,440 Does that mean that stress is a bad thing? 22 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:32,440 While too much stress can be damaging to the body, too little of some kinds of stress can also be harmful. 23 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:35,440 Let's look at three types of stress. 24 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,440 The first is called physical stress. 25 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:43,440 Activities like walking and carrying textbooks are physical stresses. 26 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:51,440 The second stress, called mental stress, involves activities like doing math problems or taking quizzes. 27 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,440 The third type of stress is called emotional stress. 28 00:02:54,440 --> 00:03:02,440 It can be either good or bad, like winning science student of the year or receiving a bad grade on a test. 29 00:03:02,440 --> 00:03:11,440 Many bodies, including muscles and bones, require some physical and mental stress or good stress to be healthy and grow. 30 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:17,440 In today's program, we will focus on good stress and how to build better muscles and bones. 31 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:26,440 We will also learn how NASA researchers collect and analyze data to better understand how our muscles and bones are constantly changing, 32 00:03:26,440 --> 00:03:29,440 especially in a microgravity environment. 33 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,440 That's RJ. He's a friend of mine who's an up-and-coming cross-country star. 34 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:39,440 He had an injury a few months ago, but I think his injury and today's program have a lot in common. 35 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:40,440 RJ, what's up? 36 00:03:40,440 --> 00:03:44,440 Hey, Jen. I tore a muscle in my leg and I've been immobilized for a few months. 37 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,440 I'm trying to get my leg strength back to where it was before the injury. 38 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:50,440 Well, you know, it looks like you were doing some rehabilitation. How's that going? 39 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,440 I'm really struggling. In fact, I've been struggling for the past two weeks. 40 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,440 I'm keeping a log of my workouts. I can't figure out if my rehab's on target. 41 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,440 You mean you're having trouble analyzing your data? 42 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:02,440 I think so. 43 00:04:02,440 --> 00:04:09,440 Well, I think I can help you and your leg out. You know, data analysis is the math focus today. 44 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,440 So you mean my leg is going to be the focus of this program? 45 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:19,440 I guess you could look at it that way, RJ. To better understand your leg injury, yes, you do need to understand data analysis. 46 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:24,440 Now, before we help RJ out, there are a few things that you need to know. 47 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:29,440 During the course of this program, you will be asked to answer several inquiry-based questions. 48 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:37,440 After the questions appear on the screen, your teacher will pause the program to allow you time to answer and discuss the questions. 49 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,440 This is your time to explore and become critical thinkers. 50 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:46,440 Students working in groups take a few minutes to answer the following questions. 51 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:53,440 Number one, what is data? List some examples of data. 52 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,440 Number two, where do data come from? 53 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:02,440 Number three, why do data need to be interpreted? 54 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,440 Compare your answers to all three questions with other groups in your class. 55 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:09,440 It is now time to pause the program. 56 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:14,440 So, did you come up with some good answers? Good job. 57 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:20,440 Data are the facts, figures, and other evidence gathered through observations. 58 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:30,440 You might collect data on the number of boys and girls in your math class, the types of animals in a local zoo, or the average monthly temperatures where you live. 59 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:40,440 Besides collecting your own data, you might be able to find data already collected in journals, newspapers, almanacs, or even the Internet. 60 00:05:40,440 --> 00:05:46,440 Once you collect the data you need, then you must interpret or analyze that data. 61 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:53,440 At NASA, researchers are constantly on the lookout for patterns that can help them understand how things work. 62 00:05:53,440 --> 00:06:02,440 By analyzing data, they can describe relationships between and among numbers and the scientific principles they are investigating. 63 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:10,440 Before you analyze the data, it's very helpful to arrange the results in an organized way, such as a chart. 64 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:14,440 Graphing your results will help you visualize your findings. 65 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:20,440 By organizing and visualizing the data, you can look for patterns and trends. 66 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:24,440 For example, let's take a look at RJ's data. RJ, what do you have for us? 67 00:06:24,440 --> 00:06:30,440 Well, the display shows the amount of weight my right leg can lift by doing a set of ten repetitions on a leg extension machine. 68 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:33,440 The data was taken over a four-month period. 69 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:38,440 So, it looks like your data are organized by time and weight, you know? 70 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:43,440 A scatter plot would be an awesome graph to use to help you analyze this data. 71 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:44,440 A scatter plot? 72 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:50,440 Yes, a scatter plot is a graph that shows the relationship between two variables, like time and weight. 73 00:06:50,440 --> 00:07:00,440 Scatter plots let you visually determine whether the trend in your data is positive, negative, or none at all. 74 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:05,440 In your case, the two variables are time and weight. 75 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:11,440 To make a scatter plot, we plot these two variables as ordered pairs. 76 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,440 Here's what the scatter plot looks like. 77 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:20,440 The x-axis is the time, and the y-axis is the amount of weight. 78 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:25,440 And don't forget, you always need a title for your plot. 79 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,440 Can you determine a trend or relationship in the scatter plot? 80 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:37,440 In other words, does the data show a positive trend, negative trend, or no trend at all? 81 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:44,440 This would be a great time to pause the program and discuss the relationship with your fellow students and teachers. 82 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,440 It's now time to pause the program. 83 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,440 Well, RJ, what can you determine from the plot? 84 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:52,440 I noticed that my leg strength increased between March and May. 85 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:56,440 But over the last month, my leg strength has remained constant. 86 00:07:56,440 --> 00:08:00,440 You know, RJ, you're right. You did have a positive trend for a couple of months. 87 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:02,440 But I wonder why you leveled off. 88 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:08,440 You know, I know someone at NASA who is the lead astronaut strength, conditioning, and rehabilitation specialist. 89 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:12,440 Her name is Beth Shepard, and I bet she could help you out with your rehab program. 90 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:15,440 Here's her contact information. Give her a buzz. 91 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:20,440 Thanks, Jennifer, for all your help, especially learning how to analyze data. I'll talk to you later. 92 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:26,440 Let's see what he can learn from Beth Shepard about muscles, bones, and rehabilitation. 93 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:31,440 Hi, RJ. Welcome to NASA Johnson Space Center. 94 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:32,440 Thanks, Mrs. Shepard. 95 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:33,440 Please, call me back. 96 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:35,440 Okay. Beth. 97 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,440 Jennifer called to tell me you were having some problems with your rehab. 98 00:08:38,440 --> 00:08:41,440 I sure am. She thought maybe you could help. 99 00:08:41,440 --> 00:08:45,440 Jennifer told me that you're the lead astronaut strength, conditioning, rehabilitation specialist. 100 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:50,440 That's right. My job is to physically prepare astronauts for long-duration space missions 101 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,440 through cardiovascular exercise, muscle strength and endurance weight training, 102 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:57,440 as well as balance, coordination, and agility drills. 103 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:59,440 Well, it looks like I've come to the right place. 104 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:01,440 Did you bring your data? 105 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:03,440 It's all right here in my phone. 106 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:05,440 What does this graph represent? 107 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:09,440 The scatter plot represents the amount of weight my right leg can lift 108 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:12,440 when doing a set of ten repetitions on a leg extension machine. 109 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:15,440 The data was taken over a four-month period. 110 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,440 I need some help figuring out why I leveled off during the past month. 111 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:20,440 What kind of muscle tear did you have? 112 00:09:20,440 --> 00:09:24,440 I remember my doctor telling me it was some kind of skeletal muscle. 113 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,440 I never heard the term skeletal muscle before. 114 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,440 Let me give you a crash course on the basics of muscles. 115 00:09:29,440 --> 00:09:31,440 Okay. 116 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:36,440 This would be a great time to pause the program to answer and discuss the following questions. 117 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:39,440 What are some types of muscles in your body? 118 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:43,440 Why do astronauts' muscles weaken while working in space? 119 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:46,440 What are some ways to take care of your muscles? 120 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:49,440 It is now time to pause the program. 121 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,440 Your body has three different types of muscle tissue. 122 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,440 Skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle. 123 00:09:55,440 --> 00:09:58,440 Skeletal muscles are attached to the bones of your skeleton. 124 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:01,440 These muscles provide the force that moves your bones. 125 00:10:01,440 --> 00:10:06,440 They are also classified as voluntary muscles, meaning you have control over them. 126 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,440 Smooth muscles can be found inside of many internal organs of the body, 127 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,440 such as the walls of the stomach and blood vessels. 128 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:17,440 They are classified as involuntary muscles, meaning they are not under your conscious control. 129 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:21,440 The last type of muscle, cardiac muscle, is found only in the heart. 130 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,440 It has characteristics of both skeletal and smooth muscles. 131 00:10:24,440 --> 00:10:27,440 I didn't realize there are different types of muscles in my body. 132 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,440 Well, I definitely know now that I tore a skeletal muscle in my right leg. 133 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:32,440 I have control over it. 134 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,440 Okay, let's get back to your problem. 135 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,440 Now, you've been doing the same leg extension exercise throughout the entire rehab, right? 136 00:10:39,440 --> 00:10:42,440 Yes, I have. It's my favorite leg exercise. 137 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:47,440 In order to stimulate growth and recovery, you need to change your workout every four to six weeks. 138 00:10:47,440 --> 00:10:51,440 If you do the same workout program over a long period of time, your body reaches a plateau. 139 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:54,440 And in your case, you reached a plateau a few weeks ago. 140 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,440 Gee, I better change my workout plan. 141 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:02,440 Practice for the cross-country team starts in a few weeks, and I want to make it to the state finals. 142 00:11:02,440 --> 00:11:04,440 What do you suggest? 143 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:07,440 Well, RJ, I would suggest adding some variety to your exercise program, 144 00:11:07,440 --> 00:11:12,440 such as bicycling, swimming, rollerblading, and resistive training with your own body weight. 145 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,440 That sounds pretty cool. 146 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:17,440 So, Beth, what kind of rehab program do astronauts go through? 147 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:19,440 That's a great question, RJ. 148 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,440 When astronauts return from long-duration space flights, their muscles and bones are weaker. 149 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:27,440 For example, astronauts in space routinely use their arms to move around, 150 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,440 but they don't use their leg muscles to resist gravity. 151 00:11:30,440 --> 00:11:34,440 The lack of muscle force can cause muscles to weaken or reduce in size. 152 00:11:34,440 --> 00:11:37,440 The main focus of my job is to prevent muscle and bone loss, 153 00:11:37,440 --> 00:11:40,440 starting with pre-flight and in-flight exercise programs. 154 00:11:40,440 --> 00:11:44,440 But because we haven't figured out how to completely prevent muscle and bone loss, 155 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,440 the focus of the post-flight rehabilitation program is to return the astronauts' muscle and bone 156 00:11:48,440 --> 00:11:50,440 to their pre-flight baseline. 157 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,440 My team develops exercise programs that include cardiovascular conditioning, 158 00:11:54,440 --> 00:11:58,440 muscle strength and endurance, flexibility and agility drills. 159 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:00,440 Each astronaut has an individualized program 160 00:12:00,440 --> 00:12:03,440 because the amount of muscle and bone loss differs for each astronaut. 161 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:07,440 That's really cool. That sounds a lot like what I'm going through right now. 162 00:12:07,440 --> 00:12:09,440 It is very similar to your rehabilitation program. 163 00:12:09,440 --> 00:12:14,440 In fact, one of our astronauts, Leland Melvin, is doing a little rehab of his own. 164 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:15,440 Hi, Mr. Melvin. 165 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:17,440 Hey, RJ. How are you doing? 166 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:18,440 Are you doing your leg as well? 167 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:22,440 I sure am. I re-aggravated my hamstring muscle while playing pro football. 168 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,440 Wow. Pro football player. 169 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:27,440 How did you go from being a football player to being an astronaut? 170 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:30,440 I injured my hamstring muscle while in training camp with the Detroit Lions, 171 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,440 but it never fully recovered. 172 00:12:32,440 --> 00:12:37,440 In addition to working hard at sports, I did well academically in school. 173 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:42,440 Too many young athletes today don't realize that sports can only take you so far in life. 174 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:44,440 Our cross-country coach emphasizes that all the time. 175 00:12:44,440 --> 00:12:47,440 It's good grades in school that make me excel in life. 176 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:49,440 Sounds like you have a great coach. 177 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:52,440 So does your rehab program require mainly stretching? 178 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:54,440 That's only one component. 179 00:12:54,440 --> 00:13:00,440 Exercise or good stress is important for maintaining both muscular strength and flexibility and for recovery. 180 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:04,440 When you stretch and warm up thoroughly, your muscles become more flexible. 181 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:09,440 This helps prepare our muscles for the work involved in exercising and playing sports. 182 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:13,440 Also, warming up the muscles can prevent injuries. 183 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:14,440 Like with your hamstring? 184 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,440 Exactly, RJ. 185 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:21,440 If you overwork or overstress your muscles, you can strain and pull them, and that's a form of bad stress. 186 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:24,440 Now, I pull my hamstring really bad, and that was some serious pain. 187 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,440 Don't let it happen to you. 188 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,440 And if you pull a muscle, you need to let it rest until the muscle heals. 189 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:31,440 Sure did learn a lot about muscles today. 190 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,440 Thank you so much for your help. 191 00:13:33,440 --> 00:13:37,440 Oh, and by the way, you mentioned that your job deals with muscle loss and bone loss. 192 00:13:37,440 --> 00:13:39,440 Do you know any good bone specialists I can talk to? 193 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,440 That's right. You said you were immobilized for some time. 194 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,440 Why don't you go and see Dr. Saunier here at NASA, and she can tell you all about bones. 195 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:48,440 Thank you again, and have a great day. 196 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,440 Mr. Melvin, you better take care of that hamstring muscle. 197 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,440 Thanks, RJ. Take care. 198 00:13:55,440 --> 00:14:03,440 Before RJ speaks with Dr. Saunier, I think it's time for you to strengthen your muscles and increase your muscle stamina. 199 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:10,440 The students at Oxon Hill Middle School will preview this program's hands-on activity, entitled Good Stress. 200 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:14,440 Hi. NASA Connect asked us to show you this program's hands-on activity. 201 00:14:14,440 --> 00:14:20,440 In this activity, you will be exploring the effects of stress on the muscles in your hands. 202 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:27,440 And you will gain experience collecting, analyzing, and visually representing data. 203 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:31,440 You can download a copy of the Educator's Guide from the NASA Connect website. 204 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:39,440 Before you begin the activity, it's a good idea to review how to make and interpret three types of plots. 205 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:46,440 Scatter plots, box and whisker plots, and stem and leaf plots. 206 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:49,440 Do you remember what a scatter plot is? 207 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:55,440 A scatter plot is a graph that displays two variables as ordered pairs. 208 00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:00,440 You can use a scatter plot to determine how one variable relates to another. 209 00:15:00,440 --> 00:15:07,440 A box and whisker plot is a graph that summarizes a data set along a number line. 210 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:12,440 There is a box in the middle and whiskers at either side. 211 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:17,440 The least value of the data set determines the left whisker. 212 00:15:17,440 --> 00:15:22,440 The greatest value of the data set determines the right whisker. 213 00:15:22,440 --> 00:15:25,440 You form the box using quartiles. 214 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,440 Quartiles divide the data into four equal parts. 215 00:15:29,440 --> 00:15:37,440 Box and whisker plots are useful with very large data sets or for making comparisons between data sets. 216 00:15:37,440 --> 00:15:44,440 A stem and leaf plot is a graph that uses the digits of each number to show the shape of the data. 217 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:55,440 Each data value is broken into a stem, digit or digits on the left, and a leaf, digit or digits on the right. 218 00:15:55,440 --> 00:16:00,440 A key is needed to explain what your stems and leaves represent. 219 00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:07,440 A stem and leaf plot can quickly show the distribution of a data set and retains each data value. 220 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:11,440 Your teacher can show you example problems using different plots. 221 00:16:11,440 --> 00:16:15,440 Now, are you ready to put your math skills to the test? Good. 222 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:17,440 Now back to the activity. 223 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:29,440 Working in groups of two, predict the number of times you will be able to click a clothespin between your thumb and index finger in your non-dominant hand for a one-minute period. 224 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,440 Record your prediction. 225 00:16:31,440 --> 00:16:37,440 Hold the clothespin in your non-dominant hand between your thumb and index finger. 226 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:44,440 While your partner is watching the timer, count the number of times you are able to click the clothespin in a one-minute period. 227 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,440 Record the result. 228 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:53,440 Rest for one minute, then predict again and repeat clicking the clothespin in a one-minute period. 229 00:16:53,440 --> 00:16:56,440 You need to complete three trials. 230 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:01,440 Be sure to hold the clothespin the same way during every time trial. 231 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:09,440 Now, switch roles with your partner and have him or her conduct the exact same experiment and record the results. 232 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:15,440 Each group will need to repeat the experiment every other day for two weeks. 233 00:17:15,440 --> 00:17:17,440 Record your predictions and results. 234 00:17:17,440 --> 00:17:20,440 This is the conditioning period. 235 00:17:20,440 --> 00:17:28,440 The stress induced by the clothespin on the muscles of the hand will cause the muscles to become stronger and gain stamina. 236 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:33,440 Make sure you record all your data in a clear and organized way. 237 00:17:33,440 --> 00:17:40,440 This will help you to answer all the discussion questions and to produce visual representations of the data. 238 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,440 And don't forget to check out the web activity for this program. 239 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:50,440 It can be downloaded from the NASA Connect website. 240 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,440 Great job, you guys. 241 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,440 Talk about working your muscles. 242 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:59,440 Well, now that you have a preview of this program's hands-on activity, 243 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:06,440 it's time to pause the program to see if you can increase your muscle strength and stamina. 244 00:18:06,440 --> 00:18:08,440 So, how was the activity? 245 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,440 You'd probably be happy not to see another clothespin for a while, huh? 246 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,440 Hopefully it reinforced the math concepts that you learned earlier in today's program. 247 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:17,440 Now let's review. 248 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:25,440 First, we introduced to you different kinds of stress and how physical stress can actually be good stress. 249 00:18:25,440 --> 00:18:33,440 Next, you learned about the math concept of data analysis and how graphing is a powerful way to visualize data. 250 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:41,440 Finally, Beth Shepard and Leland Melvin helped RJ and you learn about taking care of your muscles. 251 00:18:41,440 --> 00:18:47,440 Let's turn our attention to bones now and see what we can learn about our body's skeletal system. 252 00:18:47,440 --> 00:19:02,440 Let's catch up with RJ and Dr. Sagnier. 253 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:04,440 Dr. Sagnier? 254 00:19:04,440 --> 00:19:10,440 Hi, RJ. Come on in. Take a seat. 255 00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:15,440 I understand you want to learn more about bones, their structure and function. 256 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:19,440 I sure do. I want to be the best cross-country runner in my state. 257 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,440 And knowing more about my body might actually be an advantage. 258 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:27,440 And after meeting Leland Melvin, I want to learn more about astronauts and how their bones can be affected by space flight. 259 00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:31,440 Sure. I'd love to discuss your body's skeletal system with you. 260 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:37,440 Students, working in groups, take a few minutes to answer the following questions. 261 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:40,440 What does the skeletal system do? 262 00:19:40,440 --> 00:19:44,440 It may be helpful to sketch a picture. 263 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:50,440 List some types of bones in your body and explain their function. 264 00:19:50,440 --> 00:19:55,440 What are some ways to keep your bones healthy? 265 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:01,440 How are the skeletal and muscular systems related? 266 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,440 It's now time to pause the program. 267 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:09,440 Without the skeletal system, your body would collapse. 268 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:12,440 Your skeleton has many functions. 269 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:15,440 It provides shape and support. 270 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:20,440 Protects your internal organs like your brain, heart and lungs. 271 00:20:20,440 --> 00:20:22,440 Enables you to move. 272 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,440 Produces red blood cells. 273 00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:28,440 And stores important minerals until your body needs them. 274 00:20:28,440 --> 00:20:32,440 You have about 206 bones in your body. 275 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:39,440 For example, your arm consists of the humerus, radius and ulna. 276 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:46,440 Your leg consists of the femur, patella, tibia and fibula. 277 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:52,440 All your bones are connected to the vertical column or backbone in some way. 278 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:57,440 I mentioned earlier that the skeletal system enables you to move. 279 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,440 Most of the body's bones are associated with muscles. 280 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,440 The muscles pull on the bones to make the body move. 281 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,440 So the muscles and bones in our bodies work as a system? 282 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,440 That's a great observation, RJ. 283 00:21:11,440 --> 00:21:17,440 That's why we can't just learn about muscles without understanding about bones and vice versa. 284 00:21:17,440 --> 00:21:22,440 Bones also store minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. 285 00:21:22,440 --> 00:21:26,440 These minerals make the bones strong and hard. 286 00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:28,440 They're packed tightly together. 287 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:38,440 In fact, bones are so strong that they can absorb more force without breaking than concrete or granite rock. 288 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,440 And bones are much, much lighter. 289 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:45,440 Is there anything else in bones besides calcium and phosphorus? 290 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:51,440 Yes. Bones also contain living cells and tissues such as blood and nerves. 291 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,440 As you grow, new bone tissue is produced. 292 00:21:55,440 --> 00:22:00,440 Even after you are grown, your bones continue to form new bone tissue. 293 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,440 So what does the inside of a bone look like? 294 00:22:03,440 --> 00:22:10,440 Well, for example, let's look at a femur or thigh bone. 295 00:22:10,440 --> 00:22:17,440 The femur, which is the longest bone, connects the pelvic bones to the lower leg bones. 296 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:24,440 Notice the thin, tough membrane that covers all of the bone except the ends. 297 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:30,440 Blood vessels and nerves enter and leave the bone through the membrane. 298 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:37,440 Beneath the membrane is a layer of compact bone, which is hard and dense. 299 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:42,440 Just inside the compact bone is a layer of spongy bone. 300 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:48,440 Spongy bone is found in the backbone and at the ends of the bones. 301 00:22:48,440 --> 00:22:54,440 Like a sponge, spongy bone has many small spaces within it. 302 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:59,440 This structure makes spongy bone lightweight but strong. 303 00:22:59,440 --> 00:23:05,440 The spaces in bone contain a soft connective tissue called marrow. 304 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:10,440 Because my leg was immobilized for a period of time, does that mean that the bones in my leg were affected? 305 00:23:10,440 --> 00:23:16,440 Sure your bones were affected, not in terms of size, but in terms of bone density. 306 00:23:16,440 --> 00:23:20,440 So R.J., do you have any idea how to keep your bones healthy? 307 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:25,440 Well, I believe good nutrition and exercise is the key to strong and healthy bones. 308 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,440 Way to go, R.J. You're pretty good. 309 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:32,440 I learned about good nutrition and exercise from the NASA Connect program. 310 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,440 Better health from space to earth. 311 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,440 Go to the NASA Connect website to learn more. 312 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:45,440 You know, R.J., a well-balanced diet contains enough calcium and phosphorus to keep your bones strong while they're still growing. 313 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:52,440 Wheats, whole grains, and leafy green vegetables are all excellent sources of both minerals. 314 00:23:52,440 --> 00:23:57,440 Dairy products, including milk, are excellent sources of calcium. 315 00:23:57,440 --> 00:24:03,440 Exercise is also important to help bones become stronger and denser. 316 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:07,440 But you don't have a problem with that because you work out all the time. 317 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:11,440 I also learned that it's important to develop good nutrition and exercise habits when you're young. 318 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,440 That's true. It's very important because your body's bones are still growing. 319 00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:22,440 Beth Shepard told me earlier that astronauts' bones become weaker and smaller after they return from space. 320 00:24:22,440 --> 00:24:24,440 How much do they lose? 321 00:24:24,440 --> 00:24:36,440 Well, it depends on a number of factors, such as spaceflight duration, amount of exercise in space, nutrition, and body chemistry. 322 00:24:36,440 --> 00:24:43,440 Most of the bone loss occurs in the lower portion of the body, primarily from weight-bearing bones. 323 00:24:43,440 --> 00:24:59,440 One study we conducted on astronauts on the ISS showed that the mean, or average, bone mineral loss in the hip portion of the femur, or spongy bone, ranged from 1 to 2.5 percent per month. 324 00:24:59,440 --> 00:25:10,440 About 1.35 percent per month in the pelvic region, and 1 percent per month in the lower back, or lumbar region. 325 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:15,440 That's really interesting. So what happens when astronauts go to Mars and beyond? 326 00:25:15,440 --> 00:25:25,440 If an astronaut loses about 1 percent of their bone mineral in the lower back per month, then that means that he or she will lose roughly 12 percent over a year. 327 00:25:25,440 --> 00:25:31,440 Since the current missions haven't lasted that long, we don't actually know. But it is likely. 328 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:35,440 And therefore, we need to conduct more research to know for certain. 329 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:49,440 You know, the more we can learn about how our bodies function in space, the closer we get to developing countermeasures that will significantly reduce the effects of bone loss and muscle loss while in space. 330 00:25:49,440 --> 00:25:56,440 Space research is important because it helps us to understand how our bodies function here on Earth. 331 00:25:56,440 --> 00:26:03,440 It is another tool to help us combat diseases, such as the bone disease osteoporosis. 332 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:07,440 Thanks, Dr. Sonia. If you ever need assistance with your research, just call me. 333 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:11,440 I'll do that, R.J., and good luck with your training. 334 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,440 Okay, take it easy. 335 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:22,440 I think we'll be hearing more from R.J. in the years to come. And hopefully, we'll be hearing more from you. 336 00:26:22,440 --> 00:26:28,440 Don't forget to check out this program's student challenge, which can be found on the NASA Connect website. 337 00:26:28,440 --> 00:26:34,440 Well, guys, that wraps up another episode of NASA Connect. We'd like to thank everyone who helped make this program possible. 338 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:42,440 Got a comment, question, or suggestion? Well, then email them to connect at larc.nasa.gov. 339 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:48,440 So until next time, stay connected to math, science, technology, and NASA. 340 00:26:48,440 --> 00:26:51,440 And remember, the good stress in life. See you then. 341 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:52,440 See you then. 342 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:27,440 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 343 00:27:51,440 --> 00:27:58,440 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 344 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:26,440 NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology