Tertiary Catalogue

There are a multitude of pathogens capable of infecting the human body and causing disease. This program explores the six main categories of pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, prions and macroparasites. Their structure, mode of transmission, and the changes they cause in the host are described. Real-life images, microscopic views of cells and pathogens, and animations make this an excellent resource for the study of pathogens and infectious disease Show Less

After being diagnosed with late stage ovarian cancer, Cindy Cowan wants the right to choose how she is going to die. Linda Jarrett has suffered from multiple sclerosis for over 15 years. She is investigating the options for ending her life, before her degenerative disease makes it impossible for her to act on her own. Currently, medically assisted dying is illegal in Canada. And while some advocates, such as Dr. Richard MacDonald believe offering terminal patients help in ending their lives is the compassionate thing to do, opponents such as Professor Margaret Sommerville believe the medical system must uphold respect for all human life. The issues surrounding the right-to-die debate are further coming to a head since Quebec introduced legislation in 2013 that would allow for medically assisted dying in some cases. Cindy and Linda examine the options available to them, confronting their own mortality in the process. Show Less

Approximately 12,000 babies are born annually in the United States with a hearing impairment. With impressive advancements in technology, cochlear implants are giving these children the ability to hear. A cochlear implant is a small, complex electronic device that can provide the sense of hearing to patients who are profoundly deaf or are severely hard of hearing. The cochlear implant helps patients hear by using electrodes that stimulate the remaining auditory nerve fibres in the patient's cochlea. The electrical sound information is sent through the auditory system to the brain for interpretation. In this program, students will learn about the benefits of cochlear implants and how the ear works, as well as the different parts of the inner and outer ear. Show Less

The rotavirus will infect every child by the age of five. The World Health Organisation recommends national immunisation programs against the virus, but what are the advantages and disadvantages? This documentary style clip investigates the virus and its impact, the development of vaccines, and the benefits of immunisation for individual and community. Interviewed for the clip are Dr Ruth Bishop, a member of the team that discovered the virus, and Dr Karl Kirkwood. Show Less

This program is comprised of 10 short programmes, each addressing practical techniques and protocols in the administering of medications. This includes essential requirements for preparing medications and clients, as well as dealing with contingencies. Proper techniques are clearly explained and demonstrated for the different routes of administration. Show Less

Smoking’s role in lung cancer is not a simple cause-and-effect relationship. Using lung cancer as an example, this clip explores the critical role epidemiology plays in establishing the cause of a disease. Epidemiologist Robert MacInnis discusses the methodologies used to uncover the data, including Cross-Sectional, Cohort, Case Control and Randomised Control Trials. Show Less

How is it that radiation, one of the causes of cancer, can also be used to treat it? This clip looks at cancer, the risk factors, and with the assistance of radiation oncologist Shankar Siva, provides a detailed examination of how radiation works at the molecular level in the treatment of cancer. Show Less

This lesson provides a glimpse into the human neural network we call the nervous system. We can compare the nervous system to a highly complicated computer network. If we think of the brain as that central processing unit, or the command centre, we can visualize a complex network of nerves and organs emanating from it. The network monitors the internal and external environment and sends information about those conditions to the brain, which in turn processes the information and sends signals back to the rest of the body to perform an action or to regulate body functions. Show Less

Other than swelling at a cut, and maybe some pus or a slight fever, we would be forgiven for not being aware of the existence of the human immune system. It is however a highly complex system, and when it is overwhelmed, things can get a lot more serious. In this informative and engaging program the three levels of immune defence are explored in isolation and as part of a disparate yet interconnected system. High quality animations are used to illustrate the nature of specific and nonspecific defence mechanisms deployed by the human immune system. The role of human intervention in the defence against disease is also explored. Show Less

To procreate naturally, both the male and the female reproductive systems must be fully functioning, and if they are not medical intervention may help a couple to conceive. This video resource introduces students to IVF and the steps taken to implant an artificially fertilized egg into the uterus. The video resource looks at the causes of infertility in men (low sperm production and motility, abnormally shaped sperm or surgical treatment) and women (inability to produce a normal egg, a problem with transportation of the egg, or as a result of endometriosis). Show Less

This video resource looks at the effects of dehydration. Students will learn when dehydration occurs, the necessity of electrolytes, the effect of dehydration on the kidneys, and the production of rennin, the role of angiotensin in helping the body cope with a lack of fluids, and how the nervous system can be affected by too much or too little water. Students will go on to learn about kidney stones and how the human urinary system excretes uric acid as the end product of urine metabolism. Show Less

This video resource shows students how the body absorbs lipids differently from carbohydrates and proteins. Students will learn when lipids enter the small intestine, the gall bladder is triggered to release bile into the duodenum in order to emulsify the lipids. The video resource then goes on to describe how large lipoprotein particles transport the decomposed lipids from the intestines to lymphatic ducts, while fatty acids enter systemic circulation via the thoracic lymphatic duct, which leads into the superior vena cava. Show Less

In this video resource students will learn about internal respiration and external respiration. With clear explanations and graphics, students will see that internal respiration is the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the blood and the cells of the body (other than the lungs), and that external respiration is the exchange of gases between the air and blood in the lungs. The video resource details the anatomy involved in breathing, and goes on to look at what causes snoring and sleep apnoea. Show Less

In this video resource students will hear about how Bat saliva has been studied for its anti-clotting qualities, and how desmoteplase, the specific enzyme, is being used to help stroke patients. In the conventional treatment of stroke, tPA must be administered within the first three hours of the event in order to un-clot blood in the brain. However, it has been found that desmoteplase can be administered up to 9 hours after a stroke and still yield similar results. Show Less

In this video resource, students will learn about Mitchell, a baby who is suffering from idiopathic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition with an unknown cause, which is likely to progress. Viewers will see that conditions such as Mitchell's can lead to fatigue, irregular heartbeats, and potential heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The video resource then reviews in detail the anatomy of blood vessels. Finally, students go on to learn about preventable heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease, atherosclerotic plaques, and deep vein thrombosis. Show Less

In the human body there are three different types of chemical reactions which take place. This video resource introduces synthesis, decomposition and exchange, and explains how the body uses each of these chemical reactions and the role that ATP plays in energy production. It also looks at how reproductive sperm and egg cells divide, how this differs to the way that all other cells divide, and introduces mitosis and meiosis, discussing the differences between them. Show Less

This video resource teaches about the different disorders of the endocrine system. The video resource covers the definition and diagnosis of Graves disease and Hashimoto's disease. It goes on to look at the pancreas and how its different types of cells maintain blood glucose level within homeostatic range. Students will furthermore hear about foods with a high glycaemic index, and how these foods can put stress on blood vessels. Finally, the video looks at hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. Show Less

Every day, our senses are barraged with sounds, images, and smells. We use our senses to receive, and in some cases filter out, all the sensory information that we encounter. But sensations go beyond those that we can taste, smell, see and hear. They also include our sense of balance, or touch, and the awareness of our body’s position. Show Less

Although the skeleton provides a framework for the body, it is hardly rigid. Bones are living tissues that actively contribute to maintaining homeostasis. Healthy bones are anything but dry or brittle; they are dynamic components of our bodies that are capable of growth, change, and repair. The skeletal system consists of bones and other connective tissues that provide support and flexibility. Bones work together with muscles to produce controlled, yet precise movements. In this lesson, you’ll learn about bone tissue, the skeleton, and its supporting tissue. In Lesson 5, you’ll learn how skeletal muscles work with bone to provide strength, power, and grace to the human form. Show Less

The layers of our skin, its accessory organs and the underlying tissues are functional components of the human body. This video resource teaches about how the epidermis, the outer layer of the skin, is a renewing layer of cells, about tissue regeneration, and about how researchers are able to grow different types of tissue in a laboratory setting. It also explains how cells have a life cycle - that they not only die off, but most also have the ability to divide and increase the mass of tissue. Show Less

From the tiniest cells to the largest organ systems, the human body is a complex organism that is capable of both power and grace. When we think of a ballerina, we might conjure images of grace and fluidity. But such elegance relies upon the strength and power of the structures within the body. When we study the human body, we have to ask ourselves not only "How is it structured?" but also "Why does it work that way?" The human body's form and function are both complementary and interrelated - they compromise in many ways. These are questions that you should ask yourself in every lesson - the relation between form and function is a central theme throughout this film. Show Less

Although IVF has been around for over 30 years, it is still a matter of debate today for a variety of reasons. With IVF clinics, the ethical questions arise from the fact that new lives are being created by the doctors and nurses involved. The welfare of the unborn child must be considered. Should unmarried couples get treatment? What about those where one partner has children from a previous relationship? Other questions can also arise, such as whether parents should be able to select the gender, eye colour, hair colour or any other feature of their child. This can include selecting children in order for them to be suitable as donors (bone marrow, kidney) for older siblings. These issues are not dealt with by individual ethics committees but are instead decided by the HFEA (Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority). This government organisation inspects and regulates fertility clinics in the UK. This video investigates the range of issues surrounding IVF treatment, considering both religious and moral perspectives, alongside the current legislation and practice in Britain. Show Less

Genetic engineering may be one of the greatest breakthroughs in recent history alongside the discovery of the atom and space flight, however, with considerable public concern surrounding this issue, the UK government has produced legislation to control what sort of experiments are done involving genetic engineering. This programme considers some of the possible benefits from detecting and preventing hereditary diseases in people, plants and animals to engineering resilient crops improving the quality and quantity of plants in farming. Potential problems are also considered, alongside secular and religious perspectives on the morality of intervening in nature at the most basic level (our DNA). Show Less

Euthanasia raises agonising moral questions. At the heart of the ethical and religious arguments over euthanasia are the different ideas that people have of the meaning and value of human existence, and of whether human beings have the right to decide issues of life and death for themselves. Show Less

Around one in two people in Australia, the UK and the US are overweight. Knowledge of nutrition is integral to making healthy food choices. In this programme we examine three diet-related disorders, looking in detail at the characteristics, causes, treatment and strategies for prevention. Common western health problems such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes and Coeliac disease are discussed and their relationship with our diet explained. Follow us as we explore recent developments in food aimed at enhancing health, the impact of food consumption on nutrition, and ways of meeting food requirements to maintain optimum health and well-being. Show Less