A&P 1: The Spring '05 Anatomy & Physiology Club

~Cel~ · Mar 23, 2005

I believe that the teacher you have makees all the difference. If you can drop this class and retake it that would probably be best. We all know how important grades are when being accepted into a nursing program!! Another suggestion, go to www.ratemyprofessors.com and find the names of every teacher teaching this course and see what other students have to say about them.

Thanks for the link and the suggestion. I spoke to her about a misleading word on one of the last test questions...I'm not picky, I've never talked to a professor about a grade before...because I've always done well. My husband hounded me to talk to her about this question since he and I both looked it up. Anyhow, so I talked to her and she refused to listen to me because it was one she told us about in class. I understood her reasoning, but still thought that the question wasn't properly worded.

The question was:

The chemical directly responsible for initiating muscle contraction is:

A. ATP

B. Acetylcholine

C. Acetylcholinesterase

D. Calcium

E. Sodium

My answer was Acetylcholine. Most of us put acetylcholine and when she gave us our tests she said she thought that one was a gimme since she told us about it in class. The book states acetylcholine is the initiator of a muscle contraction. But the answer according to her is calcium. I understand that without calcium ions the muscle won't contract, but the calcium ions won't be released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum unless the chain of events start beginning with the acetylcholine travelling from the neuron across the synaptic cleft...blah blah blah

After she and I talked about it for a while she scratched out "initiating" and asked what I would have put. I said calcium.

Am I being unreasonable about this silly question and the way it was worded?

I've let it go with her, but intend to take my time tomorrow on the exam.

Thanks for listening.

sonja24 · Mar 23, 2005

Thanks for the link and the suggestion. I spoke to her about a misleading word on one of the last test questions...I'm not picky, I've never talked to a professor about a grade before...because I've always done well. My husband hounded me to talk to her about this question since he and I both looked it up. Anyhow, so I talked to her and she refused to listen to me because it was one she told us about in class. I understood her reasoning, but still thought that the question wasn't properly worded.
The question was:
The chemical directly responsible for initiating muscle contraction is:
A. ATP
B. Acetylcholine
C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Calcium
E. Sodium
My answer was Acetylcholine. Most of us put acetylcholine and when she gave us our tests she said she thought that one was a gimme since she told us about it in class. The book states acetylcholine is the initiator of a muscle contraction. But the answer according to her is calcium. I understand that without calcium ions the muscle won't contract, but the calcium ions won't be released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum unless the chain of events start beginning with the acetylcholine travelling from the neuron across the synaptic cleft...blah blah blah
After she and I talked about it for a while she scratched out "initiating" and asked what I would have put. I said calcium.
Am I being unreasonable about this silly question and the way it was worded?
I've let it go with her, but intend to take my time tomorrow on the exam.
Thanks for listening.

Wow, she doesn't give an inch it sounds like. You definitely did the right thing by bringing it up to her. It sounds to me like you are in the right but she's a teacher that thinks she is never wrong. And if she is you are better off just keeping that bit of info. to yourself:)! How far in to the class are you?

~Cel~ · Mar 24, 2005

Wow, she doesn't give an inch it sounds like. You definitely did the right thing by bringing it up to her. It sounds to me like you are in the right but she's a teacher that thinks she is never wrong. And if she is you are better off just keeping that bit of info. to yourself:)! How far in to the class are you?

I agree, she doesn't like to be wrong.

We are just about 1/2 way done. It's 1 semester rather than 2 semesters like most of the colleges around here.

Anyhow, thank you so much for your support. Just knowing someone knows what I'm going through helps, well and venting doesn't hurt either.

Good luck in your class too.

PhoenixGirl · Mar 24, 2005

Hey strangers, don't know if you all remember me. I haven't checked in in awhile but I'm still doing A&P1. We are just finishing up with the muscles, next week starts Nervous system and that lasts 4w and this class is done.

I've been busy so I haven't been posting here but I just wanted to say that I am using Marieb and I'm finding that plugging in the CD that came with the book is helping so much. I don't know about any of you but reading that first ch on the muscles was so dry and hard for me to comprehend. THen, I did the system on the CD, and reread that chapter and it was so much easier! Plus, I just do the reviews of the muscle anatomy everyday, and I'm finding it not so hard to memorize. But anyway just wanted to say I really like that CD. If any of you haven't plugged it in, you should!

I began my PN program. So far it's very easy, with little homework. That will change come May when we dive into the real coursework and clinicals.

Rebecca

land64shark · Mar 24, 2005

Rebecca,

I'm using Marieb also. (I hate that text.) I just started reading chap 11 today (nervous system) and man is it ever dry! I keep dozing off while reading or I read the same sentence over and over again and still don't know what it says. I used the cd for the muscles chapter and it was pretty cool. I'm glad you mentioned it because I forget all about it since that was the first chapter where it was of any use to us. I'll be sure to plug it in tomorrow and mess around with it.

Lisa

Fun2, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2005

Rebecca,
I'm using Marieb also. (I hate that text.) I just started reading chap 11 today (nervous system) and man is it ever dry! I keep dozing off while reading or I read the same sentence over and over again and still don't know what it says. I used the cd for the muscles chapter and it was pretty cool. I'm glad you mentioned it because I forget all about it since that was the first chapter where it was of any use to us. I'll be sure to plug it in tomorrow and mess around with it.
Lisa

Same here....I don't remember what's all on it. lol I did use the CD that came with the lab book for the tissues, but that's it.

(Glad to know it's going well, PhoenixGirl!)

I started my Dev. Psych (6 wk course), now I'm just trying to learn to juggle the studying. I'm so glad I memorized all the bones and muscles BEFORE Spring Break! I'd hate to be doing that right now, plus starting a new fast-track telecourse. :uhoh3:

I've been studying the quizzes I made on a daily bases, and I made PowerPoint/quizzes for the muscles. I don't want to forget what I've learned. :)

messiejessie · Mar 24, 2005

Thanks for the link and the suggestion. I spoke to her about a misleading word on one of the last test questions...I'm not picky, I've never talked to a professor about a grade before...because I've always done well. My husband hounded me to talk to her about this question since he and I both looked it up. Anyhow, so I talked to her and she refused to listen to me because it was one she told us about in class. I understood her reasoning, but still thought that the question wasn't properly worded.
The question was:
The chemical directly responsible for initiating muscle contraction is:
A. ATP
B. Acetylcholine
C. Acetylcholinesterase
D. Calcium
E. Sodium
My answer was Acetylcholine. Most of us put acetylcholine and when she gave us our tests she said she thought that one was a gimme since she told us about it in class. The book states acetylcholine is the initiator of a muscle contraction. But the answer according to her is calcium. I understand that without calcium ions the muscle won't contract, but the calcium ions won't be released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum unless the chain of events start beginning with the acetylcholine travelling from the neuron across the synaptic cleft...blah blah blah
After she and I talked about it for a while she scratched out "initiating" and asked what I would have put. I said calcium.
Am I being unreasonable about this silly question and the way it was worded?
I've let it go with her, but intend to take my time tomorrow on the exam.
Thanks for listening.

I would have been confused by the use of the word chemical...I wouldn't have picked calcium because I don't consider it a chemical. We just started on the sliding filament model last class, don't like it as much as the skeletal info. Sorry the teacher wouldn't budge.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2005

Ok, the last two classes have been over Action Potential, etc.....channels, pumps, gates..... :crying2:

Once I think I have a grasp on it, I loose it. Is this really that hard, or am I making too much of it? :uhoh3:

Anyway, this weekend will be spent typing out my notes, and going over and over them, so I can understand all this nervous tissue stuff before next Tuesday. ughhhhhhh

Hope everyone else is not feeling so overwhelmed. I have a headache. :bluecry1:

......but I have to keep thinking of my goal!!!!!!!! :nurse:

nursestudentin05 · Mar 24, 2005

I know what you mean, Fun. I was busy studying for my cell/bone test last 2 weeks and didn't have time to retype my muscle tissue notes till today and OMG! I am going over the same stuff as you are, only that I have a lab exam 2 days after theory exam on muscle tissue.

BTW, I left a comment on your site, it is FENOMENAL!

I am using your site for resources. Thanks :)

Fun2, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2005

I know what you mean, Fun. I was busy studying for my cell/bone test last 2 weeks and didn't have time to retype my muscle tissue notes till today and OMG! I am going over the same stuff as you are, only that I have a lab exam 2 days after theory exam on muscle tissue.
BTW, I left a comment on your site, it is FENOMENAL!
I am using your site for resources. Thanks :)

Thanks! :) I figured I might as well make my studying constructive...lol .....and let other people make use of it too. :)

nursestudentin05 · Mar 25, 2005

You're welcome :)

http://tutorials.maconstate.edu/catdissection/default.htm - this is the link for cat dissection, tutorial prepared by my professor. I can't play it for some reason, but I thought it would be useful for others, it is supposed to be very good.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Mar 25, 2005

You're welcome :)
http://tutorials.maconstate.edu/catdissection/default.htm - this is the link for cat dissection, tutorial prepared by my professor. I can't play it for some reason, but I thought it would be useful for others, it is supposed to be very good.

I pushed play a couple of times, and it wouldn't work. Then I realized I had to click on a download speed from the dropbox and then click on a segment on the right side of the "movie" screen. It worked. :) Any chance you did the same thing, and thought play was supposed to actually play the movie? :chuckle (Well, you would think that is how it's supposed to be)