Health, Healing and Regeneration

The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

UWRIT 1104

Professor Turgeon

November 29 2017
 Abstract

This essay discusses the study of biology, the study of all living things. Biology, in

particularly cellular biology, in this paper refers to the human anatomy and the subunits that

make the body as efficient as it is. This paper examines the findings when damage occurs to the

structure of the body on a cellular level within the bone and tissue of an injured person. It is

important to note this essay also discuss the differences between how children and adults are

impacted by sports injuries. The purpose of this paper is to have a better understanding of how

the body works and how biology is the main proponent of the regeneration of damaged anatomy.
Introduction

Injuries are inevitable. As flawed humans in a world that is far from perfect, sooner or

later one will be faced with a stubbed toe, broken arm, or even a torn ACL. Whether playing

sports, fighting, or just clumsiness, regardless of age, being hurt is part of life. To understand the

complexity of an injury, however, it is imperative to understand the stress they place on the body

at a cellular level. The study of biology is important in defining the differences in the impact of

injuries on children and adults and is necessary to explain regeneration of bones and tissue in the

bodies of all ages.

Biology has shaped the science of life, living organisms, and medicine. It serves to

provide the structure, growth, and evolution of all living species. The umbrella of biology

includes biochemistry, botany, cellular biology, ecology, evolutionary, genetics, molecular,

physiology, and zoology, which all are divisions that make the study of biology whole. History

tells the origin of biology through humans, animals, and plants. The earliest medical texts are

from China, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, which shows how biology has been translated over time

and continues to affect areas not only in local surroundings but also on a worldly scale. The

history and subfields of biology help humans understand the different principles that

collaboratively make up the study of biology (Bagley, M. (2017, August 09).).

As a such a diverse major, biology can prepare students for many different occupations,

making it an attractive and impressive field of study. When applying biology in the work force,

most biology majors aim to work in the medical field. The concentration of cellular biology

appeals to those who want to study of basic cellular units of living things (Dimitriou,

Jones,McGonagle D Giannoudis 2011). In addition, physiology, the study of the functions of

organisms and their parts, is also very popular. Together, they include studying the human body

and its anatomy. Whether working in a lab, as a therapist, or becoming a doctor, biology as a

major is the right path because it lays a foundation for the fundamentals of living things,

including humans.

In terms of injuries and regeneration of the body, cellular and physiological biology

explain the most exact and internal points of the injury. Human biologys uniqueness requires its

own study of injury. An interesting sector of this study is the regeneration of bones and

reconstruction of the body after stress. To understand injuries of hard and soft structures of the

body, one must understand the composition of bone and tissue structures.

Bones are the fundamental living tissue that provide structure to the body. Not only do

they protect organs, but they also are necessary for posture, balance, and movement. More

notably, bones are essential for the formation of blood cells and synthesis of calcium. As a

lightweight structure, the mass of the bone is contrary to how strong the actual framework is. A

bilayer arrangement that includes the cortex, a strong layer where microscopic channels live and

the periosteum, creates a cross section of channels that make blood flow in the bone constant and

support metabolic activity. This metabolic activity triggers healing (Lindaman 2001). In terms of

bone regeneration and healing, the repair process must be in response to the injury. Skeletal

development is comprised of a number of cell types including bone cells, osteoblasts, and

osteoclasts in the intracellular and extracellular matrix. The matrixes help with signal pathways

and defining nerve functions and awareness. Osteoblasts are responsible for new bone tissue,

whereas osteoclasts are constantly alert and absorbing bone tissue (ACFAS 2017). Together,

these bone cells work together to repair bones effectively and efficiently. One interesting aspect
of bone regeneration is that the body is that unlike in other tissues, the majority of bony injuries

(fractures) heal without the formation of scar tissue, and bone is regenerated with its pre-existing

properties largely restored, and with the newly formed bone being eventually indistinguishable

from the adjacent uninjured bone (Dimitriou, R., Jones, E., McGonagle, D., & Giannoudis,

(2011, May 31). This cellular look into bones shows how biology is important to understanding

the fundamental structure of the body. Knowing the normal basis and functionality the body

before bone injured is imperative so that when the body does experience trauma, physicians and

therapists have a goal for the patient to return to.

Through biological processes children and adult fractures are similar, but pediatric

healing is much more efficient. The process for both contains three basic phases: inflammation,

reparation, and remodeling (Lindaman 2001). Within the first three to five days of a fracture,

inflammation is caused by the massive disruption in the channels within the bone that contain

blood flow: this bleeding is called a hematoma, or bruise. The damaged tissue automatically

initiates a healing process through the release of cytokines, which work with the osteoclasts as

they remove the dead bone cells (Lindaman 2001). The Iowa Orthopaedic Center found that

pediatric bone can fail in compression, have less initial stability, but less callus formation is

required to achieve a clinically stable or healed fracture (Dimitriou, R., Jones, E., McGonagle,

D., & Giannoudis, P. V. 2011, May 31). Requiring less callus formation, or the more rapid

layering of new bone formation caused by the osteoclasts, actually contributes to why the

rendered fracture will heal more quickly in children than in adults. This osteogenic environment

is already in childrens fractures, while it must be reawakened in adults making the process of
remodeling not as efficient; a major reason why elderly do not recover as quickly when injured.

This is just another example of how biology factors into the healing process of injuries.

In addition to understanding what happens when a bone is broken,biology is important to

understanding the harsh strain that tearing soft tissue has on the body. There are three major

types of soft tissue: muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Muscles consist of long cells that contract

when stimulated and produce motion (Webster 2017). Ligaments, or short bands of tough,

flexible, fibrous tissue that connect two bones or hold together a joint, are also crucial for

understanding the body (Vorvick 2016). So what happens when it is disrupted or torn? The main

difference between the two is that ligaments are sprained while muscles and tendons are strained.

Both injuries result in the stretch or tearing of the fibrous tissue between bone and bone or bone

and muscle (Mayo Clinic Staff 2017).

Just like bones, biology once again is show in the healing process of tissues dependent on

the age of the individual's cells. In the article Fountain of youth? Scientists discover why

wounds heal quicker for young people, a science research study was conducted to find the genes

that conduct faster healing of wounds, including injury of tissue. The scientists believe that the

genes, called Lin28a and IMP1, are designed to be especially active during the fetal stages of

development and are gradually turned off as an animal ages - which could explain why wounds

take longer to heal in the elderly and how ageing occurs(Connor 2016). Although this study was

conducted with rats, the genes were also found in humans. This helps explain why children heal

faster than adults after injury. According to Moms Team, a trusted online source for sports

parents, Younger bodies are more elastic: connective tissue can stretch more without tearing.

The article Child's Ability To Heal Quickly From Sports Injuries: A Mixed Blessing? states
that adolescents spend a majority of time expelling energy that their bodies have the tools to

rebuild muscles, bones and organs much faster than adults. One counter argument for this idea

is that it only applies to minor injuries like strains or sprains and that major injuries like a

dislocation can severely hinder a child for a long-lasting period (Cronin 2014).

Methods

Between injures of adults and children, Kevin Thornton, the on-campus athletic director,

works to prevent and rehabilitate injures with a variety of ages. As a graduate of the University

of Arkansas, he is highly qualified to determine the seriousness of injuries, diagnose, and

rehabilitate athletes at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. When asked about injuries,

more specifically the damaging of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), one of the worst

impairments an athlete can have, he said that ligaments, unlike bones, do not reconstruct the

same when torn because they bleed. This leads to inflammation and much instability. Although

his major was in exercise science, Thornton also stresses the importance of having a biology

background and understanding injury on a cellular level. Some inflammation is good and is a

natural process in healing while other swelling could mean a very serious injury like a torn

ACL, he said.

I interviewed Thornton because I have a torn ACL, and he works with me to help me

continue to cheer at UNCC, even with the injury. Thornton said about my injury that there are

two approaches. One is very invasive through surgery and has a long recovery time of about nine

to twelve month. An alternative option is bracing the knee for extra support but the participant

will still need surgery eventually.

 Thornton works with athletes like me on a daily bases from basketball, football,

wrestling, and dance. He said that the most important aspects of his field are being present and

ready with the athlete in the entire process of prevention of injury, upon occurrence of the injury,

and the rehabilitation stages of the injury. Some benefits Thornton describes of his job include

the ability to work with talented athletes and watch them develop as person from their lowest of

the lows to overcoming adversity. He also loves making connections with the students because in

rehabilitation and working with athletes, they become like family. Of course not every athlete

gets back to where they used to be, which he said hurts him just as much as the athlete, but he

still loves encouraging them through the process.

Lastly, Thorton details some of the most common injuries he sees. Although each sport

has a commonality, for example many basketball players have ankle and wrists problem,

volleyball usually has more shoulder injuries, and football usually has many lower body injuries,

but the most common injury of all sports is a ankle sprain. On the athletic training field,

Thornton said that in his experience, one common aspect of children and adult injuries is

communication. Children do not usually know how to tell what hurts where and are just then

building a pain tolerance, while adults have a better idea of how to communicate what they feel

and how they feel with pain, he said.

Results

Overall, this research confirms that even with the versatility of biology, it is still

imperative to understanding injuries and regeneration of the body. This information was

beneficial when considering future occupations in the medical field. After much research and the
interview with Kevin Thornton, the importance of biology within injuries is shown. The primary

research details the presence of biology in all aspects of injuries from bone cells to genes in

tissue. Thornton reiterated the importance biology when he discussed how certain injures go

through certain healing process and one must understand why the body is performing those

processes and if they are good or bad.

All in all, to truly understand bodily trauma, regeneration of the body and the healing

process between children and adults, one must have detailed knowledge of cellular structures of

the human body. Between bones and tissue, injury is natural, especially in the sports world, and

it is imperative to understand the cellular and physiological sectors of human anatomy to truly

understand how to properly treat and rehabilitate an injured person. Both the research and the

interview also gave insight to the influence of biology.

On a larger scale, one aspect of biology that is highly beneficial is the use of stem cells.

Stem cells are unspecialized cells capable of renewing themselves through cell division,

sometimes after long periods of inactivity (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

2016). This means they are capable of turning into any cell in the body, including red blood cells,

brain cells, and even tissue cells such as an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). This unique aspect

of stem cells is that they function just as the original structure, so in the case of tearing an ACL,

most doctors use the patella tendon or hamstring to create a new ACL. If stem cells were used,

the extraction of another tissue would be eliminated. Without having to invasively take another

tissue and forcing that muscle or tendon to heal, using a stem cells to create a new ACL would

allow the body to focus on the one area ultimately speeding up the recovery process. This cuts
recovery time from a 9-12 month recovery to 5-6 because only the ACL would need time to

develop, not surrounding tissues (Regenexx 2017).

The only problem with this is that many people think using stem cells is unethical. This

is because they are extracted from an embryo and use in vitro fertilization, a technique that unites

the egg and sperm in a laboratory instead of inside the female body. Although it is extremely

invasive, it is necessary to to create these exclusive cells. Even with this in mind, The U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services refers to stem cells as one of the most fascinating

areas of contemporary biology, but, as with many expanding fields of scientific inquiry, research

on stem cells raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries.

Conclusion

This paper not only clarifies the flexibility of the major biology but also shows many

ways that it can be applied to medicine, injury treatment, and the study of the body. Biologys

relationship to medicine continues to grow in importance, especially as the occurrence of sports

injuries and other health conditions increase and doctors look for better and more effective

treatments. From an orthopedic physicians to athletic trainers to scientists who work with stem

cells, biology reaches over a broad spectrum and has an intrinsic relationship to injuries and their

treatment. The understanding of traumas impact on the body and the healing process would not

be as efficient without the study of biology. Society as a whole would not be as advanced if

scientist had not delved into life science and their understanding of biology to human life and

health challenges people face. As a result, biology is an important major that should only be

appreciated for its versatility and the impact it has on peoples health and quality of life.
References

ACL Tear Stem Cell Treatment for Full & Partial ACL Tears. (n.d.). Retrieved

November 08, 2017, from

https://www.regenexx.com/regenexx-acl-repair-for-torn-anterior-cruciate-ligament/

Bone Fracture Healing Explained - Fractures & Broken Bones Sports Injury Products &

Physiotherapy Advice. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/bone_fracture/4_soft_callus_formation.php

Connor, S. (2013, November 07). Fountain of youth? Scientists discover why wound heal

quicker for young people. Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/fountain-of-youth-scientists-discover-why-wounds-

heal-quicker-for-young-people-8927387.html

Muscle. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/muscle.

Sprains and strains: Treatment depends on severity. (2017, October 04). Retrieved

November 08, 2017, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/sprains-and-strains/basics/definition/con-20020

95
 Stem Cell Basics I. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

https://stemcells.nih.gov/info/basics/1.htm

Tendon vs. ligament. (n.d.). Retrieved November 08, 2017, from

https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19089.htm

Reflection

Annotated Bibliography: Biology

Bagley, M. (2017, August 09). What is Biology? Retrieved October 02, 2017, from

https://www.livescience.com/44549-what-is-biology.html

Livescience discusses the the different types concentrations under the microscope of

biology including biochemistry, botany, cellular biology, ecology, evolutionary, genetics,

molecular, physiology and zoology. Livescience also discuss the history of biology, which will

layer to my essay giving depth and layers to my paper about Biology; this adds logic to the paper

so it is not biased. This article uses pictures, bullet points and organized information creating a

visual like ability and credible reliance. This source is credible and should be used the paper.
Dimitriou, R., Jones, E., McGonagle, D., & Giannoudis, P. V. (2011, May 31). Bone

regeneration: current concepts and future directions. Retrieved October 02, 2017, from

https://bmcmedicine.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1741-7015-9-66

Bone Healing. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from

https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/bone-healing

Bone regeneration both its natural process and clinical projects are important to the

advancement of injury and biology. These articles show the reader in detail new how new

technology along with the bodies given talent work together to make the healing process more

efficient. The article, created by Board certified physicians, details with pictures the process of

bone injury which is imperative for the essay. Because this articles are by board certified

physicians and from a research article it makes them credible and reliable for my paper and

should be used.

Variables Affecting Time to Bone Healing During Limb... : Clinical Orthopaedics and Related

Research. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from

http://journals.lww.com/corr/Abstract/1994/04000/Variables_Affecting_Time_to_Bone_Healing

_During.6.aspxLindaman, L. M. (2001, January). Bone healing in children. Retrieved October

02, 2017, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11344982

This article plainly states why children are more susceptible to heal fast in bone injury

than adults, this will add to my paper because this is my fascination and interest in the biological

field. Along with this an article about the bone lengthening process demonstrates that younger

patients healed faster than older ones, supporting this idea of regeneration of young people is
more proactive. These researched clinical trials, which have been demonstrated numerous time

and have been approved, show that the idea has been tested, creating credibility in the article.

How to Become a Pediatrician - Doctorly.com. (n.d.). Retrieved October 02, 2017, from

http://doctorly.org/how-to-become-a-pediatrician/

Defining a what a pediatric doctor is helps supports my goal of wanting to be a doctor. I

want to concentrate of regeneration of wounds and injuries as a Pediatric Orthopedic or Pediatric

occupational therapist. The website contain a doctor with a baby smiling creating a happy

emotion in the reader of the article; appealing to the audiences feeling like this is called pathos.

The additional resource list at the bottom containing The Pediatric Association of Naturopathic

Physicians, Academic Pediatric Association, The International Pediatric Association, American

Pediatric Society and American College of Pediatricians shows the article credibility or ethos.

http://www.physioroom.com/injuries/bone_fracture/2_bone_science.php

Goswami, Gaurav K. Stem Cell Therapy for Sport Injueries.

www.sports-health.com/treatment/regenerative-medicine/stem-cell-therapy-sports-injuries

Accessed 2 Oct. 2017.

This article dives into what stem cells are and how they can be used in injury. My

fascination with regeneration must include stem cells because of their reproductive substance and

effectiveness in the healing process for bones, tendons, ligaments etc. and adds layers to my

interest in biology. This article was not only created by an Medical Doctor but also has been peer
reviewed. Peer reviewed means that the paper has been looked at be an outside source and

analyzed to make sure all information ins true and not biased. This shows the time, effort and

reliability that comes with reading the article.

Ruse, Michael, and Christopher A. Pynes. The Stem Cell Controversy: Debating the Issues.

Amherst, NY, Prometheus Books, 2006.

Although stem cell research is not new the debate continues over its ethical prominence

in the medical field. Adding this controversial issue shows the delay in injury regeneration

because of its moral aspects. This book was created by two scientist that studies cells over time

and even went on tour for the book. The popularity of the book contributes to the credibility of

the novel and shows a lot of people believe in their finding and it is more likely to be true

creating trust in the authors.