Name __________________________________ Block _______

POWERING THE HUMAN BODY

Resource #1 Resource #2 Resource #3

Water Oxygen Food

Functions Hydrates the body to Takes nutrients in and To provide nutrients and
induce circulation, waste out energy
maintain body temperature
and cognitive function

Body Systems Nervous Respiratory Digestive

Involved Circulatory Circulatory Nervous
Urinary Muscular Urinary
Digestive Nervous Circulatory
Digestive
Muscular Integumentary
Urinary
Integumentary
Reproductive
Skeletal
Ranking 2 1 3

Time before 3 days 3 minutes 3 weeks

“refueling” is
needed

Environmental Colder is better because if
Factors it’s warm then there will be
perspiration which releases
the water your body needs
to hold
Food also will affect it
some foods have a higher
amount of water in them
A lower altitude is better Average temperatures are
than a higher altitude better and extreme
Its also better if the air is conditions aren’t good
cold because your lungs
retain more oxygen than if
it was in warmer air

Personal/Human The lower activity the
Factors lower the loss of water, an
increase in activity leads to
higher level of cellular
respiration which results in
Lack of oxygen transfer
as age increases due to
environmental and
lifestyle choices
People with a higher BMI
will have more stored
energy those with lower
BMI have less stored
energy
 water loss and perspiration The metabolic rate is also a
factor men and children
have higher metabolic rates
and adults and women
have lower metabolic rates

Activity 3.1.2: The Rule of Threes

With each breath, we take in oxygen that feeds our cells and fuels the production of energy. Water
nourishes our tissues and helps regulate the level of chemicals in the body. The carbohydrates, proteins
and fats that we ingest in food supply energy, as well as build materials the body uses for growth and
maintenance. Each of these resources is vital to human survival. But how long can the body last when one
of these resources reaches a critical low?

In Activity 3.1.1, you read the incredible story of Mauro Prosperi. Somehow, he beat the odds and
managed to survive under unimaginable conditions. The human body has the ability to adapt to internal
and external changes and to conserve valuable resources. In this activity, you will continue your
exploration of fuel and power in the body and debate the validity of a survival rule: The Rule of Threes.
You will discuss how factors unique to the person or the environment may help that person survive in the
absence of vital resources or, sadly, push him/her closer to the edge. You will continue to add
information to the chart you started in Activity 3.1.1.

1. Power Point Presentation with the class then complete the remaining portions of the Resource
Chart.
2. View the video clip from Human Body: Pushing the Limits.

Conclusion
1. In one sentence for each resource - water, food and oxygen – explain how this resource helps
provide power to the human body.
Water removes waste and hydrates the body. Food is broken sown into glucose to create
atp/energy for the body. Oxygen allows breathing and to move muscles.
2. What factors do you think influence how long your body can last without food, water or oxygen?
Size, condition, age, and gender
3. How do you think the brain and the nervous system assist in times of limited body resources?
They help to regulate where stored nutrients and fat are to give energy
4. How did the swimmer in the video prepare for the energy demands he was about to place on his
body?
He purposely gained weight and muscle to have stored energy to use, he gained enough fat that the
fat was burned and not the muscle
5. How did his body manage his fuel reserves? What macromolecules did his body look to first for
energy? What did his body do when this resource ran out?
 Carbohydrates are burned first then fat and then muscle. Burning muscle isn’t the greates because
the muscles get smaller and weaker, organ damage can occur like the heart
3. List the body systems that were affected during Mauro Prosperi’s journey across the desert.
Describe how you think he was able to last as long as he did. Think about how his body would
deal with his environment and how Mauro could work to conserve his energy resources.
The nervous system sent signals to the other body systems to reduce the amount of energy used
and to conserve water to essential body systems like the urinary system. The urinary system’s
hormones ADH and aldosterone would be limited, which conserved the amount of water his
body stored. The endocrine system would then send signals to hormones to regulate the
urinary system itself
4. What type of meal would a long distance runner or swimmer want to eat the night before a
grueling race? Explain your choices.
A meal rich in sugars, like glucose for fast energy, it would also be beneficial to eat
polysaccharides like starches like pasta which would then be stored in the muscles and the liver in
the form of glycogen and the body would be able to use that energy immediately during the race