Health Science
From Science Olympiad Student Center Event Wiki
Contents |
Event Overview
Health Science is a Division C event that is dedicated to the study of the human body, including human anatomy, normal and abnormal bodily function, health and health maintenance, and the illness and disease of organs and organ systems. The systems studied are rotated from year to year and may include different disease scopes or focuses, depending on the specified systems.
Competition Format: Event exams may either be in the written test or station format, although the station format is preferred at the National level. Participants are given 50 minutes to complete an exam covering all of the event topics listed in the official rulebook. Teams are ranked by a raw score, determined by the number of correct answers, with ties broken based on either preselected 'tiebreaker' questions and/or quality of free-response answers.
2008-2009 Rules and Systems
The 2008-2009 season includes the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and circulatory systems and the effects of aging and disease upon them.
Circulatory System
| Competition Level | Health Concepts |
|---|---|
| Regional/State | Gross heart anatomy, including chambers, valves, the electrical conduction system, and basic cellular anatomy (pacemaker cells, myocytes, etc.)
Blood vessels and their different types (arteries, arterioles, veins, venules, and capillaries) Structure of an electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) and basic interpretation, including determination of heart rate and Measure the heart rate of an individual from different pulse points Measure the blood pressure of an individual with a sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) Calculate mean arterial pressure, stroke volume, and cardiac output using appropriate formulas Blood composition and the functions of its components Understanding of blood coagulation and the clotting cascade Regulation of blood volume and acidity within the body Basic genetics of blood typing, including ABO, Rh, and MN blood types; this may include paternity mysteries Describe and be able to label the flow of blood through the heart and body Gross anatomy and physiology of the lymphatic system and vessels Understanding of the following disorders: arteriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, hypertension, high cholesterol, stroke, myocardial infarction |
| National | Continuous versus fenestrated capillaries, including an understanding of the blood-brain barrier
In-depth understanding of the lymphatic system, including white blood cells, lymph nodes, lymph ducts, lymphatic capillaries, the spleen, and the thymus Autonomic regulation of the heart and an advanced understanding of heart function The physiology and functionality of aspirin in myocardial infarction and stroke Understanding of the following additional disorders: leukemia, heart block, thalassemia, mononucleosis, and Kawasaki's Disease Treatment and/or prevention of all the aforementioned diseases and disorders, including drugs, surgery, and other alternative treatments |
Skeletal System
| Competition Level | Health Concepts |
|---|---|
| Regional/State | Bones of the axial and appendicular skeleton, including the ability to label bones on a diagram and/or X-ray
Name, structure, and function of types of joints (ball and socket joints, fibrous joints, cartilagenous joints, synovial joints, etc.), including the range of motion allowed by each type Name, structure, and function of the muscles and ligament attachments that surround joints Structure, cellular composition, and function of bones, bone marrow, and cartilage, including the ability to identify components in cross-section Distinguish types of spinal vertebrae (e.g., cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) Understanding of the following diseases at the levels from the cell to the whole body, including the radiological features of each disease: osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fractures, disc herniation, scoliosis, anterior cruciate ligament tears, medial collateral ligament damage The effect of exercise on the skeletal system and the aforementioned diseases |
| National | Understanding of the following additional diseases: spinal stenosis, achondroplasia, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, spinal fractures, ankylosing spondylitis, and osteosarcoma
Treatment and/or prevention of all the aforementioned diseases and disorders, including drugs, surgery, and other alternative treatments Bones of the skull, including the ability to label them on a diagram Salter-Harris fracture identification system |
