Brain Sex

BBC Worldwide Learning

Busting some gender-related beliefs while supporting others, this program shows that brain chemistry doesn't fit neatly into male and female categories. Five men and five women are put through scientific experiments, exploring major sex-related brain functions-including emotional recognition, empathy, competition, communication, and basic cognition. Candid camera sessions reveal male and female attitudes and behaviors that correspond to the test results-while a scientist studies the brains of a couple who constantly disagree, searching for clues in their neural activity that will help explain communication difficulties. A BBCW Production. (51 minutes.)

Muscles

ITV

In this program, the diverse nature of muscle tissue is examined, from its gross structure to its detailed microstructure, where chemical energy is harnessed to produce movement. As muscle forms the basis for much of a person's body shape, we explore the ways in which this shape can be changed by the activities we perform. The program provides a complete introduction to the following topics: • Location and uses of smooth, skeletal, and cardiac muscles • Muscle structure and function • Aerobic and anaerobic respiration • Relationship between muscle mass and body shape • Neuromuscular disease • Physical fitness (20 minutes)

Functions of the Face

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report describes the anatomy and functions of facial features, and the evolutionary development of the human face. It explains how the mouth and nose work together to identify food, the process of chewing and swallowing, and the varying functions of the taste buds, saliva, teeth, tongue, and jaws. Combining principles in anatomy, anthropology, psychology, and zoology, the program also details how muscles in the face convey expressions and emotions, how humans and computers recognize faces and expressions, and how the aesthetics of attractiveness can be linked to facial symmetry. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (26 minutes)

The Evolution of Plants

Allegro Productions.

This Science Screen Report explores ways in which plants have evolved since moving from sea to land approximately 400 million years ago. The program describes how the evolution of vascular systems made terrestrial life possible and how plants with woody stems evolved into trees. With wide-ranging examples, including the Venus flytrap, the Wollemi Pine, and the giant sequoia, the video explains how different adaptations enable plants to reproduce, obtain nutrients, withstand fire, and ward off predators. It also covers basic botanical concepts such as photosynthesis, pollination, and germination. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Correlates to National Science Education Standards. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (15 minutes)

Blood Is Life

Jane Balfour Films

Every second, 2.5 million red blood corpuscles are formed in our bodies; in their 120-day life expectancy, each will cover about 250 miles in our blood vessels. In the course of a human’s life, 200,000 tons of blood are pumped through the body, supplying each individual cell with its necessities, removing waste products, and playing a critical defensive role in warding off foreign cells. That we can survive tropical heat and arctic cold with a relatively constant working temperature is only possible because of our blood. This program provides a thorough introduction to our blood. (45 minutes)

The Anatomy of Laughter

Muse Distribution International

What happens in our brains when we think something is funny? Is laughter a form of self-defense? Can a joke be scientifically analyzed? This program studies the human response to humor from a physiological and psychological standpoint. Highlighting the importance of vocal cords in producing laughter, the program contrasts human and simian forms of humor and gives viewers an evolutionary perspective on laughter's role in cooperation and adaptation. Also featured are interviews with comedians-one teenaged, the other 92 years old-who demonstrate basic joke mechanics, while doctors and patients express varying degrees of skepticism about laughter's healing power. (49 minutes)

The Anatomy of Crying

Muse Distribution International

Humans may be the only species to shed tears. Does that make crying a strictly human act? This program explores the deep well of animal instinct that, shaped by eons of evolution, still informs our expression of grief, fear, anger, and even joy. Focusing on the development of distress signals in early hominid infant behavior, the program investigates differences in crying between adults and children, men and women, and Western and non-Western cultures. The three varieties of tears-basal, irritant, and emotional-and their chemical makeup are identified, evoking a link between emotional release, the secretion of certain proteins, and the human body's metabolism. (49 minutes)

Overcoming Problems with Bladder, Bowels, and Swallowing

Animated Biomedical Production

This program addresses disability-related concerns that are matters of not only a person's health but dignity as well. The two types of long-term bladder problems-disinhibited and paralyzed bladder-are discussed, along with their management. The reasons for constipation and the different types of laxatives are explained, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the bedpan and commode. Various techniques are demonstrated for dealing with swallowing problems, and tips are provided on how to assist a person in eating. (27 minutes)

Bleeding and Coagulation

Wild Projects

This program scrutinizes the human body's intricate and essential mechanism of coagulation. Physiological and pharmaceutical hindrances to coagulation are discussed, along with interventions designed to regulate coagulation and to break down unwanted blood clots. Demonstrative case studies including a partial liver resection due to chronic hepatitis and liver cancer; a closed-skull trauma, ruptured spleen, and contusion of the lungs, complicated by sepsis; and arrhythmia with atrial fibrillation and an atrial thrombus, complicated by hypertension and bleeding in the brain, are included. (31 minutes)

Living with Today's Maladies

Benjamin Cummings

Despite steady advances in medical science, there is still no end to the long list of illnesses in need of treatment. This program examines symptoms and risk factors associated with a wide variety of maladies, including those that derive from the stresses of modern living. Respiratory disorders, such as allergies and chronic bronchitis; neurological problems, including headaches, seizure disorders, and MS; gender-specific diseases; digestive disorders; musculoskeletal problems; and contemporary afflictions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome and repetitive stress injuries, are featured. Strategies for prevention and intervention are also explored. (29 minutes)

Hypertension: The Facts

The Royal College of Nursing

This clinical program thoroughly addresses all aspects of hypertension, including risk factors, impact on the vascular system and organs, diagnosis, and treatment through lifestyle modification and pharmaceutical means. Special attention is given to the proper technique for taking blood pressure. In addition, the therapeutic values and side effects of hypertension medicines such as thiazide diuretics, beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin II receptor antagonists are described. (29 minutes)

Free to Breathe, Free to Live

Information Television Network (ITN)

For millions of people with respiratory illnesses, every breath is a struggle for life. Free to Breathe, Free to Live is a reality-style documentary that allows viewers to step inside the lives of patients who are grappling with respiratory diseases-and winning. Children attending specialized camps for youths with asthma are spotlighted, as are a number of adults battling a variety of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, including emphysema and chronic bronchitis. (58 minutes)

The Immune System

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

This program examines how the human immune system defends the body against disease-causing invaders-and how in some cases its antigen-fighting capabilities can be turned against the bodily cells it protects. Topics include the elements of the immune system, passive barrier defenses and nonspecific reactive responses, the humoral immune response and its associated antibodies, and the process of cell-mediated immunity. The program also addresses the importance of vaccines, the mechanics of allergies and autoimmune diseases, and advances in the field of immunology. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. A part of the series The Human Body: How It Works. (22 minutes)

The Endocrine System

Films for the Humanities & Sciences

After an introductory segment contrasting the human endocrine and nervous systems, this program addresses the complex physiology of the endocrine system. Topics include the endocrine organs and glands; the characteristics of hormones and the process of signal transduction; hormonal regulation of blood glucose and blood calcium levels; the roles of growth hormone, thyroid hormone, testosterone, and estrogen in bodily development; hormones and reproduction; and hormonal involvement in the fight-or-flight response. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Films for the Humanities & Sciences Production. A part of the series The Human Body: How It Works. (21 minutes)

Circulatory System: The Plasma Pipeline

Cambridge Educational

This program covers the circulatory system's important roles in transportation, purification, and regulation. Topics include the structure and function of the heart; the role of blood as a connective tissue; arteries, veins, and the flow of blood; the functions of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma; the lymphatic system; and maintaining a healthy circulatory system. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (27 minutes)

Digestive System: Your Personal Power Plant

Cambridge Educational

This program examines the processes by which the digestive system acts as a power plant for the body by turning food into energy. Topics discussed include the process of energy conversion; the structure and function of the organs of the digestive system; the role of enzymes; and maintaining a healthy digestive system. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (34 minutes)

Brain and Nervous System: Your Information Superhighway

Cambridge Educational

This program explores the brain and nervous system, using the analogy of computers and the Internet. Topics discussed include electrical impulses and how nerve messages travel; parts of the brain and their functions; how the brain and spinal cord are protected; the senses; and diseases, drugs, and their effects on the brain and nervous system. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (31 minutes)

Skeletal System: The Infrastructure

Cambridge Educational

This program explores the skeletal system, with an emphasis on its importance in providing structure and support for the body. Topics include how the skeletal and muscular systems work together to enable movement; the relationship between joints and bones; connective tissue; functions of the skeletal system, including support, protection, movement, storage, and blood cell production; and types of bones and joints. A viewable/printable instructor's guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (27 minutes)

Eyes and Ears

Goldcrest Films

This program is devoted to the senses that bring information of more distant events. The camera shows a reckless driver careening down a road-and then takes the viewer inside his eye, where the image of the potential crash site is pictured. The camera enters the ear, showing how the linked bones vibrate in response to a sound, and by using a computer graphic sequence, shows how the eye focuses on an image. (26 minutes)

Muscles and Joints: Muscle Power

Goldcrest Films

This program demonstrates, on a microscopic level, what happens when a kung fu master is at work: how muscles work, how two types of molecules telescoping against each other produce enormous strength as they work in large numbers, how muscles of the heart and digestive tract move without conscious direction. (26 minutes)

Decision

Goldcrest Films

This program shows how the brain coordinates functions to make a simple but lifesaving decision-how the cortex assesses incoming information, sends outgoing messages to the muscles, and stores "maps" of the world and the body; how circuits of nerve cells operate in the brain; and how individual nerve cells function. (26 minutes)

The Circulatory System: Two Hearts That Beat as One

Goldcrest Films

This program describes the structure and functioning of the heart. It analyzes the three basic components of the heart-muscle, valves, and pacemaker-and shows how each one contributes to the proper functioning of the organ as a whole. (26 minutes)

Monoclonal Antibodies

Skillbank Solutions Ltd

Using computer graphics, this program illustrates the difference between monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. It describes how lymphocytes in the bloodstream respond to the appearance of an antigen by producing antibodies to it. Problems with antibodies from the blood are discussed along with Milstein's solution. A step-by-step procedure to obtain stable hybridomas, a hybrid cell produced by the fusion of an antibody-producing lymphocyte with a tumor cell, through the isolation of lymphocytes from the spleen is demonstrated. (25 minutes)

Targeting Tumor Cells: New Strategies in Fighting Cancer

Deutsche Welle

The Pap smear was a diagnostic milestone in detecting precancerous cells. Researchers are developing similar tests, particularly ones based on genetic predisposition, as they learn to home in on other cancers. As this program illustrates, sophisticated screening is just one of the ways medicine has advanced the fight against a dreaded disease. The program also looks at the targeted destruction of tumors through drugs that either react to substances unique to tumor cells or suppress angiogenesis. The latest surgical techniques using lasers, robots, and endoscopes are examined as well. A Deutsche Welle Production. (26 minutes)

Your Immune System

Cambridge Educational

Every day is a new battle for the human body as microscopic intruders try to muscle their way in. What specialized cells and organs are there to resist them? This program clearly and concisely maps out the complicated human immune system, explaining both how it keeps the body healthy and what happens to the body if it malfunctions—or, even worse, if it shuts down completely. Beginning with the body’s nonspecific defenses, composed of the skin, tears, mucus, saliva, and stomach acid, the program then digs into the details of the specific defenses: the lymphatic system, the thymus gland, the spleen, and bone marrow. Three distinct types of white blood cells are classified, and the complexities of the humoral and cell-mediated immune responses are carefully sorted out. The program also describes a number of problems with the human immune system, running the gamut from allergies to AIDS. Vaccines and antibiotics are also discussed, as is the growing danger of bacterial resistance to current medicines. The effects of major histocompatibility complexes on transplanted organs are considered as well. Previously sold individually. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (28 minutes)

The Development of the Human Brain

Eolis Productions

This program follows the physiological development of the human brain from conception through the growth of the neurological system in utero, to the moment of birth, when an amazing variety of brain functions are already apparent. The camera continues to follow a child to the age of eight, as a whole range of motor and cognitive skills appears-some as simple as focusing the eyes, others as complex as playing the piano. (48 minutes)

The Sexual Brain

KCET TV

Study of the brain provides some of the answers that separate cultural and social from physiological distinctions between the sexes. Mammalian brains, including our own, show distinct differences between male and female in the thickness of the cortex and the size of the corpus callosum. The program shows some startling effects of hormone injections on brain structure and raises provocative questions about the sexual and reproductive roots of structural differences between males and females. (28 minutes)

The Anatomy of Reproduction

Digital Rights Group Limited

Dissection specialist Gunther von Hagens utilizes two cadavers in this program—an arrangement necessary for teaching human sexual anatomy. Von Hagens outlines the basics of male-female intercourse before detailing the physiology of human genitalia and the functions of important glands. Analyzing the penis, scrotum, testes, and vas deferens, he explains the process of sperm production and how, anatomically speaking, an erection occurs. Likewise, von Hagens examines the structure and makeup of the vagina, clitoris, labia, hymen, and uterus, then elaborates on the ovaries, egg formation, and fallopian tubes. An additional segment presents MRI images of a couple engaged in sex. Viewer discretion is advised. Contains clinically and sexually explicit language and demonstrations. (50 minutes)

Aspects of MS

Information Television Network (ITN)

While the cause of multiple sclerosis remains unknown, knowledge of how MS attacks the body is improving. This program outlines what happens to the central nervous system and its myelin nerve sheaths when a patient suffers from MS; describes how movement, memory, and vision can be impaired; and examines recently developed medicines that can slow the advance of the disease. Identifying areas of study that may yield important MS clues-including gender differences, genetic factors, and environmental triggers such as viral or bacterial infection-the program incorporates expert commentary from Dr. Richard Rudick of Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Patricia O'Looney, director of biomedical research at the National MS Society. (28 minutes)

Anatomy of the Shoulder

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

A ball-and-socket joint capable of a complex range of motion, the shoulder achieves its mobility through the sacrifice of stability, relying on surrounding muscles and tendons for strength. This program presents the technical specifications of the shoulder: what muscles sheathe it, how it functions, and its range of motion. Conditions such as bursitis, tendonitis, dislocation, and fracture of the clavicle are also discussed. (18 minutes)

Anatomy of the Knee

University of Sheffield Learning Media Unit

Although it is a major weight-bearing joint, the knee is surprisingly flexible in all manner of forward, reverse, and lateral motions. This program addresses the intricate mechanics of the knee joint's musculature, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. In addition, traumas to the menisci and the collateral and cruciate ligaments-the most commonly damaged structures-are described. (15 minutes)

Rays of Hope for the Brain

Telepool

How well do we understand the neurology of learning? Why does the brain’s ability to learn diminish as we age? Can science find a way to extend brain “fitness,” even for the very old? This program addresses those questions as it describes important medical experiments and studies. Topics include the central role of nerve cell connections in learning and cognitive development; cerebral plasticity, or the breakdown of unused connections; and growing evidence that plaque, diet, and poor blood circulation all “age” the brain. Tests at Germany’s Max Planck Institute and the University of Zurich highlight comparisons between healthy and Alzheimer-afflicted brains while assessing the potential for an Alzheimer’s vaccine.

The Body Machine: Part 1-Anatomy of the Human Power Train

Acorn Media UK

For engine power and endurance, nothing beats the human heart. Over a 12-hour period it propels enough blood to fill 22,132 wine glasses. The human chassis isn’t bad, either. Its bones are ultralight and tough as steel, not to mention that they produce 139 million blood cells every minute. Using animation and dramatizations, this program offers up surprising and enlightening facts about the body’s hard-driving machine. It reveals the amazing capacity of our lungs, which, in half a day, pump enough air to fill almost 4,000 balloons; the tug-of-war dynamism of human musculature, our anatomical transmission system; and the rapid-fire mobility of jaw and eye structures—including our “windshield wipers,” which blink 415 million times over an average life. Contains mature subject matter. Part of the series The Body Machine. (45 minutes)

I Can't Believe I'm Telling You This: Prostate Cancer in the Age of the Internet

Journeyman Pictures

Although many men have prostate cancer—a disease that occurs in two-thirds of all men by the age of 80—there is a culture of silence among patients that stifles conversation about it. The complexities of the illness, the disease’s location, and potential post-treatment side effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction have left them at a loss for words. But the Internet is changing that. In this program, three prostate cancer patients explain how they have used the Web to increase their understanding of the disease while pooling their knowledge and sharing their fears with fellow patients. If the barriers to beating prostate cancer are societal as well as scientific, then I Can’t Believe I’m Telling You This offers a powerful injection of hope. (59 minutes)

Cancer of the Throat or Larynx (in Spanish)

Ebix Inc.

People who smoke or use tobacco are at risk of developing throat cancer or malignant tumors of the vocal chords. Excessive alcohol use also increases risk. Most cancers of the throat or larynx develop in adults older than 50, and men are ten times more likely than women to develop them.

Shoulder Joint Dislocation (in Spanish)

Ebix Inc.

A shoulder dislocation usually occurs as a result of force to a joint. The bone is pushed out of the socket, which may cause damage to the surrounding ligaments, tendons, and nerves.

Coughing

Ebix Inc.

You cough at a speed of 100 miles per hour when clearing your breathing passages of unwanted irritants. First, your vocal cords open widely, allowing a large amount of air to be sucked into your lungs. Your epiglottis closes off your trachea, and your diaphragm and rib muscles contract. With the increased pressure behind it, the air is forcefully expelled, creating a rushing sound as it moves quickly past your vocal cords. The air dislodges the irritant, making it possible for you to breathe comfortably again.

Heartburn

Ebix Inc.

Heartburn has nothing to do with the heart. It’s a pain in the chest and a burning sensation in the esophagus, near the heart. When you eat pizza, for example, it passes from your mouth to your esophagus and on to your stomach. The junction between your stomach and esophagus normally keeps food and stomach acid from coming back up. Certain foods can affect the junction, making it less effective. The mucous lining in your stomach protects the stomach wall from being attacked by the hydrochloric acid that breaks down food. The esophagus has no mucous lining to protect it. When food and stomach acid regurgitate into the esophagus, a burning feeling, called heartburn, results. An antacid relieves heartburn by making stomach acid less acidic.

HIFU for Prostate Cancer

Ivanhoe Broadcast News

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death for men. Now, a new treatment is removing the cancer while still preserving a man’s quality of life.

Spaceoar Protects the Prostate

Ivanhoe Broadcast News

For men facing prostate cancer, radiation treatment can cause unpleasant side effects. A quick new procedure is changing that.

Prostate Cancer: Prevent It

Ivanhoe Broadcast News

One in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. Changes in diet could cut their risk of getting the disease altogether.

Men and Yoga Tackle Prostate Cancer

Ivanhoe Broadcast News

More than 200,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in the U.S. During their treatment, these men often suffer from fatigue, bladder problems, and sexual dysfunction. A new study says yoga may be the key to feeling better.

Extraordinary Powers of the Human Body: Part 1

Parthenon Entertainment

In the first episode of the series we meet people who can see, hear, touch, taste and smell in ways that the rest of us simply cannot. Through meeting an eagle-eyed fighter pilot, a man with some of the best hearing in the business, one of the world’s leading chocolate tasters, a tetrachromatic artist and some of the world’s top tight-rope walkers we will gain insight and understanding of how our senses work and how some people are able to experience the world in very different ways to the rest of us.

Extraordinary Powers of the Human Body: Part 2

Parthenon Entertainment

Muscles are an essential building block of the human body. We all have the same number of them and they can all do the same things except that some people have trained their muscles to enable them to do things that are a little out of the ordinary. In this episode, we meet a free-diving couple, both able to hold their breath for minutes at a time, incredible contortionists, brick breaking karate experts and the French Olympic swimming team and as always, we will uncover the science behind what is happening in their bodies.

Bedrooms and Hallways

First Run Features

Leo and Darren are two gay roommates living in London, each single and pursuing romantic happiness. While Darren strikes up a relationship with real estate agent and sex-fiend Jeremy, Leo joins a New Age men's therapy group and promptly develops a crush on fellow member Brendan - who is recently separated from his longtime girlfriend Sally! Director Rose Troche (Go Fish, The L Word) and a cast of actors including Kevin McKidd (Trainspotting, Grey's Anatomy), Simon Callow (Amadeus, Shakespeare In Love), Tony Award winner Jennifer Ehle (The King's Speech, Pride and Prejudice), and Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, The Lord of the Rings) have created a refreshing and thoroughly charming film that examines the trials and tribulations of lust and love.

Bowel and Bladder Retraining

Nevco Educational Video Inc

With a strong emphasis on client dignity and quality of life, this program provides information on normal bladder and bowel function, physiological changes in the abdomen that occur with aging, common types of bladder and bowel incontinence, practical techniques to help control involuntary urination and defecation, and the nursing assistant’s role in the assessment of incontinence and the retraining of elderly people to manage it. Designated for 2 contact hours of continuing nursing education. A viewable/printable facilitator's guide is available online. (27 minutes)

Osteoarthritis

Information Television Network (ITN)

Dolores relies on synovial fluid injections and physical therapy to overcome the osteoarthritis that at one time put an end to her hiking. George, diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, opted for hip replacement surgery before returning to the ski slopes. A new set of knees was the answer for Del, after having suffered a series of sports injuries while in college. In this program, viewers are introduced to the risk factors, symptoms, and treatments of osteoarthritis, with a special look at how the disorder affects people with an active lifestyle. Commentary from medical experts rounds out this video about the number one disabling disease for people over the age of 40. (26 minutes)

The Human Body Video Clip Collection

QA International

As amazing as it is complex, the human body is a marvel of biological machinery! This collection of 52 video clips (30 seconds to 2 minutes, 30 seconds each) combines high-quality film footage and detailed animations to take a close-up look at the body’s building blocks, the architecture of the body, the nervous system, the five senses, blood circulation, respiration and nutrition, and reproduction. Video clips include: • The Body’s Building Blocks—Introduction • The Human Cell • Chromosomes and DNA • Cellular Activity • Body Tissues • The Architecture of the Body—Introduction • The Skin • Bone Structure • Bone Growth • The Skeleton • The Head • The Spine • The Hand and the Foot • The Joints • The Muscles • Muscle Tissue • The Nervous System—Introduction • The Neurons • The Central Nervous System • The Cerebrum • The Nerves • The Motor Functions of the Nervous System • The Five Senses—Introduction • Touch • Sight • Hearing • Balance • Taste • Smell • Blood Circulation—Introduction • Blood • The Cardiovascular System • The Blood Vessels • The Heart • The Lymphatic System • Immunity • The Endocrine System • The Urinary System • Respiration and Nutrition—Introduction • Respiration • Speech • The Digestive System • The Teeth • The Stomach • The Intestines • The Liver, Pancreas, and Gallbladder • Reproduction—Introduction • The Male Genital Organs • The Female Genital Organs • Fertilization • The Life of the Embryo • Maternity (65 minutes)

Sleepiness: When Your Brain Has a Mind of Its Own

Andana Films

Although it might not be a crime to operate a motor vehicle when sleep-deprived, the truth is that a drowsy driver is just as dangerous as a drunk one. The impact of sleepiness on young minds in the classroom is alarming, too—and it’s staggering to think of the productivity lost when workers nod off on the job. This program looks at how the brain succumbs to sleep and how that process might be better managed, or even prevented, using specially developed tools and treatments. Introducing the concept of hypovigilance while outlining the role of the thalamus in sensory perception and the significance of circadian rhythms in daily life, the film follows the work of accident-analysis experts and visits a lab combining cognitive neuroscience with driving simulators. Meanwhile, a biologist describes his study of “time shifts” and how exposure to various colors, especially blue, can enhance alertness. The result is a fascinating look at the intersection of physiology, neurology, safety research, and the improvement of human efficiency. (Portions with English subtitles, 53 minutes)

Osteoporosis

Ebix Inc.

Many older women and some older men suffer from osteoporosis, a condition in which bone mass loss is greater than normally occurs with aging. Osteoporotic bone is shaped like normal bone but calcium loss causes the inside to be more porous and spongy. Osteoporosis makes bones more likely to fracture during walking, coughing, or bathing. Doctors recommend mild exercise to strengthen bones, a balanced diet with foods high in calcium, and, in some cases, surgery or hormone replacement therapy.

Defeating Cancer

BBC Worldwide Learning

For many of us, getting cancer is our greatest fear. What’s more, the chances are that eventually it may be a fear we will have to face. But science is at a crucial turning point in cancer treatment. This program follows three patients and their medical support teams as they employ advanced forms of personalized medicine in their fight against cancer. Ray’s doctor uses robotic radiosurgery to pinpoint malignant cells when Ray’s prostate cancer returns. Phil, diagnosed early, opts for a prostatectomy with the da Vinci laparoscopic technique. And Rosemary participates in new drug trials to combat her melanoma after surgery and chemotherapy failed to stop its metastasis. In addition, researchers from the Royal Marsden Hospital explain what cancer is, why some people get it, and what makes it so hard to treat. A BBC Production. (48 minutes)

How We Move: The Brain and Biomechanics

German United Distributors

At the twilight of an active life, Anna is now bedridden due to a serious fall. What makes the elderly-even those who are in full possession of their mental and physical faculties-more prone to falling than younger people? As this program demonstrates, the answer lies not in the body or the brain alone, but in their interconnection. Exploring Anna's past dreams of becoming a ballerina, the film shows how complex physical motion such as dancing or even typing requires sophisticated coordination between the body's neural, muscular, and skeletal systems. How aging affects such coordination, and how new artificial limb technology enables movement, are important themes in the program. (52 minutes)

Wonder Boy

ABC News

In this special edition ofNightline, Elizabeth Vargas follows Nathaniel Newman's amazing story of transformation: Newman was born with the facial anomaly Treacher Collins syndrome and endured 53 surgeries by age 11. Also interviewed isWonderauthor R.J. Palacio, who tells the story behind her inspiration for the acclaimed book—which the Newmans credit with easing Nathaniel's move up to middle school. And, finally, Christina Aguilera surprises the family who was inspired by her song "Beautiful."

Exercise: Your Return on Investment

The Wellness Network

Watch this clip to understand the benefits exercise provides for your body, mind, and overall health.

Heart Failure: Making Lifestyle Changes

The Wellness Network

Watch how making a few healthy adjustments in your everyday routine can reduce your symptoms of heart failure.

Pneumonia: The Importance of an Early Diagnosis

The Wellness Network

Watch what can happen to the lungs when pneumonia is left untreated, and learn some of the tools your doctor may use to confirm your diagnosis.

Stroke: Common Effects of Right Brain Injury

The Wellness Network

Learn the damaging effects caused by a stroke in the right side of the brain and how working with your healthcare team can help you recover.

Breathing Training and Pulmonary Illness

The Wellness Network

This video explains the normal breathing process and what happens in restrictive and obstructive lung illness. It helps patients with a pulmonary illness understand the techniques they can perform to help them breathe better even though they have a pulmonary illness. Pursed lip and diaphragmatic breathing are demonstrated.

Common Breastfeeding Positions

The Wellness Network

Watch demonstrations of the three most common ways to hold your breastfeeding baby.

Controlling Your Blood Pressure When You Have Heart Disease

The Wellness Network

Understand the health concerns of having high blood pressure, and learn several strategies to help keep your blood pressure within a healthy range.

Hand Expression in Breastfeeding

The Wellness Network

After watching this program, the viewer should understand the importance of hand expression when breastfeeding an infant and the benefits to mother and baby, as well as the specific techniques involved.

Managing Stress and Heart Disease

The Wellness Network

Understand the relationship between unmanaged stress and heart disease and learn several useful management techniques to reduce the stress in your life.

My Baby's Brain Condition

The Wellness Network

Learn about brain injuries and bleeding in babies. Includes common brain problems, tests, and what to expect.

Reducing Your Heart Disease Risk Factors After Heart Surgery

The Wellness Network

Learn what heart-healthy lifestyle changes you should make to help reduce health problems in the future.

What Is COPD?

The Wellness Network

Understand how healthy lungs work and how COPD affects them.

Breastfeeding: Latching On and Removing Baby from the Breast

The Wellness Network

Watch several moms demonstrate how to properly attach their babies to their breasts and safely remove them at the end of the feeding or when the latch is incorrect.

Breastfeeding: Overcoming the Challenges of Breastfeeding

The Wellness Network

Learn some effective strategies for managing the problems and stresses that new breastfeeding mothers often experience.

Diabetes Complications: Nerve Disease

The Wellness Network

Understand the cause and symptoms of nerve disease. Know what symptoms to look for in your hands, feet, and other organs to be able to tell your healthcare team immediately.

Acute Muscular Responses: Acute Responses to Exercise

ClickView Pty Limited

During exercise, multiple acute responses occur in the body to deliver more oxygen to the muscles. With the assistance of her CrossFit coach, a trained athlete, and a sports scientist, our presenter takes us through some of these responses, including recruitment of slow and fast-twitch muscle fibers, arteriovenous oxygen difference, enzyme concentration and lactic acid build-up.

American Gut Project

Inside Science

Imagine if you had an extra organ with 10 times as many cells as the rest of your body, and that organ affected everything from your digestion to your mood. It turns out you do have something like that, and it's made up of all the tiny life forms that live in your body's nooks and crannies.

The Skeleton

Cerebellum Corporation

The skeleton is the scaffolding of the human body, made of one of the hardest and most resistant materials found in nature. What are the skeleton’s functions? What is the role of bones in the manufacturing of blood cells? This program will answer these questions and more.

Ojos and Oídos

Cerebellum Corporation

Listen up! Your eyes and ears are some extremely cool and useful structures. The Standard Deviants start with a quick review of the nervous system. Then it's on to the ears and eyes: what they look like on the inside and how they work. You'll even learn about some common disorders that affect these delicate structures.

Angina: New Ways to Treat Chronic Chest Pain

Information Television Network (ITN)

It’s one of the scariest medical symptoms for people who are generally healthy: a tightening, painful feeling in the chest known as angina. In some cases, this chest pain can be a serious warning that requires immediate treatment. But for the millions of people with chronic, stable angina, the discomfort is something that can be readily managed with a variety of treatments. This episode of Healthy Body, Healthy Mind takes a look at what generally causes angina, what can be done to prevent it, and how it can be effectively treated with lifestyle changes, innovative drug therapies, and medical procedures. (27 minutes)

Hearing and the Cochlea

Ebix Inc.

As sound waves make contact with the ear, they travel through the outer ear into the external auditory canal and then strike the eardrum, causing it to vibrate. The central part of the eardrum is connected to a small bone of the middle ear called the malleus (hammer). As the malleus vibrates, it transmits the sound vibrations to the other two small bones, or ossicles, of the middle ear, the incus and stapes. As the stapes moves, it pushes a structure called the oval window in and out. This action is passed on to the cochlea, which is a fluid-filled snail shell-like structure that contains the receptor organ for hearing. The cochlea contains the spiral organ of Corti, which is the receptor organ for hearing. It consists of tiny hair cells that translate the fluid vibration of sounds from its surrounding ducts into electrical impulses that are carried to the brain by sensory nerves. As the stapes rocks back and forth against the oval window, it transmits pressure waves of sound through the fluid of the cochlea, sending the organ of Corti in the cochlear duct into motion. The fibers near the cochlear apex resonate to lower-frequency sound while fibers near the oval window respond to higher-frequency sound.

Digestion

Ebix Inc.

Food passes from your mouth, through your esophagus, and into your stomach. Here, for several hours it’s churned and broken down with hydrochloric acid and the enzyme pepsin. When food leaves the stomach, it goes to the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine), where digestive bile from your gallbladder and enzymes from your pancreas break it down more. Enzymes are chemicals your body makes to speed up the digestion of specific types of food. For example, trypsin breaks down the protein in foods such as meat, eggs, cheese, and beans. Lipase helps to break down fat, and lactase breaks down sugar in milk. When adults whose bodies don’t make lactase eat ice cream or yogurt, their digestive systems become bloated, and they expel gas. Humans can’t digest certain plant fibers because we lack enzymes to break them down. Once everything digestible is broken down, your body can absorb nutrients, using about 20 feet of intestinal plumbing. From the small intestine, nutrients are carried in your bloodstream to the liver, where any toxins are removed. Undigested food and water continue through your small intestine and into your large intestine, where water is reabsorbed. Finally, you eliminate a waste product (feces).

Sexual Differentiation: Intermediate

Ebix Inc.

A baby’s gender is determined at the time of conception when a sperm cell containing either an X or a Y chromosome fertilizes an egg cell. An X from the father means the baby will be a girl, and a Y means it will be a boy. Although the fetus’ sex is determined at conception, the external sexual organs do not develop until month 4 of pregnancy. At week 7 after conception the fetus appears sexually neutral, looking neither male nor female. Over the next five weeks a male fetus begins producing hormones, called androgens (mainly testosterone), which induce the sexual organs to form in a male pattern. This process is called sexual differentiation. A female fetus does not produce sex hormones, and the absence of androgens causes the formation of female sex organs. At week 7 the sex organs of a male and a female fetus appear identical. In both genders the genital tubercle forms either the penis in the male or the clitoris in the female. The penis and clitoris are called sexual analogs, because they originate from the same structure.

Heartbeat: Intermediate

Ebix Inc.

Your heart has four chambers: the right atrium, the right ventricle, the left atrium, and the left ventricle. The superior vena cava and inferior vena cava are called the great vessels because they bring blood from the body to the heart. The pulmonary artery transports blood to your lungs. Your heart pumps oxygen-rich blood out through the aorta, the largest artery, to the rest of your body. A series of one-way valves keeps blood flowing in one direction. These valves are called the tricuspid valve, mitral valve (bicuspid valve), pulmonary semilunar valve, and aortic semilunar valve. Surgeons can inject green dye into the superior vena cava in order to watch the heart go through the cardiac cycle. First, blood enters the right atrium then flows through the tricuspid valve into the right ventricle. When the right ventricle contracts, the muscular force pushes blood through the pulmonary semilunar valve into the pulmonary artery. Blood then travels to the lungs, where it receives oxygen. Next, blood flows back to the heart via the pulmonary veins and into the left atrium. From there, blood flows through the bicuspid valve into the left ventricle. When the left ventricle, a major muscular pump, contracts, it ejects blood through the aortic semilunar valve into the aorta and out to all the body systems.

Blood Pressure: Intermediate

Ebix Inc.

Each heartbeat forces blood to flow to your organs and tissues. The force on the walls of the arteries is called blood pressure. Blood pressure depends on how much blood the heart pumps, the diameter of the arteries through which blood is pumped, and other factors. Generally, blood pressure is higher when more blood is pumped by the heart and the diameter is reduced. Stressful situations can temporarily increase blood pressure. Systolic pressure is measured when the heart ventricles contract. Diastolic pressure is measured when the ventricles relax. A systolic blood pressure of 120 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury) and a diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg is in the middle of the range of normal blood pressures. A consistent reading of 140 mm Hg over 90 mm Hg qualifies as high blood pressure. If left untreated, high blood pressure could damage important organs such as the brain and kidneys.

Nerve Conduction: Intermediate

Ebix Inc.

Your nervous system has two parts, each containing billions of neurons. The central nervous system contains your brain and spinal cord, a fibrous, ropelike structure. The peripheral nervous system consists of thousands of nerves that connect your spinal cord and brain to your muscles and sensory receptors. Your peripheral nervous system transmits signals to and from the central nervous system for your reflexes, voluntary movements, and sensory information. In a peripheral nerve, each fascicle (nerve bundle) has hundreds of nerve fibers. In a neuron, dendrites (treelike structures) receive signals from other neurons and special sensory cells. These cells provide feedback on the environment—for example, on whether it is hot, cold, or painful. The axon sends signals from the cell body, where the nucleus is, to other neurons. Motor neurons manage voluntary and involuntary muscle control. Many neurons are insulated by myelin sheaths, much as pieces of electrical wire are insulated by plastic. A myelin sheath protects the axon, allowing electrical signals to move faster along it. The chemicals used for signaling between a neuron and another cell are called neurotransmitters. The chemical signal crosses a synapse, a space about a millionth of an inch wide. Neurotransmitters allow the billions of neurons in your nervous system to communicate with each other and with muscle cells.

Online Marketing Strategies

ClickView Pty Limited

As a marketing medium, the Internet now ranks ahead of TV, radio, and print as the preferred marketing method for businesses, brands, and organizations around the world. As a result, understanding and implementing online marketing strategies has become essential for anyone in business. From small and medium enterprises to multibillion-dollar corporations, online marketing must be included in any marketing strategy. This program contains interviews with online marketing experts and professionals as it explains and analyzes a range of concepts—such as search engine optimization, pay-per-click, viral and e-mail marketing, and coordinating an online marketing campaign. Specific case studies will help students develop essential skills and knowledge for a future on the wild frontier of the online universe. Viewable/printable educational materials are available online. (18 minutes)

The Creative Brain: How Insight Works

BBC Worldwide Learning

Today, scientists are using some unusual techniques to try to work out how these moments of creativity—whether big, small, or life-changing—come about. They have devised a series of puzzles and brainteasers to draw out our creative behavior, while the very latest neuroimaging technology means researchers can actually peer inside our brains and witness the creative spark as it happens. What they are discovering could have the power to make every one of us more creative. A BBC Production. (53 minutes)

Homeostasis

Digital Rights Group Limited

This program investigates how the body controls its internal environment. The steady state of the Earth’s biosphere is compared to that of the human body. An automated greenhouse and a computerized inventory system demonstrate how negative feedback loops use detection and response to maintain their own balanced states. The regulation of body temperature in response to extreme heat and cold is explored both in a sauna and on a mountain slope. The roles of the pancreas and liver in controlling blood glucose levels are described. And the control of water concentration at the cellular level and waste filtration via the kidneys are explained. The impact of alcohol consumption on temperature regulation and water management is also considered. (20 minutes)

Inside Cells: Cells and Their Organelles

ClickView Pty Limited

Take your biology students on a tour of an unusual art museum—the "Cell Gallery." Using electron microscope images and entertaining graphics, this program walks viewers through the basic components of a cell. The tour looks in detail at the structure and function of cellular organelles, including cell membranes, nuclei, mitochondria, chloroplasts, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticula, ribosomes, lysosomes, vacuoles, cytoplasm, cytosol and cytoskeleton, microtubules and microfilaments, and the Golgi complex. The program also covers the importance of internal cellular membranes and compares the relative sizes of the different organelles. (29 minutes)

Individual Differences: Gender, Training, and Physical Performance in Sport

ClickView Pty Limited

Why are some able to perform tremendous physical tasks, while others cannot? More specifically, why are males able to perform in ways females cannot? This program answers these questions and more by examining and calculating various indicators of physical fitness: percentage body fat, upper body size and strength, VO2 maximum, stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output, hemoglobin and red blood cell count, and arteriovenous oxygen difference. An ideal anatomical and physiological learning resource for students and teachers of physical education. (27 minutes)

Armoured Animals (Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities, Series 2)

BBC Worldwide Learning

Both the rhino and the hedgehog protect their bodies with formidable armor. Are these defenses really what they seem? The rhino’s thick folds of skin are in fact surprisingly sophisticated radiators. But what other purpose could a hedgehog’s spines have apart from protection? A BBC Production.

Secrets of Bones: Size Matters

BBC Worldwide Learning

Evolutionary biologist and master skeleton builder Ben Garrod shows us what bone is constructed from and how it can support animals that are both minuscule– a frog just a few millimeters long– and massive– the blue whale, 200 million times bigger.

Unmasking the Mystery of Acromegaly

Information Television Network (ITN)

Acromegaly is a hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone in adults. As this program reveals, the name acromegaly comes from the Greek words for “extremities” and “enlargement” and reflects one of its most common symptoms—the abnormal growth of the hands and feet. The symptoms of acromegaly can vary, and they develop gradually over time; therefore, this condition may be difficult to diagnose. Once recognized, acromegaly is treatable in most patients, but because of its slow onset, it frequently is not diagnosed correctly. If left untreated, acromegaly can lead to serious illness—including cardiovascular disease and diabetes—and premature death. (27 minutes)

Bigger, Better, Faster, More: Brain Doping

Java Films

Drugs that “enhance” thinking are nothing new—caffeine and even more addictive substances have, for better or worse, altered our cognitive abilities for centuries, while medications have long been prescribed for conditions like ADHD. But scientists are at work on entirely new kinds of brain-boosting advances which will be nonaddictive (theoretically, at least) and designed for general use. This program explores some of those innovations as it visits neuroscience research laboratories around the world. From the brave new world of “intelligence pills” to the technique known as transcranial direct current stimulation, pioneered by University of Sydney professor Alan Snyder, the film helps viewers assess the possibilities at hand. Is a new era of human creativity dawning, or will the end results amount to cosmetic neurology or worse? (52 minutes)

BPH: A Growing Problem

Information Television Network (ITN)

For many men, issues surrounding health are not ones they typically like to discuss. That’s especially true when it comes to anything relating to urological and sexual functions. But oftentimes, these issues will need to be faced. For men over the age of 50, the odds are high that they may eventually experience benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. In simple terms, BPH is a male urological condition caused by the noncancerous enlargement of the prostate. Exploring both the causes and results of BPH, this program discusses the latest treatments that can help men live much more comfortably with the condition. (27 minutes)

Rheumatoid Arthritis: Real Hope for the Future

Information Television Network (ITN)

The pain from rheumatoid arthritis can be so severe that it can leave patients helpless and dependent on others if left untreated. This condition affects 2.1 million Americans, 1.5 million of whom are women, according to statistics from the Arthritis Foundation. Today’s advances in biological therapies are giving most patients living with rheumatoid arthritis real hope for the future. In fact, early, aggressive treatment may prevent further deterioration of an affected joint and possibly reverse the progression of the disease. As this program explains, biological therapies represent a new approach that is showing real success. (27 minutes)

Last of the Giants: Medical Mysteries, Series 1

BBC Worldwide Learning

Giants are not just the stuff of myth and legend; they are real people, and their condition is caused by a medical disorder that can now be treated. Before his death in 2003, John Paul Ofwono of Uganda was the tallest man in the world. Here, we see him hailed as a celebrity in his country, while urgently needing treatment for acromegaly, the life-threatening condition from which he suffered. Acromegaly is caused by a disorder of the pituitary gland that causes it to produce excessive amou­nts of growth hormone. It is likely the same condition that made the biblical Goliath such a huge man. The program features famous giants and several young people who would have died in early middle age, but who have now been successfully treated. A BBC Production. (50 minutes)

Bladder Function: Neurological Control (in Spanish)

Ebix Inc.

When the bladder fills with urine, sensory nerves send impulses to the brain indicating that the bladder is full. The sensory nerves connect with other nerves in the spinal cord to relay this information. In turn, the brain sends impulses back to the bladder instructing the bladder to empty its contents.

Cardiovascular System Components

Ebix Inc.

While the heart, which is a powerful automatic pump, is the cardiovascular component we think of most often, the blood and the blood vessels are also components vital to health. Five to six liters of blood transport oxygen and nutrients to all cells in your body and carry waste products to systems that eliminate them. Most of your blood is made up of a watery, protein-laden fluid called plasma. Less than half the blood volume is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

Hearing

Ebix Inc.

Your ear has three regions: outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. When sound waves enter your ear canal, your ear drum vibrates. The vibration moves three bones in your middle ear called ossicles. The ossicles are also called the hammer, anvil, and stirrup; they are tiny bones that transfer and amplify sound waves to the oval window behind the stirrup. When the oval window vibrates, fluid moves across a membrane inside your cochlea, causing the membrane to move. Specialized hair cells translate this movement into nerve impulses, which your brain interprets as sound.

Skeletal Muscle

Ebix Inc.

When you work out, you increase your bulk and improve your skeletal muscle tone. Skeletal muscle is organized in a complex array of successively smaller structures. A unit, called a muscle fiber, joins other units to form fascicles, which are bound together by fascia, a type of connective tissue. Muscle fibers are made up of even smaller strands called myofibrils. The interaction of myofibrils as they slide and pull alongside each other enables skeletal muscle to do work and move things.

Sperm Release Pathway

Ebix Inc.

Male reproductive components are the testes, urethra, vas deferens, prostate, seminal vesicles, and penis. The testes are made up of seminiferous tubules, coiled structures where sperm production occurs. Sperm migrate to the epididymis, on top of the seminiferous tubules, where they mature and are stored. When the penis fills with blood and becomes erect, with sufficient stimulation an ejaculatory process begins. The mature sperm travel from the epididymis through the vas deferens, a muscular tube that propels sperm forward with smooth muscle contractions. The sperm arrive at the ampulla where secretions from the seminal vesicles are added. From the ampulla, seminal fluid is propelled forward through the ejaculatory ducts toward the urethra, first passing the prostate where a milky fluid is added to form semen. Finally, the semen is ejected, or ejaculated, through the far end of the urethra.

Muscle Types

Ebix Inc.

Your muscles do four important tasks: they maintain your body posture so you can walk upright; they stabilize your joints, so you don't flop around; they allow you to move where and when you want; and they generate heat. The three main muscle types are skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Skeletal muscle is the only muscle type under your voluntary control. It attaches to and covers your bony skeleton. Cardiac muscle, an involuntary muscle type, is only in your heart, where it makes up the heart wall and forms a specialized electrical conduction system. Separate heart muscle fibers act together so that your heart contracts and relaxes as if the fibers were one huge muscle. Smooth muscle is in the stomach and other body organ walls. Smooth muscle, like cardiac muscle, is called involuntary because it functions without your conscious directions.

Myocardial Infarction: Disease and...Ease

White Fox

Striking without warning, myocardial infarctions-also known as heart attacks-kill millions globally every year. They require emergency medical care and yet, despite their severity, they can often be prevented if a few basic personal and medical safeguards are adopted. This program looks at the causes, symptoms, impact, and treatment of myocardial infarction with help from experts, case studies, and compelling visuals. Viewers learn about the factors that lead to heart attacks and the behavioral steps, such as better diet and exercise, that can reduce heart disease and avert heart failure. The importance of preventive screening tests is also discussed. Expert commentators include Dr. Eugene McFadden of Cork University Hospital, Ireland; Dr. Francesco Prati of San Giovanni Hospital, Italy; and Dr. Gijs van Soest of the Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam. Helpful 3D graphics reinforce core concepts. Contains surgical scenes of a graphic nature. (Portions with English subtitles, 25 minutes)

New Study Links Athletes' Repetitive Head Injuries to Degenerative Brain Disease

NewsHour Productions

A 2012 Boston University study of the brains of deceased athletes linked repetitive head injuries to a degenerative brain disease called Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. PBS NewsHour correspondent Jeffrey Brown talks to Dr. Ann McKee, one of the lead researchers, and ESPN's Mark Fainaru-Wada about the evidence. Original broadcast date: December 03, 2012

Seeing is Believing

National Geographic

In this episode, you’re not going to be able to believe your eyes. Through a series of fun, interactive games and illusions, we’ll show you that what you see shouldn’t always be trusted - and often it’s your brain that’s to blame. A National Geographic Production.