Arianna Ortiz | November 7th, 2015 | 5th Period

Lost in the Desert Case Study

Human Anatomy and Physiology

Part I: July 13th, AM

1.

What should Henry do to save Mark? What caused Marks

weakness, nausea, disorientation, headache, and low blood
pressure? Why isnt he sweating?
a. Henry should attempt to get Mark in shade, remove extra
clothes, and cool him with cool water. Felling weak, nausea,
disorientation, headaches, and low blood pressure are all
symptoms of a heat stroke. Mark suffered a heat stroke because
he was in a temperature above 104 Fahrenheit for a prolonged
amount of time. Mark isnt sweating because his body is so
dehydrated that it ran out of water to sweat and bodys cooling
system stopped working because his body temperature has risen
very high in a short amount of time.

Part II: July 13th, PM

Why didnt the paramedic give Mark distilled water rather than
an electrolyte/glucose solution?
a. The paramedic didnt give Mark distilled water because distilled
water would not rehydrate and provide energy like the
electrolyte and glucose solution would.
3. Why did Mark become disorientated? How would you test your
ideas to see if you are right? What do you think based on the
information in the text?
a. Mark became disorientated because his blood pressure was low,
due to dehydration, which meant that his brain was not getting
the needed amount of blood pumped to it. To test my idea I could
test the mental capabilities of people with different blood
pressure.
2.

Part III: Subsequent Months

4.

What should Mark be concerned with regarding these moles?

He talked to dermatologist Dr. Charles Culp about the moles.
What tests might Dr. Culp conduct after removing the moles?
a. The moles could be cancerous (especially because he had a first
degree born). Dr. Culp should conduct a biopsy on the removed
moles.

Arianna Ortiz | November 7th, 2015 | 5th Period

Final Set of Case Questions

1. Key Terms
a. Heat stroke is a condition caused by overheating of the body
and is normally resulted from prolonged exposure to high
temperature.
b. First-degree burns are a burn that only affects the epidermis;
the burn site is normally red, painful, but has no blisters.
c. Electrolytes conduct energy and also regulate fluid balance.
They also support proper muscle and mental function.
d. Glucose is a simple sugar that provides energy to the body.
e. Melanin is the pigment thats responsible for the color of your
hair, iris, and skin color.
2. Assuming that Mark lost around 4 liters of water, what percentage of his body water
did he lose? Would you expect his urinary volume to decrease or increase during his
trek? Please explain your answer.
a. About 7-9% of Marks body water was lost and I would expect his urinary volume
to decrease, because his body is already losing fluid via sweat so by decreasing
his urinary volume his body was saving water and attempting to remain hydrated.
3. Why was Marks blood pressure so low? Would his pulse rate decrease or increase?
Please explain. Why was Mark dizzy and disoriented?
a. His blood pressure was low due to the fact that his body was losing water, which
means his blood was also losing water (because blood is basically mostly water)
so his blood pressure was dropping. His pulse was increasing because his heart
was working harder to pump his blood to the heart.
4. Assume that Mark had an unopened six-pack of beer in his car. Would it have been
a good idea for Mark to bring the beer along in case he got thirsty? Why or why
not?
a. Bringing the beer and drinking would not have been a good idea because although
beer is a liquid, it would dehydrate his body and make him urinate (causing him to
lose even more water).
5. What vitamin would Mark have in greater amounts in his body after that day?
a. Mark would have a greater amount of Vitamin D because he was in the sun all
day ad the sun gives off Vitamin D.
6. What did Mark do that increased his chance of burns?
a. He took off his shirt, which exposed his chest to strong UV rays from the sun.

Arianna Ortiz | November 7th, 2015 | 5th Period

7. Why would Marks skin have looked red within the first few hours of his adventure
rather than redness developing hours and days later as a result of sunburn?
a. Marks skin was red within the first few days because as his
temperature rose, his body altered the flow of his blood so that it
was closer to the body surface.