Vlad finished the test which he began on Wed. After completion, the general overview of the digestive system was again presented on the board and with printed diagrams. Mechanical and chemical digestion were defined, along with the necessity for mechanical digestion. The large organic insoluble molecules were presented as carbohydrates like starch, proteins, and lipids. The small soluble molecules produced are sugars, amino acids and fatty acids

An exam on the unit dealing with endocrine glands was administered for the whole period.

The requirement for the ingestion of food, as a source of energy and to supply nutrients and energy for cell reproduction and growth was applied at the start the class. A discussion of the need for digestion to change the complex organic nutrients ingested into simpler organic molecules which can be absorbed and transported to the cells was undertaken. The division of the digestive system into two major sections, the alimentary canal and the accessory organs was defined on the board, with the corresponding organs and glands for each part listed. The physiology of each will be discussed in the next few lessons. A diagram of the system, labeled, was used to reinforce the system.

A life series video was utilized to examine the process of gestation and the development of the fetus. At each stage, the video was halted and a discussion of what was occurring commenced.
A discussion of sex linked traits, specifically hemophilia, was undertaken with an explanation of X and Y chromosomes and the trait carried on the X chromosome being the sex linked trait.

Having completed the hormonal control of sperm and egg production, the development of the embryo if fertilization has occurred was presented. Gestation, fertilization, zygote formation, implantation into the endometrium, formation of the placenta and umbilical cord, and cleavage of the zygote into many cells was shown using printed diagrams from the text.

Based on the previous lessons which involved the hormonal control of follicle maturation, ovulation, endometrial development, FSH, LSH control of hormone release, and the story of what happens when exogenous estrogen and progesterone is used. The history of the development of the modern oral contraceptive from it's derivation from Mexican Cactus plants to the micromilligram drugs now in use was discussed. The effects on the development of the follicle, the release of the ovum and the endometrial thickening was shown on a graph showing each of those changes from the normal.

Utilizing a print out which shows the development of the follicle and egg, the temp.of the body at each stage, the pituitary hormones produced at each stage, the ovarian hormones produced at each stage, and the endometrial development at each stage-the relationship between each was examined and discussed.

Vlad enjoyed playing table tennis with other students and me. We reviewed the proper grip of the paddle and both the forehand and backhand swing. Vlad was a good sport and gave one of the boys pointers on how to be more successful in the game.

The affect of the pituitary hormones, FSH and LH were shown to stimulate the production of androgens. The primary male androgen, testosterone was discussed first by comparing its structure to that of the female hormone estrogen. The nearly identical structural formulas was used to explain that some testosterone is converted to estrogen in the male. The main function of testosterone in the male was listed, including its effect on hair growth, muscle development, deeper voice, development of gonads, secondary sex organs, aggression, and libido.

Through a series of handouts and photos, the fertilization of the human egg was shown. The production of the sperm and egg by meiosis outlined, in detail, stressing the formation of 23 chromosomes from 46. The separation of X and Y chromosomes in spermatogenesis into 50% X and 50% Y was contrasted to the egg only containing X chromosomes. Hence Henry the eighth was responsible for lack of male offspring and not the headless queens.