foot health practitioner diploma...

Foot Health Practitioner Diploma Course – Demo Unit –

FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONER

DIPLOMA COURSE

DEMO UNIT

TUTOR TALK: For the purposes of this demonstration, below is an extract of one of the

lessons from a course offered through E-Learn.uk. As a registered student you would have

full access to all the lessons of the course you are registered on.

TUTOR TALK: The learning outcomes for this assignment are:

• Introduce the main Characteristics that define Living Organisms

• Explore the notion of Cells and Tissue

• Demonstrate an understanding of Cellular Tissues

• Identify relationships in the Human Body

• Analyse the main Foot Movements

• Develop an understanding of the functions and characteristics of the Skeletal

System

TUTOR TALK: This course is concerned with the lower limb and even more so with the

foot. But neither foot nor limb exist in isolation. The well-being of the foot depends upon

the condition of the limb to which it is attached and upon the state of all of the body

systems which flow into and out of the limb. Each of these systems and the influence of

one system upon another need to be understood in order that we can apply understanding

to conditions seen in the foot which result from problems elsewhere.

This understanding is of keen and vital interest to the Foot Health Practitioner since the

structure upon which we shall focus most of our attention is the structure furthest from the

heart. The foot exists at the furthest reaches of the circulatory system where the heart is

least effective as a circulatory pump, where the pulse of blood-flow is much flattened and

may be further reduced by any narrowing or stretching of vessels, is dependant upon the

condition of non-return valves and where the return is against gravity. Because of this

relationship, the foot is often the first part to show the effects of any diminution in blood

supply.


Leonardo da Vinci referred to the human foot as:

(Leonardo was left-handed and wrote so that his writing appeared correct if viewed in a mirror)

In order to gain a true appreciation of this wonderful machine we must go right back to basics.

CHARACTERISTICS OF LIVING ORGANISMS

Biology is the study of life and living things.

Human beings are organisms living in a world populated by a great many kinds of living organism.

All organisms, from the most primitive to the most advanced life-forms, display characteristics by

which we recognise ‘life’. The seven characteristics listed here are common to all life-displaying

organisms and can be remembered by the acronym ‘RENGRIM’ where each letter indicates one

essential property of a life-form.

R = Respiration – an exchange of gases with the environment. Toxic gasses result from metabolism

and must be lost. Other gasses, usually oxygen, must be taken in to allow metabolism to occur.

E = Excretion – voiding of moderately concentrated solid, liquid or gaseous waste products.

Respiration is involved in loss of gaseous waste.

N = Nutrition – energy is produced from food-stuffs. The energy liberated by nutrition is used to

drive metabolic processes.

G = Growth – growth implies repair, as well as an increase in complexity and efficiency. Often

produces an increase in mass.

R = Reproduction – an individual organism has a limited life-span and must die. Reproduction

allows continuity of the species and replication of the genes – often with advantage to the next

generation.

I = irritability – sensitivity causes an organism to avoid substances and conditions threatening to

life, and helps the organism to identify substances and conditions conducive to life.


M = movement – assists in finding nutrition, favourable conditions or a mating partner and

avoidance of enemies and other threats to well-being.

To test the above, try applying RENGRIM to:

a. a dog

b. a tree

c. a pork chop

A dog will display all seven characteristics, and can therefore be said to have ‘life’.

A tree will also display all characteristics, but will display them in different ways to the dog.

A pork chop will fail on several counts, leading to the inevitable conclusion that it is not alive.

ORGANISATION

The basic unit of living tissue is the cell. A cell is a fairly simple basic building block which can be

modified and designed for any role. Cells are grouped together to form tissues. Tissues are combined

to create organs which perform a specific purpose. Organs work together in systems. But the

functioning of any system is closely related to the functioning of other systems, in an interdependent

manner, to form an organism, an independent living being.

cells individual units

tissues a group of cells having similar structure and function e.g. muscle or nervous tissue

organs different tissues grouped together to perform what is usually a single function, e.g. the

stomach is made up of involuntary muscle, blood vessels, nerves, epithelia, all

performing the function of digestion in the first part of the gastero-intestinal system

systems a group of organs associated together to perform a single overall function, e.g. the

alimentary canal combining together the buccal cavity, oesophagus, stomach, small

intestine, colon and associated glands

organism the single individual of a species made up of a number of organ systems, e.g.

alimentary, blood, nervous, muscular and skeletal systems


The organism works as a whole with each individual cell requiring food and oxygen and having a

need to be rid of waste products. Each cell is sensitive to any change in its surroundings, and

malfunction of any of its parts may upset the balance of the whole. The organism is dependant upon

proper collective function of its individual cells, and the individual cells are dependant upon the

organism providing servicing of cellular needs, nutrition and the correct environment in which the

cells can prosper.

CELLS AND TISSUES

If almost any structure from a plant or animal is examined microscopically it will be seen to consist

of more or less distinct units – cells – which, although too small to be seen individually, in large

numbers make up the structure or organ.

All cells have a cell membrane, a thin boundary skin enclosing the cytoplasm.

Most cells have a nucleus.

A Typical Animal Cell


SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

in a single layer (surface view)

SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

in several layers (side view)

WHITE FIBROUS TISSUE


SQUAMOUS EPITHELIUM

forms the walls of capillaries

COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM


YELLOW ELASTIC TISSUE

CILIATED COLUMNAR EPITHELIUM

CELLULAR TISSUES

TISSUES

A tissue such as bone, nerve or muscle is made up of many hundreds of cells. These cells are of just a

few types. The cells of each type have similar structures and functions.


There are four major types of tissues:

1. Epithelial Epithelial tissue is arranged in single or multi-layered sheets and covers the

internal and external surfaces of the body-skin and mucosa

2. Connective Connective tissue is the major supporting tissue of the body, and includes skeletal

tissue. All connective tissue has fibres present in the form of yellow fibres

(elastin), or white fibres (collagen)

White fibres are tough and non-elastic and are found in white fibrous connective

tissue. They are present in tendons, cartilage, bone and the sclerotic layer of the

eyeball

Yellow fibres are found in yellow elastic tissues such as ligaments, lungs and

associated air passages

Cartilage is a connective tissue with cartilage cells embedded in a matrix of

chondrin. Cartilage may have white or yellow fibres

Bone is a calcified connective tissue consisting of a matrix of 30% organic material

and 70% of bone salts – principally calcium and magnesium salts

Blood is regarded as a connective tissue

3. Muscle There are three types of muscle tissue:

i. Voluntary, skeletal or striated – attached to bone and under conscious

control. These tissues provide powerful and rapid contraction

ii. Involuntary or smooth – found in the walls of blood vessels and lining the

walls of hollow organs such as the gut and bladder. These muscles contract

slowly but powerfully and can work for long periods without rest, for

instance, to churn food and force it along the intestine

iii. Cardiac – found only in the heart and producing rapid, rhythmical

contractions throughout life.

4. Nervous Nervous tissue consists of neurons, the functional units of the nervous system.


• Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body and the relationship between the parts

• Physiology is the study of the function of those parts

For example:

If we say that the human heart weighs approximately 225g, is somewhat pear-shaped in appearance,

and lies two thirds to the left-hand side of the rib cage and one third to the right, this is to describe

its anatomy – its weight, shape and position.

This tells us nothing of how the heart works as a pump to force oxygenated blood around the body,

having caused the blood to first pass through the lungs in order to rid the body of toxic carbon

dioxide arising from metabolic processes. The science of physiology deals with the understanding of

how and for what purpose.

By combining anatomy and physiology of the heart, we can form an understanding of what it looks

like and what it does.

THE ANATOMICAL POSITION

If we regard the human body as a three dimensional object in space, we need datum positions and

landmarks to describe positions and relationships of one part to any other. The anatomical position is

universally recognised as a person standing erect, head, eyes and feet directed forward, the heels and

toes together, and the upper limbs dependant from the shoulders, palms of the hands facing forwards.

When viewed from in front and from behind, a body in this position displays every surface – with the

exception of the sole surface of the feet.

The anatomical position


FINDING OUR WAY AROUND THE HUMAN BODY

Terms of relationship are used to describe the relationship of one part of the body to another. These

terms always refer to the body as seen in the anatomical position. This ensures that the position of

structures can be clearly defined in relation to each other, and to the body as a whole.

anterior – to the front, anterior to... = in front of..., the ventral (belly) surface, that nearest the front

the umbilicus or navel is on the anterior surface of the body

posterior – to the rear, behind, the dorsal (back) surface, posterior to = at the back of…

the buttocks or gluteal region are on the posterior of the body

medial – middle, towards the midline, the surface facing the midline or nearest to the midline

the sternum or breastbone is a medial feature of the thorax or chest

lateral – to the side, away from the midline, furthest from the midline

the orifice of the ear enters the lateral surface of the head

proximal – nearer the attachment of a limb or structure, closer to the torso, further in

the knee is proximal to the ankle, the elbow is proximal to the wrist

distal – further from the attachment of a limb, further out

the ankle is distal to the knee, the toes are situated distally upon the foot

superior – above, towards the head, lies on top of…, the upper part or surface

the heart is situated superior to the stomach within the thoracic cavity

inferior – below, beneath, closer to the ground, the part beneath, the lower part or under-surface

the lower bowel is inferior to the stomach, the sole of the foot is the inferior surface

superficial – on or nearer to the surface, on the outside

the superficial veins of the leg may be prominent if varicose

deep – further from the surface, beneath

the superficial fascia lies deep to the skin

There are many other terms – these are the main ones which will suffice for the present.


Relationship terms

MOVEMENTS OF THE FOOT

Plantarflexion - movement of the foot downwards, away from the anterior surface of the tibia

Dorsiflexion - movement of the foot upwards, towards the anterior surface of the tibia

Adduction - bringing towards midline of body, or towards the 2nd toe if within the foot

Abduction - movement away from body midline, or away from 2nd toe of the foot

Inversion - inner border of foot is raised so that plantar surface looks towards body midline

Eversion - outer border of foot is raised so that plantar surface looks away from midline


These 6 movements are known as the gross movements of the foot

TUTOR TALK: We hope you have enjoyed this small sample from one of our Course

Assignments. Unfortunately, full access is only available to Registered Students.

© Copyright Reserved

foot health practitioner diploma...

Documents