Anatomy and Physiology

After an introductory segment on cell characteristics, this program discusses the way human body cells function and combine into the structures that sustain life. Topics include membrane permeability and the processes of passive and active transport; cytoplasm, with its cytosol, organelles, and inclusions; the constituent parts of the nucleus and the stages and processes of the cell cycle; the four basic tissue types; and the skin, the body’s largest organ. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online.

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.

Following the progress of a couple who are expecting triplets, from the 4D ultrasound scan to the babies’ dramatic entry into the world, this program describes the improbable sequence of biological events that result in the birth of a new human being. State-of-the-art graphics depict the journey of millions of sperm cells as they race to the egg, revealing how the best is selected to fertilize it after the others are destroyed by white blood cells; a body beginning to self-assemble; and the face of a developing embryo coming together. In addition, viewers meet a woman expecting her 16th child, and the oldest conjoined twins in the world.

Starting with a water birth shot in slow motion and featuring a stunning graphics sequence that goes inside the chambers of the heart, this program focuses on the countless small miracles the human body performs minute by minute in order to stay alive. Viewers learn how an infant’s first breath leads to a rewiring of its entire circulatory system—and meet a diver who can hold his breath for up to nine minutes, a man who can swim in glacial lakes so cold they would kill a normal person, and a woman who has lived on a diet of crackers for ten years. The video also demonstrates what happens when the body finally fails. Graphic footage of childbirth is included

The human brain is so sophisticated it takes more than 20 years to mature, making brain remodeling an essential part of growing up, as this program shows. Viewers find out how a newborn baby makes sense of the world—and meet a 1-year-old who copes with only half a functioning brain, Moken “sea gypsy” children who train themselves to see clearly underwater, a Vietnamese girl who speaks 11 different languages, and a 13-year-old stock car racer who proves that teenagers like to take risks. The video also looks at scans that display just how many brain connections are lost between the ages of 11 and 20.

With each inhalation, human beings take in potentially lethal microbes, while life-sustaining sunlight can also cause irreparable damage to DNA. This program explains how the body defends itself against these and other threats. Viewers are introduced to a bull jumper whose muscles give him the strength to avoid a violent death, a 3-year-old whose internal army fights off the flu, and a man who gets injured constantly to earn his living. The video also includes incredible footage of Richard Edwards’ radical double hand transplant as it shows how surgeons use medical expertise to exploit the body’s natural healing abilities.

Topics covered in this video include: Intro to Biology, The Chemistry of Life, Macro Molecules, Cells, Transport Across Membranes, and Cellular Energetics.

Topics covered in this video include: Cell Cycle and Mitosis, Meiosis, Mendel's Laws of Inheritance, and Inheritance Patterns.

Topics covered in this video include: Development of the DNA Structural Model, The Central Dogma, Gene Regulation, DNA Mutations, and DNA Technologies.

Topics covered in this video include: The Origin of Life, Basic Evolution, Evolution in Action, and Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium.

Topics covered in this video include: Physiology and Homeostasis, Nervous System, Endocrine System, Digestive System, Excretory System, Musculoskeletal System, and Immune System.

This program looks at the human body in motion, studying the interaction of the skeleton and muscles and the ways in which engineers and designers imitate these systems. Demonstrating how bones allow mobility while also providing protection, the program examines skeletal strength, calcium’s importance, the internal structure of bones, and their dependence on muscles for cohesion and power. Linking architecture, machine design, computer science, and other disciplines, this Science Screen Report offers a fresh way of understanding human anatomy. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. Produced in association with the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology and the Junior Engineering Technical Society. (14 minutes)

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)