[Cristina Restrepo]

Leonisa, I am glad you found my explanation easy to follow. You also did a great job outlining each component of the nerve cell and its function as well as pointing out their importance.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Lesly, your explanation of how the blood circulates through the heart definitely paints a clear picture of the whole process. It was very easy to follow and understand. This is going to be particularly helpful when trying to remember key details of this biological process.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Leonisa, thank you for pointing out the other exception to the rule which are the pulmonary veins that instead of carrying oxygen-poor blood, in this case carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the heart. Your explanation of the subject was very concise and clear.

[Cristina Restrepo]

The nervous system is a complex collection of nerves and neurons that transmit signals between different parts of the body. The neuron or nerve cell has three main components: dendrites, cell body (soma) and axon.

The dendrites are branch-like extensions of the cell body and their purpose is to transfer information from other neurons to the cell body. Their function is primarily to receive signas from other neurons.

The cell body or soma is the main body of the neuron and it contains the nucleus. Its main purpose is to control the neuron’s overall function and integrates incoming signals from dendrites. Its function is to contain the nucleus and process information received from dendrites.

The axon is a long, cylindrical projection extending from the cell body. Its purpose is to carry signals or electrical impulses away from the cell body to other neurons or target cells, such as muscle cells.

The axon terminals are the end of the axon and its purpose is to form connections with other neurons at synapses.

The synapses are the junctions where neurons communicate with each other by releasing neurotransmitters. Their function is to transmit information or nerve impulses from one neuron to another.

The myelin-sheath is a fatty layer that insulates axons. Its function is to insulate and protect the nerve cell and speed up the transmission of electrical signals along the nerve fiber.

The nodes of ranvier are gaps in the myelin sheath that allow for faster signal conduction. Their main function is to facilitate rapid electrical signal transmission along myelinated axons through saltatory conduction.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Even though arteries and veins are both types of blood vessels, they differ in two main forms. One of them being the direction of blood flow and the type of blood they carry. Arteries carry oxygenated blood from the heart to the body, while veins carry deoxygenated blood from the body back to the heart. The pulmonary arteries are an exception to this as they carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs. They are the only arteries in your body that carry oxygen-poor blood. Another difference is that arteries have thicker, more elastic walls to withstand high pressure, while veins have thinner walls and valves to prevent back flow of blood, unlike arteries.

When it comes to the importance of the four chambers of the heart, they are crucial for efficiently delivering oxygenated blood to the body and removing oxygen-poor blood to the lungs. It works by the heart’s two upper chambers, the atria, receiving blood from the veins, while the two lower chambers, the ventricles, pump the blood out of the heart. This separation ensures that oxygenated blood is directed to the body and deoxygenated blood is directed to the lungs for gas exchange. It is also important to mention that the heart’s chambers work in a well coordinated manner, along with the heart valves, to maintain proper blood flow and prevent backflow of blood. This separation of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood is vital for efficient circulation and the delivery of oxygen to the body’s tissues.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Joseph, the concept of idea mapping is also new to me, however, I can see how useful it is to simplify and summarize the important details of the encounter, and at glance be able to tell the whole story. Definitely a great tool to successfully take notes as the encounter is taking place.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Leonisa, thank you for sharing the physical stimulus technique and how it works. I found it to be very interesting that the brain tends to retain information better if the learning process is more active. The video was packed with valuable information to help us along the journey so I will definitely try to incorporate some of these techniques when reviewing vocabulary to see which ones work best for me.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hello Joseph, you brought up a great point about physical exercise to keep the brain functioning as is supposed to and I had not thought about it in that way but it makes total sense as when you exercise there is increased blood flow to the brain, which delivers oxygen and nutrients, supporting brain cell growth and connections.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Lesly, I really enjoyed reading your post specifically the part where you highlight the importance of regular practice with medical terminology and also the metaphor used “use it or lose it” as it explains what happens when we do not practice or review familiar and unfamiliar terms pertaining to the medical field. The brain is like a muscle in the sense that it needs to be stimulated or worked-out to become sharper and stronger. So it is imperative for medical interpreters to practice and stay current in medical vocabulary and also be aware of any changes in either one of the languages spoken.

[Cristina Restrepo]

The video presented many techniques to improve mental retention. The first of them being visualization and association which is the idea of transforming abstract information such as words and converting them into vivid images and linking them together, in order to enhance recall and understanding.

Another method that was really interesting to learn was the backwards drill which involved changing the order of the information to be interpreted to start with the last thing that was said and go backwards until you reach the beginning of the idea. What counts is that the message being conveyed is the same not paying attention to the order of ideas. This technique works well when you want to interpret right away things such as numbers, names of medications, dates, difficult terminology etc. Along the same lines goes note taking for the medical interpreter as it takes into account things that are hard to remember such as numbers, medicines, dosages, names, dates, times etc. Symbols are very helpful when taking notes as they simplify words and allow you to be more efficient.

Lastly comes idea mapping, which is a powerful visual thinking tool that enhances memory, note taking skills, thought organizing, planning, creativity and communication. This technique uses color, keywords, lines and images to connect thoughts associatively. This approach frees you to think, see and understand the whole picture far more effectively than when using a multi-page, linear document outlining the same information.

All of the techniques mentioned are great tools to utilize when working on our mental retention skills as they set the foundation for a successful career in the medical interpreting profession.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Mental retention is crucial in the medical interpreting profession as it allows interpreters to remember key details such as specific patient instructions, medical terminology, numbers, names of medications, etc. Ultimately ensuring accuracy and consistency throughout the interpretation process.

As we enter this journey is important to know what things inhibit good mental retention to try to avoid them and work or incorporate the things that improve it. One of the brain’s worst enemies is stress as it destroys the brain cells and damages the hippocampus, which is the region of the brain involved with the formation of new memories and the retrieval of old ones.
Another brain enemy could be your diet as research shows that diets high in saturated fats increase your risk of dementia and impair concentration and memory. Also refined sugars have a negative effect on the brain as it can increase the risk of cognitive impairment.
Lack of sleep is probably the worst enemy of all as it prevents your brain from operating at full capacity. Things such as creativity, problem solving skills and critical thinking are compromised.

On the other hand, things that improve our mental retention and are highly beneficial are sleep, as is necessary for memory consolidation. Also research shows that having meaningful relationships and a strong support system is vital for brain’s health. Laughter is also good for your brain as it engages multiple regions across the whole brain. Keeping stress in check and eating a brain boosting diet including foods rich in omega 3 fatty acids are particularly beneficial for brain health. Colorful fruits and vegetables are also packed with antioxidants which protects brain cells from damage. Meditation is another brain boosting activity as it can improve focus, concentration, creativity, learning and reasoning skills.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hi Yona, you were spot on when you said that the art of medical interpreting isn’t found in memorization of medical terminology but instead it is found in knowing how the terms are composed. By understanding how prefixes and suffixes affect the root of a word it is easier to figure out the meaning even if it is an unfamiliar term.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Joseph, the accuracy of the interpretation service in the medical field is absolutely crucial as you had mentioned, it is the patient’s health and wellbeing at risk if there is any miscommunication or misunderstanding present as we are dealing with delicate subjects such as diagnosis of illness or disease, treatment options as well as medical exams or procedures that might be needed. Knowing how essential accuracy of translation is in this profession really highlights where I need to focus my attention in order to become a successful medical interpreter.

[Cristina Restrepo]

Hello Joseph, you bring a great point about finding balance when it comes to resources available to increase access of services for LEP individuals, specifically to qualified medical interpreters. I agree with your point of view, as there are many languages being spoken in a particular area and it is impossible to have medical interpreters for every language spoken, however, there should definitely be interpreting services for the most common languages spoken within a particular community.

[Cristina Restrepo]

As a medical interpreter it is important to know and understand the suffixes and prefixes used in medical terminology because it will help you figure out what medical terms mean as it is imposible for the human brain to memorize all the terms pertaining to the medical field. By understanding how words are composed and what suffixes and prefixes do to the root of words it is easier for medical interpreters to convey accurate and precise information by modifying these roots. This also helps to quickly convey complex information with fewer words. It is important to mention that prefixes add meaning to the beginning of a word while suffixes do it at the end of the term, often indicating a condition, procedure or disease.

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