I am currently trying to learn Anatomy and Physiology. I am reading through a free text book provided by OpenStax. Information about learning process factors into feedback, feedback that is useful information for improving process. Anatomy and Phsiology has many new terms. My major being Computer Engineering terms like fault tolerance and concurrency are normal. There is overlap in Anatomy and Physiology, a process on a computer is a different than a process on a Neuron. A major hurdle to tackle is the plethora of new terminology and acronyms. The sheer number of terms, getting familiarized is a bit diffcult. Glia, Axon, Dendrite, Mylenation, Astrocytes, Olegendrocytes, Schwan cells, Nucleus, and Ganglia to name a few from my read on the CNS and PNS, Central Nervous System and Peripheral Nevrous System.
I have been away from studying textbooks for a while thus my reading is more accustomed to different texts. If I can document the process of learning, what is simpler and what is harder I can likely improve the process for self and ideally others, teaching factors into greater throughput for learning for others and self. There appears to be a greater number of terminology, and many systems to get familiarized with.
A bit confusing
How action potential works. I realize a neurotransmitter causes a channel to open that charges the cell to +30mv via Sodium ions then to lower than -70mv when potassium ions leave. The idea of graded potential and thresholds make sense. How the signal propagates over the axon is still a bit confusing. How long the actual axon of one cell is is a bit confusing as well. Seems like axons are set to length in millimeters yet there is discussion about axons moving all the way from the synapse at your finger to the thalamus in your brain. That is much longer than millimeters (millimeters for length of axon and micrometers for diameter of axon).
Also the idea of white matter which is composed largely of axons wrapped in mylenation is also a bit confusing. Are there no dendrites on tract (CNS) and nerve (PNS) cells? Trying to line things up is a bit difficult and I might need to re-read to gain a better understanding.
I will continue to write feedback to hopefully inspire greater learning for others and self. There is a potential for the information to be clear, or clearer to others as the sheer volume of terminology and information is a lot to handle. Working on my memory and learning new terms hopefully will increase my neuroplasticity. Memory to useful, Brain to active takes work, work well worth investing in. What I invest in time today will likely factor into useful potential later on in life.
My Tech Blog 