Diagnosing the Disease

Use your research skills to...

Diagnose the Disease

How does the malfunction of an organ or organ system affect the overall health of an individual?



Your tasks will be to:

  1. Click on this link to the "Body System Research Organizer" and save it to your computer account. Once it is saved to your account you will open it by going to: Start, My Computer, clicking on your name, and double clicking on the file name.

  2. Select a body system(s) to research. You may choose from:

    • Circulatory/Respiratory Systems, or

    • Digestive System, or

    • Muscular/Skeletal System.


Circulatory and Respiratory Systems

The circulatory and respiratory systems work closely together. A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in the circulatory system and a pulmonologist is a doctor who specializes in the respiratory system.

Patient 1 Symptoms:

A 65-year-old male is complaining of headaches, dizziness, and frequent nosebleeds. He is overweight and his blood pressure is reading 150/95. What is he suffering from? How should it be treated?

Angina Heart Attack Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

Patient 2 Symptoms:

A 12-year-old female is having difficulty breathing. She feels tightness in her chest and is wheezing. At times she coughs up mucus. What is she suffering from?

How should it be treated?

Asthma Cystic Fibrosis Emphysema



Digestive System

A gastroenterologist is a doctor who specializes in the digestive system.

Patient's Symptoms:

A 35-year-old male is experiencing heartburn. Sometimes he feels nauseous and vomits blood. On occasion he sees blood in his feces. In general, he feels tired and weak. What is he suffering from? How should it be treated?

Chron's Disease Acid Reflux Peptic Ulcer

Musco-Skeletal System

An orththopedist is a doctor who specializes in both the muscular and skeletal systems.

Patient 1 Symptoms:

A 73-year-old woman is complaining of lower back pain. As she is aging she is noticing that she has "shrunk." Over the past two years she has experienced several fractures. What is she suffering from? How should she be treated?

Osteoporosis Herniated Disk Arthritis

Patient 2 Symptoms:

A 4-year-old male is brought into your office. He has difficulty walking and "waddles" from side to side. He also has trouble standing up straight and holding his arms above his head. What is he suffering from? How should he be treated?

Muscle Cramps Tendinitis Muscular Dystrophy