Chemical Eric

Unit 4 Lab Problem

Chemical Eric

Dealing with the Disintegration of Central Control

Author: | Eric Ribbens

Department of Biological Sciences

Western Illinois University 

E-Ribbens@wiu.edu |

This case is adapted from the National Library of Case Studies in Science at the University of Buffalo, The State University of New York.  Copyright is held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, all rights reserved.

The photographs included in this case are the property of the author. Used with permission.

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*You may not duplicate this in any form.  You may print a copy for your own use only.  You cannot share the case on the open Internet in any way.  Violation of this will result in COURSE failure.

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Directions

This case is the true story of its author, Dr. Eric Ribbens, Department of Biological Sciences at Western Illinois University. 

The case traces his life-time history of medical problems, and you'll find that these are all about his Endocrine system.  There are questions for you to answer -- you'll find them in italics.  To exhibit a true understanding of Eric's issues, you will need to truly understand the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary- end organ axis and you will need to understand and discuss the feedback and regulation of hormones within the body. This is primarily a homeostasis case.  

Part I:  Eric's Boyhood

He was, his mother always said, the cutest little boy ever, and she adored him. So strong, so sturdy, confidently charging through life. At 10, he joined a Little League baseball team, and made the All- Star team in his first year. It wasn’t until quite some time later that she realized something was very wrong. 

Looking back, probably the first symptom appeared when he was 11. Promoted up to the next division in Little League, he mostly sat on the bench....