Principles of Health Science
History of Healthcare Test Review Questions
Summarize each of the following historical milestones and list 5 events or discoveries that lead up to
each major milestone.
1.
Germ Theory/Antibiotics
Germ theory states that there is one germ that causes one disease.
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The idea that there is a scientific reason behind being ill and not supernatural
Promotion of chemical remedies
Promotion of handwashing to remove the illness causing organisms that you can’t see
Invention of the microscope to see microorganisms
Identification of bacteria and viruses
The invention of penicillin and sulfa
Vaccination
Vaccines are weakened or altered forms of the germ given to produce immunity to the disease
(prevention).
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Germ theory
Invention of the hypodermic needle
Discovery of the antibody-antigen complex (immune response)
Discovery of bacteria and viruses
First vaccine for smallpox by Jenner…used cowpox sore fluid.
3.
Organ Transplantation
Many organs and tissues can now be transplanted from one person to another.
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Human anatomy dissection
Anesthesia
Discovery of Xray
Discovery of blood types
Kidney was the first successfully transplanted organ from one identical twin to another
4. Modern Surgery
Complex, long surgeries would not be possible if the following discoveries never came to be…
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Discovery of anaesthesia
Xray
Ligatures to bind blood vessels
Sterilization techniques
Successful blood transfusion
5. Detection and Treatment of Cancer
Cancer is the number 2 leading cause of death in the US. Remission and an increase in lifespan
after cancer can be traced back to the following…
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Cancer first mentioned in ancient times
Discovery of the lymphatic system
Discovery of DNA
Removing surrounding tissue with the tumor
Invention of chemotherapy
6. Cloning
Human cloning has not proven successful, but some animals have had their DNA successfully cloned
their DNA.
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Discovery of cells
Discovery of cell replication
Discovery of DNA
Mapping of the human genome
First mammal cloned…Dolly the sheep
Brainstorm three future events/discoveries and explain why you think it is feasible. These are
events or discoveries that you see coming in the future. What are they? How will they
contribute to the advancement of medicine? Who will benefit? What has to happen before the
discovery will happen?
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Some potential advances (rationales will vary)
Cure for cancer
Cure for AIDS
Transplantation of entire limbs
Regeneration of nerve tissue in brain and spinal cord tissue
Human organ cloning
Cure for diabetes
What were the contributions to medicine of the following individuals?
 Hippocrates: Father of medicine. Wrote Hippocratic Oath that is still used today.
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Nightingale: Established Modern Nursing
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Leewenhoek: Invented the microscope
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Laennec: Invented the stethoscope
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Pasteur: germ theory and pasteurization technique
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Barton: Founded the American Red Cross
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Crick and Watson: Discovered DNA double helix model
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Carson: pioneer in modern surgery and separated conjoined twins