WaveRider Operating Manual
152
Copyright 1997-2004 Jonathan Purcell
All Rights Reserved
The para-sympathetic system if stimulated causes the:
pupils to dilate
nose to run
heart rate to decrease
force of contraction of the heart to decrease
bronchi to constrict
peristalsis to increase
urine output to increase.
These are all rest and digest responses.
THE BRAIN
The human brain has two hemispheres, three meninges and four lobes. The hemispheres are
the right and left halves of the brain connected through the corpus callosum. The three
meninges are the protective layers around the brain. The four lobes are the frontal, parietal,
occipital and temporal. Each of these will be described below.
The brain is a bi-laterally symmetrical organ, i.e. it is composed of two hemispheres that are
(with a few exceptions) mirror images of each other. In general each hemisphere controls the
opposite side of the body. Split brain studies which were done by severing the corpus
callosum connecting the two hemispheres in severely epileptic patients, provided a wealth of
information on the function of each hemisphere. The left brain controls the right side of the
body and is more prevalent in logical thinking, mathematics, verbal and analytical skills The
right brain controls the left side of the body and is more prevalent in spatial tasks, synthetic,
aesthetic and gestalt type thinking.
In the 1970's there was much popular writing concerning the two hemispheres of the brain.
Since that time information has accumulated that calls into question the simplicity of some of
the models then proposed. In fact, both hemispheres interact considerably in most complex
tasks. It is wrong to think of the two halves of the brain as separate systems. They are
intricately linked with one another and work together in most tasks. Indeed, if one side of the
brain is damaged at birth, quite often the other will take over its' functions.
The brain is bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. There are three layers of protection around the
brain, the so-called meninges. The most external of these, the DURA MATER (which means
"tough mother") is a thick tough layer of tissue adhered to the inside of the skull. The next
layer the ARACHNOID is named for its spider web like appearance. It has cerebrospinal
fluid circulating beneath it in the sub-ARACHNOID space. The PIA MATER is a thin layer
that adheres to the brain.
The frontal lobe is the largest of the four lobes of the cerebellum. It has an especially rich
connection with the limbic system. It is primarily involved in planning, decision making, and
purposeful behavior. The rolandic fissure separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe. On
the frontal side of the rolandic fissure is the motor cortex that directs the volitional control of
the musculoskeletal system.
Manymanuals.com
Manymanuals.de
Manymanuals.fr
Manymanuals.it
Manymanuals.pl
Manymanuals.cz
Manymanuals.es
Manymanuals-pt.com
Comentarios a estos manuales