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Did You Know # 37

As you can imagine there are at least twenty different muscles associated with the hip. I will do my best to write about the majority of them over a series of blogs and for those that I have already mentioned in previous blogs, I will provide the blog number for you to view them.

The hip anatomy can be broken down into four groups, those being the flexors, adductors, abductors and extensors. In this Blog, we will talk about the first two groups being the flexors and the adductors.

Ok, so here goes………

The first group being the flexor group of muscles are the anterior muscles such as the Quadricep muscle group and the Illiopsoas muscle group.

The Quadricep group consists of four muscles being the Vastus Lateralis (DYK blog #10), Vastus medialis (DYK blog #11), Vastus intermedialis (DYK blog #12) and the Rectus Femoris (DYK blog #14) and are responsible for flexing the leg at the hip for example, bringing the knee to the chest.

The Illiopsoas group consists of the Psoas and the Illiacus (DYK blog #27) which form one muscle attachment at the lesser trochanter (a notch on the thigh bone) which flex or bend the torso forward and bring the thighs toward the torso.

I have provided videos for stretching the Flexors at the end of this blog.

The second group being the adductor group of muscles are the muscles located on the inside of your leg and affectionately called the groin muscles. There are a total of five muscles, the Adductor Brevis, the Adductor Longus, the Adductor Magnus, the Gracilis and the Pectineus.

The Adductor Brevis which is the smallest, the Adductor Longus is the longest and the Adductor Magnus is the biggest of the Adductor muscles, all attach at the pubic bone and insert onto the Femur (thigh bone). These three muscles bring your leg inwards to your body however the Magnus splits into two with the posterior or hamstring part of the muscle rotating the hip toward your body. We’ll visit the Hamstring group in next months DYK blog.

The fourth muscle in the adductor group is the Gracilis. This muscle attaches at the pubis and inserts onto the tibia which is referred to as the shinbone of the lower leg. This muscle rotates the leg at the knee in towards the other leg.

The fifth muscle in the adductor group is the Pectineus. The pectineus muscle is a flatter muscle situated on the front and middle of the upper thigh and originates from part of the pubis. This muscle flexes the thigh toward the torso and rotates it toward the middle line of the body for example, when crossing your legs.

Injuries to the adductor group also known as a groin injury can occur when your legs move too rapidly outwards to the side for example when doing the splits or failing to keep your legs together when skiing or skating.

Next month we will look at the Abductors and Extendors so until then, remember to do your stretches

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health professional.

Did You Know # 36

You may recall our Did You Know (DYK) blog #32 in which we discussed the muscles and also fascia.

The Thoracolumbar Fascia (pronounced Tho-rak-o-lum-bar Fash-ee-a) is made up of the same collagen material and attaches from the Thoracic Spine (mid-section T7-T12) all the way down to the sacrum or tail bone, and out about one third to half way along the iliac spine or pelvis resembling the shape of a stingray and is an attachment point for many of the muscles in our body.

Beginning at the most inferior (lowest) position is where the lower body ie the Gluteus Maximus blog #7, attaches to the Fascia along the Sacrum and the Iliac Spine. As we head toward the upper body, the Transverse Abdominus and Internal Obliques (two of your tummy muscles) join the Thoracolumbar Fascia. At the widest part of the Thoracolumbar Fascia, is where an attachment point is formed for the widest and one of the largest muscles in the body called the Latissimus Dorsi aka the ‘Lats’. You may recall from our last blog that the Lats are a primary muscle for the movement of the upper limbs for reaching overhead for example. From this point the Thoracolumbar Fascia narrows to meet the origin point on the Thoracic Spine where it meets with the Trapezius (DYK#2). This point is called the Thoracolumbar Junction.

Well it’s not muscle so what could go wrong? Muscles have the ability to tighten and when this occurs there are a couple of things that can result. Due to the inflexibility of the Fascia, the muscles that attach to the Fascia may begin to compensate for the structure of the body being thrown out of alignment hence causing lower back pain.

While it’s beneficial to exercise and keep our muscles strong enough to support our skeletal system, we also need to stretch the muscles and connecting Fascia ie Thoracolumbar Fascia. Two stretches that I find helpful and gentle as well are the cat-to-cow pose and the supine lower back stretch which are included in the video below.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health professional.

#massage #shucra

Did You Know #35

You may remember reading about the Teres muscle in our DYK blog number 19 in which we talked about the muscles that form the rotator cuff group of muscle around the shoulder. This month we will look at this Teres muscle duo in more detail.

The Teres muscles are a group of two muscles, the Teres Major and the Teres Minor however these two muscles do not share the same functions even though they may be similar.

The Teres Major attaches to the lower outside of the Scapula or shoulder blade and inserts part way down the Humerus or upper arm bone and assists in movements when you pull your arm down toward your body or place your arm behind your back.

This muscle works with the Lattismus Dorsi (the large lower back muscle) for performing sports such as climbing, throwing a ball, swimming or tennis (when serving) where there is a downward /forward action. If this muscle is too tight, it can cause a restriction in your ability to lift your arm over your head and also affect other joints.

On the other hand the Teres Minor attaches to the outside of the Scapula but higher than the attachment point for the Teres Major. The Teres Minor inserts onto the Humerus however it is closer to the top of the upper arm bone making it a shorter muscle in comparison to the Teres Major. As mentioned in previous blogs, this muscle forms part of the rotator cuff group of muscles and with a little bit of help from the Infraspinatus muscle, assists in ensuring stability of the shoulder by keeping the Humerus placed properly in place to avoid impingement (pinching of the nerve).

If you have pain in your shoulder or are unable to lift your arm above your head, please seek professional advice from your remedial therapist.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP.

#massage teres Shucra

Did You Know #34

Did You Know (DYK#32) blog talked about muscles in general and I provided you with an example which included the muscles of the lower leg. This month I thought I would talk about the muscles in the lower leg but on the anterior (front) of the leg and in particular the Anterior Tibialis.

The Anterior Tibialis attaches to the top of the Tibia (shin bone) and two thirds of the way along the shin bone via interosseous membrane or fascia between the tibia and fibula. The distal end of the muscle attaches to the base of the 1st metatarsal or big toe via the base of the foot.

This muscle dorsiflexes the foot at the ankle which occurs when you point your toes to the ceiling when seated or lifting your toes off the ground when walking or running. It also inverts the foot (point your foot toward the other leg).

Injuries to this muscle occur when you begin to perform large volumes of walking or running or by playing a sport which involves a lot of running. Wearing the incorrect footwear can also contribute to injuries where you may experience pain in the front of the leg especially when lifting the toes off the ground. Swelling of this muscle can lead to compartment syndrome where the muscle becomes too large for the fibrous sheath which may affect blood flow to the muscle and damage nerves. If this occurs, applying ice and resting the leg is recommended, your GP may also prescribe an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and assist with pain.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP.

#shucra #anterior tibialis #massage

Did You Know #33

This blog is devoted to the many Dads who are celebrating Fathers Day this month.

It is and has been a way of life in which many men used to or still continue to watch or play some kind of sport. Whether it be soccer, football, baseball, cricket or golf, have you ever thought about the muscles that you use to hit, kick or catch and throw a ball?

You may think that when playing soccer that the leg muscles are the predominant muscles used and this is spot on. In order for us to run or to bring our leg back in preparation to kick the ball, we use our gluteal muscles (backside), our hamstrings to bare the weight of our body on our non-kicking leg, and then our quads together with the swinging action of our kicking leg to put force behind the ball when we kick it. The ankle is in plantarflexion (toes pointing to the ground) which involves most of the muscles in the lower leg.

Common injuries that occur when playing soccer are muscle strains particularly with the hamstrings as they bare the majority of our weight. The other common injury is ankle impingement in which the tissue is caught between the joints. As with most impingement injuries, it is treatable. So we have identified that the main muscles used are the leg muscles and ankle however what about the muscles used to keep the body balanced so that you don’t fall over? This task is where your abdominals or stomach muscles as well as your spine postural muscles for example erector spinae come into play.

For a sport where the upper body is predominantly used such as golf for example, according to Golf Week magazine, the shoulders, chest, arms and abdominals are the most important muscles used to obtain a powerful swing however flexibility in the wrists is required for chipping. Baseball is another sport which requires strong abdominals and chest but also wrists and forearms for slogging the ball out of the park.

Regardless of the sport the most common denominator as far as muscles used in any sport is the abdominals which provide stability, power and strength whether you swing a club or a bat, or kick, throw or catch a ball. This means that it’s time to get planking.. and I don’t mean on building ledges or stairwells.

To learn how to do a plank click below to watch the video.

#shucra #massage #muscles used in sport

Did You Know #32

This DYK on muscles in general was originally my number 3 blog. Instead of talking about one particular muscle this month, I thought that it was time to revisit the muscles in general. I have added further information to the original as well as examples to make it more interesting. So, here we go….

Muscles contain 75% water, 20% proteins and 5% fats, mineral salts and glycogen [1]. There are three types of muscle tissue, skeletal muscle which we use to move our arms, legs, fingers and toes for example, smooth muscle which is used for breathing, digestion and moving blood and lymph around our body; and cardiac muscle which pumps the heart. The smallest skeletal muscle is the Stapedius which is found in the ear [1].

There are two ways that muscle attaches to the body. One is via Fascia which is a thin sheath type substance that is found throughout the body and covers organs and muscles and; the tendons which are an extension of the fascia which forms thick and strong fibrous cords to attach the muscle to the bone.

The muscles work by responding to messages from the brain called nerve impulses or action potentials. When the muscle is stimulated by the action potential, the muscle contracts or shortens while pulling on the attachment points. For example, the gastrocnemius muscle in the lower leg (DYK#28) attaches to the Femur (the thigh bone) and inserts at the calcaneus (heel of the foot) via the tendon which is the strong collagen fibrous tissue called fascia explained previously.

When this muscle receives a message from your brain to raise your heel up to your Gluteus (backside), the Gastrocnemius muscle shortens which pulls on the heel of the foot and the other attachment point being the base of the femur (thigh bone). As the muscle shortens the foot is raised off the ground toward the Gluteus forcing flexion (bending) of the knee.

If you were to keep the leg in this position with the muscle shortened for an extended period of time, there is the potential to over work the muscle. If there is not enough oxygen, it can cause lactic acid to form and constriction within the muscle fibres which in turn causes pain and loss of proper muscle function for example, the muscle cannot lengthen from the shortened state. Although there is no known research that massage can assist in negating lactic acid formation, research shows that recovery time is decreased when massage treatment is performed after sport or exercise which is why you see massage therapist located in tents at running or walking events.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP.

1) Tucker L, An Introductory Guide to Anatomy & Physiology (2011). Image courtesy of intranet.tdmu.edu.ua accessed 15.02.15

#shucra #massage #muscle

Did You Know #31

I thought I would change it up this month a little and instead of talking about muscles, we’ll talk about bones.

Did you know that there are 206 bones in the skeletal system separated into two sections, the axial and the appendicular. The axial contains 80 bones consisting of the skull, vertebrae (spine) and ribs. The appendicular contains 126 bones consisting of the limbs and pelvis.

Bones are made up of cartilage containing collagen which undergoes a process called ossification. Ossification is where bone forming cells call osteoblasts, combine with minerals such as calcium which hardens the cells forming the bone. The bones are a site for the formation of blood cells and also act as storage for minerals like potassium and calcium. The tissue of bones is very similar to the rings found inside a tree trunk.

Bones come in a variety of shapes including the long bone which is kind of self-explanatory and includes the Humerus for example. You may recall our previous DYK#30 in which the Humerus is located in the upper arm. Another type of bone shape is the short bone of which there are numerous and can be found in the wrist (carpals) and feet (metatarsals) for example.

The sesamoid bone is a special shaped bone. An example of this shaped bone is the patella or what we call the knee cap which is the largest sesamoid bone in the body. Flat bones are usually smooth like the ribs or those found in the pelvic area which is a contrast to the irregular bones of the vertebrae which are different shapes with notches and knobbly bits.

Bones come together in the body to form joints and as the saying goes….. the thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone certainly rings true. This particular joint is called the Coxal Joint which is a synovial type of joint structure called a ball and socket joint.

There are three types of joint structures, the fibrous joint structure which is immovable and can be located in the skull called skull sutures. The Cartilaginous joint structures are a little more movable such as those of the ribs which allow movement of the ribs when you breathe. The last type of joint structure is the synovial which allows free movement such as the ball and socket mentioned earlier.

So to wrap up this DYK blog, there are 206 bones, divided into two sections containing 6 types of bones of which we have mentioned 5 in this blog. These bones link together in the body to form joints of which there are three types of structures allowing movement ranging from immovable to free movement. If you enjoyed reading this blog or would like more information please let me know. Cael, C. 2010, Functional Anatomy, Wolters Kluwer Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia USA.

#bones #massage #shucra

Did You Know # 30

Last month’s Did You Know (DYK#29) focussed on the anterior muscles of the upper arm so this month we will focus on the posterior muscles of the upper arm. The correct terminology for the Triceps is Triceps Brachii which is derived from the latin meaning of ‘three’ and ‘branches’ or ‘arms’. This large muscle is made up of three parts called heads which are the long head, medial head and lateral head.

Together, these three muscles connect the scapula (shoulder blade) and the humerus (upper arm bone) to the ulnar (lower arm bone) and extends the arm at the shoulder and the elbow (straightens the arm).

The long head of the triceps is the largest of this muscle group which attaches to the scapula (shoulder blade), assisting in stabilising the shoulder joint. The lateral head of the triceps is the second largest found on the outside of the arm, attaching to the groove at the top of the humerus (upper arm bone). The last and much smaller muscle in this group is the medial head which attaches at the base of the humerus towards the inner side of the arm. These muscles fuse together to insert into the ulnar (lower arm bone) near the elbow.

Injuries to this muscle can not only affect the full use of the arm but can also affect the shoulder, elbow and even the wrist if not treated by a professional.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health Professional.

#triceps #massage

Did You Know #29

While recently holidaying in the Fijian Islands I was injured doing a water sport (donut on a jetski) from trying to hang on for dear life while we bounced across the waves which, at one point, felt like we were airborne. After the activity was finished my arm was very fatigued from holding my weight for a long period of time which resulted in a small tear to my muscle… the bicep which is the subject for this month’s ‘Did You Know”.

The correct terminology for the Bicep is Biceps Brachii which is derived from the latin meaning of ‘two’ and ‘branches’ or ‘arms’. This large muscle is made up of two parts called heads which are the long head and short head. These muscles are located at the top of your arm and attach to different areas of the scapula (shoulder blade) fusing together half way down the muscle and then inserting onto the bone of the lower arm called the Radius.

The Biceps are used to flex the arm for example bringing your hand up to your face or even carrying a bag of groceries and lifting them up onto the benchtop. Guys usually like to flex these at the gym or even on the national news that I viewed recently.

Injuries to this muscle can not only affect the full use of the arm but can also affect the shoulder and into the upper back if not treated by a professional. Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health Professional

#massage #biceps

Did You Know #28

This months ‘Did you know’ post is about the calves, but not the ones you see in a paddock that make a ‘moo’ sound. I’m talking about the ones located on the lower legs. The calf muscles are predominantly a group of two muscles, the gastrocnemius and the soleus.

The Gastrocnemius or Gastrocs for short, are actual one muscle that has two parts or ‘heads’ which looks kind of like an upside – down love heart. These muscles attach to the Femur (the thigh bone) and insert at the calcaneus (heel of the foot) via the tendon (the strong collagen fibrous tissue called fascia that we spoke about in DYK # 3).

The second muscle that forms the calf muscle group is the soleus (pronounced sol-ay-us). This muscle is situated below the Gastrocs and attaches to the posterior surface of the tibia (shin bone which is part of larger lower leg bone) and the condyle of the fibula (the bone notch to the outside and behind the knee). As with the Gastrocs this muscle also inserts at the calcaneus (heel of the foot) via the tendon.

This muscle group flexes the leg at the knee for example when you lift your foot off the ground behind you during walking or running or when you do a quad stretch. The muscle also plantar flexes the foot which is when you are walking on your toes (tippy toes) or pointing the toes to the ground similar to a ballerina. This reminds of the littlies upstairs above the treatment room doing tap dance when they go ‘heel, toe, heel, toe…. galump, galump galump’.

If this muscle is shortened/tight it may also present as foot pain and discomfort especially around the heel and into the tendon. To ensure that you do not suffer from a calf muscle or tendon injury, you need to ensure that you perform regular calf stretches. An easy calf stretch is performed by standing approximately an arm’s length distance from a wall. With your hands on a wall at shoulder height, keep your legs straight with your belly tucked in, bend your elbows and allow your upper body to move closer towards the wall. You will feel a stretch in your calves depending on your muscle health. For a stronger stretch you can move your feet further away from the wall however you need to ensure that you do not ‘sink’ into the wall by ensuring you keep your back straight.

Please note that this is a gentle stretch for those who may be recovering from a muscle injury or foot pathology. There are a range of calf stretches available which may be suitable for those with healthy muscles or post workout routine.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health Professional.

#massage #calf muscles #Shucra

Did You Know #27

Welcome to our Did You Know post number 27 and as promised last month we have returned to the musculoskeletal segments.

In saying that, this months’ Did you Know' will feature the Psoas with the P being silent (pronounced so-as).

The psoas (in greek meaning “Groin Muscle”) is a large muscle situated in front of the spine but located behind the reproductive and digestive organs which makes it very difficult to treat but not impossible.

The Psoas begins at the last thoracic vertebrae (T12) attaching to the lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) and inserts at the lesser trochanter which is a boney type nodule on the inner side at the back of the Femur (thigh bone).

However, the psoas doesn’t travel alone and picks up two other muscles called the minor psoas and the Iliacus which also inserts at the lesser trochanter. These muscles form the iliopsoas which helps support and stabilise the spine and together with the Gluteus maximus (DYK#7) and the piriformis, connect the legs to the spine. They also work together to create the curve in the lower back to provide a pelvic tilt and are also powerful hip flexors.

This muscle plays a part in our fight or flight response (from last months did you know number 26) and is also a muscle that some say is the key to good walking patterns and provides a dancer with graceful like moves.

This muscle may be shortened due to prolonged sitting which can create lower back pain, hip instability and difficulty standing in an upright position. Regular stretching of this muscle is key to avoiding injury and my favourite is a yoga pose called the warrior I or for the guys out there who don't do yoga, a low lunge.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP or Health Professional.

#massage #psoas #shucra

Did You Know #26

Last month we completed this segment on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which carry information to and from the spinal cord via Spinal nerves.

This month we will visit the nerve segments and their functions

There are two types of components in segmental nerves which are Afferent (sensory) and Efferent (motor) components.

Special Somatic Afferent fibres communicate messages from the CNS to the joints and deep tendon reflexes concerned with posture and coordination of movement while General Somatic Afferents innervate the skin and respond to stimuli for example pain or pressure which is then communicated to the CNS where messages are sent back as pain, heat or cold. This is where the General Somatic Efferent neurons innervate the skeletal muscles as a result of messages from the CNS to pull your hand away from the source of the pain for example.

General Viceral Afferent neurons innervate structures such as the heart, intestinal organs and urinary function. Messages are sent to the CNS which are relayed back regarding sensations of fullness in the stomach and bladder for example. General Viceral Efferent neurons transmit messages out to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems which will be explained further in the blog.

There are six spinal segments innervating the body.

The upper Cervical C1 to C4, is located within the first 4 neck vertebrae C1-C4 which innervates the SCM (DYN#5) and Trapezius (DYK#2) muscles for example and controls head and shoulder movements including muscles.

The lower cervical C5 – C8, is located within the last two vertebrae C5 – C7. You will notice that there are eight spinal segments in the neck however only 7 vertebrae. This is due to the space between the C7 and T1 (the first vertebrae in the thoracic part of the spine). The lower cervical segment innervates the upper limbs which controls movements of the arms for example bending the elbow or arm rotation.

The next segment is the Thoracic and lower lumbar T1 to L2. This segment is located in the entire thoracic spine T1-T12 plus the first two lumbar vertebrae being the L1-L2. This segment innervates the torso and abdomen including the visceral. Neurons innervate structures such as the heart, intestinal organs and urinary function. Afferent messages are sent to the CNS which are relayed back regarding sensations of fullness in the stomach and bladder for example while efferent neurons transmit messages out to the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. The Sympathetic nervous system is your ‘flight or fight’ response where adrenalin is increased, heart beat is increased to provide more blood to muscles in preparation to respond to a threatening or stressful situation.The digestive system also slows down during this body response.The parasympathetic nervous system is your ‘rest and digest’ response where the body slows to conserve energy.The heart rate slows however the digestive system is stimulated which promotes elimination of toxins from the body via the bowel and bladder.

The lower lumbar, upper sacral segment L2 to S1 is located within the last three lumbar vertebrae L3-L5 and the first vertebrae of the sacrum which is a fusion of five ‘vertebrae’. This segment innervates the lower limbs and back and controls movement of the legs for example when walking or bending the legs and performing squats.

The Lower Sacral segment S2 to S4 is located in the middle of the sacral and innervates the pelvic region including the muscles of the uterus and genitalia, and also bladder and bowel function and sensation.

The last segment is the lower Sacral, Coccygeal S5 to CO2 which is located within the last sacral and coccyx (pronounced coc-six) which is the tiny bone at the very base of your spine. This segment innervates the perineal muscles and anus including reflexes and sensation.

This completes the Brain series of Did you know blogs. Next month we return to our usual musculoskeletal segments. If you have a specific part of the musculoskeletal system or a condition that you would like to know more about please contact me and I will feature it in the next newsletter.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If you are exhibiting symptoms please see your GP.

Information sourced from

Porth C.M and Matfin G (2009)., Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered health States. (8th ed, pp:1197-1204)

Did you Know #25

Last month we completed this segment on the CNS which is the body’s ‘control centre’ containing the brain and spinal cord which is protected by the skull and vertebral column. This month the focus will be on the peripheral nervous system (PNS) which carry information to and from the spinal cord via Spinal nerves. There are 32 pairs of nerves divided into five segments being 1 Cervical containing eight pairs of nerves 2 Thoracic containing twelve pairs of nerves 3 Lumbar containing five pairs of nerves 4 Sacral containing five pairs of nerves and; 5 Coccygeal containing two pairs of nerves.

Each nerve divides into two branches, one carries messages to the CNS and one that carries messages from the CNS to the nerve in the PNS. The two branches fuse together but divide again into two branches when emerging from the vertebral column; one called the dorsal primary ramus and the other called the ventral primary ramus. The Thoracic and Lumbar nerves however, have a third branch which contains sympathetic axons for blood vessels and body systems. The smaller dorsal primary ramus contains sensory fibres from the skin and motor fibres to the back muscles while the larger ventral primary ramus contains motor fibres that innervate the muscles at the front of the body and the legs and arms. Spinal nerves do not go directly to skin and muscles however form nerve networks called plexuses of which the PNS contains four – the cervical, the brachial, the lumbar and the sacral plexuses. Nerves join with other nerves within the network to form network branches. These branches however gradually decrease in size when exiting the plexus that supply the skin and muscles.

This completes this month’s segment on spinal nerves section of the PNS. Next month we will visit the nerve segment and their function within the PNS so stay tuned! Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If you are exhibiting symptoms please see your GP. Information sourced from Porth C.M and Matfin G (2009)., Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered health States. (8th ed, 1204)

Did you Know #24

Last month we started this segment with the CNS which is the body’s ‘control centre’, which contains the brain and spinal cord and is protected by the skull and vertebral column.

The focus was on the hindbrain and midbrain in which it was identified that Nerve fibres pass along the surface of the midbrain which are the main motor pathways between the pons (in the hindbrain) and the forebrain which is this months topic along with the spinal cord.

The forebrain consists of two regions, the Diencephalon and the telencephalon.

The Diencephalon forms three parts being;

1. The thalamus consists of two large egg shaped masses which are divided into sections relaying information back and forth regarding motor activities, coordintation and interpretation of information received auditory for example, a coma patient may remember things said in the room after recovery.

2. The subthalamus plays a part of the in relaying information circuit related to the basal ganglia (which is a deeper brain structure but we won’t go into for this segment).

3. The Hypothalamus controls the body’s internal environment which includes maintaining blood gases,water balance, food consumption and aspects of the endocrine function as well as autonomic nervous system control.

The second region the telencephalon, forms the cerebral hemispheres which are divided into four lobes and are named after the bones that cover them;

1. The Frontal lobe provides precise movement control for the distal flexor muscles of the hands and feet for example movements such as forming a fist or curling your toes or for actions that may require dexterity.

2. The parietal lobe provides somesthetic perception or where an item may be located in relation to the body

3. The temporal lobe is responsible for disciphering of sounds entering opposite ears.

4. The occipital lobe provides meaning for visual experiences for example, colour, pattern, motion, location and depth.

This completes the three regions of the brain so now we will talk about the spinal cord.

In adults, the spinal cord is located in the upper two thirds of the vertebral column from the base of the skull to the first two vertebrae in the lumbar or lower back region. From here the non-neural tissues angle downward and out forming what looks like a horses tail called the cauda equine.

The spinal cord is made up of white matter which contains nerve fibres that transmit information between segments of the cord to the higher levels of the CNS for example the brain stem or lobes as discussed previously. This white matter surrounds grey matter which includes neurons that leave the cord and enter the peripheral nerves and is proportioned with how much tissue is innervated by the segment for example, the lumbar (lower back)section contains more grey matter than the thoracic (middle back) as the lumbur region innervates the lower extremities which includes the legs.

The spinal cord is covered with a connective tissue sheath which also contains blood vessels and along with the meninges, fat and spinal nerve roots, sits within the spinal column protected by the body of the vertebrae (back bones).

The spaces between each of the vertebrae are filled with a cartilage disk and stabalised via ligaments however, there are gaps which allow the nerves to exit and also provide a passage for blood vessels.

The peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the spinal cord are called Spinal nerves which we will discuss in the next blog.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If you are exhibiting symptoms please see your GP. Information sourced from Porth C.M and Matfin G (2009). Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. (8th ed, pp:1202-1215)

Did you Know #23

You may have heard the idiom “to get on one’s nerves” which is used when someone or something is bothering you. But we are going to talk about nerves in the body. The nervous system consists of two parts, the Central nervous system or CNS which consists of the brain and the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system or PNS which functions as an input–output system for relaying information to the CNS. Due to the complexity and amount of content contained in the subject, we will divide this blog into a few sections over the coming months. This months ‘Did you know’ will focus on part of the CNS which consists of the brain and the spinal cord which are protected by the skull and vertebral column. The CNS is the body’s ‘control centre’ and will begin with the brain which can be divided into three regions, the hindbrain, midbrain and forebrain.

The hindbrain or brain stem often includes the medulla and pons which are the networks that control our breathing and eating for example.

The medulla represents the five cranial nerve branches which are; 1. The hypoglossal nerve which control the tongue muscle. 2. The vagus nerve which has several sensory and motor components for example the out ear, taste buds, gastrointestinal tract (including vomiting, swallowing and hiccup reflexes), the heart, spleen and the lungs. Damage to this nerve can result in slow gastrointestinal function and difficulty in swallowing. 3. You may recall my many posts about the SCM (DYK blog #5) and the Trapezius muscles (DYK blog # 2) which are the muscles for turning the head and raising the shoulders. These muscles are innervated by the third nerve branch being the spinal accessory nerve. Damage to this nerve results in dropping of the shoulder and weakness when turning the head. 4. The glossopharangeal nerve is associated with the gastrointestinal tract and provides taste and also controls salivation. Damage to this nerve can result in dry mouth due to decreased salivation. 5. The vestibulocochlear cranial nerve is the fifth cranial nerve. This nerve was formerly call the auditory nerve and is a sensory nerve for hearing and balance. Damage to this nerve can result in tinnitus which is ringing in the ears, deafness or vertigo and loss of balance. The second network within the hindbrain is the pons which is latin for bridge and is mainly for jaw movement during speech and for chewing food and represents two cranial nerve branches which are; 1. The abducens nerve which innervates the muscles in the eye. If this nerve is weakened or damaged it may result in droopy eye. 2. The Trigeminal nerve is the main sensory nerve conveying messages of pain, temperature and touch to the face, scalp, sinuses, mouth, teeth, tongue, ears including middle ear during high pitch sounds. The second region of the brain is the midbrain which is the source for two cranial nerves which are; 1. The oculomotor nerve is the pathway from which messages of movement to the skeletal muscles which involves turning, sound direction and raising the eyelids for example. 2. The tochlear nerve innervates the eye muscle which moves the upper part of the eye downward towards the nose. People who have damage to this nerve will find it difficult to walk downstairs and may tilt their head to the side that is damaged. Nerve fibres also pass along the surface of the midbrain which are the main motor pathways between the forebrain and the pons (in the hindbrain) but we will discuss the forebrain in the next blog. Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If you are exhibiting any symptoms please see your GP. Information sourced from Porth C.M and Matfin G (2009). Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States. (8th ed, 48)

#brain #massage

Did you know #22

This months "Did you Know" is about the Scalenes.

The Scalenes are a group of three muscles located in the side of the neck, the anterior, middle and posterior. The Scalenes attach to various vertebrae in the neck (C2-C7) and insert onto the first two ribs of the rib cage.

The Scalenes assist with bending the head forward, sideways and left to right acting as a stabiliser for the head. The Scalenes also protect the arteries and assist with breathing during inhalation by moving the rib cage up to increase the area in the thoracic cavity.

These Muscles can become very tight and feel like a group of guitar strings if they have been overworked, and can be responsible for the ‘kinked neck’ feeling when you sleep in an odd position. Hypertrophy (tightness or overwork) of these muscles can result in a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome which shouldn’t be ignored.

Massage can assist with releasing the Scalenes and avoiding associated conditions however, it is preferable that the massage treatment be performed by a qualified massage therapist.

Content of this post is for information only and does not replace the medical advice provided by a registered General Practitioner (GP). If symptoms persist please see your GP.

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