The body’s functions are carefully controlled in order to maintain a stable “Internal Environment.” The hypothalamus and brainstem work with chemicals such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, Oxytocin, epinephrine, adrenaline, cortisone and others, mostly without awareness, but occasionally your awareness of too much estrogen causes allergic reactions to some type of foods, and you find yourself starting research. High levels of estrogen can mean there are products that can cause very important life reactions that I might not be aware of. The cortisone and adrenaline, can cause stress and burnout and fight, flight or freeze responses, which I never took in school. However, once I started down this path of research, I have not stopped as it peaked my interest back in the 70’s. There are pathways that modulate sensory inputs and carry information to and from the cerebral cortex. It plays an important part of monitoring and carrying the information to the cortex via sensory input. Who knew? It plays an important part of monitoring the autoimmune nerve system, (ANS), which is responsible for maintaining a balanced internal environment. 

The reticular formation contains neuronal centres that manage various functions such as heart beat, breathing so many times a moment, lung muscle movement, initiation of potential, blood flow regulation, heart respiratory, because breathing can be shallow and restricted when not open. It is also involved in regulating digestion, salivation, perspiration, sexual arousal, and keeps the brain alert and alive  and awake via the circadian clock. The reticular activation system receives incoming messages or sensory information and transfers it to the cortex, like impulses from the spinal cord. 

There are impulses from the spinal chord that can be threshold simulators, and they can be inhibitors as there is an inhibitor area in the Reticular formation that suppresses unwanted signals. Excitatory  areas of the Reticular formation transmit and amplify signals. 

The modula area Is involved in the spinal area, the pons is an area involved with the Reticular formation, and the cerebrum, the pontine, the cerebellum,  on the spine. These areas are connected to the cortex in 8 areas of importance. 123, 4, all the way back to area 17 are involved with the reticular formation for autonomic homeostasis, which I will get into later. Number 4 area is associated muscle movements, and 8 differing areas of connection in the cortex. 

Halothane and chloroform are known to anaesthetize the Reticular Formation activating system signal area. These substances effect the nuclei in the thalamus by effecting the flow of sensory information and stimulation from the sensory areas from the CNS for example. Together these actions of anaesthetizing these areas, the  brain then produces an experience of deep oblivion. 

Just for the heart beat regulation, you have the cardio vascular center, the vagus center, the medula, the parasympathetic nerve system, the sympathetic nerve system, the coronary artery systems, the heart muscle system, the atrioventricular node that relays electrical impulses from upper to lower chambers of the heart, the sinotrial nodes which set regular heart beats of 60 to 70 heart beats per minute. The speeding up of heartbeats, or slowing of heart beats the hypothalamus performs an executive function sending signals via the sympathetic nerve to speed the rate if necessary. 

Regulating breathing rates in and out, there is a collection of neurons in the Reticular formation called the dorsal and Ventricle respiratory groups that respond to levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood,  and regulate the breathing rate to adjust responses or activity or metabolism through electrical impulses that are sent by the Pontine respiratory centre.  

Basal breathing rate neurons in the brainstem sends signals to the intracoastal  muscle in the diaphragm,  setting the rates of contraction and relaxation.  There is also the Pons, and the Pontine respiratory center, the Dorsal respiratory grouping, the medula, the Ventral respiratory grouping, the inter-coastal  muscle grouping in the diaphragm. 

So How does the Hypothalamus function?

The hypothalamus contains many minute clusters of neurons called nuclei that perform specific functions including controlling body temperature, eating, drinking, water intake balance, hormonal levels, sleep and awake cycles as we have many other activation and excitatory actions. It has extreme connections to the Pituitary gland. The hypothalamus is the major control center for co-coordinating the limbic center and the autonomous homeostatic system. It produces vital responses to the body conditions and Initiates “feelings” such as hunger, thirst, anger, fear; so the function of the thalamus is crucial for survival or                                                                  

                                                     CRUCIAL FOR ANY SUBTLE DAMAGES  

because it can have dramatic effects on behaviour, adaptation abilities of the brain, and on the survival of the homo sapien hybrid.

The hypothalamus lies just below the thalamus closer to the brainstem and is the size of a sugar cube. The hypothalamus nuclei is a group of neurons within the hypothalamus regulating the body’s systems and the complete range of function is controlling and monitoring a number of systems. Many more are involved with the hypothalamus that we are not writing about in this article, but will at a later date. The pituitary gland, the anterior nucleus, the suprachiasmatic nucleus helps regulate body time, circadian rhythms, and has numerous connections to the Pituitary gland. The medial preoptic nucleus regulates production of sex hormones, the Ventromedia nucleus is involved with overeating and obesity, Posterior nucleus regulates body temperature based on input from cold sensors. Lateral hypothalamus areas are involved  with behaviour changes like anorexia, and many areas are monitored by the hypothalamus for health.

The body thermostat; The sun has thermoreceptors that convey data to the hypothalamus, about the surrounding temperature, and some are sensitive  to “a range of heat.” But they are not sensitive to both. The receptors travel the spinal chord to the hypothalamus where specialized nuclei receive information of various responses to bring core temps to 98.6 degrees. Some receptors respond voluntarily arising an area of conscious activity in the cerebral cortex,  while others are involuntarily triggered by autonomous systems like the Voluntary responses 

(1) Curling up

(2) exercising

(3) eating

(4) Putting on extra clothing 

(5) finding a heat source

Involuntarily;

(1) Shivering 

(2) Metabolic rate increase 

(3) Secretion of epinephrine 

(4) increasing supplies of glucose

(5) oxygen for muscles.

 

Oxidation of brown fat produces energy producing cells that generate heat. 

Contraction of blood vessels that reduce blood flow and increase blood pressure to retain heat. 

Piloelectiar fats are goose bumps and minute muscles at the base of each hair known as arrectores pilorum,  providing a layer of insulation. 

All are stimulants caused by initiation of movement necessary, of potential energy into kinetic energy and conservation of the electromagneticvibrational homo sapien adaptive hybrid as directed by the brain construct.

So tomorrow I will organize and put into action the writing on the Endocrine System. CDH

 

This article is written for Tabatha who though one had to be a bitch to study the brain like I did. You are so welcome to learn this Tabatha as you will find it so enlightening. from Carolyn d Hogarth to Tabatha and anyone else who is really interested in knowing “SELF.”