The Structure of the Body by Valerie Voner, C.R.T.
The anatomical structure of the body is the organization of the body
and the relationship between the levels of this organization. The very
essence begins with the chemical roots of life. Chemicals combine to
form the cellular level — the cells that form the structure of all
living organisms. Although cells share a common structural bond, they
perform different specialized tasks as well. Each cell is styled to
perform life processes. Cells are minireplications of the body and
operate as such. Each cell metabolizes, breathes, reproduces, and
excretes.
Metabolism is the interaction of all the chemicals that pass through a
cell. One aspect of this process is catabolism, which is the action of
releasing energy, the food needed to sustain life. Another aspect of
metabolism is anabolism, which converts the food into structural and
functional compounds. Metabolism is continuous. Food is taken in and
then used in whatever part of the cell structure it is needed. After the
food is processed, the waste is eliminated and the process begins
again.
The Tissue
Cell groups that have the same structure and function become tissue.
The human body has four major types of tissue. The categories are
epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue. Each of these groups
performs a particular function. Epithelial tissue covers the body and
lines the organs. Connective tissue basically provides support and
protection to the body. Muscle tissue allows movement. Nervous tissue is
the major component of the nervous system, which has the ability to
receive and send signals as well as organize the body's activities.
The Organs
The next level of structural organization is formed when tissues
group together to become organs. Organs are structures with specific
functions. As the organs group together in related function, they form
systems. Finally, body systems work in concert to produce a complete
living entity, an organism. The cycle from cell to organism is a total
experience.
The anatomical regions that contain the internal organs are known as
body cavities.
Knowledge of these areas is helpful in explaining the position of many
of the reflexes. There are two main cavities. One is the cavity found in
the back of the body and the other is found in the front.
The back region is divided into two parts — one holds the brain and
the other the spinal cord. The front cavity is also two parts — the
chest region and the abdominopelvic region. The two divisions of the
frontal cavity contain all the major organs of the body. These divisions
help us to picture the body superimposed over the foot as we locate the
reflexes associated with these areas.
Essential
As you walk, you are affecting your entire body. Every feeling —
good, bad, or indifferent — emanates from the feet. The way you walk
dictates how the entire body functions. Proper gait allows for good
posture and pain-free existence. Many aches and pains in the body can be
directly related to the feet.
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the state of equilibrium that attains and maintains
balance among all the systems, allowing the body to function at its
best. Many factors can interfere with the exact state of balance
essential for good health.
For instance, stress upsets the delicate balance maintained within
the internal environment. The stimulus of stress may come from external
pressures such as heat, cold, lack of oxygen, or noise. Internal stimuli
like high blood pressure, chronic pain, unpleasant thoughts, or an
imbalance of chemicals can interrupt the harmony of homeostasis.
Reflexology works to restore this balance.
The Function of the Body by Valerie Voner, C.R.T.
There
are 11 principal physical systems within the human body. Each of these
structures has related functions indigenous to that system. However,
organ systems need to work together to survive. For instance, bones
without muscles would fall down as would muscle without bone. Imagine a
pile of bones trying to move with nothing to attach to.
Picture skin without bones and muscles to cover. Think about food
sitting in the body with no way out. The cooperative relationship
between the systems presents the highest level of organization within
the body.
The 11 major organ systems of the body are:
- Integumentary — the skin and related structures
- Skeletal — bones, cartilages, and joints
- Muscular — muscle tissue
- Nervous — brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sense organs
- Endocrine — all the glands that produce hormones
- Respiratory — lungs and all air passageways
- Cardiovascular — blood, heart, and blood vessels
- Immune — lymph, lymph vessels, and lymph structures
- Digestive — teeth, esophagus, stomach, and associated glands
- Urinary — kidney, bladder, and related ducts
- Reproductive — ovaries, testes, and all reproductive structures
The Integumentary System
The integumentary system is primarily the skin, and it provides a
protective covering over the entire body. Skin regulates the temperature
of the body, metabolizes food from the sun, and excretes waste through
sweat. Skin is a receptor for stimulus from the environment and
communicates this information to the nervous system. Reflexology is a
powerful stimulus that works to support the efforts of the integumentary
system.
The Skeletal System
The skeletal system is all the bones, joints, and cartilages of the
body. The skeleton contains 206 bones that are attached by ligaments,
tendons, and muscles. Bones provide support for motion and leverage, as
well as protection for the body and its organs. Bones also store
minerals and produce blood cells.
Fact
Bones are classified by shape. The four main shapes are flat, long,
short, and irregular. Flat bones are compact in shape and are found in
the skull, shoulders, ribs, sternum, and pelvis. Long bones are very
long, weight-bearing bones such as those in the legs and arms. Short
bones have small block shapes, such as the wrist bones. Irregular bones
have many shapes, such as the vertebrae or the kneecaps.
The Muscular System
While bones provide leverage and make up the frame of the body, they
cannot move by themselves. The muscular system provides the movement
necessary for the body through the contraction and relaxation of
muscles. When muscles contract, their function is to perform motion,
maintain posture, and produce heat.
Muscle tissue can be classified as cardiac, smooth, or skeletal. The
functions of these muscles are distinct. Cardiac muscle is found only in
the heart and it is involuntary. Smooth muscle lines the walls of
organs and is also involuntary in movement. Skeletal muscles are the
most abundant muscles, and these are voluntary.
Muscles that move voluntarily can contract by the use of your
conscious mind. Walking, running, talking, or any conscious intent of
motion is the voluntary use of skeletal muscles. You can decide not to
move out of your seat to greet a friend or to shake hands upon an
introduction.
Cardiac muscles and smooth muscles take direction only from certain
systems and are not controlled by you. You can hold your breath until
you pass out, but the lungs will continue to pump against your will, as
the smooth muscle takes over responding to the lack of oxygen.
The Nervous System
The nervous system is responsible for the proper function of the
body. The activities of the body are regulated through this system. This
structure detects and responds to changes in the internal and external
environments. The nervous system promotes reasoning and memory.
The nervous system has two major divisions. There is the central
nervous system (CNS), which is the brain and spinal cord; and the
peripheral nervous system (PNS), which is composed of the spinal and
cranial nerves. There are further divisions within the PNS creating
voluntary and involuntary responses through specific nerves.
The essence of the nervous system is its ability to keep
communication active among all systems in the body. A breakdown in
contact would lead to anarchy within the body. This system takes into
consideration all of the body's needs, continuously supplying what is
necessary for proper function. Reflexology works with the 7,200 nerve
endings in the feet, affecting the nervous system and all related areas.
Essential
The nervous system is like a computer. The brain is the mainframe.
The nerves are the connecting wires that reach out through the body to
all the systems that are connected to the brain. Sensory nerves send
messages from the body systems to the brain and motor nerves send the
brain's response back to the body.
The Endocrine System
The endocrine system controls and integrates body functions through
hormones that are secreted into the bloodstream. The endocrine system —
together with the central nervous system — holds the primary
responsibility for controlling the complex activities of the body. Both
are communication networks. The CNS transmits its messages through
electrochemical impulses while the endocrine system employs chemical
messengers in the form of hormones released into the bloodstream.
There are many hormones, and they affect the body in various ways.
This system can be characterized by four basic actions:
- Hormones control the internal environment of the body.
- They help the body cope with emergencies.
- Hormones assist in growth and development.
- They are essential in the process of reproduction.
All hormones are essential in the maintenance of homeostasis, as they
alter cell activity to promote balance. Endocrine glands are ductless,
meaning the chemicals move directly into the bloodstream. The body
controls the production of these chemicals, only producing what is
necessary. Reflex points relate to the hormone-producing glands;
reflexology helps to maintain the desired balance.
The Respiratory System
This system supplies oxygen to the blood and eliminates carbon
dioxide. The organs of the respiratory system carry air in and out of
the lungs. The process of respiration involves three procedures. The
first step is breathing, the act of exchanging air between the lungs and
the atmosphere. The other two steps, known as external and internal
respiration, involve the exchange of gases between the lungs and the
blood, and then the exchange of gases between the blood and the cells.
Reflexology helps to create a healthy environment for breathing, with
constant reminders by the giver to relax and breathe.
Alert
The respiratory and the cardiovascular systems have equal input in
the process of respiration. Homeostasis depends upon the participation
of both units. Failure of either system will disrupt the harmonious
operation of the body.
The Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system transports respiratory gases, nutrients,
wastes, and hormones. This system protects against disease and fluid
loss while regulating body temperature and acid-base balance. While the
cardiovascular system provides nourishment and life to all parts of the
body, it also transports energy for thought and action.
Cardio means “heart” and
vascular denotes the blood
vessels — these are the principals of the cardiovascular system. The
heart is built to pump large quantities of blood that is carried by the
vessels throughout the body for the exchange of oxygen and carbon
dioxide to occur. Arteries carry blood out into the body and veins bring
the blood back to the heart.
Working together, the lungs and heart cleanse the blood and the
circle continues infinitely. Reflexology promotes circulation,
augmenting the work of the cardiovascular system and supporting the
heart and the vessels.
The Immune System
Lymph vessels and organs work with the cardiovascular system as they
transport food and oxygen to the tissues of the body. Both systems
remove waste as well. However, the lymph system moves in only one
direction, toward the heart. The fluid recovered from the tissues, known
as
lymph, is returned to the circulatory structure to be used
again. The lymph nodes filter out bacteria before the fluid reaches the
blood for reuse. Reflexology works to keep the pathways clear, allowing
for smooth transition of lymph.
Fact
Lymphocytes, working with substances from the blood and other organs,
seek out and destroy invaders. T cells are produced in the lymph system
and, with other fighter cells, work to eliminate foreign matter that
weakens the body.
The Digestive System
The digestive system begins with the mouth and travels throughout the
body ending with elimination. Many organs are involved with the
function of digesting and eliminating. This system works by breaking
down food to be digested and then absorbing that food into the body. The
nutritional substances are converted to replenish and refuel our cells
giving vitality, strength, and continued growth.
Digestion is a process involving certain activities such as the following:
- Ingestion — eating.
- Movement — muscle contraction.
- Digestion — chewing, swallowing, and gastric chemicals.
- Absorption — digested food moves into blood and lymph.
- Elimination — waste products leave the body.
The alimentary canal and the accessory structures are composed of the
organs used in digestion. The canal consists of the mouth, pharynx,
esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The accessory
organs are the teeth, tongue, salivary glands, liver, gallbladder, and
the pancreas. Each of these formations performs an essential job within
the digestive system. Reflexology works with the digestive system to
bring about homeostasis within each organ, assisting in the overall
proper function of these structures.
The Urinary System
The urinary system removes toxins from the blood and maintains the
acid-base balance of the body. This system regulates the chemical
composition, volume, and electrolyte balance of the blood. The urinary
system works in conjunction with the respiratory, integumentary, and
digestive organs to eliminate waste. The excretory organs of these
systems offer other avenues for the waste products of metabolism to be
released. A primary function of reflexology is to remove toxins and help
to re-establish harmony. Reflexology supports and enhances the urinary
system.
The Reproductive System
This system can be divided into two branches: the male and female
reproductive systems. The organs are different yet the functions are
basically the same. Reproduction is procreation, the continuation of our
species, the sustaining of human life. This miraculous process not only
reproduces cells, but also allows genetic material to be sustained
through generations.
Fact
All of the body systems work together to produce homeostasis. All
systems interact; none can exist without the whole. Reflexology treats
the whole person and supports the work of the body in its entirety.
The functions of the organs in this system are to produce sperm and
ova, to secrete hormones, and to produce materials that support these
functions through storage and transportation of the reproductive cells.
The reproductive system interacts closely with the urinary, nervous, and
endocrine systems.
The many hormones necessary for reproduction and development play an
integral part in the operation of this system. The nervous system is
involved in the regulation of these activities through the impulses of
the nerves. Some of the organs of the urinary system are involved with
the reproductive system as well.
