Elrie Maree
STRESS…… SURVIVAL…… PANIC……PERSPIRATION…..PALOR…..
Heart rate,… breathing,…. Digestion …????
CRANIAL NERVES:
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The twelve pairs of cranial nerves primarily serve the head and neck and
only one pair (the VAGUS) extends to the chest and abdominal areas.
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These nerves control movements of the face, tongue, eyes, and throat
(including skin, muscles and membranes) and receive sensory input from
the special sense organs. The cranial nerves transmit information on
sight, smell, hearing, balance and taste to the brain for processing.
The cranial nerves are numbered in order and in most cases their names
reveal they most important structures they control.
submitted by elrie maree 2009-04-24
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DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRANIAL NERVES
By the forth week of development nuclei of all twelve cranial nerves are
present in the pharyngeal arches. All except Olfactory I and Optic II
nerves arise from the brainstem.
VAGUS NERVE:
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The word VAGUS means “wanderer” (vagabond) and the VAGUS in its
wanderings supplies the outer eardrum, the soft palate, a few taste
buds, larynx, trachea, esophagus, heart, lungs, liver, gall bladder,
pancreas, digestive tract, and the kidneys. Indeed it supplies all the
organs, except the organs in the pelvic area.
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VAGUS end in the walls of these structures and the cell bodies in the
walls of the structures conduct the impulse to the smooth muscles and
the glands of the body e.g. vagal effects on the heart is inhibitory.
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The chemo receptors in these cells react on the 02 and CO2 changes in
the bloodstream.
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Vagus also has an influence on coughing, sneezing, swallowing, speaking,
secretions of the glands and the sensation of hunger,
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Submitted by elrie maree 2009-04-24
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VAGUS STIMULATION:
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Various techniques may be used to cause stimulation of the Vagus nerve
to increase the flow of oxygen to the organs supported by the Vagus
nerve . The increase of oxygen will “ instruct” the smooth muscles to
relax and support the functions of hearing, seeing, sucking, swallowing,
speech, breathing, slow down the heart rate and improve digestion.
The follow techniques are used by medical and paramedical staff
to save lives through stimulation of the Vagus Nerve………………….
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PHYSICAL
911
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but do you feel anxious?, …do you panic..?… , ? increase in your
heart rate,…. fast shallow breathing….?, nausea?, diluted pupils?,
hands in fists? , poor digestion? …..colic?…..
submitted by elrie maree 2009-04-24
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In her book Mind Moves, dr. Melodie de Jager explains the following
exercise to stimulate the Vagus nerve in every day activities at home and
at school. It helps the body to relax so that better learning and
communication can be encouraged.
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Massage the indentation just below the collar bone (in line with the
eyes) on the left side of the body with the right hand. This supplies
oxygen-rich blood to the brain, relieves visual stress and reestablishes the electrical flow via the Vagus nerve to the stomach
and speech organs to help one relax and talk.
(De Jager 2009:62)
An increase in pressure is interpreted by the carotic body as an increase
in blood pressure. The autonomic nervous system is immediately activated
and this reaction stimulates the Vagus nerve to send messages to the
smooth muscles to relax. The heart rate slows down in an attempt to
lower the blood pressure.
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VAGUS AND EMOTIONS
Under stress, anxiety, intense excitement of joy a nerve running from
the brain to the adrenal glands triggers a secretion of hormones which
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surge through the body priming it for an emergency. These hormones
activate receptors in the Vagus nerve which carries messages from the
brain to regulate the heart, but it also carries signals back into the brain
to the amygdala. They activate neurons within the amygdala to signal
other brain regions to strengthen memory for what is happening.
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Emotions are essential building blocks to build memories for later
learning, emotional development and social interaction.
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Parent’s modify their children’s vagal tone by coaching them emotionally
e.g. by talking to them about their feelings, not being critical or
judgmental and problem-solving about emotional issues. These children
were better able to suppress the vagal activity that keeps the amygdala
priming the body with fight-flight hormones and so were better behaved.
( Coleman 1995: 20,21,227).
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Positive feedback and encouragement build stronger connections between
the heart and the brain.
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“When sensory stimulation is soothing, your baby releases healthpromoting chemicals “(Chopra 2005: 47).
“Both stress and survival set up incoherent patterns in the brain/heart
complex, allowing for quick reaction to danger and decreasing the
system’s ability to learn, remember or create.
Open up to every moment with full vulnerability and wonder with all the
innocence of the child mind “ ( Hannaford 2002: 13,14).
‘WE ALL LEARN THROUGH MEMORABLE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE”
(Biel 2005: 235 )
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THE
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TO STIMULATE THE FUNCTION
OF VAGUS
A,B,C of emotional development:
Affection……….Bonding…….Communication…….Developmental
opportunity……..Environmental interaction
The
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make eye contact
smile, laugh and talk to your partner/child
express warmth and touch
be sensitive and responsive
sing and dance together
read together
spend time together
lots of bear-hugs
firm massage
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(Goddard 2006:239)
“SLOW DOWN, SIMPLIFY AND BE KIND”
NAOMI JUDD
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atlas. 2005. The Human Atlas . Rochester Kent: Grange Books
Basmajan, J.V. 1974. Primary Anatomy . Baltimore U.S.A. : Waverly Press.
Venham Press Ltd
Biel, L. 2005. Raising a Sensory Smart Child. London: Penquin Books
Coleman, D. 1995. Emotional Intelligence. London: Bloomsbury Publishing
Plc.
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De Jager, M. 2009. BabaGim. Welgemoed: Metz Press
De Jager, M. 2009. Mind Moves. Welgemoed: Metz Press
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Goddard, S. 2008. What Children and Babies really need. Gloucestershire:
Hawthorne Press
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Grant, B. 1975. Grant’s Atlas of Anatomy. Baltimore USA: Waverley
Press
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Hannaford, C. 2002. Awakening the Child Heart. Hawaii: Jamilla Publ.
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Nilsson, L & Hamberger L. 2004. A Child is Born 4th Ed . New York:
Bantam Dell
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Marieb, E.N. 2006. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (8th ED).
San Francisco: Benjamin/Cummings Science Publ.
Moodie, R. 2009 . e-mail .Use of Vagal Maneuvers by Paramedics in
symptomatic Paroxysmal Tachycardia
Pansky,B. 1975. Dynamic Anatomy and Physiology. New York: Mac Millan
Publishing Co. Inc
Sadler, T.W. 2004. Langman’s Medical Embriology. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
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