Chochlear Implants

In class we learned that the ear catches sounds then converts the sounds into nerve impulses that travel to the brain.  We also learned that the cochlea is in the inner part of the ear.  The cochlea receives the sound vibrations and then transfers it into nerve impulses.  I am a big fan of watching the T.V. show Grey's Anatomy.  During an episode a couple of seasons ago, I remember watching a cute little boy trick or treating for ears on a Halloween episode.  I have yet to find a clip of the boy.  The little boy needed cochlear implants.  After learning about ears this week I wanted to see how these cochlear implants actually worked.  The cochlear implants go around the cochlea and uses its own electrical signals that stimulate the auditory nerve.  The small round device can be seen on the scalp. The device from the scalp also runs through the ear, into the ear lobe and past the cochlea.  There is a picture of a cochlear implant on the website I got the information from.  http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/eyes/cochlear.html

Foods that contain dopamine

This week we learned that Parkinson's disease is caused by a lack of dopamine.  The dopamine provides us with muscle control.  The dopamine producing cells are found in the midbrain known as the substantia nigra.  I looked online and found a couple of foods that contain dopamine (website below).  Beans, sunflower seeds, bananas, and nuts all have dopamine.  Eating these foods may help prevent Parkinson's and slow down the disease once it is diagnosed.  I have heard that walnuts are good for the brain, and coincidentally look like a brain. 




http://www.livestrong.com/article/469252-what-foods-have-dopamine-to-prevent-parkinsons-disease/

Rotator cuff injury

In high school my close friend who I played softball with tore one of her rotator cuff tendons.  She recieved injections of cortisone into the tendon.  I would make fun of her for taking steroids because cortisone is a type of steroid.  The cortisone provided her with some relief from the pain but it did not heal it.  Our rotator cuff is made up of muscles and tendons that give our arms a wide range of motion.  The muscles connect to the tendons which then connect your shoulder blade to the upper arm(see link below).  In class we learned how muscles do not touch the bone directly and they touch the bones through the tendons.  A tendon is formed out of three different types of collagen fibers coming together at the ends of muscles.  The epimysium fiber surrounds the whole muscle.  The perimysium surrounds the groups of muscle fibers known as a fascicle.  The endomysium surrounds the individual muscle fibers.  http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rotator-cuff-injury/DS00192