Meet Cortex Man :: The Motor & Sensory Homunculus

I apologize for not blogging in over a week. The studying has been pretty hectic despite my absolute love for anatomy & physiology. Anywho...meet Cortex Man. The figure on your left is the Sensory Homunculus while the figure to your right is the Motor Homunculus. In order for you to understand what in the world these strange looking figures are, a little of neuroanatomy for you. If you took the brain & slice it in such a way that you look at it in a coronal point of view anteriorly (from the front), you will notice 2 equal hemispheres split down the middle via the Corpus Callosum & Longitudinal Fissure. The Precentral/Postcentral Gyrus should be easier to locate with the Central Sulcus as your reference point. These areas control the sensory & motor functions within our bodies.

Now...these figures represent what humans SHOULD look like & how, surprisingly, unproportional our anatomy should be according to what the precentral & postcentral gyri tell us. In the precentral gyrus (motor), certain body parts have a much larger motor area than others. For example, the hands have a HUGE coverage in the precentral gyrus for motor control versus the feet, which have small coverage, as displayed by Mr. Motor Homunculus. In the postcentral gyrus (sensory), the lips & head have a large coverage, therefore Mr. Sensory Homunculus exhibits the large lips & large head. Both models are similar, thus showing that the pre & postcentral gyri are somewhat similar in their motor & sensory control of the body, with some parts being larger or smaller than others.

I'm pretty sure you're lost. And if you're not, congrats. This was just some explanation before I bring up my point. My point in posting this is that Cortex Man (both sensory & motor) got me thinking. Yes yes I know they look pretty ghastly, grotesque & possibly terrifying in physical appearance. BUT if this is how we are supposed to look according to neuroanatomy, how would the world & it's people be to one another?

Would there STILL be discrimination based on looks? would anyone still have their insecurities if we all looked the same? In my opinion, if we all actually turned out the way our brain maps us out, there wouldn't be this competition for looks. Our society now has become so damn conscious over physical appearance & what people "should" look like that millions are overlooked because their physique isn't up to par...whether it involves size, height, facial/bodily beauty, whatever...this in itself causes those extreme insecurities & drive people insane. There are so many beautiful people in this world that are not taken into consideration or judged because of how they look.

Imagine if we all looked like Cortex Man. Despite his strange & awkward appearance, I see it as something unique & quite frankly beautiful in its meaning. If everyone looked the way our neural blueprint maps us & we were all the same...physical insecurity wouldn't exist. We would see others in a different light. Instead of outer beauty or physical appearance, we would all get the chance to know one another based on our hearts & how amazing many of us are on the inside.

No more of that glitz & glamor or judgement & discrimination. Yes it would possibly be quite boring...but our society, in my opinion, would be far more moralistic & everyone could accept others for WHO they are on the inside, NOT what they look like on the outside.

Alas, we are not. We come into this world proportional (most of the time...there are expeptions). Our body parts fit our size & ultimately we do not follow our neural blueprint. Even so, many people are still unsatisfied with how they turn out & do all in their power to alter their appearance via plastic surgery & what not.

Despite what you look like & how your turned out, do your best to accept it & love yourself. Your anatomy is what God gave you & you must take care of it by all means possible. And with that, overlook physical appearance in others & get to know who they are on the inside & see the beauty that lies within their hearts.

I myself have had insecurities with my physique. I've been judged, looked down upon, & overlooked. Yet now, I keep my body & soul active & healthy & day by day, I love & respect myself & my body more :)

As the old saying goes...& I truly believe this...beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Thank you Cortex Man.

I hope you learned something new about our amazing brains & gained some insight as well.

'Til next time.

Deuces.

"...And Unto Dust, You Shall Return..."

Today is Ash Wednesday my friends. This day kicks off the season of Lent for Christians. I have to say...this season is always a very enlightening, inspirational, & uplifting experience for me every year. As a devoted Roman Catholic, I find this time one in which I get a chance to re-discover & refresh the true meaning of sacrifice.

Every year during this time, those devoted to this season make a personal sacrifice for 40 days & 40 nights, symbolic of Jesus' 40 days in the desert where He underwent starvation & temptation before His passion. With the tradition of sacrificing something, it brings many closer to their faith. For others, it's merely something that they do due to obligation or to show off.

So many people give up simple things: chocolate, candy, soda, shopping, all that jazz. For me, I give up something personal, usually a bad habit not involving food. This gives me more of a challenge. On top of that, I also start doing something positive I don't usually do very often...to balance it out & make Lent more meaningful to me. It always lifts my spirits & touches me heart when I make my sacrifice complete...then when Easter comes around, it's one of the best days of my year.

Church today was great. But what bugs me the most are the "part-time catholics"...meaning those who show up ONLY for big occasions like Ash Wednesday, Easter, & Christmas & NOT normally every Sunday. They overcrowd the churches & make it uncomfortable & impossible to focus for the actual devotees who go to church every single Sunday. How can some people spend endless hours in the mall or shopping or going out & having a great time...when devoting time for church 1 hour once a week seems impossible? that never became clear to me. In my opinion, there's no excuse for that & frankly I find it shameful.

Anyways...I hope everyone has a good Lent season. For those who follow it, I hope you make this experience a joyous, blessed, & self-discovering one through your sacrifices. Undergoing the temptation & overcoming them will definitely bring you closer to your faith & ultimately closer to God...which IS the ultimate happiness in life.

Deuces everyone. God bless.

Inspiring Food for Thought...& For A Healthy Life.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone. I know a week ago my blog was very scrooge-like in regards to this day. And that maybe this year I may have someone to celebrate it with. Well my friends...this year, I have a valentine once again :) I affectionately call her my wife. She's very special to me.

As I had stated, this blog is reporting to you from San Francisco. The bay area has always been my 2nd home...my home away from home. I have so many relatives up here it's pretty crazy. After a 10 hour drive, stopping at Gilroy, Solvang, & Santa Barbara, all that on-the-road frustration seems so damn miniscule & actually quite ridiculous after you spend quality time with the ones you love...& know deep down in your heart how much they are an inspiration in your life.

Attending my Ate Kay's wedding was probably the best family get together I've had in years with my dad's side. Being able to see everyone altogether for this blessed occasion & of course tear up the dance floor with them was something I can always look back on to keep me going. Seeing old flames rekindle their feelings for one another gave me hope for them. It made me once again acknowledge the fact that I have so many people to be grateful to...as they have been the biggest inspirations to me. Huge occasions like this happen once in a blue moon, that reception in the ballroom was a blast. We all had a little too much wine O_O

My family (both sides) are people I can never take for granted. They have raised me to be who I am. My friends (both past & present) keep me on the ground & are there for me whenever I need them. And of course...goin back to my home away from home in San Francisco & visiting my family always helps me see the beauty in my life & the wonderful people that are in it. They mold me. They move me. They inspire me.

San Francisco itself always gives me a thrill I can't find in very many places. The fact that we come up here so much because of family makes it such a place worth the long drive. Yes it has it's controversies especially with a specific issue of course...but I ignore that fact & make it a special place because of my FAMILY. No matter where I go or end up in life...I will always, as stated by the great crooner Tony Bennett, leave my heart in San Francisco.

Deuces.

ps: A special shoutout to fellow blogger Ephraim & Gomer. I know I've said this, but I again would like to acknowledge the impact alot of your writings have on me. They make me think & they touch my heart. Seriously. Your blogs keep me going & show me that through their simplicity, they hold within them their own moralistic & inspirational treasures that I will always keep very close to me.


GoldenGate Bridge by Millamus

Human Physiology on Valentine's Day & it's "Overrated-ness"

So I know Valentine's Day is still a week away...but this week is going to be pretty hectic so I figured I start my thoughts on it in advance before the craziness & hassles that is expected this week commences. It's that time of year once again...when couples express their love & care for one another, thousands of dollars are spent on gifts here & there, flowers, candy, all that jazz. Soon enough, every corner will be decorated in red, white, & pink...little diapered cupids will be strung up high & imposter looking hearts will be plastered for every eye to see. The body experiences so many physiological changes on that day. The heart races, the brain secretes feel good endorphins, endless hormones are released...everything anatomically & physiologically possible is on OVERDRIVE. The day commemorates St. Valentine, a priest who secretly wed many men & their women that were forced by law to stay single. He sacrificed his life all in the name of one thing...LOVE.

Ok now to reality. Here's my criticism. Call me bitter, a killjoy, heartless...whatever. But I feel that Valentine's Day is so damn overrated. Yes i said it. OVERRATED. For a majority of my life, that day has been meaningless to me EXCEPT for the fact that it's my mom's birthday...so that in itself gives February 14 some significance. But that's it. It makes me cringe when I see couples acting lovey dovey & expressing their undying love in public, waiting 50 billion hours outside restaurants, blah blah blah. I do find it funny, however, seeing the men making last minute trips to buy flowers, candy, bears...you name it.

Now why am I exceptionally Scrooge-like this time of year? I have several reasons why. For one, I find it pretty darn sad that countless couples use this day as the ONLY day to express & show how much they love one another & reveal how much they care. My take on it: Why they hell can't they show it all year round? why do they have to use this 1 day out of 365 days a year to be extra sweet. I find no reasonable excuses on that.

My other reason is the fact that for a majority of my life, I've spent several Valentine's Days alone. It's what they call SAD (Singles Awareness Day). As mentioned previously, the only significance of that day is that it's my mom's birthday. Yes I admit. There WERE some Valentine's Days in my past that had meaning. I had special people that I cared for & some mutually cared back. But nothing really serious or extreme ever happened out of them. Mostly, my heart was ripped out & stepped on. To be frank, it wore me away & I got tired of false hope. That game was too overplayed. Yes you can call it bitterness...but if you weren't in my shoes & haven't experienced this type of pain & loneliness...you can't say squat.

Those are my reasonings. Bitter much? Yes. However, I can't be all unfair about this. I know there are SOME couples out there that show their love all year around...making this day just more special in fairness. And for many women, February 14 is that one specific day out of the year BESIDES their birthday where they can be spoiled by the man in their life. I can't criticize that. But until the day that someone actually proves that they genuinely care for me & whole heartedly loves me as much as I love them & take me for who I am...& this whole fuckin' game is over...& I'll finally have someone to celebrate this day with...Valentine's Day will always be pretty overrated to me.

We'll see how this year goes. Will it be meaningless again or will someone come into my life? As of late, I'm feeling that someone I've been re-igniting that fire with may give it some meaning for me. We'll see where this will take me.

My next update will be coming from San Francisco. Until then my friends...

Deuces.

Go Red for Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month

February is Cardiovascular Disease Awareness Month. Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in America. Wear red @ least once a week this month to raise awareness, to show support for those who are suffering or have suffered from it, & in memorial for loves ones who have died from it. In January 2001, my grandpa suffered from 2 massive heart attacks & SURVIVED Quintuple Coronary Bypass Surgery.

It was nothing short of a miracle...the beauty & miracles that can occur with medicine & prayer.

Take care of your hearts people. We only get 1. Raise awareness. Be inspired. Be active. And be motivated to take care of those precious pumps that keep us alive.

Deuces.

Peace of Mind

Surprisingly, the past week since my previous blog has proven to be an unexpectedly peaceful & satisfying one. No really. Usually, my weeks lately have brought on spurts of stress & have definitely set my id on a joyride, as mentioned in last tuesday's blog, mostly due to financial burdens & other things here & there. That's been the norm lately.

Thankfully, this past week has given me less stress & has increased satisfaction & peace of mind in my life. Here's the general breakdown of why...& yes, this will be in a numbered fashion:

1) I paid off my fees on thursday, which always brings relief.

2) That same day, my professor told me I definitely have a spot in her anatomy & physiology 2 course, finally giving me the chance to finish the 2 sem. series. It's super difficult to get into this class.

3) On saturday, my family & I attended a big family surprise party...the first of the year thereby reuniting with family that I haven't seen in a while.

4) I was spoiled to death by my rich tita from san francisco.

5) I've gotten more compliments about how I look now due to me losing weight.

6) I've been firming up & dropped 9 pounds in 5 days (in a healthy way of course) & other numbers are showing success.

7) I finally have more money to pay for textbooks EARLY.

As you can see, everything that's happened this week has made me really happy & brought alot of serenity & peace. Family reunions, guarantees into needed courses, long awaited compliments about my physique that I've worked extremely hard for...what more could I ask for. Definitely a big sigh of relief for my brain, heart, & kidneys O__O

Hopefully, the next few days will bring about more positives & rule out the negatives that usually drag me to the bottom.

The next big anticipation besides school: my cousin's wedding in the bay area. And I can't wait to reunite with more family & dance like there's no tomorrow :)

'Til next time my friends. Deuces.