Diaphragm

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/161595/diaphragm

Diaphragm
Anatomy
aphragm, dome-shaped, muscular and membranous structure that separates the
thoracic (chest) and abdominal cavities in mammals; it is the
principal muscleof respiration.
The muscles of the diaphragm arise from the lower part of the sternum (breastbone),
the lower six ribs, and the lumbar (loin) vertebrae of the spine and are attached to a
central membranous tendon. Contraction of the diaphragm increases the internal
height of the thoracic cavity, thus lowering its internal pressure and
causing inspiration of air. Relaxation of the diaphragm and the natural elasticity
of lung tissue and the thoracic cage produce expiration. The diaphragm is also
important in expulsive actionse.g., coughing, sneezing, vomiting, crying, and
expelling feces, urine, and, in parturition, the fetus. The diaphragm is pierced by
many structures, notably the esophagus, aorta, and inferior vena cava, and is
occasionally subject to herniation (rupture). Small holes in the membranous portion
of the diaphragm sometimes allow abnormal accumulations of fluid or air to move
from the abdominal cavity (where pressure is positive during inspiration) into the
pleural spaces of the chest (where pressure is negative during inspiration).
Spasmodic inspiratory movement of the diaphragm produces the characteristic
sound known as hiccupping.

The Value of Breathing Retraining for Better Posture, Balance &

Less Pain and Dyskinesis http://leonchaitow.com/2015/01/31/the-value-of-breathing-retraining-forbetter-posture-balance-less-pain-and-dyskinesis/

Leaving aside the profound effects of breathing pattern disorders on emotion and general health
individuals with poor posture (Lewit 1980), scapular dyskinesis (Clifton-Smith 2011), low back
pain (Roussel et al 2007), neck pain (Kapreli et al 2009) and TMJ pain (Hruska 1997) have all
been shown to exhibit signs of faulty breathing mechanics, where the accessory respiratory
muscles dominate over lower thorax and abdominal motion.
McLaughlin et al (2011) has demonstrated a connection between neck pain and poor respiratory
chemistry that improved, together with reduced pain levels, following a program to address
breathing dysfunctions alongside manual therapy to address thoracic cage mobility.
ALSO:
Reduced spinal support is observed during combined load challenge to the low back and
during breathing challenge (e.g., digging) (McGill et al 1995)
After 60 seconds of over-breathing, both postural (tonic) and phasic functions of the
diaphragm and transversus abdominis are reduced or absent (Hodges et al 2000)

Breathing retraining is not difficult nor does it need to be time consuming

.and it is usually very successful in rehabilitating function and reducing or removing a huge
variety of symptoms.
and the key to the changes lies in learning how to exhale, because without effective
exhalation, inhalation can never be optimal.
For many years I have taught pursed lip breathing methods and advise two sessions daily
lasting 4 to 5 minutes comprising 30 cycles on inhalation/exhalation with emphasis on the
latter being slow and complete (i.e. a pranayama yoga pattern)

More recently evidence has emerged of the value, in some cases, of following a similar
pattern (30 cycles 2x daily) but using power breathing where inhalation is against
resistance (Janssens et al 2015)

In this study:
Individuals with nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) have been shown to
have suboptimal proprioceptive postural control (PPC) .
NSCLBP is also strongly related to respiration and PPC is commonly impaired
with compromised respiratory function.
Individuals with NSCLBP have increased diaphragm fatiguability as well
as decreased lumbar proprioceptive sensitivity.
Breathing training used inspiratory resistance of 60% of maximal inspiratory
pressure x 30 times, x 2 daily, for 8 weeks.
Compared with the controls, the inspiratory muscle training group demonstrated
better postural control; increased inspiratory muscle strength; decreased LBP

Breathing retraining involved POWERbreathe Medic (HaB International Ltd.,

Warwickshire, UK), with the individual standing upright with the nose occluded
Resistance was added with each breath generating negative pressure of 60% of
Pimax (maximal mouth pressure)
Participants performed 30 diaphragmatic breaths, 2 x daily, 7 days per week, for 8
weeks at a rate of 15 breaths per minute
Results showed increased reliance on back proprioceptive signals, improved
inspiratory muscle strength and reduced severity of LBP
Successful breathing rehabilitation involves the following key elements:
Understanding the processes a cognitive, intellectual awareness of the
mechanisms and issues involved in BPDs and postural influences
Retraining exercises & protocols, including aspects that operate subcortically,
allowing replacement of currently habituated patterns with more appropriate ones
Biomechanical structural modifications that remove obstacles to desirable and
necessary functional changes
Time for these elements to merge and become incorporated into moment-tomoment use patterns
- See more at: http://leonchaitow.com/2015/01/31/the-value-of-breathing-retraining-for-betterposture-balance-less-pain-and-dyskinesis/#sthash.Y0wBNay2.dpuf

Stomach

Stomach
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/567085/stomach

Anatomy

Digestion Process

Enzymes are secreted by operation of different parts of digestive system

Digestion is a multi step process through which proteins, fats and
carbohydrates in our diet are broken down into simpler compounds that can
be used by body cells

Digestion process begins in the mouth. The moment we byte in a piece of

food, glands in the mouth secrete Saliva. Saliva contains enzymes called
Salivary Amylase. This enzyme begins the process of breaking down starches
a kind of Carbo hydrate in foods like Pasta and bread.
Other aspects of digestion takes place further down in digestive tract in the
stomach. Here for instance the enzyme Pepsin begins the job of breaking
down the proteins in such foods as cheese, meat and fish.

After the stomach, the food particles travel to small intestines a 20 ft tube
coiled in the abdomen. The nearby gland Pancreas secretes a number of
enzymes containing fluids into the small intestines to aid in digestion.
For Ex: the enzyme Pancreatic Amylase, continues the process of breaking
down the starches. The enzymes Trypsin and Chymo-trypsin take particles of
protein partly digested by Pepsin and and breaks them down further.
Fats are broken down by enzymes called Lypases.
Al together there are dozens of different enzymes involved in digestion.
Each one of these enzymes perform a specific task.

There are dozens of Enzymes involved in Digestion

Salivary Amylase begin to break starches

Stomach, saclike expansion of the digestive system, between the esophagus and the small
intestine; it is located in the anterior portion of the abdominal cavity in most vertebrates. The
stomach serves as a temporary receptacle for storage and mechanical distribution of food before
it is passed into the intestine. In animals whose stomachs contain digestive glands, some of the
chemical processes of digestion also occur in the stomach.

Humans
The human stomach is subdivided into four regions: the fundus, an expanded area curving up
above the cardiac opening (the opening from the stomach into the esophagus); the body, or
intermediate region, the central and largest portion; the antrum, the lowermost, somewhat funnelshaped portion of the stomach; and the pylorus, a narrowing where the stomach joins the small
intestine. Each of the openings, the cardiac and the pyloric, has a sphincter muscle that keeps the
neighbouring region closed, except when food is passing through. In this manner, food is
enclosed by the stomach until ready for digestion.
The stomach has the ability to expand or contract depending upon the amount of food contained
within it. When contracted, the interior walls form numerous folds (rugae), which disappear
when the walls are distended. The thick mucous-membrane lining of the walls is densely packed
with small gastric glands; these secrete a mixture of enzymes and hydrochloric acid that partly
digest proteins and fats.
The stomach muscles are rarely inactive. Upon entry of food, they relax briefly, then begin to
contract. Periodic contractions churn and knead food into a semifluid mixture called chyme;
rhythmical pumping (peristaltic) waves move food toward the pylorus and small intestine.
Peristaltic contractions persist after the stomach empties and, increasing with time, may become
painful. Such hunger pangs may also be related to the amount of sugar in the blood. If the level
of sugar decreases significantly, hunger can be experienced without the stomachs intervention.
The absorption of food, water, and electrolytes by the stomach is practically negligible, but iron
and highly fat-soluble substances such as alcohol and some drugs are absorbed directly.
Secretions and movements of the stomach are controlled by the vagus nerve and the sympathetic
nervous system; emotional stress can alter normal stomach functions. Common stomach
disorders includepeptic ulcer, cancer, and gastritis.

Other animals
The stomachs of some other animals differ considerably from that of humans; many have
multiple-chambered organs or special adaptations. The stomachs of cows and most cud-chewing
(ruminant) animals are divided into four separate parts. Food is received first in the rumen,
where mucus is added and cellulose is broken down. Next, it goes back to the mouth to be
thoroughly rechewed. When swallowed again, it is passed to the second and third chambers, the
reticulum and omasum, where water is extracted and absorbed. The food then goes to a final
chamber, the abomasum, to receive the digestive enzymes.
Birds have a three-chambered stomach: the first chamber, the crop, receives the food initially and
either stores or begins to moisten and soften (macerate) it; the true stomach area adds digestive
juices; and the gizzard, with its stones, or toothlike structures, grinds the food.
Rodents have only one stomach area, and many must eat their food twice before absorption takes
place. Food is eaten and passed through the lower digestive tract, where it is coated with
metabolites to help break it down. The fecal material is then re-eaten and mixed with additional
food. Enzymes and water are removed from the once-passed material by the stomach and used to
help digest new nutritional substances. Dry fecal pellets are finally excreted.
The starfish can turn its stomach inside out and extrude it partly from the body to eat the soft
contents of shelled animals such as clams. Camels and llamas can regurgitate their stomach
contents and spit this material at approaching enemies.Crayfish produce stones of calcium salts
in their stomach. These are stored until the animal sheds its external shell, when the stones are
reabsorbed by the stomach and used in forming a new shell.