ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT OR FLEE?

BASEBALL EDITION

THE SPECIFICS ON A BASEBALL FIELD PT1

Dura Mater: consists of strong white tissue and serves as the outer layer of the meninges and also the inner periosteum of the cranial bones. Contains 3 inward extensions; Falx Cerebri, Falx Cerebelli, and TentoriumCerebelli. In relation to Baseball, this covering of the meninges could be considered the Outfield. They are the outer layer of defense for the team.

Arachnoid Membrane: It’s a very delicate, cobweb looking layer lying between the Dura Mater and the PiaMater. In relation to Baseball, this covering of the meninges could be considered the Infield. They are the middle layer of defense between the outfield and the catcher and pitcher.

BASEBALL COVERINGS SPECIFICS

Pia Mater: Transparent and adheres to the outer surface of the brain and spinal cord and contains blood vessels. In relation to Baseball, this covering of the meningescould be considered the pitcher and the catcher. They are the first line of defense before the infield or the outfield.

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BASEBALL COACHING STAFF SPECIFICS..

Function of CSF: Even with bony and membranous coverings, a cushion of fluid both around the organs and within them protects the brain and spinal cord. The CSF is also a reservoir of circulating fluid that, along with blood, the brain monitors for changes in the interior environment. In relation to Baseball, I would consider this to be the coaching staff. They are there to help make adjustments in the defensive positioning and are always watching (or monitoring) to make necessary changes.

WHERE IS CSF?

The CSF is found protecting the brain and spinal

cord from injury by supplying a cushion of fluid

both around the organs and within them.

Circulation: the continuous motion of blood

throughout the body conducted by the heart.

KEEPING THE GAME IN PLACE

Structure and Function of Spinal Cord: Performs

two functions; provides conduction routes to and

from the brain and serves as the integrator for all

spinal reflexes. The Spinal cord tracts provide

conduction paths to and from the brain. In

relation to Baseball, I would consider this to be

the 1st and 3rd base coaches who are there to be

the active coaches on the field to aid in the

adjustments needing to be made in the game.

WHAT KEEPS THE GAME IN PLACE?

Just as the coaches keep the game together so does the spinal cord.

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SPINAL CORD SPECIFICS

Where it’s at: The Spinal Cord lies within the spinal cavity starting at basically the neck and down to the first lumbar vertebra.

Shape: It’s an oval-shaped cylinder that tapers slightly as it descends down the back. Contains two bulges, one in the cervical region and the other in the lumbar region.

Nerve roots structure and function: Nerve roots project from each side of the spinal cord. They carry sensory information into the spinal cord.

HOW IS YOUR BODY HELPING YOU

BE ON YOUR FEET?

The nerves in your

that are in the

sympathetic nervous

system, which is a

part of ANS, come

from the chest and

lower back part of the

spinal cord.

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STAY ON YOUR TOES AND LET YOUR

BODY DO THE REST

Parasympathetic nervous system is what controls

your involuntary movements and bodily functions

This helps with baseball because you must be

alert and practice so much that your body already

knows what to from muscle memory

Pitching Batting and Catching are all helped by

the parasympathetic nervous system

THE THIRD BASE COACH 4 MAIN

FUNCTIONS OF BASEBALL (CEREBRAL

CORTEX) These are consciousness,

language, emotions and memory.

A third base coach giving the pitcher signals is a perfect example of how all these coexist into one scenario.

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FUNCTION 1 & 2:

CONSCIOUSNESS & LANGUAGE

When the coach gives the player the signals he consciously receives it, scientist haven’t pin pointed the exact mechanism of the brain that produces consciousness.

The signals can also be considered a type of language to the players; the language center of the brain in 90% of the population is located in the left cerebral hemisphere.

FUNCTION 3 & 4:

EMOTIONS & MEMORY

Emotions come into play because the pitcher can decide whether or not he feels that pitch is right for the situation; these emotional processes take place in the limbic system of the brain.

A huge part of the signal system is memorization of all the different signals the base coach could tell you; memorization happens through the temporal, parietal and occipital lobes.

THERE ARE MORE THAN JUST 4 FUNCTIONS…

They would be

the motor and

sensory

functions and

come from

two different

gyri of the

brain

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FUNCTION 5:

MOTOR

Motor senses come from the precentral gyrus, these include functions such as the ability to swallow, move your toes, ankle, or hips. Basically the somatic motor functions in your body control any voluntary movement; this comes back to the third base coach because he voluntarily moved certain body parts to form a signal for the pitcher.

FUNCTION 6:

SENSORY

Sensory senses come from the postcentral gyrusof the brain; this includes the sensations of touch, pressure, temperature, or your body’s position. Sensory motor functions basically control your body’s ability to feel and also come back to the third base coach because he used his motor skills to move his finger up to his nose but, used his sensory senses to feel that he had actually placed his finger on his nose.(©1)

DORSAL &VENTRAL

1ST BASE & 3 RD BASE

The Dorsal and Ventral root splits the spinal cord

(dorsal sensory and ventral movement) but they

connect. So if Ventral was first base and dorsal was

third base they both split the second base and the

home run

If you run to first base and get it out than your

chances of going to third base are over. Which means

if Ventral (1st base-movement) stops working than

the Dorsal (3rd base-sensory) isn’t quite working well

4 MAJOR NERVOUS PLEXUSES

1) The Cervical plexus

2) The Brachial plexuses

3) The Lumbar plexuses

4) The Sacral Plexuses

1.) PITCHING WITH THE

CERVICAL PLEXUSES

The cervical plexuses is found deep within the neck Ventral rami of the first four cervical spinal nerves (c1-c4), along with a branch of the ventral ramus of c5, exchange fibers in the cervical plexuses

So when the pitcher pitches the baseball he moves is neck and as he’s moving the cervical plexuses

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2.) BATTING WITH THE

BRACHIAL PLEXUSES

The brachial plexuses is used whenever the

pitcher pitches the ball the brachial is found deep

within the shoulder, even the batters use the

brachial plexuses as they approach the ball with

the bat

3.) GETTING TO BASE WITH THE

LUMBAR PLEXUSES

The Lumbar plexuses divides into many branches

supplying the thigh and leg

If the batters make a home run, they use there

lumbar plexuses while they’re running from base

to base

4.) BATTING WITH THE

SACRAL PLEXUSES

The sacral plexuses lies in the pelvic cavity on

the anterior surface of the piriformis muscle.

Because of their close proximity and overlap of

fibers, the lumber and sacral plexuses are often

considered together as the “lumbosacral plexus”

The batters use the their pelvic as the switch their

hips to swing at the baseball as well as the pitcher

when he pitches the ball.

THE BASICS TO BAESBALL:

DERMATOMES & MYOTOMES

Dermatomes and Myotomes are the distribution of the spinal cord appear to follow an ordered arrangement, but detailed mapping of the skin surface had revealed a close relationship

Dermatomes are in the use of skin so as a batter dives to touch a base their skin might ended getting scratched up from the dirt and the myotomes are in the use of muscle, myotomes are used throughout the game of baseball.

STRUCTURES & FUNCTIONS OF

BASEBALL

Thalamus- impulses from appropriate receptors, on reaching the thalamus, produce conscious recognition of the crude, less critical sensations of pain, temperature, and touch

Cerebellum- controls posture, skeletal muscles to maintain balance

Medulla Oblongata- contains cardiac, vasomotor, and respiratory centers. Various nonvital reflexes such as vomiting, coughing, sneezing, hiccupping and swallowing.

CONTINUATION..

Hypothalamus- pleasure centers and reward

centers for the primary drives such as eating

drinking and sex

Diencephalon- located between the cerebrum and

the midbrain. Contains thalamus and

hypothalamus

Pon- contains centers for reflexes mediating by

the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth cranial nerves

THE ACTUAL BASEBALL DIAMOND

Thalamus

CerebellumHypothalamus

Diencephalon

Pon

Medulla Oblongata

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CRANIAL NERVES WERE MADE FOR

BASEBALL

Olfactory: This helps you

smell the hotdogs, nachos,

popcorn, and people in the

crowd

Optic: This helps you see

the ball

Oculomotor: This helps

you slow down the ball in

your mind and blink

slowly and let your pupils

dialate

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MORE CRANIAL NERVES…

Trochlear: This makes your eyeball rotate and follow the ball as

your batting

Trigeminal: This helps you chew that tasty gum

Abducens: This helps you when your at bat and are scanning the

field side to side to where you should hit the ball

Facial: This helps keep your face composed and intimidate others

with your facial expressions

Vestibulocochlear: This helps listen to the crowd and get pumped

up and keep your emotions balanced

Glossopharyngeal: This helps you taste those baseball snacks and

stick out your tongue when something tastes nasty

CRANIAL NERVES CONTINUATION…

Vagus: This is what helps you yell to your team mates and encourage them

Accessory: This helps you loosen up your shoulders and your neck as you go up to pitch or bat

Hypoglossal: This helps you stick out your tongue and tease the other players

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DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AFFERENT &

EFFERENT: AFFECTED BY THE GAME TO

EFFECT THE GAME

Afferent is when you are affected by the game and

everything around you, whereas Efferent is your

effect on how you play to influence things around

you, such as the game