Friday, December 28, 2012

Antelopes

Antelopes are hoofed animals more like deer with hollow horns. There are many different animals with their different sizes and coats. Antelopes can be as small as rabbit like the royal antelope to ox sized elands. They live in grasslands, brush areas, and forests in much of Africa and some of Asia. Some antelopes include gazelle, impala, springbok, pronghorn, black-buck and others. They are hunted by big cats, hunting dogs such as hyenas and African hunting dogs as well as humans.

The antelopes' main defenses are camouflage and speed as antelopes can jump as well as run. They have large ears and are extremely keen in hearing out their predators. Antelope males all have antlers that could range from tiny studs of the dik-dik to 63 inch long horns of the greater kudu. 2/3 female antelopes bear horns. They eat vegetation such as grass which as ruminants, antelopes first swallow their food without chewing it and then they regurgitate a cud. Then they chew it thoroughly and swallow it. 

Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Brain and the nervous system

The brain is a diverse topic with limited knowledge. Anatomy, Physiology, Neurology, Psychology, and many other fields are included in this study. From the information that scientists know, here are some of the basics about understanding the nervous system and the main brain body.
Our nervous system is an important part of our lives. In fact, without it, we wouldn't be able to do anything! It is responsible for everything you do, think, or feel. This is what controls your voluntary/involuntary movements, and what gives you the raw information of your senses and what your environment/surroundings are.The nervous system is divided into 2 parts 
  1. Central nervous system- abbreviated as the CNS, is composed of brain's main body and the spinal cord.
  2. Peripheral nervous system- abbreviated as PNS, is all the nerves branching from the CNS.  Cranial nerves branch from the brain while spinal nerves are found extending from the spinal cord.
The two systems combined will control many other systems such as the system for movement (somatic nervous system and skeletal system) (for more info on these, click here)(This is just a very brief view of the Nervous system. For a better explanation, click here)
 

The brain isn't what many think it is. Many simply perceive it as an organ in your head that has a wrinkly texture through its entire body which helps you think and generate ideas. Well, they are right to some extent...

The brain is divided into 4 parts. Diencephalon, brain stem, cerebellum, and Cerebrum and often, many areas of the brain will control one specific function, every area has its own task for that function and some areas have more a major part for that function that others. 

The Brain stem is the small "stem" like structure that extends from your brain to the spinal cord. It may just look like a connection but it is responsible for many action too. It controls your involuntary actions such as heart beating and breathing by the means of many connections through spinal nerves which branch out to the area of your major organs. 

The diencephalon means between brain and as its name explains, it sits right in the middle of both left and right hemispheres of the brain. It contains a very important system in your body known as the limbic system (for more info about the limbic system, click here) which is your learning, emotions, and cognitive skills. 

The Cerebellum coordinates with movement with counter balancing moves to so you don't lose your balance while moving. It is also believes that the cerebellum controls some of your language and attention skills as well as your reactions to fear and pleasure. 
 
The crunched paper shaped texture part of the brain is known as the cerebrum. It is divided into 4 regions: Frontal lobe, Parietal lobe, Occipital lobe and Temporal lobe.

The frontal lobe of your brain controls your speech and social skills, main motor (movement) center. Your parietal lobe brings sensory information together and processes that information. Your occipital lobe controls your primary visual cortex (center) but is located on the back of the brain. And the temporal lobe contains your memory and cognition skills such as remembering faces and language skills as well as the sense of hearing.