1. Diaphragm - Z1 to Z5 -(Muscular System)-see respiratory Solar Plexus Z 2/3
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a powerful sheet of muscle that separates the thorax (chest cavity) from the abdomen. It forms the floor of the thoracic cavity and the roof of the abdominal cavity . The intercostals muscles and the diaphragm contract simultaneously, enlarging the thoracic cavity in all directions- back to front , side to side and top to bottom. The openings in the diaphragm house the oesophagus, aorta and inferior vena cava. It is the main muscle involved with breathing and has several openings to allow the passage of important structures, such as oesophagus and major blood vessels. It is part of the musculoskeletal system. The thoracic and abdominal cavities are separated by the diaphragm
· Its function is as the main muscle of breathing: its contraction expands the chest cavity causing air to enter the lungs.
· Why Work The Diaphragm: We work the diaphragm to:
· relax the whole body:
· it helps respiration problems.
· It is also associated with all stress and stress-related disorders
· It aids in slowing down breathing by releasing tension in this large muscle thus aiding the respiratory system and reducing stress.
Sample question: Why is the diaphragm so important to working a reflexology treatment? (1)
Stress release/ Solar plexus, helps pain
· Solar Plexus – Vagus Nerves- Central Nervous System
· The vagus nerves are part parasympathetic nervous system and pass from brain down through the neck into the thorax and abdomen. They supply the smooth muscles and Secretory glands of the digestive system. The solar plexus is the chakra/energy centre that sits just in front of the diaphragm and vagus nerve bundle.
· An extremely important reflex in Reflexology
· For combating stress and enabling relaxation
· Why Work The Solar Plexus: We work the solar plexus to:
· It is extremely important for combating stress and enabling relaxation.
· Induces deep relaxation throughout the body because of its connection to the abdomen (physical centre of the body – hara centre – major organs), illness such as IBS, constipation, diarrhoea are believed to be strongly influenced by stress.
· It is the most important reflex for combating stress
Location of Diaphragm and Solar Plexus: The diaphragm line is located along the bottom of the ball of the foot from Zone 1 to 5. When the toes are pushed backwards it is clearly seen on the lower edge of the ball of the foot. The Solar Plexus is the hollow immediately below the hard balls in the centre of the feet just in front of the diaphragm line between Z2 and 3.
How to Work The Diaphragm and Solar Plexus Reflexes
· Hold at waist line with supporting hand
· While holding this position use thumb of free hand to work along the diaphragm line from Z1 to between Z2 and Z3, pointing in the direction it is going to solar plexus.
· Stop at Solar Plexus ( overlaps with the diaphragm reflex), rotate the thumb to point tip towards head and Circle three times.
· Then continue to work across the foot on the diaphragm line to Z5 and edge of the foot pointing the thumb in this direction. You can start at either the medial or lateral edge
· Go back to the start and repeat entire process by 3. ( only once for exam requirements)
No. 2. Adrenal glands (endocrine system)/
Adrenal Glands://Endocrine System//Zone 1
Lying on top of the kidneys are the paired adrenal glands. They play no part in the urinary system. They are part of the endocrine system and are endocrine glands that secrete hormones vital to the healthy functioning of the body. They produce corticosteroids (Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex. Corticosteroids are involved in a wide range of physiological systems such as stress response, immune response and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism, protein catabolism,(catabolism -metabolic processes in which complex molecules are broken down into simpler ones to release energy ) blood electrolyte levels, and behavior. The adrenal glands help control metabolism, fluid balance, respond to stress), male sex hormones and adrenaline and noradrenalin.
Glucocorticoids such as cortisol control carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism and are anti-inflammatory by preventing phospholipids release (phospholipids are complex lipids that contain nitrogen and phosphorus. Important in the formation of cell membranes) Mineralocorticoids such as aldostrone (helps reabsorbtion of sodium) control electrolyte and water levels, mainly by promoting sodium retention in the kidney. Q. We work the adrenal glands in a colitis sufferer to improve muscle tone and reduce inflammation
2.Urinary System – KidneysZ2/3-UretersZ2,3,1 & BladderZ1/ Vagina Z1
The four parts of the urinary system:, Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder, and Urethra
Kidneys: The paired kidneys lie within the abdominal cavity against the posterior wall just above waist height. They are part of the urinary system. Their function is to filter blood to remove excess fluid and toxins.
They are related to the blood circulation, Ureters and bladder. The filtering units of the kidneys are called nephrons
Each kidney is about 4” in length, reddish brown in colour and is bean shaped.
Their function is to filter blood to remove excess fluid and toxins
Water is eliminated from the body in 4 different ways: 1)Urine, 2)Sweat, 3)Respiration,
4) Bowel Movements
-The female is more prone to cystitis than the male because the urethra is much shorter in the female so infection from outside the urethra has a shorter distance to travel.
Functions of the Kidneys
1)The excretion of water 2)Removal of waste from blood 3)Regulates amount of glucose in the blood 4)Regulates Acid/Alkaline balance 5)Responsible for the regulation and maintenance of electrolyte balance 6)Filter blood
Disorder of the Urinary System are:
(i) Cystitis, (ii)Kidney Stones – calculus, (iii) Nephritis (inflammation of the kidney) (iv)Enuresis (incontinence of urine in the absence of disease e.g. bedwetting at night )(v)Gout (vi) Incontinence.
Why work the Kidneys: To encourage better waste disposal and to assist the body in the excretory and circulatory process
Location- Z2/3 on waist line.
Ureters
They are located at the hilus (place where structures enter and leave and organ e.g. nerves, ducts, blood and lymphatic vessels), of the kidney and pass down the abdominal cavity to enter the bladder. Their function is to transport urine from the kidney to the bladder. The related parts are the kidneys and bladder. They are consisting of an outer protective covering (adventitia), circular and longitudinal muscle layers, submuscosa connective tissue and a lining of urothelium. The Ureters propel urine towards the bladder by peristalsis (muscular contractions of their walls). Each Ureter is 9 ¾-12in in length and is 3mm wide. They are multi-layered structures, they start at the kidney a and pass down the posterior abdominal wall to cross the bony brim of the pelvis and enter the bladder by piercing its posterior wall. The first funnel-shaped section of the Ureter is known as the renal pelvis and lies within the hilus of the kidney. This tapers to form the narrower ureteric tube, which continues downwards as the abdominal, then the pelvis Ureter.
Urethra
The passage between the bladder and the exterior through which the urine is discharged
Bladder
The sphincter muscle controls urination in the female. The bladder is a hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine.
An enlarged prostate affects the bladder by putting excessive pressure on it.
Disorders:
Q-Cystitis is caused by inflammation/infection of the urinary bladder? (1)
- Sugar is evident in the urine of a diabetes sufferer- -urinary disorders –ri_Kidney Stones, - calculus
- Nephritis, -Gout, -Incontinence
Location and working of Adrenals Z1-2/Kidney/Ureter Tubes/Bladder/Vagina – Urinary System
· Kidney Location: Straddled between Z2 and Z3 , half way above and below the waist line. With lateral hand thumb pointing towards toes on mid line
· Adrenal Location: Z1 Just above waist line on zone 1-2 pointing towards kidney on a diagonal veering more towards medial edge kiss-kiss medial hand
· Put lateral thumb on the kidney point pointing upwards towards toes and bring medial thumb to meet it pointing towards the heel.(kiss, kiss) Work the adrenal then the kidney, ureters and bladder.
· Ureters Swivel Kidney thumb so it points to medial edge working sideways down the Ureter tubes along the side of the tendon to just above the heel line (bladder). Continue to the centre of the bladder. Work for three points at the bladder.
· Bladder: The bladder is usually visible as a slightly puffy area between three and four points walk from the medial aspect of the foot proximal to the pelvic floor line.
· Vagina: The vagina is one thumb width back towards heel and ½ width down to spine.
Do not work back up Ureter tubes towards kidney as this may transfer any infection present in the bladder to the kidney.
3. Spine
Spine The spine is part of the musculoskeletal system. It runs from the skull to the pelvis. Its function is to provide support and stability for the whole body and as an attachment point for the ribs and muscles; allowing flexible movement of the back, it also protects the spinal cord. The parts related to it are the skull, ribs, pelvis, muscles and ligaments…The vertebral column also houses and protects the delicate spinal cord, which originates at the base of the brain and runs down the central cavity of the column. The 26 bones of the spine make up the column and are connected in such a way that they allow flexibility of movement. 7 cervical vertebrae of the neck; the 12 thoracic vertebrae in the thorax; the 5 lumbar vertebrae supporting the lower back and lastly the sacrum and coccyx.
The different sections of the spine are the cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral.
The number of bones of the spine are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacrum (fused) and 4 coccyx (fused). There are 33 vertebrae in the spine. 31 pair of nerves. The first cervical vertebrae is the atlas. The discs are the shock absorbers in the spine
Disorders: Lordosis is an excessive convexity of the lumber spine. Scoliosis is a lateral curvature of the spine
· Work down the inner edge of the foot on the medial aspect from just below nail area on big toe to the heel.
· Follow the curve of the foot (feeling for the bone).
· Repeat the movement from the start again in the direction from heel to toe.
Cervical Spine-: from base of toe nail to one point down from the base of toe
Thoracic Spine: From two points down from the base of the toe crease to two points above waist line
Lumbar Vertebrae-: from one point above the waist line to three points below waist line.
Sacrum and Coccyx: from four points down from waist line to the end of the spinal reflex point
Why Treat It
Due to the huge supply of nerves directly from the spinal cord to the body, treating the spine works not only on the skeletal and muscular structure of the area but gives a general treatment to all the organs/structures of the body
How to work spine: On the medial edge of the foot zone 1 from heel up to the temple bone.
.4 Pituitary Gland– Endocrine System -Z1 Big Toe
Pineal Gland – Endocrine System – Z1 Big Toe
Hypothalamus – Brain – Z1 Big Toe
Pituitary gland/endocrine system at base of skull connected by a stalk to the hypothalamus. Its main function is as the Master Gland, it controls all other glands.
5. Regulatory functions of the Pituitary Gland:1.The body’s metabolism 2.The other endocrine glands 3. The Sexual maturation and reproduction 4.Water balance 5.Blood pressure.
Among the hormones it produces are: oxytocin-uterine contraction during labour and milk ejection during lactation, vaso pressin-antiduretic (ADH), Prolactin -stimulates the production of milk from nursing mother?
It secretes human growth hormone which regulates height and growth (dwarfism and excessive growth), sex organ hormones which control sexual development and the gonads (ovaries/testes), melanocyte stimulating hormone which stimulates melanin production and finally an antiduretic hormone which regulates the functions of the kidneys. It is located at the base of the brain and has three hormone secreting lobes. It is the master gland of the body
· Why Work It: Working the pituitary benefits the hormonal functioning and balance throughout the body
· Location: Center of the big toe – and helper at medial edge
Pineal Gland is part of the endocrine system. It secretes melatonin which controls the body’s natural rhythms: depression, SAD is often associated with not enough melatonin, which is produced in response to sunlight. It is located in the centre of the brain and its reflex is in the centre of the big toe, which represents the brain in practically the same place as the main pituitary reflex. When you work the pineal it benefits the pituitary and vice versa. Working this reflex benefits the body’s overall rhythms and encourages efficient melatonin production