Structure and function of Human Body
The motor fibers from the motor cortex of the cerebral
hemispheres extend down through the medulla, and most of them cross from one
side to the other while going through this part of the brain. It is the
crossing of motor fibers in the medulla that causes the right cerebral hemisphere
to control muscles in the left side of the body. (p. 140)
Comment: Is there any functional help in this arrangement or it is simply an
accident?
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) promotes the
reabsorption of water from the kidney tubules and thus decreases the excretion
of water. Large amounts of this hormone cause contraction of the smooth muscle
of blood vessels and raise blood pressure. Inadequate amounts of ADH cause
excessive loss of water and result in a disorder called diabetes insipidus.
This type of diabetes should not be confused with diabetes mellitus, which is
due to inadequate amount of insulin.
Comments: Many hormones affect several parts of the body. Treatment of one symptom
causes other symptoms. Chinese medicine may provide a systematic hint about the
connections of different organs and systems. Need to learn more about it.