When I first started to do my research I was all excited on doing my project on the development of the sympathetic nerve system in the infant. My research ranged from many different types of books, talking to massage therapists, nurses and chiropractors, to an endless supply of information from the internet. As I started to collect my research I kept finding more and more interesting information on different topics……..hence my project once again turned to a different path. I hope you find this information I have compiled to be just as interesting and informative as I have found it. As I did my research in this new direction I realized that this actually tied into my original idea as well.

There is one thing that I will ask of you as I present my project: please take the time right now to center deep into your core and notice how the different areas of your body feels at this present time.

Throughout this presentation I will pause and again ask you to check into these areas. Each time we do this if you would like, please write in a few words, your feelings that come to you for your own personal use.

Infants start out as one tiny, tiny cell that has been produced from the women’s egg and the man’s sperm. From this one cell it then multiplies and changes millions of times. Within each division different developments take place. The ‘Breath of Life’ is initially expressed as a midline function within the embryonic disc. The mid-line around which the human body develops, is the first function to appear in the organization of our existence. The spatial dynamics of the human body, in all of its ramifications, are orientated to this mid-line.

When the mother has found out that she is pregnant, doctors then will do a series of tests to let you know if the develop of the infant is proceeding ‘normally’. From the time of recognition of pregnancy the embryo is subjected to ultrasounds, blood tests, poking and prodding. So here is where I take the time to explain to you the physical development stage of the infant. This is where the infant develops their organs, spinal column, which the nerve system stems from.

The Development of the Embryo and Fetus

At 16 days post conception - The longitudinal fluctuation of the amniotic fluid along the long axis of the ectodermic embryonic plate creates the primitive streak. This becomes the orienting midline of the fluids and ventricles. Lateral fluctuations and concentrated permeation create the Hensin’s Node at the top of the primitive streak. A canal (neurenteric) opens up at this node between the amniotic sac and the yolk sac. The neurenteric canal actually goes through the ectoderm. So, both fluid sacs communicate briefly with each other as the definitive endoderm is formed as the border of the yolk sac – the future covering of the visceral syste.. A rapid migration of mesoblasts goes under the ectoderm and burrows a pit or a solid rod between the ectoderm and endoderm, forming the first mesodermal structure called the notochord.

The embryo at this stage looks like two Hershey Kisses together at their bases, one flat end (ectoderm) againsimages/RB-4-desiging-wall-with-dr.htmlay or two, the first mesoderm structure, the notocord, ectoderm and endoderm, something like a hot dog in a piece of pita bread. The mesodermal cells, between the plates of ectoderm and endoderm, become a rod shaped, longitudinal structure.

First Trimester

At 2 Weeks – Conception is the moment at which the sperm penetrated the ovum. Once fertilized it is called a zygote, unit it reaches the uterus 3 – 4 days later.

At 3 Weeks - The embryo is only one-sixth of an inch long, but is rapidly developing. The backbone, spinal column, and nervous system are forming. The kidneys, liver, and intestines are taking shape.

Photo of embryo at 4 weeks

At 4 Weeks – The embryo may float freely in the uterus for about 48 hours before implanting. Upon implanting, complex connections between the mother and embryo develop to form the placenta.

At 5 Weeks - Embryo is the size of a raisin. By day twenty-one, the embryo's tiny heart has begun beating. The neural tube enlarges into three parts, soon to become a very complex brain. The placenta begins functioning. The spine and spinal cord grows faster than the rest of the body at this stage and give the appearance of a tail. This disappears as the embryo continues to grow.

At 6 Weeks – The embryo is about 1/5 of an inch in length. A primitive heart is beating. Head, mouth, liver, and intestines begin to take shape.

Photo of fetus at 7 Weeks

At 7 Weeks - Facial features are visible, including a mouth and tongue. The eyes have a retina and lens. The major muscle system is developed, and the fetus practices moving. The fetus has its own blood type, distinct from the mother's. These blood cells are produced by the liver now instead of the yolk sac.

Photo of fetus at 8 weeks

At 8 Weeks - The fetus at this stage, is about half an inch long. The tiny person is protected by the amnionic sac, filled with fluid. Inside, the fetus swims and moves gracefully. The arms and legs have lengthened, and fingers can be seen. The toes will develop in the next few days. Brain waves can be measured.

At 10 Weeks - The heart is almost completely developed and very much resembles that of a newborn baby. An opening the atrium of the heart and the presence of a bypass valve divert much of the blood away from the lungs, as the child's blood is oxygenated through the placenta. Twenty tiny baby teeth are forming in the gums. Facial features, limbs, hands, feet, fingers and toes become apparent. The nervous system is responsive and many of the internal organs begin to function.

Second Trimester

At 12 Weeks - Vocal chords are complete, and the unborn infant can and does sometimes cry (silently). The brain is fully formed, and the fetus can feel pain. The fetus may even suck his thumb. The eyelids now cover the eyes, and will remain shut until the seventh month to protect the delicate optical nerve fibers.

At 14 Weeks - Muscles lengthen and become organized. The mother will soon start feeling the first flutters of the unborn child kicking and moving within.

At 15 Weeks - The fetus has an adult's taste buds and may be able to savor the mother's meals.

At 16 Weeks - Five and a half inches tall and only six ounces in weight, eyebrows, eyelashes and fine hair appear. The unborn child can grasp with his hands, kick, or even somersault.

At 18 Weeks – The fetus is now about 5 inches long. The child blinks, grasps, and moves their mouth. Hair grows on the head and body.

Photos above are of a 5 months old infant

At 20 Weeks - The unborn child can hear and recognize her mother's voice. Though still small and fragile, the baby is growing rapidly and could possibly survive if born at this stage. Fingernails and fingerprints appear. Sex organs are visible. Using an ultrasound device, the doctor can tell if the child is a girl or a boy.

At 22 Weeks – The fetus now weighs approximately _ a pound and spans about 10 inches from head to toe. Sweat glands develop, and the external skin has turned from transparent to opaque.

Photo of an unborn infant at 6 months

At 24 Weeks -The unborn child is covered with a fine, downy hair called lanugo. Its tender skin is protected by a waxy substance called vernix. Some of this substance may still be on the child's skin at birth at which time it will be quickly absorbed. The child practices breathing by inhaling amnionic fluid into developing lungs.

Third Trimester

At 26 Weeks – The fetus can now inhale, exhale and even cry. Eyes have completely formed, and the tongue has developed taste buds. Under intensive medical care the fetus has over a 50% chance of surviving outside the womb.

Photo of unborn infant at 7 months

At 30 Weeks - For several months, the umbilical cord has been the baby's lifeline to the mother. Nourishment is transferred from the mother's blood, through the placenta, and into the umbilical cord to the fetus. If the mother ingests any toxic substances, such as drugs or alcohol, the baby receives these as well.
The fetus is usually capable of living outside the womb and would be considered premature at birth.

At 32 Weeks - The fetus sleeps 90-95% of the day, and sometimes experiences REM sleep, an indication of dreaming.

Photo of an unborn infant at 8 months

At 38 – 40 Weeks - The baby, now approximately seven and a half pounds, is ready for life outside its mother's womb. This marks the end of the normal gestational period. At birth the placenta will detach from the side of the uterus and the umbilical cord will cease working as the child takes his first breaths of air. The child's breathing will trigger changes in the structure of the heart and bypass arteries, which will force all blood to now travel through the lungs.

Photo of new born

While all this is taking place, everything that is happening outside the womb is effecting the development and growth of the infant. Every emotion that happens is felt through the womb; this is where the memories and life patterns start to take shape.

Now I’m going to jump ahead to the time of birth (in a typical hospital setting). Nine months inside the mother’s womb, in a warm, fluid filled environment and then contractions happen, the fluid drains and the journey into the outside world commences. This is something that might happen whether the infant is willing or not. Bright lights, loud noises, colder temperatures and different energies are now everywhere, surrounding the newborn. Confusion and fear are just some of the emotions which the infant might express.

Since this was a lot of information to take in, let’s take a breath and check in with our systems once again……notice how your heart rate is, how your system overall was activated. Did you find this to be stimulating or soothing?

The nervous system begins to differentiate during the third week of embryonic development with the formation of the neural plate. The neural tube develops from the neural plate. By the end of the first month of embryonic life, the cephalic end of the neural tube has differentiated and enlarged to form a brain consisting of three embryonic divisions: forebrain, mid-brain and hindbrain. The structures that differentiate from each of these early divisions are indicated in Table 14.1 (next page).

As we grow memories are stored within our systems. We learn the difference between good & bad; hot & cold; day & night; different tastes, smells, noises, this list goes on and on. These experiences that we learn are lifelong and are stored within ourselves and are crucial to the development of our sympathetic nervous system (the fight/flight response). The following pictures are good examples of how this works. Since they are part of my past, I associate each picture with different stages of my life. As you look at these, check in with your own system, do they trigger memories of something similar in your past? How does your sympathetic nervous system react to them?

** SHOW PICTURES OF LANDSCAPE **

These pictures most likely would not pose as a threat that would activate a response, however close your eyes and listen to the following scenerio:
Your car breaks down a couple of kms from your destination. It’s dark and you need to be somewhere, so you decide that it’s a nice enough night you can walk there and still be on time. A few cars pass by with no problems, then a car slows down and asks if you need a lift somewhere. The hair on the back of your neck starts to stand up, you feel your stomach tighten and your instincts tell you, you are not safe with them. So you say no thanks, and start to walk faster. Instead of driving off the car starts to follow you.

OPEN YOUR EYES AND TAKE A DEEP BREATH - did you notice a change in your heart rate, take a notice of how your system feels now….

** SHOW PICTURE OF SUNSET **

When we are faced with what we may perceive as a threat is when the “fight or flight” reaction occurs. Depending upon the nature of the threat, the person either mounts a defense (fight) or attempts to escape from the threat (flight). Both fight and flight require sudden, vigorous muscle action. The body prepares itself for this action in the following ways:

Phase One: The Sympathetic Cascade is Activated

A. Perception of fear in the cerebral cortex. Activating signals are sent via the
hypothalamus to the sympathetic preganglionic neurons in the spinal cord which, in turn, activate:

• Chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla (A1); and
• Sympathetic postganglionic neurons throughout the body (A2).

Phase Two: Massive Quantities of Sympathetic Neurotransmitters are Released

B. Release of neurotransmitters.

&Mac183; The adrenal medulla releases mainly adrenaline into circulating blood (B1); and
• Sympathetic postganglionic nerve endings release mainly noradrenaline into the synaptic spaces around the effector cells (B2).
• Adrenaline has essentially the same effects in the body as noradrenaline, but its effects last about 10 times as long because it is not removed from the blood as
quickly as is noradrenaline.

Phase Three: Circulating and Locally-release Neurotransmitters Cause the Following Body Changes

C. Changes in muscle activity. Intense muscle activity requires energy and an increase in oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal. These requirements are met by:

• The breakdown of glycogen in the muscle to produce glucose (C1); and
• Dilation of the blood vessels in the muscle to promote delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide (C2).

Dilation of muscular vessels is mainly caused by local metabolites resulting from vigorous action.

D. Changes in liver activity. Glucose that provides extra energy for muscle action is also made available by hepatocytes in the liver. Hepatocytes release their glucose into the circulation so that it can be carried to the contracting muscles (glycogenolysis).

E. Changes in heart activity. The rate and stroke volume of the heart increase to meet the demands of the muscles for increased blood supply (see Figure CS1 – 1 and Figure CS1 – 2). Adrenaline and noradrenaline act on cardiac B1 receptors to increase the rate of discharge of the sinoatrial (SA) node, to decrease the conduction time through the atrioventricular (AV) node, and to increase the excitability of the conducting bundles and cardiac muscle cells (E1). In addition, the blook flow to the heart muscle itself is also increased by the vasodilatory action of adrenaline and noradrenaline on B2 receptors on smooth muscle cells in the coronary vessels (E2).

F. Changes in the lungs. Increase oxygen concentration in the blood and removal of carbon dioxide are accomplished by increasing the respiratory rate and volume and by dilating the bronchi (F1). Blood flow to the lungs is also increased by the action of adrenaline and noradrenaline on B2 receptors on smooth muscle cells in the pulmonary vessels (F2).

G. Other changes. As part of the “Fight of Flight” reaction, the autonomic nervous system also causes the following:

• Dilation of the pupils1 (G1);
• Erection of body hair2;
• Vasoconstriction in the skin and viscera, thereby making more blood available for the muscles (G2); and
• Sweating, which helps dissipate the heat produced by intense muscle activity.

This brings me to a simple conclusion - ‘no matter how we look at it we are all connected to everything. Even as complex as our own sympathetic nervous systems are, they still respond to everything within our world, even the tiniest sounds and movements’.

** SUNSET & SINGING BOWL **