10 Apr 2012 16:46:19
Going back to the pineal gland discussion, seeing as I hadn't heard about it before I thought I'd start talking about it to my father to test his knowledge without saying too much.
My father used to be in the medical profession and one thing that came out was that after a very serious head injury one of the first or main things that would be done would be that the patients head would be scanned from the side to make sure the pineal gland was intact and in the correct place even though it is very small.
Don't know if it's been mentioned but thought i'd share it with you.
Supasub {Ed001's Note - did he say why?}
Apologies for going back to the Pineal gland, reference my post above/further down.
Caught up with my father again yesterday and quickly mentioned the Pineal gland again and why it's part of a scan after a serious head injury.
Apparently surgeons / consultants know the precise place the Pineal gland should be located and it's shape. Any displacement or change of shape of the gland from a head injury is a definate or clear indication of brain damage, I know that sounds simple but the fact is that they tend to use the gland position as a point of reference/starting place if you like on the neuro scan.
As to it's function my father confirmed what we all know (or don't), is that no one really knows it's entire function apart from the odd theories one of which is that it is partly connected to your central nervous system as it's located near the top of the spinal-cord. But again this theory (if true) apparently does'nt explain it's entire function.
IMO I would of thought because the gland is so small, it has potentially shrunk over generations/ centuries maybe due to lack of use or blockage/calcification.
Very interesting subject though.
Not a great help I know, but hopefully it cleared up the scan question.
Supasub {Ed001's Note - cheers for the update. Just shows how little science still knows about the human body, let alone the rest of the world around us.}
NoneTheWiser.
RR!