Models out of Context

If you just quickly looked at the figure bellow what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Even if we change the angle, the object becomes less familiar.

From the flesh tone colors, you have probably already guessed that this is an anatomical model of something. But what kind of structure can be so foreign?


It looks similar to the xenomorphs, the H.R. Gieger inspired Alien creations of the movie franchise. All it would need are razor sharp teeth, and some claws. 


Or perhaps there is a resemblance to genitals.  Bulbs, stalks, curves, tubes--rounded smooth shapes that seem to be suggestive of something sexy the way a Tiffany Lamp is always somewhat suggestive of something sexy.

Of course this rebus is not all that challenging. The structure is the brain stem. And while we all somewhat know what a brain looks like, when taken apart into individual elements, it becomes frighteningly unfamiliar. 

The Body is a Marvelous Plastic Machine: Part Trois

Alas, time has wasted away since we last visited the wonders of the plastic body. And so, dear readers we might as well visit the realm of the Marvelous Plastic Machine with probably the most magical and miraculous element that makes being a manufactured object wonderful...the manufacturing process.


Okay, so I am being a little coy. But the plastic machine must be created at some point in time. So without much further fanfare:

sex

In order for the plastics to be molded into new models, the proper tools need to be used. Some components as the parts below are much more complex and a lot less glamorous when thought about in this aspect.

The male portion has the tendency to flap in the wind, get caught in the wrong parts, and can malfunction causing to hydraulic failure, and any number of misfires and other awkward non-performance issues.

That isn't to say, that the various aspects of the female components are less complex. It does a hell of a lot more work. 

And then at some point, by some weird mystery, which is probably more difficult to explain than the way television works. A new plastic machine is created.

Isn't this all Magical? Isn't the Marvelous Plastic Machine kind of, dare I say it? Sexy? Well, probably not from what we see here. 

The Body is a Marvelous Plastic Machine: Part Sequel

For the second lesson of Medicine for Times of Economic Collapse, I want to continue on the brief and broad sweeping overview of the gross human body.

Last time we covered the parts of the body used for the eating of food things and getting rid of them, and those parts for thinking, and those other parts used for breathing.
Now we cover the most important organ of them all, other than the one used for thinking. The one used for love and pumping: the Heart.

This, to the contrary is not your heart, but is the heart of a swine. No, not that ex-boyfriend/boss/mouth-breathing-weird looks bar. These are from the animal that make the most important food known to humanity...bacon. Which has the hazard of stopping the heart, but all blessings have their ouchie parts.

The next image is of your kidneys. These are bean-like shaped organs for which the legume is named. They filter stuff, make pee, and keep your electrolytes in check. Pretty cool. They are kind of like the aquarium filter of your body like your liver, but different. 

And when you stick all of the stuff together and put into one big shell of a person...it goes into this thing.

The Body is a Marvelous Plastic Machine

Consider this a prequel. (And apologies for the potty humor)
To what? You might ask. A reasonable question. One that is quite sensible in this time of Internet hype and scams. Well, the way I see it, the Ünternet was created to spread knowledge. And well, since I am preparing to be an expert in all things medically inclined I should share the wealth of the wisdom that I have gained.
The plan is to present a series of short essays called, "Medicine for times of Economic Collapse." We all know how expense medical care is, so why not find some way to do some good old DIY health care? 

Caveat 1:My first voyages into the vast ocean of medical wisdom has guided with the sextant of medical text books written before 1950. Many were written before 1920, and thusly dwell obsolescence.

Caveat 2:These posts are made with tongue placed firmly in cheek. Let me repeat that: TONGUE IN CHEEK. 

So very quick lesson on simple anatomy:
This is your head when cut in half:

This is your Digestive Tract...On a white board with a free floating Liver of DOOOOM!

Remember, when food goes in, it must come out...from this place.

And these are your lungs. This is where gas exchange occurs. Which is different from the the gas exchange that might occur in the above pictures.

So this will conclude today's lesson of anatomy. Future more in depth essays for Medicine For Time of Economic Collapse will include:

• The Poor Man's Pharmacy
• Surgery Fun!
• Who Needs a Dental School? 
• Whiskey Will Kill That Infection.
• Spot the Gangrene
• Separating Your Conjoined Twin is Easier than a Divorce...And Cheaper Too!