Kant’s conception of human nature in Anthropology

Cutaneous exteroceptors are classified as mecha­

noreceptors, thermoreceptors, and nociceptors. Mecha­

noreceptors are classified5 as position, velocity, or transient detectors. Position detectors signal displacements of the skin and are sometimes referred to as touch or pressure receptors. They also have the ability to signal velocity.

The nerve terminates at Merkel's cells. Stretch, or a movement of the skin adjacent to the corpuscles, has no effect. This localized sensibility gives discrete localization to the stimulus. The type II ending is the Ruffini ending, which is found in skin both with and without hair.

Ad-equate stimulus is displacement of the skin directly over the receptor, and stretching of adjacent skin.

Velocity detectors are found in skin both with and without hair. There are several types that associate di­

rectly with hair follicles. Adequate stimulation is move­

ment of the hair. In skin without hair, the Meissner corpuscle is important in velocity sensation. The Meissner corpuscles are most numerous in the skin over the fin­

gertips. They are sensitive to low frequency vibration in the range of 5-40 HZ.49 Vibration can be produced by the fingertips or other skin moving across the surface.

Pacinian corpuscles are transient detectors. They are present not only in the skin, but also at fascial planes around joints and tendons and in the mesentery. A mechanical stimulation causes an on/off response in the Pacinian corpuscle. Animal experiments have shown that stimulation of a single Pacinian corpuscle can readily be detected in recordings from the cerebral cortex. Adequate stimulation consists of vibration or a tap, and the frequency range is 60-300 Hz.49

The cutaneous receptors are stimulated with joint motion. For example, when the knee flexes, the skin over the quadriceps and anterior knee stretches. When the knee extends, the skin over the hamstrings and popliteal surface stretches. The muscle underlying the area of skin stretch is normally inhibited with the joint motion. The contribution of the cutaneous receptors to the neurologic organization of muscles in joint move­

ment can be observed by manual muscle testing in applied kinesiology. The examiner stretches the skin over the quadriceps muscle in alignment with the muscle fibers. This is done by simply taking a pinch of skin between the thumb and forefinger of each hand and pulling the skin apart, taking care not to heavily pinch the skin with the grasping fingers. Immediately after stretching the skin, test the quadriceps muscle group. Under normal circumstances, the muscles will test weak for a variable length of time. Stretching the skin in this manner simulates knee flexion, as if the hamstrings had contracted. This would cause recipro­

cal inhibition of the quadriceps muscles, which is what is observed when the muscle tests weak.

This basic function is present throughout the body.

Some additional examples are stretching the skin over the dorsum of the foot and anterior ankle to cause the tibialis anterior muscle to weaken, as if the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles had contracted. Stretching the skin over the anterior, medial, and posterior axillae causes the latissimus dorsi to test weak. This skin stretch simulates the arm being placed over the head, which requires inhi­

bition of the latissimus dorsi.

Examination and Treatment

Clinical evidence in applied kinesiology indicates that sometimes the cutaneous receptors are inappro­

priately stimulated or react inappropriately to stimula­

tion, sending information not in keeping with the joint motion. When a muscle tests weak as a result of

im-proper signaling from the cutaneous receptors, it can immediately be made to test normal by skin stretching.

For example, if the hamstring muscles test weak, stretch the skin over the quadriceps group in the direction in which it would normally be stretched if the hamstrings were contracting. The amount of stretch is the amount the skin will yield without damage or severe pain. If dysfunction of the cutaneous receptor is associated with dysfunctioning hamstring muscles, they will test strong immediately af­

ter the skin stretch. Since no structure other than the skin is manipulated or stimulated, it appears that the improved muscle function results from stimulation of the cutane­

ous receptors. Making a muscle strong in this manner is only a diagnostic test for apparent cutaneous receptor dys­

function. The strengthening of the hamstrings will only last for twenty or thirty seconds, regardless of how vigor­

ous or long-lasting the skin stretch is. The diagnostic ap­

proach to the cutaneous receptor is limited to stretch, followed by manual muscle tests. Therapy localization does not appear to reveal any disturbance.

There is an additional factor that can be added to the skin stretch that will make the correction long-lasting or permanent. In reviewing adequate stimulus to the cu­

taneous receptors, Goodheart17 associated vibration as a possible added requirement. Both the Meissner and Pa­

cinian corpuscles respond to frequency stimulation.

Ranges are 5-40 Hz and 60-300 Hz, respectively.49 When Goodheart added a vibration with his fingertips to the skin stretch, the improvement in muscle function became long­

lasting. This is accomplished simply by stretching the skin as previously described, and adding as quick a vibration as possible with the fingers. Skin stretch and vibration are continued for twenty to thirty seconds for adequate treat­

ment. Both the stretch and vibration must be done si­

multaneously; either done alone will not produce lasting results.

Goodheart17 found that 300 Hz electrical stimula­

tion produced the same results as stretching and vibrat­

ing the skin. The 300 Hz electrical stimulation by itself, without stretch, will produce the results. The electrical generator is an acupuncture-type instrument capable of producing selected Hz stimulation.

In most instances, the treatment described will be long-lasting, with repetition not needed. In case dysfunc­

tion returns, clinical evidence has shown a low potency, full complex of vitamin B makes the correction long­

lasting.

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Chapter 3