Tonsils...in the Brain?!?

Sorry I haven't written in a while.  I really haven't had much to say, besides how med school manages to make even the most simple things difficult - if you think tying your shoes is easy, we should talk; I bet they could write a test on it that we would all fail.    It has been a tough semester so far.  We have had two tests every week for a while, now...and neuroanatomy is not getting any easier.  We had a lab today on the cerebellum (part of the brain - for coordination of movements), and it was like starting over from the beginning; we didn't know what anything was (because we've all been studying for our imminent exams).    During our neuro lecture this morning, our professor was talking about different kinds of lesions (damage) in the cerebellum, and what affects they have on the body (loss of coordination in arms and legs...).  She said that the tonsils can herniate through the foramen magnum (the big hole at the base of your skull that your spinal column extends through) and that this is really bad and can kill you.  I kept wondering what in the world she was talking about.  We have learned about three different kinds of tonsils, and I knew she wasn't referring to any of those...but I was at a loss.  It wasn't until later, when I was studying for lab, that I learned the cerebellum has "tonsils" too; now that I know where they are, it makes perfect sense that they can herniate and compress the brainstem.    Jen

A New Year, a New Semester

Today was our third day of classes.  One noticeable difference this semester is that I didn't show up exhausted for the first day of class (following a really long week of orientation).  No matter, it is only Wednesday and I am already really tired; it feels like we started 3 weeks ago...    My class schedule consists of: Neuroanatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, Clinical Skills, Clinical Epidemiology and OMM II.  They offered a few electives this semester, and I am really interested in a couple of them...but they must be crazy...    Neuro has a reputation for being ridiculously hard - 33 people failed last year (1/3 of the class).  I really like the way the lab is set up; they put us in groups, give us brains and brain stems and have professors and second year med students move from group to group helping us identify structures and answering questions.  I think they are trying to build our confidence, so we fall that much harder when exam time rolls around...  Unfortunately, I'm not kidding - everyone, even other professors, has warned us about it.    Back to the real world...  I visited my second grade buddy today at lunch.  He started out pretty shy, but has become really talkative.  For just a moment, I could imagine him as a young adult with every opportunity available to him...I hope he really is that fortunate.    Jen