I'll copy all the Facebook posts about spirals here to bring other readers up to date with the discussion
from March 14
As above so below, as micro so macro. Our basic organizing unit, our DNA map, is a spiral and that design flows through form and function through the tissues of our bodies, the flow of air and water around the globe, all the way up to the level of our spiral Milky Way galaxy, and probably beyond. In the opening sentence, the old adage gives the impression that there is "this" and "that." But think for a moment of the continuity of the air touching your skin and in your lungs and with the air in your environment. And, that air with the air in the world. And the air in the world with the airless layers around the earth, and on and on, each layer in continuous contact with everything else surrounding it. You are in a continuous flow of connection to the heart of the universe. We are hardly separate beings. Indeed, we are "made of star stuff." And the basic design of the universe is encoded in our tiniest parts. Next time, spirals in muscle fibers and muscle groups and why it's so important.
from March 21
So spirals: present from DNA to the shape of the galaxy. Tendons, ligaments joint capsules and the fascia of muscles are composed of parallel fibers of collagen, which resemble the the spiral weave of a rope. Each collagen molecule is a triple helix spiral. Visually, the gross structure of a tendon is also a spiral. so working from the most basic unit of molecules all the way up to the muscle itself, spirals are present. to finish this discussion, I continue on the blog and give you the attributes for the source of this information See you there...
so to continue on with the above discussion, functionally many muscles have a twist in them between the origin and insertion. The teres major ( of which I wrote on FaceBook on March 11,) Latissimus dorsi, pectoralis major and levator scapula all have a twist. One function of this twist is to provide rotation. To illustrate this let's look at the levator scapula.
go here for a muscle diagram
You can see easily that without the twist, the range of motion in the shoulder joint would be far less. When this muscle contracts it brings the inner edge of the scapulae out towards the lateral portion of the head. With out this twist, the muscle would pull the scapula straight up and in. ( I just got an image of T- REX with his tiny flailing arms!) so functionally this works out better for us.
Another aspect of the twist is that it also increases muscle strength and allows the structure to withstand greater pulling forces.
The source for much of this material is from a book called Massage and Manual Therapy for Orthopedic Conditions, by Thomas Hendrickson. (Second Edition, pages 8-9)
Following is a section on spiral form in the tissues
"Muscles are composed of parallel fibers organized in spirals. Actin and myosin are the two basic contractile proteins that compose the functional unit of muscle contraction and form the myofibrils (literally "muscle threads"), which are woven together in a spiral like a rope. Each actin filament is a double helix that is composed of two strands that spiral around each other during muscle contraction, and myosin contains globular heads that are arranged in a spiral. DNA, the code of instructions for cellualr reproduction, is also a double helix spiral. The advantage of the spiral weave of soft tissue is that it increases the ability of the tissue to withstand stress"
I know not everyone is so intrigued by the inner workings of the body, but I find the structure, and the manifestation of our consciousness through the body and the continuity of form and function that stretches from the atomic to the cosmic level to be fascinating.
take care
