Pineal Gland Collection

Medulla oblongata in the brain, artwork
Hypothalamus in the brain. Computer artwork of a persons head showing the brain inside. The highlighted area shows the hypothalamus

Rene Descartes illustration of the co-ordination of the senses, 1692. A visual stimulus travelling from the eye to the pineal gland, H, stops attention being given to an olfactory stimulus

Descartes idea of vision, 1692
Descartes (1596-1650) idea of vision, [1692]. The passage of nervous impulses from the eye to the pineal gland and so to the muscles. From Rene Descartes Opera Philosophica (Tractatus de homine), 1692

Cross section biomedical illustration of endocrine system in adult female

Woodcut from Rene Descartes Treatise of Man, 1664, illustrating his theory that perceptions travel from the eyes to
DESCARTES: PINEAL GLAND. Woodcut from Rene Descartes Treatise of Man, 1664, illustrating his theory that perceptions travel from the eyes to the pineal gland

Annotated title page of the first edition of Descartes De homine, 1662, which contains the passages on reflex action, reciprocal innervation and the pineal gland as the seat of the soul

Human body showing autonomic nervous system and limbic system
Side view of human body showing autonomic nervous system and limbic system within the brain. Green are parasympathetic nerves. Blue are sympathetic nerves

Cross section biomedical illustration of man endocrine system

Pathway of a pain message via sensory nerve in injured muscle, to pain gate in spinal cord to limbic system, frontal cortex and sensory cortex in the human brain

The sympathetic nervous system and the organs of fight-or-flight response

View of limbic system as seen from directly above the head

Schematic of the hypothalamus receiving nerve impulses from the body and sending messages to the circulatory and nervous system

Endorphins released in the hypothalamus travel down the spinal cord
Serotonin released in the brain travels down the spinal cord to close the pain gates and block pain messages

Sagittal view of human brain showing the corpus callosum

Cutaway view of human skull showing brain details, side view

The pineal gland (H), thought by Rene Descartes to be the organ through which the mind controls the body
DESCARTES: PINEAL GLAND. The pineal gland (H), thought by Rene Descartes to be the organ through which the mind controls the body

Psychic brain, conceptual image. Artwork showing the human brain and head, surrounded in flames, with the pineal gland highlighted (bright dot in centre of forehead)

Pineal gland, light micrograph. The pineal gland is a small endocrine gland located near to the centre of the brain, between the two hemispheres

Psychic brain, conceptual image C014 / 1480
Psychic brain, conceptual image. Artwork showing the human brain from the side, surrounded by flames, with the pineal gland shown

Melatonin, light micrograph
Melatonin. Light micrograph in polarised light of crystals of the hormone melatonin. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland in the brain that controls the bodys biological rhythm

Illustration from De Homine by Rene Descartes
Illustration from a book by Rene Descartes De Homine, published after his death in 1662. It is regarded as the first textbook of physiology

Illustration of pineal gland from Descartes book
Illustration of the pineal gland from a book by Rene Descartes entitled De Homine, published after his death in 1662. The book is regarded as the first textbook of physiology

Melatonin brain function, artwork
Melatonin brain function. Artwork showing how the hormone melatonin (blue spheres) is secreted in the brain and helps to control the bodys biological clock

Serotonin N-acetyl transferase molecule. Computer model showing the molecular structure of the four sequence motifs (coloured) that make up the arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (aNAT) complex

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The pineal gland, located in the medulla oblongata of the brain, has long fascinated scientists and philosophers alike. One such philosopher was Rene Descartes, who illustrated the co-ordination of the senses in his artwork from 1692. In his work on vision, Descartes proposed that perceptions travel from the eyes to the pineal gland, which then allows humors to pass to the muscles and produce a response. Descartes' ideas about reflex action and reciprocal innervation were further explored in his book De homine, published in 1662. The annotated title page of this first edition highlights Descartes' belief that the pineal gland is not only responsible for these actions but also serves as the seat of the soul. Biomedical illustrations provide us with a cross-section view of both male and female endocrine systems, showcasing how intricately connected they are to our overall well-being. Additionally, they reveal how our autonomic nervous system and limbic system play vital roles in regulating various bodily functions. A woodcut from Descartes' Treatise of Man depicts his theory that perceptions travel through sensory nerves to reach the pineal gland before transmitting signals to muscles for response production. This illustration emphasizes how crucial this tiny organ is in facilitating communication within our body. Furthermore, we can observe a pathway where pain messages travel via sensory nerves when a muscle is injured. This demonstrates how interconnected our nervous system is with different parts of our body. The sympathetic nervous system's role becomes evident when considering fight-or-flight responses triggered by certain organs during times of stress or danger. It showcases just one aspect of how complexly intertwined our bodies are with their surroundings. Lastly, schematic representations show us how nerve impulses from throughout our body converge on the hypothalamus—a key player involved in maintaining homeostasis—highlighting its significance as an information hub within our central nervous system.