by Michael Kern
Holistic shift A physiological shift from a sense of fragmentation and conditioned motion patterns to a sense of wholeness and connection to resources.
Hologram A three-dimensional image produced when lasers are shone through a photographic plate. The whole image is encoded within each part of the plate.
Homeostasis The state of inner physiological balance maintained by numerous mechanisms of the body.
Homunculus An effigy, often used to illustrate the proportional amounts of the brain employed to receive information from specific regions of the body (sensory) or to control the functioning (motor) of specific regions of the body.
Hormone A chemical secretion that has a specific regulatory effect in the body, mostly produced by the glands of the hormonal (endocrine) system.
Hyperactivity Excessive activity marked by fidgetiness, excitability, impulsiveness, irritability and a short attention span.
Hypoglossal nerve A cranial nerve that exits from the skull through a small opening in the occipital bone, supplying the muscles of the tongue and involved with a baby’s ability to suckle.
Hypothalamus A small yet vitally important region of the brain that regulates and integrates many functions of the body, including the autonomic nervous system and the hormonal system. It is sometimes referred to as “the brain of the brain.”
Hypotonic Loss of tone in tissues.
Ignition The spark of life produced as the potencies of the Breath of Life are transmuted into the fluids of the body. Primary ignition—the first spark of life that enters the fluids at conception. Secondary ignition—the second major stage within the ignition process occurring at birth, when a further spark enters the fluids as the baby takes its first life breath.
Immune system The collection of organs involved in the body’s ability to fight infection.
Ilium (plural: ilia; adj. iliac) The bone that forms the upper portion and side of the pelvis.
Indirect approach A treatment approach in which inertial patterns are followed into the direction of their strain.
Inferior Towards the lower part of the body.
Inhalation The phase of primary respiratory motion during which there is a rising tide towards the upper part of the body and a widening from side to side. Within the cranial rhythmic impulse, it coincides with the external/flexion rotation phase.
Inherent treatment plan The treatment priorities of the patient’s own physiology.
Internal jugular veins A pair of veins through which ninety-five percent of fluid drains from the cranium, passing through the jugular foramina.
Internal rotation A rotation towards the midline. This term is used to describe the motion of paired structures in the exhalation phase of the cranial rhythmic impulse.
Interstitial Between tissues or in the spaces within tissues.
Intraosseous Within a bone.
Involuntary mechanism Same as “primary respiratory mechanism.”
Jugular foramen (plural: foramina) A small hole located at the base of the skull (both sides) in the suture between the temporal and occipital bones through which the internal jugular vein, vagus nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve and spinal accessory nerve all pass.
Kinetic Relating to the property of motion or force.
Lacrimal bones Small paired bones located at the inner borders of the orbit. They contain the tear ducts.
Lamina terminalis A sheet of tissue that forms the anterior wall of the third ventricle. It acts as the natural fulcrum for the primary respiratory motion of the central nervous system.
Lateral Towards one side.
Lateral fluctuation Any lateral or circular fluid motion created by the presence of an inertial fulcrum.
Life statement A core belief that we have about ourselves and the world.
Ligament A type of connective tissue that connects one bone to another, helping to stabilize a joint.
Limbic system Part of the brain that is primarily concerned with autonomic functions and certain aspects of emotion and behavior.
Longitudinal fluctuation The motion of fluid and potency along the longitudinal axis of the body occurring during the cycles of primary respiration. This term is usually used to describe the inherent motion of cerebrospinal fluid.
Long tide The initial and subtlest tidal unfoldment of the Breath of Life that rhythmically moves at about 100 seconds per cycle. It organizes our form and function at a deep level.
Lumbar Relating to the five vertebrae of the lower back just above the sacrum.
Lumbosacral junction Lymphatic The joint between the last lumbar vertebra (L5) and the sacrum. Pertaining to the vessels, and the lymph fluid within them, which are part of the body’s immune system.
Lymphocyte A type of cell carried within the lymphatic system, which helps to fight infection.
Lymphokine A substance released by lymphocytes that helps to activate an immune response. It can also send messages to the central nervous system.
Mandible The lower jaw bone.
Maxillae Paired bones that form the upper jaw, part of the face and the lower part of the orbits.
Medial Towards the midline.
Meninges The membranous lining of the central nervous system that is composed of the dura mater, the arachnoid and the pia mater.
Meridian A channel through which vital force or “chi” passes, according to the Chinese medical system.
Mesenchym A matrix of connective tissue in the middle of the three layers of rudimentary tissues in the embryo.
Metopic suture A suture dividing the left and right parts of the frontal bone, which is present at birth and usually fuses by the age of seven. In about 10 percent of people it persists throughout life.
Midline The central axis of the body that divides it equally into right and left sides. Primal midline—the first midline to appear in the embryo around two weeks after conception, along which the notochord forms and that provides the orienting axis for the embryological development of all body systems. It also provides the orienting axis for the rhythms of the Breath of Life. Fluid (posterior) midline—the midline formed within the developing neural tube, located just posterior to the primal midline, later forming the central canal of the spinal cord and the ventricles of the brain and containing cerebrospinal fluid.
Mid-tide An expression of the embodied forces of the Breath of Life, having a rhythmic motion of about 2.5 cycles per minute. It carries biodynamic potency into the fluids of the body and operates as a unified field of motion involving potency, fluids and tissues.
Molding The two meanings are: 1) the shaping of a baby’s skull bones as a result of forces exerted on it during birth; 2) a treatment approach in which the practitioner encourages the gentle restoration of the normal contours of the skull.
Motility A motion that arises from within a structure—its inner rhythmic pulsation.
Nadi According to the Ayurvedic system of medicine, a channel through which vital force passes around the body.
Nasal bones Paired bones that form part of the arch of the nose.
Neural tube A hollow structure formed in the embryo from which the central nervous system grows.
Neuro-transmitter A chemical substance released by nerve cells and used to communicate signals from one nerve cell to another.
Neutral A point at which the tensions and/or underlying forces around an inertial fulcrum have reached a balance (i.e., point of balanced tension or state of balance). Practitioner neutral—a level of attention that is ideal for craniosacral palpation and treatment, where the practitioner’s attention is at rest between “coming and going” and is devoid of expectation or need.
Notochord A rod-shaped cord of cells formed along the primal midline, defining the axis for embryological development.
Nuclei (singular nucleus) A group of nerve cells, usually in the central nervous system, which relate to the functioning of a particular nerve.
Occipital bone (occiput) The bone that forms the back and part of the floor of the skull. It c
ontains the foramen magnum.
Olfactory nerve A cranial nerve that passes through small holes in the ethmoid bone, relaying the sense of smell.
Orbit The bony walls that contain the eye.
Original matrix Osteopathic lesion Osteopathy Our blueprint of health; an original intention for health that is never lost.
An osteopathic term to describe a place of restricted motion and impaired function.
A system of health care developed by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still that places an emphasis on the relationship between body structure and function and views the body as a whole unit capable of healing itself when its structure and function are in alignment.
Palatine bones Paired bones forming the back portion of the hard palate at the roof of the mouth, part of the walls of the nasal cavity and a small part of the orbit.
Palpate To examine by touch.
Palpation The act of sensing through the hands.
Parasympathetic nervous system The branch of the autonomic nervous system that emerges from the brainstem and the sacral region of the spinal cord. It is involved with maintaining the functions of the body in states of rest and relaxation.
Parietal bone Paired bones that form a large part of the posterior roof and sides of the cranium.
Pathology The manifestation of disease; the study of disease processes.
Pattern of experience A conditioned pattern that has become fixed in the body because of stress or trauma.
Perception The sensory, intuitive and instinctual recognition of phenomena or experiences.
Periosteum A connective tissue covering that closely adheres to the surface of bones.
Petrous ridge An angled ridge along the inside of the temporal bone, providing the attachment for the lateral border of the tentorium cerebelli.
Physiology The way the body functions.
Pia mater The innermost layer of the meningeal membrane system, closely adhering to the contours of the central nervous system.
Pineal gland A hormonal gland located at the back wall of the third ventricle, which is involved with sleep and reproduction.
Pituitary gland Placebo A small gland that is considered to be the “master gland” of the hormonal system, sitting in the sella turcica of the sphenoid bone. An inactive substance often used in controlled studies to test drugs, which may nevertheless provide therapeutic benefits.
Plexus (plural: plexi) A network of vessels or nerves.
Point of balanced tension A localized point at which the tensions around an inertial fulcrum have reached an equal and neutral balance. This is the optimal point for inertia to resolve when working within the cranial rhythmic impulse.
Polarity therapy A therapeutic system, developed by Dr. Randolph Stone, which seeks to balance the constitutional energies of a patient.
Posterior Towards the back of the body.
Potency Strength, force or power. An intelligent biodynamic force that maintains order and balance and is carried in the fluid systems of the body. Inertial potency—the concentration of forces that have become bound up at an inertial fulcrum.
Primal midline The midline orientating force that provides the axis for the growth and development of the embryo and continues to act as an organizational axis for the expression of primary respiration.
Primary respiration Rhythmic motion produced by the Breath of Life, which is initially expressed as the long tide, and then unfolds into the mid-tide and the cranial rhythmic impulse.
Primary respiratory mechanism The core tissues that express primary respiration, consisting of the inherent fluctuation of cerebrospinal fluid, the motility of the central nervous system, the mobility of the intracranial and intraspinal membranes, the motion of cranial bones and the involuntary motion of the sacrum between the iliac bones of the pelvis.
Primary respiratory system The whole system of rhythmic motion produced by the Breath of Life, including the long tide, the mid-tide, the cranial rhythmic impulse and the ground of stillness from which these rhythms arise.
Psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) The study of the physiological relationship and mechanisms of communication between the mind, the nervous system and the immune system.
Quantum physics The study of the smallest units into which matter can be broken down.
Reciprocal tension membrane system The dural membrane system that surrounds and partitions the central nervous system and is attached to and continuous with cranial bones and the sacrum. It is relatively inelastic and always held in a state of reciprocal tension during its motion.
Reference beam A pure beam of laser light that is reflected onto a photographic plate to produce a hologram.
Resource Rhythmic Something that supports health and balance.
balanced interchange Term coined by Dr. Rollin Becker describing the rhythmic interchange between stillness and form at the very heart of the healing process.
Sacro-iliac Pertaining to the joint between the iliac bone of the pelvis and the sacrum.
Sacrum The bone at the base of the spine located between the ilia, composed of five fused vertebrae.
Sagittal suture Secondary respiration The joint between the two parietal bones along the top of the cranium. Lung breathing.
Sella turcica A concave saddle-shaped notch on the upper surface of the sphenoid bone, in which the pituitary gland sits.
Shape Same as a “pattern of experience.”
Shock An event that can overwhelm our ability to respond effectively.
Shutdown A sudden cessation of the cranial rhythmic impulse and sometimes the mid-tide that occurs with a state of overwhelm.
Spheno-basilar junction (S.B.J.) The joint between the sphenoid bone and the occiput formed of cartilage that fuses in adulthood but nevertheless allows for small degrees of motion. It is considered to be the natural fulcrum for the primary respiration of all other bones in the body.
Sphenoid bone A bone that forms the front part of the cranial floor, the back part of the orbits and a part of the temples.
Sphenopalatine ganglion A bundle of nerve cells located between the sphenoid and palatine bones, from which branches supply the tear ducts and lining of the nose.
Spina bifida A failure of the vertebral column to close during embryological development, leaving a space through which the spinal cord and membranes may protrude.
Spinal accessory nerve A cranial nerve supplying muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle, exiting from the skull through the jugular foramen.
State of balance A balancing of the forces that control the presence of an inertial fulcrum accessed via the mid-tide or the long tide. It is a state of dynamic systemic equilibrium around the presence of a particular inertial fulcrum, providing the optimal opportunity for the resolution of inertial forces and a gateway to deeper levels of function.
Stillpoint A temporary cessation of the cranial rhythmic impulse and sometimes the mid-tide, marked by a time of deep physiological rest during which the fluids can recharge with potency.
Straight sinus A drainage channel that is formed at the junction between the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli. It is angled posteriorly and inferiorly at about thirty-five degrees.
Subarachnoid space The space between the arachnoid and the pia mater, which contains cerebrospinal fluid.
Superior Towards the upper part of the body.
Sushumna A channel of energy along the central column of the spine; according to yogic practice, it is the central rod of the caduceus.
Sutherland’s fulcrum The natural fulcrum of the reciprocal tension membrane system, located at the front end of the straight sinus (formed within the junction between the falx cerebri and the tentorium cerebelli). This fulcrum automatically shifts along the angle of the straight sinus during the inhalation and exhalation phases of primary respiration.
Suture Sympathetic A specialized joint of the bones of the cranium.
nervous system The branch of the autonomic nervous system that originates in the thoracic and lumbar regions of
the spinal cord and is concerned with body activities in states of stress or activity.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) A connective tissue disorder related to an impaired function of the immune system.
Temporal bone Paired bones that form part of the sides and the floor of the skull, containing the organs of hearing and balance.
Temporo-mandibular joint (T.M.J.) The joint between the temporal bone and the mandible, i.e., the jaw joint.
Tentorium cerebelli The part of the reciprocal tension membrane system, formed of dura and shaped like a tent, which provides a horizontal partition between the upper and lower parts of the brain.
Thoracic The middle part of the spine consisting of twelve vertebrae that provide attachment for the ribs. Sometimes called “dorsal.”
Thymus gland A gland located at the center of the chest that matures lymphocytes and is particularly important for the immune functioning of babies and children.
Tide An involuntary rhythmic motion of fluid and potency expressed in cycles of inhalation and exhalation.
Tissue Tissue memory An aggregation of cells, which are grouped together for a common function.
The imprint of experiences, perhaps containing an emotional or psychological aspect, that are held within tissues.
Traction A movement of two structures away from each other.
Transverse Trauma Horizontal or side-to-side.
An event or series of events created by danger or injury that mobilizes the body’s protective mechanisms.
Traumatization The result of being overwhelmed by trauma and not having the resources to dissipate the effects.
Trophism Nourishment.
Umbilicus “Belly button,” the mark left at the place where the umbilical cord attached a baby to its mother.
V-spread A treatment approach used at sutures or joints, during which fluid and potency are directed towards an inertial fulcrum with one hand, while disengagement is facilitated by spreading the two fingers of the other hand.
Vagus nerve A “wandering” cranial nerve that enters the body and supplies many internal organs, including the throat, heart, lungs and most of the digestive system. It forms ninety-five percent of the parasympathetic nervous system.