Ch. 5: Getting Ahead

Even though most of Shubin's chapters begin with one of his old stories from when he was in class or studying for a final it makes the reader more interested because we get to see how he thinks as well as see what his perspective was on the topic. Moving on, the way that Shubin split the head up made it easier to understand. For example, he split it in two plates, blocks, and rods. The plates are which cover the brain almost like shield in the shape of a jig-saw puzzle. Then the blocks are the plate like bones at the top, and the rods are basically the muscles that help us chew, hear, and swallow. Even though the diagram that is on the let side of page 83 doesn't look anything like the right it still helps us break down what the functions of the certain parts are. It was interesting reading about the mallues and incus which for the upper and lower jaws as well as the 2 tiny ear bones. The stapes formed the 3rd ear bones which were the 2nd and 3rd arches which formed the bones and muscles deep inside the throat. Overall this was an interesting chapter that helped explain the parts of the head using the plates, blocks, and rods method.

-Neha Modha