I was just thinking a while ago, why is the brain in the head? The brain is basically the most important thing in the body, because realistically if you get a concussion or any injury there, you can't control yourself or think well at all in a fight or survival or anything and will probably be killed.
So the brain is put at the top of the body, in a pretty thin layer of bone. It is pretty much an appendage, and if you think about it, is an easy target. The eyes, ears, nose and mouth (sensory things) are all on the head, so it cannot be protected very well without disrupting these. Also, you can be knocked out and hit there from any angle.
So why isn't the brain where the heart is? It would be a lot more protected by your ribs and it would be more defensible. I just though this was kind of weird and want to know what you think.
Because being isolated in the skull with the main sensory organs gives a very short time required for the signals to travel and allows for a more central view of the world, which in turn provides a very nice evolutionary advantage (If you thought with your **** the world would be a much stranger place. It would be like tasting, seeing, hearing, and breathing through your crotch.). It also makes birth more convenient, because if a human child were to be born with a brain in its chest, it would be extremely underdeveloped and you'd basically be birthing a vegetable.
Also, being completely surrounded by a thick layer of bone allows the brain to take on its "wrinkly" shape and absorb shock, as well as use all of the space that it can to maximize its efficiency.
Things I can think of immedietally : Skull protects the brain, vital organ to the whole body. Very short distance from parts of the body such as the mouth, eyes, ect. Eyes are constantly moving, while muscles are a rather more relaxed part of the body.
This is actually an interesting topic. I've never been bothered by it enough to look it up.
So the brain is put at the top of the body, in a pretty thin layer of bone. It is pretty much an appendage, and if you think about it, is an easy target. The eyes, ears, nose and mouth (sensory things) are all on the head, so it cannot be protected very well without disrupting these. Also, you can be knocked out and hit there from any angle.
So why isn't the brain where the heart is? It would be a lot more protected by your ribs and it would be more defensible. I just though this was kind of weird and want to know what you think.
Also, being completely surrounded by a thick layer of bone allows the brain to take on its "wrinkly" shape and absorb shock, as well as use all of the space that it can to maximize its efficiency.
This is actually an interesting topic. I've never been bothered by it enough to look it up.
Steam: RobotDeathParty
http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/braincushion/
http://curiosity.discovery.com/question/why-brain-covered-in-wrinkles
-Gives more surface area in the same volume, as there are layers of important cells along the surface.
-As we evolved, our skulls didn't grow at the same rate as our brains.