Figure 2



Schematic depiction of the rather impressive number of diseases and disorders theoretically presumed to be the result of dysfunction involving various segmentally related somatic paraspinal structures. It is important to point out however that, to date, not a single one of these putative, causal "somato-visceral disease" relationships has been corroborated by results obtained from appropriately controlled scientific investigations. Nor does the hypothetical existence of somato-visceral mechanisms capable of inducing such segmentally-related disorders receive much support at all in light of current scientific knowledge regarding the roles the autonomic nervous system plays in both health and disease. In spite of this, such theories (claims) are still rather dogmatically reinforced by more than just a few chiropractic colleges and by a number of chiropractic continuing education relicensure seminars or may even be found conspicuously displayed in many chiropractors' offices or contained in various patient "education" brochures.

Chart of the Nerve System