A bone scan, also known as a scintigraphy, is a nuclear imaging test that evaluates bone cell function. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, a bone scan involves injecting a radioactive material, called...
Bone scans are ordered by physicians for a variety of reasons including pain of undetermined origin. There are many conditions that will result in an abnormal finding on a bone scan. Scan results may confirm or rule out clinical suspicions, but...
A bone scan, sometimes called bone scintigraphy, is a test performed to identify areas of increased, often abnormal, mineral activity of the skeleton. A radioactive chemical is injected into the bloodstream and x-rays are performed several hours...
Bone density needs to remain at a therapeutic level within the bone. Bones need calcium to strengthen them. Without enough strength within it, the bone will become brittle and break, MayoClinic.com reports. People who do not already have...
Bone growth is governed by a number of factors. Initial bone growth is determined by the growth and proliferation of cartilage cells--the cartilage tissue becomes calcified to become bone tissue. Once initial bone growth is complete, the bones...
According to the Office of Dietary Supplements at the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D is found in dairy products such as eggs, cheese and fortified milk, as well as in fish and beef liver. Vitamin D is important because it helps the body...
A delicate balance exists in keeping the bones of the body healthy and strong. Abnormalities in this delicate balance can lead to many diseases and conditions that must be treated promptly to avoid further complications. Imaging tests, such as a...
Vitamin A is an essential nutrient important in bone development and metabolism. It can be consumed through foods containing any of the variants of vitamin A, such as retinol or retinoic acid, or in foods with precursor molecules such as...
The bones provide structural support to the body, and allow for muscle contraction. Bone growth and development is a tightly regulated balance between new bone growth and old bone resorption, which is carried out by two classes of cells....
According to the Mayo Clinic, between 5 percent and 15 percent of Americans suffer from temporomandibular joint, or TMJ, disorders. The TMJ is the joint that connects the main part of the skull to the jawbone, and is active when we speak and chew....
The body uses vitamin D3 as part of a bone-making and maintenance team. Vitamin D3 is not actually a vitamin at all but is a hormone mainly used to signal the release and absorption of calcium and phosphorus from various body tissues. The body is...
Lumbar scoliosis refers to scoliosis that affects the lower region of the back, according to the Columbia University Medical Center. Rather than being an adolescent affliction only, it is also seen in mature and retirement age adults, usually as a...
In their purest forms, glucosamine and chondroitin occur naturally within the human body. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, both are essential elements of healthy cartilage. Supplementing natural levels of glucosamine and...
Heel spurs are painful protrusions from your heel that are similar to a toothache in the foot. Vitamin K is needed for your bone health, allowing bone structural proteins to hold minerals such as calcium. According to the Arthritis Foundation, low...
Many diseases cause bone deficiencies. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Manuals website, some bone disorders cause pain, whereas others are asymptomatic. The Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic---one of the top four...
Bone spurs are bony projections that develop along the edges of your bones, according to MayoClinic.com. Bone spurs are not painful, but rubbing against nearby bones and nerves can result in pain. These spurs can occur anywhere in the body --...
Back pain that occurs at a continual, low level or that comes and goes at a greater intensity should be treated, even if a definitive diagnosis can't be made. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 80 percent of diagnoses of chronic pain in the back...
Kyphosis refers to excessive rounding of the thoracic spine, located in the middle to upper back. Structural causes--such as degenerative diseases, bone abnormalities and osteoporosis--or postural causes are responsible for kyphosis. Everyday...
Renal failure is a decrease in kidney function that results in a buildup of unwanted substances in the body, according to the "Merck Manuals." The kidneys function as a filter that cleans the blood and as the organs that produce urine. If the...
Vitamin D is a precursor to the calcitriol hormone. Vitamin D can be obtained from the diet or synthesized in the skin from a cholesterol derivative. Skin synthesis of vitamin D requires exposure to ultraviolet sunlight. The active hormone of...
Most of the metabolism that is carried out in the body results in acids. Keeping a balance between acids and bases is one of the important jobs of the kidneys. If the kidneys do not restore balance, the blood will stay too acidic. This can lead to...
Vitamin A and D are fat-soluble vitamins. Your body has an ability to store vitamin A and D to compensate if your dietary intake falls short occasionally. If you do not consume enough vitamin A and D regularly, you may develop a deficiency in one...
Programs such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Fruits and Veggies--More Matters" are aimed at ensuring that the general population consumes adequate vitamins and minerals for good health. However, it is easy to think you need...
Once a favored home remedy of grandmothers and great-grandmothers, cod liver oil's fishy taste and pungent odor led to its fall from favor as more "modern" vitamins and remedies came on the scene. But recent interest in the health benefits of fish...
The kidneys perform several important functions that are vital to maintaining a healthy body. They produce vitamin D, which is needed for bone health. They secrete a hormone that increases the production of red blood cells. The kidneys eliminate...
Parsley is a springtime herb that pairs well with potato salad, rice and several Italian-inspired dishes. Herbs often offer health benefits despite the small amount you typically use when cooking. Parsley is no exception, with many nutrients that...
If your thighs tingle during walks, you may suffer from meralgia paresthetica. This condition causes tingling in the thigh, buttock or groin area after engagement in activities that activate the thigh or quadricep muscles. Meralgia paresthetica...
Thigh tingling after workouts or any activity that activates the outer thigh or quadriceps is caused by a condition called meralgia paresthetica, also known as "pinched nerves." According to the Mayo Clinic, meralgia paresthetica occurs when the...
Osteopenia, or low bone density, often precedes osteoporosis, a disease resulting in very porous, fragile bones. Diets that are low in calcium and the vitamin D needed for its absorption are the primary cause of osteopenia. Testing positive for...
Brittle bone disease, or osteogenesis imperfecta, is a genetic bone disorder wherein sufferers lack proper proteins to make healthy bones. Learn about brittle bone disease, including treatments, in this video.
Rickets is the softening and weakening of bones in children. Rickets is usually due to a deficiency of Vitamin D. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for Rickets in this medical video.
Plantar fasciitis is a painful irritation on the underside of the heel. Learn how to diagnose and treat plantar fasciitis in this medical video.
