Cartilage, a type of connective tissue, is made of cells called chondrocytes and the material these cells secrete. According to Professor Bruce Babiarz, Rutgers University, the relatively stiff structure of cartilage plays a very important role in...
The knee joint is stabilized by several ligaments and muscles. The anterior (front) of the knee joint is covered by the kneecap, also called the patella, which floats inside the tendon and attaches the quadriceps to the lower leg. The front of the...
Facial fat may be difficult to burn off using diet and exercise because spot fat burning is not possible. Facial fat can only be reduced naturally by reducing general body fat. In some cases, medical intervention is required to achieve the desired...
The spleen is an organ that lies behind the stomach in the upper left segment of the abdomen. It serves many functions in the body including roles in immune function, blood component production and sequestration of blood elements. The spleen...
Numerous arteries nourish the hair follicles and dermis layer of the scalp. The University of Michigan Medical School notes that the dense connective tissue of the scalp holds these arteries firmly in place; this causes the arteries to remain open...
Many breast cancer patients with small or relatively noninvasive breast tumors undergo a lumpectomy--a type of breast-conserving surgery. A lumpectomy involves removing all the cancerous tissue from the affected breast, as well as a margin of...
A joint is the region where two or more bones make contact, providing mechanical support, and allowing movement in some cases. Joints are classified by the way bones are connected together, and also by the degree of movement between the bones. The...
Self Myofascial Release Techniques, often referred to as SMRT, utilizes cylindrical foam baffles to help rehabilitate a wide range of injuries. Popular with athletes, therapeutic specialists and fitness enthusiasts alike, its use is thought to...
Bones give people the ability to hold the body erect and protect organs from injury, but it's the ligaments that give the skeleton strength and flexibility. Ligaments prevent unwanted movement and hold joints in a stable position through normal...
A joint is a structure created by the joining of two or more bones. Most joints of the body are moveable. For example, the elbow joint allows you to flex or extend your arm. Other joints are immobile, for example, the joints of the skull, also...
There are five types of membranes found within the body. Membranes are flat sheets of tissue that cover or line parts of the body and are typically composed of epithelial cells and connective tissue. Epithelial cells cover the inner and outer...
Damage sustained to a ligament requires a certain amount of time to repair, and nutrition functions as a vital support mechanism during the healing process. Rest, ice, and elevation also support healing when a ligament has been strained or...
Ligaments and tendons are specialized tissues that hold bones and muscles together. These structures, along with the muscular and visceral fascia, consist of dense sheets or chords of connective tissues. This connective tissue is the extracellular...
Ligaments are connective tissues that hold bones together. Ligaments, along with tendons and myo-facia, are composed of fibrous connective tissue and are very dense structures with little blood supply. The ligaments can become torn during the...
The coronal suture, the area above the eye, is the spot where the frontal and parietal bones of your skull connect. This area is comprised of dense, fibrous connective tissue. The area is not closed at birth but closes as you mature.
Ligaments are dense fibrous connective tissues that join bones. Ligaments occur throughout the body wherever there are joints, and they can be very complex. Ligaments are formed through excretion of collagen and elastin by fibroblasts and are...
Tendons are dense fibrous tissues that connect bones and muscles. Tendons are responsible for transferring the motion of muscles through the joints into motions of the body. Tendons are affected mainly by trauma, as in strains and sprains, and...
Water is vital to sustain life, aiding in metabolic processes, providing cushion for all cells, comprising a portion of blood and transporting chemicals and nutrients to cells and tissues. Water is lost through processes such as urination, sweat...
Disorders of the feet and ankles are common conditions in the United States. About 75 percent of Americans experience foot pain at some time during their lives, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Poorly fitting shoes, trauma...
Common areas for nose piercings are the nostrils, the septum and the bridge. Healing times vary for each location; nostril piercings heal in two to four months, bridge piercings heal between eight and 10 weeks, while septum piercings may take...
Skeletal muscle is one of three types of muscle in the human body. It is voluntarily controlled and allows for movements of the skeletal system and maintenance of posture. Physical activity, specifically weight and resistance training, allows for...
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health or NIH, the human ear consists of outer, inner and middle parts, and people use all three parts to hear. The NIH states that a variety of ear conditions can...
The human muscular system involves coordination between three separate but closely interconnected groups. Much of what the muscular system does is beyond conscious control. When skeletal muscles are exercised, the other two groups respond by...
Regular physical activity helps increase bone density, builds lean muscle, burns excess body fat, and promotes good cardiovascular health. Not only is exercise beneficial for your heart, it also boosts the immune system and enhances quality of...
The human body is made up of several main systems, one of which is the muscular system. There are hundreds of muscles within the body, including more than 400 skeletal muscles alone. They are responsible for more than 40 percent of a person's...
The circulatory system is made of the heart, an interconnection of blood vessels and blood. The vessels start out large near the heart and branch off and become smaller to reach areas like the tip of the nose, the fingers and toes and the very...
Cellulite is a condition that causes the skin in certain regions of the body to take on a dimpled appearance, often compared with the surface of an orange peel. This condition most commonly appears in women on the upper thighs and buttocks. In...
The brisket is one of the most challenging pieces of beef to cook well. A thick slab of muscle from the steer's chest, it's filled with dense muscle fibers and tough connective tissue. Cooked by most methods, it would be as tough as an old shoe....
Ligaments and tendons are part of the musculoskeletal system, with ligaments attaching bones to bones and tendons muscles to bones.They each serve very important functions to the joints and bones. Ligaments and tendons are made of dense layered...
