Histamine is a chemical which is made by the body and has a number of roles in the human body. Medications that interfere with histamine can be used to treat allergies as well as acid reflux. This molecule is able to affect the immune, digestive...
Stomach acid is primarily made up of chloride and hydrogen ions (the latter of which are often referred to as protons). It is the protons that make the contents of the stomach acidic. Because there is a higher concentration of protons in the...
The neurotransmitter serotonin, also known by its chemical name 5-hydoxytryptamine, is released by neurons in the pineal gland of the brain but can affect structures all over the body. Some of the effects of serotonin seem unrelated, making this...
Stomach acid is primarily composed of a substance called hydrochloric acid, which is made by cells in the stomach called parietal cells. According to Colorado's State Pathology Department, stomach acid is notable for its high concentration of...
Melatonin and serotonin are two naturally occurring substances found in your body. Your pineal gland produces melatonin, and your intestinal cells and brain's nervous center produces serotonin. Both melatonin and serotonin play several roles in...
Like a computer, the human brain requires proper input for it to function appropriately. Since the brain is a biological organ, this input consists of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that contribute to cellular growth and biochemical...
Carcinoids are classified as growths that fall in a category between benign and malignant, the Carcinoid Tumor Foundation states. Small carcinoids, which grow very slowly and most often begin in the small intestine, affect as many as one in 100...
Serotonin, or 5-Hyroxytryptamine, is a neurotransmitter primarily found in the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and platelets. It is synthesized from the amino acid L-tryptophan by a two-enzyme pathway and contributes to feelings of...
The gastrointestinal tract is the only system in your body that will continue to demonstrate neuronal activity and reflexes after being isolated from the central nervous system. This is possible because the gut is hardwired with its own network of...
