The circulatory system of the human body is responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to cells as well as removing waste products. This crucial system is composed of the heart, blood and blood vessels, which work in unison to maintain the...
Acetylcholine is an important body chemical that transfers nerve signals from one nerve ending to another. According to the International Society for Complexity, Information and Design, the discovery of acetylcholine dates back to 1914....
On average, the normal resting heartbeat of an adult is between 60 and 100 beats per minute. Any change in the usual rhythm and rate of the heartbeat is considered an arrhythmia. Different types of arrhythmias have different signs to be aware of.
Blood vessels are hollow tubes that are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body and maintaining our pulse and blood pressure. There are three basic types of blood vessels--veins, arteries and capillaries. Each has unique...
An aortic aneurysm, or an out-pouching of the main vessel supplying blood from the heart to other organs, is an often asymptomatic condition. In fact, many aneurysms are found incidentally on a routine exam by your physician. When large enough,...
After a diagnosis of colon cancer, the cancer is staged. Staging is a standardized way of describing the extent and spread of the cancer, which helps guide treatment plans and prognosis. The American Cancer Society describes the American Joint...
Seeing blood in the stool is alarming. Stools that contain blood may appear black, tarry, maroon or red, depending on where the bleeding originates in the gastrointestinal tract, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Blood in the...
The heart--a fist-sized organ made of muscle--occupies the space under the rib cage between the lungs, just to the left of the breastbone. It's divided into four chambers, two on top known as the atria and two on bottom known as ventricles. The...
The bladder is an organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine; when malignant cells form in the tissues in the bladder, a diagnosis of bladder cancer is made. After diagnosis, staging occurs. Staging cancer involves using a standardized system to...
Cancer developing in the colon, or upper part of the intestine, is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States, explains MedlinePlus. The cancer is often grouped together with rectal cancer, and both disease processes are...
The uterus is where the fertilized egg implants itself, developing and growing inside an amniotic sac within the organ. During pregnancy, it is normal for the uterus to change and enlarge, growing to accommodate the developing baby. A distended...
The cardiovascular system plays a crucial role in the body by providing oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body and removing waste from them. The system is a pump with a circle of tubing running away from the pump toward the tissues and then...
The skeletal muscles of men and women are very similar in structure and function. Men have a higher concentration of testosterone produced in their body. Ultimately, this increased availability of testosterone predisposes a man to developing more...
The urinary system filters and eliminates waste products from the blood as urine and includes the kidneys, the ureters, the bladder, the prostate in men and the urethra. The kidneys are the organs that actually make urine by filtering waste from...
Three main types of blood vessels make up the circulatory system that's powered by the pumping action of the heart: arteries, veins and capillaries. When freshly oxygenated blood leaves the heart, the arteries carry the oxygen and nutrients...
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is dangerous because it can contribute to strokes, heart attacks, heart failure, kidney damage, vision loss, damage to arteries, certain types of dementia and a metabolic syndrome of high fat and...
The esophagus transports swallowed food and liquids to the stomach. Normally, it is lined with skin-like cells called squamous epithelial cells. With Barrett's esophagus, the normal cells at the lower end of the esophagus near the stomach are...
Gastric carcinoma, also known as stomach or gastric cancer, is the result of genetic mutations that occur over time in the stomach cells, causing them to grow quickly. Patients who eat large amounts of smoked foods, smoke or have chronic stomach...
The uterus or womb is usually about three inches long and hides behind the bones of the pelvis in the lower part of the abdomen. Under certain conditions, the uterus may become enlarged and can be felt arising from the lower part of the abdomen or...
Diverticulitis is a type of intestinal inflammation connected with an underlying disorder. Although no diet can treat diverticulitis, you may feel better consuming a diverticulitis diet while you use medication to heal the inflammation and any...
Endothelial cells compose the inner lining of blood vessels. Blood vessels function as a conduit for the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, hormones, proteins, immune factors and the removal of waste. Dysfunction of endothelial cells and the buildup...
The pleura is a double-layer membrane that surrounds the lungs and the inner chest wall. Essentially, it is a closed, airtight system. However, when air enters the pleural space between the lungs and chest wall as the result of disease or injury,...
The heart is one of the most important organs in your body. It lies in the center of your thoracic cavity in a sac called the pericardium. Within this sac it contracts freely to pump blood to your lungs for oxygenation. It pumps the oxygenated...
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus. They are round solid masses most commonly located within the wall of the uterus, according to "Williams Obstetrics." They are composed of bundled uterine smooth muscle separated by fibrous...
Your arteries are composed of several layers of tissues that provide them with strength and elasticity, allowing for smooth and efficient blood flow while accommodating wide variations in blood pressure and the various movements of your body as...
Heart and blood vessel disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a significant cause of organ damage and fatalities. There are a number of associated risk factors, including elevated levels of LDL cholesterol and high blood pressure. As such, some...
As you age, the collagen and elastin fibers that keep skin plump and firm begin to deteriorate, according to the American Academy of Dermatology or AAD. This weakening can cause facial and neck skin to sag and appear droopy or flabby. Gravity may...
The human body has three different types of muscle tissue. Each of the muscle types work differently, allowing us to have control over some bodily functions and little or no control over other bodily functions, based on how the tissue works and...
There are several diseases associated with blocked arteries. According to the Franklin Institute--one of the top science education and development centers in the United States--arteries are tough on the outside and smooth on the inside, and are...