The transversus abdominis, or TVA, is a deep abdominal muscle that surrounds your organs and your spine. It works with other stabilizing muscles to keep your spine and pelvis in alignment when you move. Fitness professional Anthony Carey, author...
A well-strengthened and defined upper abdominal region stabilizes the pelvis and spine to prevent lower-back injuries. It also allows more rapid and powerful movements of the limbs. A well-defined upper-abdominal region is, perhaps, the most...
A number of pressure points in the body are believed to be connected specifically to different areas. The alternative medicine belief is that these points block energy, while traditional western medicine relates more to the nerve innervation....
Everything in your body is made up of cells. Each cell is programmed by your DNA to perform a specific function for the body. Muscle tissue is made of individual muscle cells that contain microscopic layers and molecules that allow the body to...
The iliacus muscle is part of the hip flexors group that flexes the leg toward the body or flexes the torso forward with your feet fixed on the ground. You cannot isolate this muscle to work because it is connected to your psoas major and minor...
The axillary nerve innervates the deltoid muscles in the shoulder and is located in the armpit, or axilla. This nerve can be damaged in patients who have a fractured upper arm bone, a cast or splint on the upper arm, improperly use crutches, have...
The rotator cuff is an integral part of the shoulder joint. It helps to stabilizes the joint during almost every type of movement of the shoulder. The rotator cuff is composed of four muscles as well as the tendons that attach then to the bones of...
The rotator cuff is a critical component of the shoulder that takes part in almost every movement of this joint. As described in an article published in "American Family Physician," the rotator cuff is composed of four muscles--the subscapularis,...
The trigeminal nerve provides innervation (nerve supply) to many different parts of the face. It carries sensory impulses, including heat and pain signals, to the brain. If the nerve gets damaged or pinched, this can lead to the development of a...
Neuropathy refers to disease of the peripheral nerves that travel from the central nervous system to reach the muscles and organs. Neuropathy has many causes, including common diseases such as diabetes, hereditary diseases, infections and toxins....
At some point in your life you may suffer muscle deterioration, because it is a normal consequence of aging, inactivity and injury. This loss of muscle tone, also referred to as atrophy, is reversible with strength training and activity, however,...
The trapezius and the latissimus dorsi muscles make up the superficial extrinsic muscles of the back, with the trapezius covering the upper portion of the back and the latissimus dorsi covering the lower portion. The trapezius gets its name from...
A region of the brain stem called the medulla contains the respiratory center, which controls the body's respiratory rate. This respiratory center stimulates the phrenic nerves that innervate the diaphragm and the intercostal nerves that innervate...
The brachial plexus is a group of nerve fibers running from your spine through your armpit and down both arms. This group of nerves innervates nearly your entire upper arm. An injury to the brachial plexus can be debilitating and sometimes...
The piriformis is a muscle located deep to the gluteal muscles in the buttocks. MRI is an imaging modality that best visualizes soft tissue structures in the body. A well trained radiologist or physician should be able to find the piriformis...
The rotator cuff consists of muscles and tendons that wrap around the head of the upper arm bone, holding it in place within the shoulder joint. The muscles of the rotator cuff include teres minor, the infraspinatus, the supraspinatus and the...
There are 12 paired cranial nerves that exit the skull under the brain's surface that extend to various parts of the head, neck, chest and abdomen. The cranial nerves comprises three nerve types: motor nerves that send an impulse signal to a...
Breathing rate is primarily regulated by neural and chemical mechanisms. Respiration is controlled by spontaneous neural discharge from the brain to nerves that innervate respiratory muscles. The primary respiratory muscle is the diaphragm, which...
The piriformis muscle is a very strong hip muscle, one of the core muscles of the body. It's located beneath the gluteal musculature and is indicated in some specific hip and low back pain issues, including piriformis syndrome and sciatica. These...
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...
Caring for your lower limbs, including your feet, is very important when you suffer from diabetes. The condition increases your risk of amputation of the lower limbs for several reasons, most of which you can work to prevent. Physicians will...
After a bout of the chicken pox, the varicella-zoster virus lies dormant in the body. In people with normal functioning immune systems keep the virus at bay the rest of their lives. People who have a compromised immune system due to chronic...
Radial nerve neuropathy is a condition in which the nerve becomes dysfunctional and cannot innervate the muscle or skin appropriately. It results in difficulty moving the elbow, wrist and hand and produces pain and loss of sensation to the back of...
Myocarditis is inflammation and degeneration of heart muscle. It can be viral or bacterial and may accompany other disease. It can also occur in the elderly as a part of the aging process. It can be a cause of heart attacks. There is no treatment...
Located beneath the large muscles on either side of the neck, or the sternocleidomastoids, the carotid sheath, part of the cervical band of tissue, or fascia, encloses the carotid artery, the internal jugular vein and the vagus nerve. World...
Your heart is racing, you can feel your face turning red and sweat begins to drip from your head. All of these images evoke feelings of a stressful situation. Exercise is a stressor on the body. However, stress caused by physical activity is a...
Sciatica is a term used to describe the symptoms associated with aggravation to the sciatic nerve. Your sciatic nerve originates in your lower spine and runs through the backs of your legs. While sciatica stems from a variety of causes, pregnancy...
Neuropathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes that is caused by a progressive weakening of blood vessels that supply nerves with oxygen and nutrients. Diabetic neuropathy affects nerves that sense pain, are involved in motor control and...
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a neuromuscular disorder of the wrist that causes pain, numbness, weakness and a loss of motor function in the hand. This occurs due to swelling and inflammation in the wrist that compresses the median nerve. The median...
Cold packs can often be used to treat injuries in order to reduce swelling and alleviate pain. Learn how to use cold packs properly in this health video.
