The trapezius is a triangle-shaped muscle that extends posteriorly from the skull to the thoracic region of the vertebral spine on either side of the neck. Functionally, the fibers of the trapezius rotate, abduct, adduct and lift and depress the...
A joint is a connection between two bones. Joints are essential for flexibility, movement and shock absorption. Although most people think of joints as bending like a hinge, there are many different types of joints. Joints are classified by the...
An aneurysm, as defined by the Merck Manuals Online Medial Library, is an expansion, or a bulge, in the wall of a weakened artery. The most common occurrence of an arterial aneurysm is in the abdominal aorta, a condition called abdominal aortic...
The aorta is the main artery of the body. It leaves the thoracic cavity behind the posterior portion of the diaphragm just below the 12th thoracic vertebra. Either directly from major branches or indirectly via secondary arteries, it supplies...
The word "hamstrings" is used as a collective description of three muscles located posteriorly on the legs: the biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus. These muscles are involved in flexing the leg at the knee joint and extending the...
Fibromyalgia is a chronic, soft-tissue/myofascial pain disorder associated with tender points. Other symptoms of fibromyalgia include sleep disturbance, fatigue, headache, morning stiffness, extremity numbness and anxiety.
Recurrent shoulder dislocation can lead to increased shoulder joint instability. The capsular or ligamentous support of the shoulder becomes stretched, and over time, muscles that add back-up stability to the joint can become injured. The most...
The elbow is a complex joint made up the ulna, the radius, and the humerus bones, which work together to provide both hinge and pivot motions. Although the elbow is considered a relatively stable joint, it is still susceptible to sports injuries....
Gymnasts look like bodybuilders. Gymnasts have very defined muscles and extremely low body fat levels. To build a gymnast's body, you must train in a similar manner. Their size and definition come from their training methods. Gymnasts train for...
Embryologically, the hip is the lower extremity analogue of the shoulder, so it does share some common features. There is a labrum, which is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum, or socket. It has a similar function as in the...
History Orthopedic surgery is the field of medicine dealing with injuries to the musculoskeletal system. This includes bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Musculoskeletal symptoms are the second-most common reason that...
The hip is a ball-and-socket joint with the femur (ball component) articulating (in contact with) with the acetabulum (socket). Either the femur or the acetabulum can be fractured typically in specific patterns. Colloquially, the term hip...
The gastrocnemius, also known as the calf muscle, is the muscle located posteriorly to the shin bone and is responsible for plantar and dorsiflexion of the feet. Unfortunately, there are not many strength-training exercises that isolate this...
The long thoracic nerve is a branch of the cervical or neck nerves that supplies the chest wall muscles known as serratus anterior. The long thoracic nerve and serratus anterior muscle are responsible for forward arm movement like a boxing punch...
Trapezius muscles--or traps, as they are referred to in weightlifting--are relatively large muscles evident on either side of the neck. Situated posteriorly on the body, the traps extend from the skull and vertebral column medially and laterally...
The human spine has a slight natural S-shaped curve from the tailbone to the skull. A deviation where the section of vertebrae bend toward the posterior, or rear, is called hypolordosis. The condition has degrees of severity. In milder cases,...
Many outdoor enthusiasts consider snowboarding to be an exciting sport. If you are looking for a fun winter activity, this may be for you. However, as with any sport, there are dangers you need to be aware of. Injuries involved in snowboarding...
Most people are unaware of the existence of cauda equina syndrome. However, this neurological condition is not taken lightly in the medical community. It is important to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of this condition and respond...
Indoor cycling is a form of group exercise that simulates outdoor cycling. Cycling indoors or outdoors is non-impact and appropriate for most people. During a class, you will raise your heart rate and break a sweat using the muscles in your legs.
Yoga can help with posture, flexibility and confidence --- a recipe for a straight and tall body. Spine-Health.com reports that yoga will help keep the head, shoulders and pelvis in proper alignment. Your practice can also work into the soft...
There are over 600 muscles within the human body, narrowed down into ten major muscle groups, named according to their location, shape, action, number of divisions, bony attachments and size relationships. In a strength training routine, all ten...
The acromioclavicular (AC) joint is the joint where the clavicle articulates with the scapula at the acromion. The term AC joint separation refers to ligamentous injuries to the acromioclavicular or coracoclavicular ligments, resulting in...
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one of the bones constituting your spine, known as vertebrae, slips forward anteriorly. This can occur for several reasons, including a defect in the vertebrae, repeated backward movements of the spine or,...
Yoga poses improve the flexibility of your spine by strengthening and stretching the back muscles and through twisting postures. Craig Hospital in Denver, Colorado, lists the possible long-term effects of poor posture as respiratory issues,...
Dowager's hump will likely develop if you sit at a desk all day, have long hair, large breasts, wear high-heeled shoes or if you train your pectoral muscles more than your back muscles. This hunched-back condition may also develop if your chest...
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in your vertebrae. The spinal canal is the opening through which your spinal cord runs. The most common cause of spinal stenosis is arthritis. When this space becomes narrowed, you may experience...
The pubic bone is comprised of the ilium, or iliac crest, the pubis and ischium, and the superior and inferior rami. It gains its strength from four pubic ligaments that surround it; these ligaments connect the sacrum and ilium, the sacrum and...
