Radiographs, or x-rays, are the most common way to identify sternal fractures. To obtain a radiograph of the sternum and ribs, a patient stands in front of an x-ray machine that takes pictures of the area. A radiologist then reads the x-ray to...
Repeatedly lifting heavy weights can put a lot of strain on the tendons and ligaments around your elbows, which can result in a myriad of painful and debilitating conditions. Exercise daily, take time to stretch muscles throughout the day,...
The stomach is very acidic because it produces gastric acid. Although most of the time the contents of the stomach are prevented from escaping into the esophagus by a ring of smooth muscle, sometimes this muscle relaxes, allowing the acidic...
The presence of gallstones in the gallbladder is a very common medical problem known as cholelithiasis. Gallstones are formed when bile, which is stored in the gallbladder, becomes overconcentrated and hardens into pebble-like substances. Bile...
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common condition in which acidic stomach contents flow back into the esophagus, causing symptoms like heartburn and, in children, vomiting. Asthma is a chronic respiratory...
Multiple myeloma is a tumor of your plasma cells, the white blood cells that make antibodies. The tumor starts in your bone marrow, where blood cells are formed, then spreads out and destroys your bone. According to Charles Linker, M.D., Director...
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that primarily affects the pulmonary system and causes a chronic cough, chest pain and sometimes the coughing up of blood. People with an active infection can infect others by coughing, sneezing, and talking....
Sarcoidosis can affect most of the organs in the body, but it usually affects the lungs. Scientists know that it is an inflammatory disease, and yet they are still unsure of the cause. The white blood cells in this disorder forms groups to fight...
Emergency departments develop protocols that reflect best practices and improve patient outcomes. According to the "American Journal of Critical Care," the use of protocols simplifies processes, standardizes care, facilitates patients' safety and...
The white blood cells normally protect the body against infections and even cancer. They include cells called the natural killer cells, macrophages, monocytes, basophils, eosinophils, neutrophils, the T lymphocytes and the B lymphocytes. When the...
The symptoms of respiratory system diseases can often overlap and cause confusion over the exact pathology affecting the patient. A very common question faced by primary care physicians is whether a patient has bronchitis or pneumonia and, if so,...
In the field of radiology, it is critical to follow all safety precautions and departmental policies. And with pediatric imaging, doctors must be extremely careful with radiation doses, because of the sensitivity of children's rapidly dividing...
A cancer called multiple myeloma can damage the bones and kidneys, cause anemia and leave the body unprotected against infections. Yet, a minority of people with this disease will not have any symptoms. Current treatment includes chemotherapy,...
In the March 2010 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine," Elizabeth Shane, MD, writes that 10 to 12 million Americans are affected by osteoporosis. This disease decreases the density of bone and results in increased bone fractures. In...
Antibodies are proteins that are made by cells of the immune system to fight bacteria and infection. A very high amount of this protein in the bloodstream, however, can be caused by multiple myeloma. This is a cancer that can also cause anemia...
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia is a chronic lung disease that appears in premature infants, who have received high levels of oxygen, shortly after birth. These infants are usually born with a lack of surfactant, which predisposes the lungs to...
The meniscus is a C-shaped piece of fibrocartilage that acts like a cushion between the femur (thigh bone) and tibia (shin bone). It is wedge-shaped, such that it is larger on the outer rim of the meniscus and tapers towards the inner rim. There...
Equine splint bones run down each side of the horse's leg and attach by ligaments to the shinbone, also called the cannon bone. A remnant of the five toes possessed by prehistoric horses, the splint bones can be compared with the first and third...
The current pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) classification system, established by the World Health Organization, is based on the pathogenesis of the disease. Tuberculosis is a common and sometimes fatal infectious disease caused by various strains of...
The peroneal muscles lay along the outside of the lower leg. Their tendons travel behind the lateral malleolus, or ankle bone, to insert onto the foot and help with the actions of plantar flexion, or toe pointing, and foot eversion, or turning the...
The high content of air in the lungs gives them a nearly transparent appearance on chest X-rays and CT scans. In contrast, areas of solid tissue within the lungs appear as white spots with these imaging techniques. A spot on the lung is an...
An area of thinned and weak abdominal wall through which intestines can protrude is called an abdominal hernia. The Merck Manual states a hernia can be present at birth or acquired, usually after an abdominal operation. An abdominal hernia usually...
Pregnant women sometimes develop swollen pelvic veins that cross into the groin and wrap around the round ligament of the uterus. These varicose veins, which normally appear during the second trimester or later, rarely cause pain, do not require...
CT scans are a radiographic test used to identify heart disease, blood clots, broken bones and cancers quickly and painlessly. Also known as computed tomography, the CT scanner takes pictures in slices, providing a transaxial view of all soft...
Blood clots in the calf generally occur in one of the deep veins, and are known as deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. They are more likely to occur with damage to the inner lining of the veins, as during injury, surgery or inflammation. They also tend...
Diagnostic procedures, ranging from non-invasive to invasive testing, are valuable diagnostic tools for the cardiovascular system. These procedures can catch cardiac problems before symptoms develop in most cases. Based on your needs, the...
Breast tissue is composed of several types of tissue, including glandular, fatty and fibrous, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. It responds to the body's production and levels of sex hormones such as estrogen...
Cells that express the pigment melanin are predominantly found in the skin, but these cells are also present in the meninges of the central nervous system. Meninges are layers of membranes that surround and protect the central nervous system....
Breast fat necrosis is a benign or non-cancerous condition that occurs as an after-effect of surgery or radiation. Although far less common, it also can develop in response to an injury to the breast. It can be concerning for women because it...
