Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through tick bites. The disease is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi, which infects humans bitten by a tick carrying the bacteria. If the infection is caught early and treated properly with...
An integral part of the digestive system, the pancreas produces enzymes for digestion and insulin for glucose, or sugar, breakdown, according to Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania. Diseases of the pancreas can destroy...
Gadolinium is an intravenous contrast agent used to enhance the resolution of certain kinds of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests. According to the American College or Radiologists (ACR), each facility or department that performs MRIs should...
The epiglottis, a piece of cartilage that covers the larynx to keep food and other particles from entering the larynx while swallowing, is part of the larynx, or voice box. The larynx is divided into the glottis, supraglottic and subglottis, with...
A catching sensation in a joint is often caused by a ligament or tendon moving across an area of bone and "snapping" back into place. Golfers can experience the sensation of a snapping elbow, as well as pain or numbness along the inside of the...
Small trampolines -- also referred to as mini-trampolines -- are sometimes marketed specifically for the purpose of trampoline jogging. Jogging on a trampoline has many of the health benefits of jogging outdoors or on a treadmill, and has several...
An iodine allergy may be difficult to diagnose and often disguises itself as a common food allergy. Iodine allergies can produce uncomfortable symptoms such as hives, itching, restricted breathing and inflammation. Once you have been diagnosed...
Diverticulitis is a disease characterized by inflamed or infected fluid-filled pouches, known as diverticula, in the digestive tract. Diverticula can form in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and anywhere else in the digestive system, but...
High triglyceride levels, medically known as hypertriglyceridemia, often occurs in conjunction with elevated cholesterol levels, although cholesterol and triglycerides are separate types of lipids, or fats. High triglyceride levels, like high...
Acute diverticulitis is a potentially life-threatening intestinal disorder that doctors began to notice at the beginning of the 1900s, according to Mayo Clinic, just as Americans began eating processed food on a daily basis. Acute diverticulitis...
The knee contains a medial and a lateral meniscus. The function of the menisci are to even out joint forces and distribute them throughout the knee by acting as shock absorbers. The medial mensicus also takes on the role as a restraint to...
The pubis symphysis is the cartilage forming the joint between the right and left pubic bones. It generally doesn't move much, except during pregnancy. However, it can be injured due to falling, tripping or other trauma, according to Caring...
Gadolinium, or as it appears on the Periodic Table of Elements, Gd atomic No. 64, has received a lot of press in relation to its use as a contrast medium for magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, tests. Under certain circumstances in certain people...
Intravenous drug use allows the brain to receive the injected drug quicker than other methods, such as snorting or oral intake. This often offers an advantage for drug users, leading to enhanced sensations or a "rush" from rapid onset of the drug...
A herniated forearm muscle is a relatively rare condition in which your muscle protrudes through the fascia -- the fibrous tissues that connect the muscles -- into the fat beneath the surface of your skin. This condition is sometimes inherited and...
Ablation involves removing or destroying with heat, evaporation or erosion. Medical ablation refers to eliminating diseased or unwanted tissue or destroying function. According to a review in the American Journal of Roentgenology current...
Prostate pain when sitting is most often associated with inflammation of the prostate, or prostatitis. According to the Prostatitis Foundation, pain or discomfort, between the penis and rectum (perineum) that feels like you are sitting on a golf...
The muscles that connect to the wrist joint may not be a common strength training target for aesthetic purposes. However, the strength of your forearms can be a limiting factor in biceps exercises such as biceps curls. Train your forearm muscles...
The health of a newborn is always a primary concern for parents and caregivers. Anything that goes wrong, however slight, can cause worry or panic, particularly in new parents. Although unusual, a fused coccyx is not always a cause for concern....
Runners continually place strain on the joints and tissues of the lower body, and an intense or poorly designed training schedule, or improper running technique, might damage the tissues in your feet or legs. Your superior extensor retinaculum is...
A hiatal hernia occurs when a portion of the stomach pokes through the diaphragm, according to the Mayo Clinic. The hiatus is the opening where the esophagus leads through the diaphragm and into the stomach. According to MedlinePlus, hiatal...
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI, is an imaging method widely used for both scientific and medical purposes. MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce highly refined pictures of the brain's soft tissue structures. Importantly, MRI has...
The adductor muscles run from the groin to the knee, attaching to the inside of the thigh bone. These are the muscles responsible for pulling your legs together, and when they become injured you may feel pain in your groin, hip and thigh. Possible...
A hernia is any abnormal opening in the stomach wall. If the abdominal wall gets damaged during gastric bypass surgery, a weakness in the stomach lining may be created and an internal hernia can result. An incisional hernia is seen when an...
The total ankle replacement procedure is typically performed for patients who have arthritis. Two common types of arthritis that can be treated with a total ankle replacement are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Ankle joint replacement...
While some amount of pain is normal to experience when you're working out, especially when building muscle in a specific area like the abdominals, a chronic pain in your side can be a nuisance and can make it difficult to enjoy the benefits of...
The arch of your foot acts like a rubber band, stretching and contracting as your foot moves. Comprised of a thick, fibrous tissue called the plantar fascia, your arch absorbs a large portion of your foot's impact. Repeated contact with a hard...
People with shellfish allergy often avoid iodine products because of a commonly held belief that people with a shellfish allergy also have an allergy to iodine. Having a shellfish allergy, however, does not mean you're also allergic to iodine,...
Human chorionic gonadotropin, hCG, is a protein hormone produced by the developing embryo during pregnancy. The hCG hormone is involved in the maintenance of the uterine lining and may also provide immune benefits early in pregnancy. Pregnancy...
