Vitamin B-12, also known as cobalamin, is a large and complex nutrient containing the metal ion cobalt. In your body, the vitamin is essential for an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of methionine from homocysteine. If this enzyme is not...
Whether you have a six-pack, a four-pack or a whole keg, the abdominal muscles are a focal point of human anatomy from both a cosmetic and functional point of view. Beyond turning heads on the beach, your awesome abs perform an important role in...
Degenerative disc disease occurs when there is damage to the cartilaginous discs that serve as shock absorbers between the spinal vertebrae. As the discs degenerate, the spaces between spinal bones become thinner and the vertebrae can erode. The...
The human spine consists of a series of bones, called vertebra, that run from the skull to the pelvis. The vertebrae connect together at facet joints with each bone separated by cartilage discs filled with a gel-like substance. This structure...
Oblique crunches take their name from the major muscle group they work: the external and internal oblique muscles of your abdomen. These muscle layers wrap around your torso and form a natural internal corset at your core. Another major muscle...
Toning your muscles helps you look better in clothes, but resistance training to build strength has a host of associated health benefits, too. Building muscle builds bone mass, too, an effect that combats the bone mineral-density loss of...
As defined by The University of Maryland Medical Center, lumbar magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a noninvasive diagnostic technique that utilizes radio waves and a magnetic field for creating 3-D images of the lumbar spine. Lumbar MRI is...
A disc bulge occurs when a portion of your intervertebral disc extends into your spinal canal, affecting your spinal cord or your nerve roots, which are offshoots of your spinal cord. The outer layer of disc cartilage, or annulus fibrosis, is...
MayoClinic.com states that neck pain is a common complaint, and that most causes of neck pain are benign. However, some people may experience chronic neck pain, which may signify the presence of a more serious underlying condition. Chronic neck...
While there are a host of possible causes for twitching bicep muscles, in many cases, the twitching is brought on by heavy exercise. Considering the many targeted bicep isolation exercises that exist, the bicep muscles can easily become overworked...
Determining if a child has scoliosis involves looking at the position and alignment of key bony structures in the body. Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Individuals with this condition have a backbone that pulls sideways as opposed...
Neck pain from an intervertebral disk problem leads to immobility, pain and possible loss of nerve function in your extremities. A bulging disk is often referred to as a herniated disk with similar symptoms, though both are medically different....
The number one cause of death for children younger than 2 years old is head trauma, reports John Cowan, Jr., M.D., of the Department of Neurosurgery at the Harbin Clinic, in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Surgery." Shaken baby syndrome is due...
At one time doctors relied heavily on plain films or x-rays for information concerning the inner workings of the body. Today more sophisticated equipment reveals far more about the body's interior and uses less harmful methods. Tests such as the...
Spinal fusion is a surgical procedure done by either a neurosurgeon or an orthopaedic spine surgeon. Fusion procedures can be treatment for conditions of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine. Patients typically present to the surgeon's...
Tissue attachments that limit movement of the spinal cord cause a condition known as tethered spinal cord disorder. Abnormal stretching of the spinal cord occurs due to this progressive disorder, and it may not be diagnosed until adulthood, when...
Many people feel numbness in their hands at some point in their lives. It can be a disturbing sensation, because most of us are aware that such numbness can be, at worst, a sign of serious or even life-threatening illness, such as a stroke,...
According to MayoClinic.com, a pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is placed on one or more nerve roots--offshoots of the spinal cord--at the point where they exit the spine. The pressure on the nerve root causes the nerve to become...
The spine consists of gelatinous discs that serve as a shock absorber and cushion for the bone vertebrae they separate. If a disc protrudes outside of its designated space, it can bulge out and compress the nerve roots extending from the...
We all have a backache once in awhile, but a herniated disc is a constant backache. A herniated disc is also known as a slipped disc or ruptured disc. The disc is the cushion between the vertebrae, the bones of the spine. When the wall of the...
Open MRI offers a clear picture of the soft-tissue structures of the human body. These images are not affected by bones and can be taken from any angle or direction. Some of the common open MRI procedures include scans of blood vessels, the brain,...
The spine is comprised of bones called vertebra and soft spongy discs that separate the vertebrae. Housed within the spine are the spinal cord and delicate spinal nerves. Degeneration of any of these structures can occur through injury, poor...
If the sciatic nerve, which runs from your back to your feet is irritated or compressed, you may develop a range of symptoms. These symptoms can be mild or severe. You may have pain in your lower back that radiates into your hips or legs, numbness...
Synovial cysts are fluid filled pouches that can develop around your joints. Many cysts are harmless and asymptomatic. However, occasionally they can press against your nerves and become painful. When this occurs, they must be treated properly....
According to the American Brain Tumor Association, brain cancers occur at any age, but they are more frequent in frequent in children and older adults. This source estimates that for every 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 209...
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a noninvasive device used for evaluation, assessment and diagnosis of conditions, diseases and injuries. An MRI generates images of the brain and spine from multiple angles, and it also can provide pictures...
Diseases and disorders of the skeletal system affect all ages, and can include congenital deformities at birth to fragile and brittle bone diseases in the elderly. Bones rebuild and reform every 10 years, when new bone tissue replaces the old....
Any activity where you don't properly engage the right muscles in the hips, back and stomach can lead to lower back pain. Sprinting is among the many activities that lead to or increase pain located in the lumbar region of the back. Improper foot...
A large majority of the population has experienced back pain or problems at some point, according to the National Institute of Health. A long list of factors such as being overweight, poor physical health and getting little to no exercise can all...
