Stretch marks, also known as "striae," are discolored streaks or indentations of the skin on the abdomen, breasts, buttocks, arms, legs and thighs. Often, they appear in the third trimester of pregnancy, but can be associated with other medical...
The muscles in your chest produce the force necessary for your upper arm -- the humerus -- to push outward, rotate inward and raise upward. You need to focus on these three aspects in order to develop the pectoralis major -- your chest muscles --...
Once you've reached your goal weight, get your skin back into shape. Stretch marks are striations on the skin that occur when skin is stretched due to growth spurts or rapid weight gain. These stretch marks, along with loose, sagging skin, can...
The skin is a pliable type of tissue that has the ability to expand and retract. When it gets stretched beyond its normal capacity in a short amount of time, pink colored striations called stretch marks can appear. Pregnancy, rapid weight gain and...
Bottle feeding versus breastfeeding an infant is a very personal choice. Sometimes, complications from pregnancy or delivery may require the new mother to take prescription blood thinners, such as warfarin, to prevent blood clots. Although the...
Striated muscles, also known as voluntary muscles, are different from smooth muscles in that they appear to have a cross-stripped pattern of fine lines. Your gluteus maximus muscles are already striated in appearance; however, many bodybuilders...
Stretch marks are reddish to white striations at the skin's surface that can mar healthy skin's appearance. They are caused by stretching of the skin due to weight gain or pregnancy, and can also be caused by some medications and medical...
Stretch marks are caused when the middle layer of the skin stretches to the breaking point, causing the upper layer of the skin to become covered with red or white raised striations. While unsightly stretch marks aren't dangerous. According to the...
Break out your sleeveless shirts, ladies. You can develop toned, muscular arms by exercising regularly and eating a balanced, nutritious diet. Training aerobically and dieting helps you burn more calories and lower your overall body fat. As your...
A muscle is a "contractile organ" of the body, according to Princeton.edu. Muscles make up between 40 and 50 percent of our total body weight and work to help us move, maintain posture and produce heat. Muscles respond to stimuli, contract, extend...
To get defined, muscular legs, adopt a physical fitness routine including resistance and aerobic training. Lifting weights helps to develop striations, or separation, in your muscles. Engaging in regular cardiovascular activity helps you burn...
Alopecia areata is a common disease that is characterized by hair loss in a sharply defined area on the body. Usually the area is round and there is a lack of other symptoms. The cause of alopecia areata is poorly understood and currently it is...
The average American eats 120 apples a year, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of the 2,500 varieties grown each year, Fuji apples are available year round and have a spicy, crisply sweet taste. Also called...
Cardiac muscle is specialized tissue that is found only in the heart. It has characteristics similar to both smooth and skeletal muscle tissue, as well as specialized properties, that allow it to function with fast but sustained contractions,...
Stretch marks are long, thin scars that result from a tearing of the deeper layer of skin known as the dermis. The medical term for stretch marks is striae gravidarum, which literally means "pregnancy striations." Stretch marks commonly occur...
A fillet of beef -- a desirable cut from the center of the tenderloin -- is one of the most succulent and tender meats of all. It is a naturally lean cut with small, even striations of fat. Since the fillet is relatively low in fat, it lends...
Cushing's syndrome results from prolonged elevations in glucocorticoids in the body. Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones that affect the metabolism of glucose. A person with Cushing's syndrome has a chronic elevation of glucose in the blood that...
Stretch marks are common white, red or purple striations on the skin. The stomach, thighs and abdomen are common places for the marks to appear. Stretch marks are caused by increased and rapid expansion and retraction of the skin. Pregnancy,...
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and it is composed of three layers--the epidermis, the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. It is the dermis, or middle layer, where stretch marks occur. These are known medically as striae and they are...
Although you have more than 600 muscles in your body, there are only three types of muscle: smooth, cardiac and skeletal, according to KidsHealth.org. Each muscle helps to keep you in motion, your heart beating or signal a natural response in your...
Cardiac muscle shares similarities and differences with other types of muscle. Cardiac muscle constitutes most of the heart's walls. Like skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle is striated, which means that its fibers possess alternating light and dark...
Stiff arm, or straight arm, pulldowns can add thickness and width to your back muscles. The movement is performed using either a rope or straight bar attachment connected to a cable station. Use a light weight to ensure your back muscles, and not...
Kabocha squash -- often confused with "kombucha," the fermented drink -- is a popular type of squash known for having a dry texture and, you guessed it, an edible peel. Kabocha squash, like other squash varieties, is high in fiber and...
With so many names of the components of a muscle, it is difficult to keep them all straight. Whether it is fibers or filaments, each component has a specific role in the structure and function of each muscle.
Making fish a major part of your diet has many health benefits, but if you’re new to cooking fish the sheer number of varieties can be daunting. Amberjack is not as well known as salmon or trout, but if you are lucky enough to come across a...
Parasites can infect many parts of the human body with the intestine easily proving the most common site of infection. Many intestinal parasites affect hundreds of millions of people at any one time. Even in the United States where sanitation...
Smooth muscles of the human body are activated by your autonomic nervous system, or the part of your nervous system creating involuntary movement within your body. You cannot consciously control these muscles. These muscles contract to perform...
Physical activity requires effective, purposeful movements of your body. These movements are the result of force generated in the muscles that act on the skeleton, according to the National Strength and Conditioning Association. Your muscles...
Vertebrate animals (those with backbones) have three different types of muscles. The first two include the heart muscle, which is also referred to as cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Smooth muscle is the muscle that is in the walls of hollow...
