Nutrients fall into two major classes: macronutrients, which are energy-providing compounds that your cells need in large amounts, and micronutrients, which include vitamins and minerals. Your body depends upon macronutrients as well as certain...
The male reproductive system is made up of the visible structures, the penis and testicles, and the unseen but equally important components: the prostate and seminal glands, which produce fluid that makes up semen, and the epididymis and vas...
You body is made of thirteen body systems that work together to keep you alive and functioning. If any one of these systems is not working properly, it will cause a chain reaction that affects other body systems, which may cause them to fail....
Diseases and illnesses target all body systems, such as the circulatory, digestive, reproductive, endocrine, neurological, skeletal and muscular systems. Sources of diseases include genetics, bacteria, poor nutrition, viruses, parasites and fungi....
The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against invasion by diseases and other pathogens including viruses, bacteria and parasites. The immune system is also involved in the normal healing response to trauma as a protection...
Individuals who are sexually active have a 50 percent chance of becoming infected with the human papillomavirus, also called HPV. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease, affecting approximately 6.2 million Americans annually. Most...
Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and one of the most widely consumed drugs in the world. It is present in many of the foods people eat and drink, although it is mostly found in liquid beverages. It is a naturally occurring...
Children are often curious about their body and how it works. Teaching children about the human body through games can make the topic come alive. According to Esther Weiner, author of "The Incredible Human Body," children can learn a great deal...
Bacteria are all around us, in the air, on objects and normally found in and on the human body. When bacteria is on the human body in the absence of disease, it is called a colonizer. However, people can get infected from pathogenic bacteria from...
Movement scientists refer to body coordination as motor coordination, a term that describes the interactions between your muscular, skeletal and nervous systems. Clear communication between these systems creates coordinated movements. Injury,...
The organ systems of the human body work together to create homeostasis, a state of functional health adequate to sustain life. The human organs within these systems work together to perform a specific function. For instance, inhalation requires...
As many people already know, the urinary system is responsible for ridding the body of waste products developed from food and beverage consumption. And, as with most systems in the human body, a properly functioning urinary system is vital to...
Many of the systems in the human body are connected. Consequently, even though the thyroid gland does not directly need vitamin D to function properly, a lack of vitamin D can cause hypothyroidism through its effects on the immune system. Talk to...
The human body is composed of millions of cells, myriad tissues, and numerous organs; some have unique functions, other functions are coordinated, and some functions overlap. Therefore, a classification of organ systems is not definitive. For...
The back is one of the major physical support systems of the human body. Composed of more than 30 vertebrae, muscles, ligaments and tendons, the backbone protects your spinal cord while working in unison with intervertebral disks to promote fluid...
The premise of magnetic therapy is that human tissues emit electromagnetic impulses that become disordered when you are sick or injured. The goal of the treatment is to restore health by correcting the disturbances. Magnetic therapy is a type of...
Lysine, or L-lysine, is an essential amino acid that helps to maintain overall good health within the human body through a variety of functions. An essential building block for all protein in the body, L-lysine cannot be synthesized within the...
Elevated blood pressure is a serious medical condition known as hypertension. High blood pressure can lead to a number of serious or fatal health episodes, including but not limited to heart attacks, heart failure, kidney failure, stroke and...
Zinc is a critical nutrient needed to maintain most of the organ systems in the human body, including skin. Deficiencies in zinc can cause a wide range of symptoms, including severe rashes affecting the chest and other body parts. If you suspect...
If you smoke cigarettes you are jeopardizing your cardiovascular fitness. The American Heart Association reports that around 440,000 deaths out of the nearly 2.4 million deaths each year are associated with the harmful effects of cigarette...
Your body can work in two different energy modes. The first is aerobic, and the second is anaerobic. Avoid thinking of them as separate because they must work closely together to support movement and systems in the human body. Additionally, to...
The lungs function by transferring oxygen into the bloodstream and carbon dioxide out of the body with every breath taken. Tobacco use upsets this mechanism on many levels. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),...
Magnesium is an important element in the functioning of many systems in the human body, in particular, the function of the heart and muscles. Magnesium is absorbed in the small intestine and then distributed to all the cells and stored within the...
Used in traditional Chinese as well as Native American medicine, the dandelion plant is rich in beta-carotene and potassium and can impact numerous systems in the human body. This herb has been used to stimulate appetite, for gastrointestinal...
The overgrowth of the candida genus of yeast can infect many organ systems in the human body. This type of infection can cause an aggravating itch in the infected area to a life threatening condition. Candidiasis is treated with anti-fungal...
Battery Park makes a great hub for your active exploration of way-downtown New York City. The park sits on the very tip of the island of Manhattan. From there you can boat across the water to the iconic Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island or up...
Cells and organ systems of the human body function to maintain a state of balance called homeostasis. In a homeostatic state, energy consumption and production are paced in accordance with the functional demands of the cell. Cellular metabolism...
Stedman's Medical Dictionary defines nutrients as components of food essential for the body's growth, functioning and maintenance. A healthy diet must contain various nutrients. The seven main nutrients are protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins,...
"Minerals are elements that originate in the Earth and cannot be made by living organisms," according to the Linus Pauling Institute. These minerals are taken from the soil by plants and we obtain minerals either directly from plants or indirectly...
HIV or human immunodeficiency virus can lead to AIDS. It affects the human immune system which interferes with the body's ability to fight off disease. Learn about HIV in this video on health and diseases.
