Overview The word hepatitis simply means inflammation of the liver. Inflammation is a natural bodily reaction and causes the affected area to become swollen and tender. There are many reasons why the liver may become inflamed such as viral infection, alcohol, drugs and other toxins, or less commonly by a breakdown in a person’s immune […]
The term Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease can be broken down into gastro, which means of or relating to the stomach, oesophageal meaning relating to the oesophagus, and reflux which means to flow back. It is a common condition in which the stomach contents leak backwards from the stomach into the oesophagus, which is the pipe attaching […]
The Sciatic Nerve The sciatic nerve is the longest and largest nerve in the human body. Just like the spinal cord, it is approximately the width of a human finger. The sciatic nerve is made up of a combination of spinal nerves, namely L4, L5, S1, S2 and S3, and forms on the right and […]
Overview The spleen is an organ found in virtually all vertebrate mammals. It is located in the upper left quadrant of the abdomen. In the average healthy adult it weighs around two hundred grams and it is about the size of a fist. The spleen has several main functions. It filters the blood and removes […]
The Pituitary Gland The pituitary gland is located at the base of the brain, attached to the hypothalamus, which controls its function and is approximately the size of a pea. Known as the master gland, it produces hormones that control other glands, and has a role in many body functions. The pituitary gland is divided […]
We need oxygen to keep our bodies functioning on a cellular level, and the respiratory system is the part of the body that enables this to happen. The respiratory system is a group of organs and tissues that enable us to breathe. The main parts of this system are the lungs, the airways, and the […]
Overview Cirrhosis is a chronic condition of the liver characterised by abnormal liver function and structure, as a result of damage caused by inflammation of liver cells. Inflammation and regeneration that is associated with dying liver cells leads to the formation of scar tissue. Surviving cells multiply as they try to replace dead cells, resulting […]
Overview Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic diseases which cause a person’s blood sugar or glucose levels to be too high, due to a malfunction in either insulin secretion or the body’s response to insulin. Insulin is a hormone released by the pancreas to normalise glucose levels. When a person […]
Medical terminology refers to a special vocabulary used by medical professionals. Far from being used to bewilder those not trained in healthcare, it is an essential aid in consistent communication between medical professionals. Medical terminology is used consistently in medicolegal reporting. This week we are going to look at how medical words are formed, to […]
Overview Aspiration pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs and airways caused by breathing in foreign material, either from the mouth or regurgitated from the stomach. The foreign material can be made up of oral or gastric content including food, liquid, vomit, saliva or nasal secretions. This can lead to significant infection in the lung. Causes […]
