The mouth is the beginning of the digestive tract, otherwise known as the alimentary canal. The mouth has a number of very important functions involved in the digestion of food, breathing, communication and the immune system. The boundaries of the mouth are formed by the lips, cheeks, floor of the mouth, and palate. The mouth […]
Kidney failure can be defined as one or both kidneys failing to adequately filter waste and toxins from the blood. Kidney failure is either acute or chronic. Acute kidney failure occurs suddenly, whereas chronic kidney failure develops over a period of time. Kidney failure is also known as renal failure and can be permanent or […]
The Joint The ankle joint is a synovial hinge joint located in the lower limb. It is formed by the bones of the leg, the tibia and fibula, and the talus of the foot. The tibia and fibula are bound together by strong ligaments and together they form a bracket shaped socket known as a […]
Anatomy of the Shoulder The shoulder is made up of three bones, the scapula or the shoulder blade, the clavicle or the collar bone and the humerus or the bone in the upper arm. These bones are joined with two joints. These joints are the acromioclavicular (AC) joint and the glenohumeral joint which is the […]
Chondromalacia literally means softening of the cartilage, and patella means knee cap. Chondromalacia patella means softening of the articular cartilage of the knee cap. The articular cartilage is the cartilage lining under the knee cap that articulates with the knee joint. Normally, it is smooth and shiny, so that it glides smoothly along the articular […]
The brain and the rest of the nervous system make up a control centre for the human body. All actions, both voluntary and involuntary, occur due to electrical and chemical signals being passed between the brain and the nervous system, the musculoskeletal system and the sensory organs. The nervous system carries out a complex array […]
The eye is a sense organ which allows us to obtain more information from our surroundings than each of the other four sense organs. The eye allows us to see and interpret the shapes, colours and dimensions of objects in the world by processing the light they reflect or emit. The eye is able to […]
The blood supply for the brain is distributed via the arteries, plus thousands more veins and capillaries. The brain actually receives one fifth of the cardiac output with each heartbeat. The blood supply is carried by the two internal carotid arteries (ICA) and the two vertebral arteries that anastomose (converge) at the base of the […]
Overview The kidneys are a pair of organs located in the back of the abdomen. Each kidney is about the size of a fist. The kidneys’ function is to filter the blood by removing waste products, and control the fluid balance in the body whilst regulating the balance of electrolytes. The kidneys are also involved […]
This week we are taking a look at some ailments that can directly or indirectly affect heart function. There are many extremely common conditions, which, depending on severity, can range from insignificant to potentially fatal disorders. Patient history is just as important as objective testing when it comes to cardiac patients. This is because many […]
