Summary The knee joint is the largest and one of the strongest and most important joints in the human body. It is a synovial hinge joint which typically means that it allows motion in one plane, flexion and extension, however, the knee joint is slightly unusual in that it allows a small amount of rotation. […]
The brain and the rest of the nervous system make up the control centre for the human body. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord. All actions, both voluntary and involuntary, occur due to electrical and chemical signals being passed between the brain and the nervous system, the […]
Overview One in every five Australians suffer from chronic pain. Whether it is the slice of a paper cut, the crack of a broken bone, the throb of a headache or an ache that niggles in your back, pain serves an important purpose. It warns us when we are injured or when something is not […]
Pneumonia is a form of acute respiratory infection that affects the lungs. The lungs are made up of small sacs called alveoli, which fill with air when a healthy person breathes. When an individual has pneumonia, the alveoli are filled with pus and fluid, which makes breathing painful and limits oxygen intake. Pneumonia is the […]
This week in LexiMed Educates we are looking at a potentially fatal condition that is of an increasing danger to the westernised society; the heart attack. There were 22,983 deaths in 2006 due to coronary heart disease. This was 17% of total deaths of that year. It is also worth knowing that women may have […]
Overview We all realise when we have a bit too much fat around the midriff, it is plain for all to see. What about having too much fat in your liver? You cannot see it or feel it, so most people do not even know it is present. Fatty liver disease is common in westernised […]
Overview Carpus is derived from the Greek word karpos, which means “wrist.” A band of fibrous tissue surrounds the wrist and supports the joint. There is a tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone called the carpal tunnel. The carpal tunnel is the passageway in the wrist that connects the forearm to […]
Introduction The liver is a large, meaty organ that sits on the right side of the upper abdomen. It is the second largest organ in the body, after the skin. Weighing one and a half kilograms on average, the liver is reddish brown in colour and feels rubbery to the touch. It is protected by […]
Anatomy of the Spinal Cord To discuss the spinal nerves and how they work we first have to understand the anatomy of the spinal cord and column. The spinal column supports the head and protects the spinal cord, which is attached to the brain and extends down the centre of the back. It is approximately […]
The human ear is a sense organ which enables us to hear and to balance. The process by which we hear is an entirely mechanical one, as opposed to involving chemical reactions like taste, sight and smell. Anatomy of the Ear The human ear is made up of three main parts – the outer ear, […]
