The muscular tongue functions in chewing, tasting and swallowing. Because of its nearly continuous use throughout the day, abnormalities become obvious very quickly, making the tongue a helpful marker of disease.
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If all or part of the large intestine requires removal due to disease or cancer, the end of the small intestine -- the ileum -- temporarily connects to the outside of the body through a small hole in the abdominal wall. Stool collects in special bags over this opening.
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Health care workers mentally divide the abdomen into quadrants to localize complaints of abdominal pain. The organs and structures contained in each quadrant can cause regional or generalized abdominal pain and give the first clues about the origin of abdominal illnesses.
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The gastrointestinal system begins with the mouth, esophagus and stomach. The stomach connects to the small intestine which transitions to become the colon, part of the large intestine. Finally, the large intestine terminates as the rectum.
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Over 20 million people in the United States suffer from thyroid disorders, according to the American Thyroid Association. The thyroid gland at the base of the neck controls critical processes in the body, including metabolism. If the thyroid doesn’t work properly, prescription thyroid hormone can help.
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Side effects, best thought of as undesired effects of a medical therapy occurring along with the desired treatment, often occur following an anesthetic. Distinct from a complication, which implies harm or risk to the patient, side effects after anesthesia produce inconvenience and discomfort but usually not harm.
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Your baby's development as an embryo begins with fertilization of the egg by a sperm, followed by rapid cell division. Initial division results in the formation of a ball of cells that then folds, divides, changes and grows into your baby with a genetically determined set of characteristics and appearance.
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Potassium, an electrolyte, plays many important roles in the body. The heart, in particular, relies on potassium for critical functions. Transmission of chemical "messages" in muscle and nerve fibers also requires potassium.
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Before the days of biopsies, CT scans and near-instant laboratory tests, doctors relied more on outward signs of disease to arrive at a diagnosis. A thorough history and careful physical exam provided the only clues to disease for early physicians.
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