Heart

The human heart is a pear-shaped structure about the size of a fist. The heart is an amazing organ. It is responsible for supplying the body with oxygenated blood. Each time the heart beats, it exerts a pressure on the veins and arteries called blood pressure. Blood pressure is extremely important and must be controlled if it is too high or low. Blood pressure can be controlled by medication prescribed by your doctor, proper exercise and a diet filled with plants and vegetables.
The heart is made of a special kind of muscle called myocardium, and is enclosed in a double-layered, membranous sac called a pericardium.
The heart lies in the chest cavity between the lungs. It is composed of four chambers, many large arteries and many veins. The four chambers are called atrium and ventricles. A wall of muscle divides the heart into two cavities: the left cavity pumps blood throughout the body, while the right cavity pumps blood only through the lungs. Two chambers of the heart lie in the left cavity and two chambers lie in the right cavity.

The two upper chambers of the heart are called atrium, the bottom chambers are called ventricles. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated blood from all parts of the body except for the lungs. The left side of the heart receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it to the rest of the body. An adult heart beats approximately 100,000 times a day, pumping about 2,000 gallons of blood. It has been estimated that the heart will beat about 3 billion times during a 70 year lifetime.
Your heart pumps nearly five quarts of blood through your body every 60 seconds.
Given the heart's arduous task of supplying the body with blood every day, it must be well taken care of. A heart that is improperly cared for may develop heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among Americans.
Each year there are more than 1.1 million heart attacks in the United States. Unfortunately, of these heart attacks, 250,000 are sudden, causing the patient to die within an hour. Heart disease is often treated by eating foods with low cholesterol, weight loss, exercise and medical treatment. If you would like to know if weight loss will decrease your chance of heart disease, determine your body mass index. Intake of healthy foods like oranges, avocados, and broccoli will also decrease the possibility of developing heart disease.
Heart Attack and strokes are the outward signs of heart disease, namely the accumulation of arterial plaque which slowly constricts or closes arterial passageways, causing life threatening conditions. Heart disease does not happen overnight, but is a life-long progression.
The heart responds to many heart and circulatory conditions by enlarging up to 4 times its normal size. An enlarged heart is common in atrial fibrillation and long standing high blood pressure patients.
Athlete's heart
"Athlete's heart" is a common term for an enlarged heart associated with repeated strenuous exercise. Due to the increased workload required of it, the heart will increase physiologically by enlarging its chambers and muscle mass, thus increasing the volume of blood pumped per stroke. As a result, the heart has to contract less frequently and at rest will beat as few as 40 times per minute. The average number of beats per minute in a non "athlete's heart" is 70 beats. "Athletes heart" is not pathological, and there is usually no danger of cardiac disability arising from it.

Hernia

HERNIA
A hernia is a protrusion of an organ or tissue through an abnormal opening in the body. Most hernias occur when a piece of intestine slips through a weakness in the abdominal wall creating a bulge you can see and feel. Hernias can develop around the naval, in the groin, or any place where you may have had a surgical incision. Some hernias are present at birth. Others develop slowly over a period of months or years.
There are two main types of hernias: hiatal and inguinal.
Hiatal Hernia
A hiatal hernia can be caused by many different things. Some of the causes are: obesity, pregnancy, tight clothing, sudden physical exertion, such as weight lifting straining, coughing and abdominal injury.
Symptoms of Hiatal Hernia
Most hiatal hernias cause no symptoms.
Inguinal Hernia
An inguinal hernia occurs in the groin. The groin is the area between the abdomen and thigh. It is called "inguinal" because the intestines push through a weak spot in the inguinal canal. The inguinal canal is a triangle-shaped opening between layers of abdominal muscle near the groin. Some of the causes of inguinal hernias are: obesity, pregnancy, heavy lifting, and straining to pass stool can cause the intestine to push against the inguinal canal.
Symptoms of Inguinal Hernia
Some of the symptoms of inguinal hernia are: a lump in the groin near the thigh; pain in the groin. In severe cases, partial or complete blockage of the intestine might occur.
Who gets Hernias?
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, approximately five million Americans have hernias. Hernias in the groin area (inguinal hernias) are most common in men, primarily because of the unsupported space left in the groin after the testicles descend into the scrotum. Hernias in the femoral area, at the top of the thigh, occur most often in women. They commonly result from pregnancy and childbirth.
Will the hernia go away?
No. An untreated hernia will not get better or go away on its own.

Liver

LIVER
The liver is the largest glandular organ of the body. It weighs about 3 lb (1.36 kg). It is reddish brown in color and is divided into four lobes of unequal size and shape. The liver lies on the right side of the abdominal cavity beneath the diaphragm. Blood is carried to the liver via two large vessels called the hepatic artery and the portal vein. The heptic artery carries oxygen-rich blood from the aorta (a major vessel in the heart). The portal vein carries blood containing digested food from the small intestine. These blood vessels subdivide in the liver repeatedly, terminating in very small capillaries. Each capillary leads to a lobule. Liver tissue is composed of thousands of lobules, and each lobule is made up of hepatic cells, the basic metabolic cells of the liver.
What is its major function?
The liver has many functions. Some of the functions are: to produce substances that break down fats, convert glucose to glycogen, produce urea (the main substance of urine), make certain amino acids (the building blocks of proteins), filter harmful substances from the blood (such as alcohol), storage of vitamins and minerals (vitamins A, D, K and B12) and maintain a proper level or glucose in the blood. The liver is also responsible for producing cholesterol. It produces about 80% of the cholesterol in your body.
Diseases of the Liver
Several diseases states can affect the liver. Some of the diseases are Wilson's Disease, hepatitis (an inflammation of the liver), liver cancer, and cirrhosis (a chronic inflammation that progresses ultimately to organ failure). Alcohol alters the metabolism of the liver, which can have overall detrimental effects if alcohol is taken over long periods of time.
Hemochromatosis can cause liver problems.
Medications that negatively effect the liver
Medications have side effects that may harm your liver. Some of the medications that can damage your liver are: serzone, anti-cancer drugs (tagfur, MTX, and cytoxan), and medications used to treat diabetes.
Serzone is a prescription drug manufactured by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of depression.
The possible side effects of Serzone are: agitation, dizziness, clumsiness or unsteadiness, difficulty concentrating, memory problems, confusion, severe nausea, gastroenteritis, abdominal pain, unusually dark urine, difficult or frequent urination, fainting, skin rash or hives yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes (jaundice) or a prolonged loss of weight or loss of appetite.
If you or a family member have suffered serious side effects or a fatal injury after taking Serzone, you or the family member may be eligible to file a claim against the manufacturer. You should contact an attorney that specializes in class action lawsuits immediately.
To help prevent liver damage, let your doctor know about your liver condition when being treated for other conditions. Medications come in many forms and it is best to find out what is in them and what it can do to your liver.

Appendicitis

APPENDICITIS
Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix, a small pouch attached to the cecum, the beginning of the colon, on the lower right side of the abdomen. The appendix is not necessary for life, but it can become diseased. If untreated, an inflamed appendix can burst, causing infection and even death. Appendicitis can affect people at any age. It is most common in people ages 10 to 30.
The cause of appendicitis is usually unknown. It may occur after a viral infection in the digestive tract or when the opening connecting the large intestine and appendix is blocked. The inflammation can cause infection, a blood clot, or rupture of the appendix. Because of the risk of rupture, appendicitis is considered an emergency. Anyone with symptoms needs to see a doctor immediately.
Symptoms of Appendicitis
The most common symptoms of appendicitis are:
• pain in the right side of the abdomen
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea inability to pass gas
• low fever that begins after other symptoms
• abdominal swelling
• anorexia
The pain usually begins near the navel and moves down and to the right. The pain becomes worse when moving, taking deep breaths, coughing, sneezing, and being touched in the area.
Not everyone with appendicitis has all the symptoms. People with symptoms of appendicitis should not take laxatives or enemas to relieve constipation because these medicines could cause the appendix to burst. Pain medicine can mask symptoms that the doctor needs to know about, so it should not be used before consulting a doctor when appendicitis is suspected.
The doctor bases an appendicitis diagnosis on symptoms, a physical exam, blood tests to check for signs of infection such as a high white blood cell count, and urine tests to rule out a urinary tract infection. Usually doctors use CT scan or ultrasound to see whether the appendix looks inflamed.
If the diagnosis of appendicitis is not certain, people with equivocal signs of appendicitis may be watched and sometimes treated with antibiotics. People with definite appendicitis have surgery to remove the appendix, which is called an appendectomy. Doctors may use laparoscopic surgery for appendectomy. This technique involves making several tiny cuts in the abdomen and inserting a miniature camera and surgical instruments. The surgeon then removes the appendix with the instruments, so there is usually no need to make a large incision in the abdomen. People can live a normal life without their appendix--changes in diet, exercise, or other lifestyle factors are not necessary

The Appendix is a worm-shaped appendage that sticks out from the top portion of the large intestine.
The appendix can become inflamed. If an inflamed appendix is not treated immediately, the appendix can burst.
What is the Main Function of Appendix?
The main function of the appendix is unknown.
Diseases and Conditions of the Appendix
Appendicitis and Carcinoid Syndrome are the most common conditions that affect the appendix. Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix.
Carcinoid syndrome is a condition where caracinoid tumors grow in the appendix. The tumors may spread to other parts of the body.

Adrenal Glands

ADRENAL GLANDS
The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produce hormones. A hormone is a chemical messenger. Each hormone influences specific organs or tissues, thus regulating a certain body process.
The adrenal glands are shaped like a boomerang and located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands are about the size of the end of your thumb.
The adrenal glands produce hormones that affect almost every system in your body. When the adrenal glands fail to work properly, serious diseases and disorders can develop.
One of the hormones that the adrenal glands secretes is called adrenaline. Adrenaline produces a sudden and remarkable burst of energy.
Outer and Inner layer
The adrenal glands consists of two portions: the inner core (medulla) and the outer layer (cortex).
The inner core of the adrenal gland produces hormones called catecholamines. The 2 most important catecholamines are: adrenaline and noradrenaline. Physical and emotional stress usually trigger their release. When secreted into the bloodstream, adrenaline and noradrenaline increase heart rate and blood pressure. Adrenaline often produces a sudden and remarkable burst of energy.
The outer layer of the adrenal gland produces hormones called corticosteroids.
There are three types of corticosteroids.
1. Sex Hormones.
o Male androgens and female estrogens.
o They affect sexual development and reproduction.
o Sex hormones are also produced in larger amounts in the testicles and ovaries.
2. Glucocorticoids
o Hormones that aid in the conversion of starchy foods into glycogen.
o An important glucocorticoid is cortisol. Cortisol helps regulate the immune system, helps maintain proper blood pressure and blood volume, and helps the body deal with physical stress.
3. Mineralocorticoids
o Control the body's content of the minerals sodium and potassium.

Eyes

EYE
An eye is a round-shaped organ that works with the brain to provide us with vision. The shape of the eye is maintained by the pressure of the aqueous humor. The aqueous humor is the fluid that fills the front chamber of the eye.
Function of the Eye
The main function of the eye is to work with the brain to provide us with vision. The eye and brain translate light waves into a sensation we call vision.
Eye Parts
The eye has many parts. Some of the main parts are listed and described below.

• lens
o The transparent crystalline lens of the eye is located immediately behind the iris.
• cornea
o The cornea is a transparent dome which serves as the outer window of the eye. The cornea is the most powerful structure focusing light entering the eye.
• retina
o The retina is the innermost layer of the eye. It is composed of nerve tissue which senses the light entering the eye.
o The retina sends impulses through the optic nerve back to the brain, which translates the impulses into images that we see.
o There are 4 types of light-sensitive receptors found in the retina
1. rods
2. cones that absorb long-wavelength light (red)
3. cones that absorb middle-wavelength light (green)
4. cones that absorb short-wavelength light (blue)
• pupil
o The pupil is the hole in the center of the eye where light passes through.
• iris
o The iris is the colored part of the eye. It is a thin diaphragm composed mostly of connective tissue and smooth muscle fibers. The iris lies between the cornea and the crystalline lens.
• optic nerve
o The optic nerve is a continuation of the axons of the ganglion cells in the retina. It acts acts like a cable connecting the eye with the brain.
o The optic nerve is also called the cranial nerve II.
• sclera
o The sclera is the white, opaque portion of the eye. It provides protection and serves as an attachment for the extraocular muscles which move the eye.
Eye Doctor
An eye doctor is called an opthamologist. Periodic eye examinations by an opthamologist is the best defense against eye disease. You can also receive eye care from an optometrist or optician.
An optometrist is a college graduate who has received 4 years of training and is licensed to diagnose and treat vision problems and prescribe glasses and contact lenses.
An optician is a person trained to prepare and fit glasses after an opthamologist or optometrist has examined your eyes and prescribed vision correction.
Diseases/Conditions of the Eye
Some common conditions that afflict the eye are listed below.
• Glaucoma
• Farsightedness
• Nearsightedness
• Pink Eye
• Sty
• Blindness
• Astigmatism
• Tumors
• Infections
• Cataracts
• Dry Eye Syndrome
• Macular Degeneration
• Ectropion
• Entropion
• Bumps on the eyelid
Warning Signs of Eye Problems
• Difficulty adjusting to darkness
• Double vision
• Red eyes
• Crusty or swollen eyes
• Recurring pain in or around the eyes
• Excessive tearing or watering
• Very dry, itchy or burning eyes
• Loss of peripheral vision
• Dark spots in the center of your viewing area
• Change in color of the colored part of your eye
• Vision that suddenly becomes blurred or hazy

Kidney

KIDNEY
In humans, the kidneys are two small organs located near the vertebral column at the small of the back. The left kidney lies a little higher than the right kidney. They are bean-shaped, about 4 in. (10 cm) long and about 21/2 in. (6.4 cm) wide.

What is its major function?
They kidneys have a couple of different functions. The main purpose of the kidney is to separate urea, mineral salts, toxins, and other waste products from the blood. The kidneys also conserve water, salts, and electrolytes. At least one kidney must function properly for life to be maintained.
Diseases and Conditions of the Kidney
Some of the most common kidney diseases and conditions are: polycystic kidney disease, nephrosis, lupus nephritis, diabetic nephropathy, rhabdomyolysis, kidney stones, and renal tubular acidosis.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is an inherited disease characterized by the growth of numerous cysts filled with fluid in the kidneys.
Nephrosis is a kidney disease characterized by lesions of the epithelial lining of the renal tubules. The lesions cause a disturbance in the filtration function of the kidney. As a result, large amounts of protein is found in the urine.
Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system.
Diabetic Nephropathy is a kidney condition that occurs only in people with diabetes mellitus. It results in progressive damage to the small filtering units of the kidney (glomeruli). About 20-30% of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy.
Glomerulonephritis is a type of kidney disease caused by inflammation of the internal kidney structures.
Pyelonephritis is an infection of the kidney and the ureters.
Rhabdomyolysis is a disorder involving injury to the kidney. It has been linked to the drug crestor.
A kidney stone is a hard mass developed from crystals that separate from the urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney. Kidney stones occur in roughly one in 10 people in the United States. Once a person gets more than one stone, others are likely to develop.
Renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a disease that occurs when the kidneys fail to excrete acids into the urine, which causes a person's blood to remain too acidic.

Kidneys and Diabetes
Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney failure, accounting for more than 40 percent of new cases. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a major factor in the development of kidney problems in people with diabetes.

Lungs

LUNGS
The Lungs are paired organs in the chest that perform respiration. Each human has two lungs. Each lung is between 10 and 12 inches long. The two lungs are separated by a structure called the mediastinum. The mediastinum contains the heart, trachea, esophagus, and blood vessels. The lungs are covered by a protective membrane called the pulmonary pleura.
Lung function normally peaks in the late teens and early twenties. After the early twenties, lung function declines about 1 percent a year over the rest of a person's lifetime. Lung function decreases about 2 percent a year for people who smoke.
What do your Lungs do?
Your lungs do a vital job. Each day, you take about 23,000 breaths, which bring almost 10,000 quarts of air into your lungs. The air that you breath in contains several gases, including oxygen, that your cells need to function. With each breath, your lungs add fresh oxygen to your blood, which then carries it to your cells. The main function of your lungs is respiration.

What is Respiration?
Respiration is the process of oxygen from incoming air entering the blood, and carbon dioxide, a waste gas from the metabolism of food leaving the blood.
Steam rooms and your lungs
The warm, moist air in a steam room helps clear and sooth your nasal passages, throat, and lungs, making it easier for you to breathe.
Diseases that affect the Lungs
Mesothelioma and asbestosis are diseases that affect the lungs. They are caused inhalation of asbestos.
Common infectious diseases of the lung include pneumonia, tuberculosis, lung cancer, cystic fibrosis, and emphysema.
A pulmonary embolism is a sudden blockage in a lung artery.
Chronic Beryllium Disease is a serious and sometimes fatal lung disease.
Silicosis is very serious and sometime fatal lung disease.
Black Lung Disease is a disease that often affects coal miners

Body’s Cells

The Body’s Cells

Cells are the body’s building blocks. It takes billions of these tiny living units to make just one body. Each cell contains the information needed to build and operate the human body. Although different types of cells have their own shape, size, and job, all share the same basic structure.

STRUCTURE OF A CELL
A living cell is made up of a thin outer membrane, or skin, that surrounds a watery gel called cytoplasm. All the other minute cell parts float in the cytoplasm. The control center of the cell is called the nucleus. The nucleus contains the information needed to keep a cell alive and working properly.

BUILDING BLOKS
Every day the body makes billions of new cells by a process called cell division. Some new cells are needed to replace old, worn-out ones. Others make the body grow. Cell division takes place in three main stages.

LOOKING AT CELLS

Each type of cell has its own shape and size, depending on what job it does. Cells are so tiny that you can only see them by using a microscope. A microscope magnifies the

AMAZING FACTS

Bone marrow cells do not last very long they divide just hours after they are made. But many nerve cells can last a whole lifetime.