Human Body Part 1

 OVERVIEW OF THE HUMAN BODY

Philosophers and scientists alike have observed that human beings and other forms of animal life are made up of the same elements found in ordinary soil and water. But when these 20 or so basic elements combine in thousands of different ways to form a human body, the result is one of the most complex organisms on the planet and a never-ending source of both wonderment and mystery.

About 75 to 80 percent of an adult’s body consists of slightly salty water; the rest is made up of chemical compounds, many of them unique to human beings. These various compounds are arranged to form hundreds of different kinds of cell, the body’s smallest, most basic units.

All human life begins with the fusing of two cells and the subsequent division and multiplication of cells to form a complete body follows the same general blueprint even though no two people are exactly alike. The average body contains 80 to 100 trillion cells, each programmed to grow, carry out a specific function and even replicate itself. But with the exception of blood cells, none function independently; instead, similar cells join together to from specific types of tissue – muscle, nerve, bone and so forth. Each body organ is made up of a collection of related tissues. Finally, organs are organized into the different body systems illustrated above and on the below article.

BONES AND JOINTS

The human skeleton is an engineering marvel with numerous functions. Not only does it give the body its needed support and a protective framework for vital internal organs, but it also serves as a storehouse for calcium and other essential minerals and is critical in making new blood cells. Although we tend to regard bones as being inert, in reality they are in a constant state of flux and also change dramatically over a lifetime. At birth, a baby has about 350 bones, a number of which are soft and pliable. As the child grows, the bones harden and many, such as those in the skull, fuse together.

The typical adult skeleton has 206 bones and weighs only about 20 pounds. Ounce for ounce, however, compact bone tissue is one of nature’s strongest materials. A cubic inch of bone can bear 19,000 pounds, making it four times stronger than reinforced concrete. Bones derive their incredible strength from their honeycombed structure and composition of calcium, phosphorus and other mineral salts held together by collagen fibers. Nerves and blood vessels permeate the honeycombed structure and calcium and other minerals constantly move in and out of bone tissue. New blood cells are continually being made in the marrow, the spongy interior.

Cartilage, a tough, slippery material, covers the ends of bones, cushioning the joints and reducing friction. Ligaments act as bindings to keep bones in place and tendons attach muscles to the bones. To permit movement, bones act as levers, the joints are fulcrums and muscles contract to provide the necessary force (see below article)

Age takes its toll on bones and joints. The knees and hips are especially vulnerable to degenerative arthritis. And with advancing age, bones begin to lose some of their calcium, making them porous and weak, a condition called osteoporosis.

MUSCLES AND SKIN

The body contains three types of muscles: cardiac, found only in the heart; involuntary smooth muscles, which are part of various organs; and the skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones and make voluntary movement possible.

Skeletal muscles – the body’s most abundant tissue – are made up of bundles of long fibers bound together by connective tissue. Each fiber is surrounded by tiny capillaries, which deliver a steady supply of oxygen needed for the muscles to function. The fibers in the particular muscle remain constant in number throughout life, but they enlarge when exercised frequently and shrink, or atrophy with disuse and age.

Every set of muscles is served by one or more nerves. Movement occurs when nerve signals set off specific chemical reactions that cause certain muscles to contract. Most muscle disorders are actually due to nerve problems. The muscle weakness of multiple sclerosis is one example.

 

Continue reading on Human Body Part 2..

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

Vaginal discharge

In  medical terms, a sign is any visible indication of disease – bleeding, a rash or swelling, for example.  A symptom is something you can feel, such as pain, fever or nausea and it may or may not be accompanied by a physical change. Below are common signs and symptoms and their possible causes.

PART 4

COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS AND THE POSSIBLE CAUSES

Swallowing problems

~ Anxiety, diphtheria, an esophageal disorder, pharyngitis, strep throat, throat cancer, tonsillitis, quinsy

Sweating

~ Anxiety, drug reaction, fever, heart attack, infection, menopause, stress, thyroid disorder

Sweling and lumps

Abdominal

~ Cancer, heart failure, hernias, internal bleeding, intestinal gas, kidney failure, liver disease, pregnancy, uterine tumor

Breast

~ Cancer, fibrocystic condition, mastitis

Generalized

~ Anaphylactic reaction, drug reaction, heart failure, kidney disease, philebitis, a liver disorder, thyroid disease

Joints

~ Arthritis, sprains

Skin or body surface

~ Abscess, cysts or other benign growths, cancer, edema, enlarged or obstructed lymph glands, ganglion, hives, infection, moles, warts

Taste changes

~ Bell’s palsy, cancer, drug reaction, gum or dental disease, liver disease, loss of smell, pregnancy, a salivary disorder

Thirst

~ Diabetes, fever, heat exhaustion

Tinnitus

(ringing in the ears)

~ Brain injury or tumor, cold or flu, drug side effects, ear infection, exposure to loud noise, Meniere’s disease, earwax buildup, otosclerosis, vertigo

Tremor

~ Alcoholism, anxiety, Parkinson’s disease, a thyroid disorder

Urinary problems

Discolored urine

~ Bladder or kidney infection, kidney stones, liver or gallbladder disease, urinary tract cancer

Incontinence

~ Aging, Alzheimer’s disease, a bladder disorder, nerve deterioration, spinal injury, stroke

Urgency

~ Bladder infection, bladder tumor, diabetes interstitial cystitis, drug reaction, pregnancy

Paintful urination

~ Bladder infection, gonorrhoea or other sexually transmitted disease, kidney infection, kidney or bladder stones, prostatitis, urethritis, vaginitis

Vaginal discharge

~ Cancer, cervicitis, gonorrhoea, vaginitis, pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome

Vision problems

~ Cataracts, detached retina, glaucoma, iritis, macular degeneration, mini-stroke, retinopathy

Weakness

~ Anemia, cancer, Guillain-Barre syndrome, heart disease, infection, liver disease, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, rheumatoid arthiritis

Weight changes

Unexplained gain

~ Heart failure, kidney disease, liver disease, medications, toxemia of pregnancy, underactive thyroid

Unexplained loss

~ AIDS, anemia, cancer, diabetes, an eating disorder, infection, an intestinal disorder, malabsorption syndrome, ulcers

Wheezing

~ Allergies, asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, heart failure, lung disorders

End of Part 4/4

SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

In  medical terms, a sign is any visible indication of disease – bleeding, a rash or swelling, for example.  A symptom is something you can feel, such as pain, fever or nausea and it may or may not be accompanied by a physical change. Below are common signs and symptoms and their possible causes.

PART 3

COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS AND THE POSSIBLE CAUSES

Nightmares

~ Alcohol or drug abuse, anxiety, depression, fever, post-traumatic stress syndrome

Numbness or tingling

~ Bell’s palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, a circulatory disorder, neuropathy, Raynaud’s disease, shingles

Pain:

Abdomen

~ Appendicitis, a digestive disorder, gallstones, hepatitis, intestinal disorders, menstrual cramps, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal pregnancy

Back

~ Arthritis, muscle spasms or stains, osteoporosis, ruptured disk

Chest

~ Angina, an esophageal disorder, heart attack, heartburn, pleurisy, pneumonia, pneumothorax

Ear

~ Infection, foreign body

Eye

~ Conjunctivitis, glaucoma, foreign body, iritis, sinus infection, injury, sty, tumors

Face

~ Bell’s palsy, dental disease, headache, shingles, sinus infection, temporomandibular joint disorder

Foot

~ Arthritis, bunions, corns or calluses, gout, neuromas, warts

Generalized aches

~ Flu, lupus, mononucleosis, rheumatoid arthritis, shingles

Head

~ Brain tumor, migraine or other type of headache, muscle tension, sinusitis, stroke

Knee

~ Arthritis, chondromalacia patella, infection, Lyme disease, stain or other injury

Leg

~ A circulatory disorder, fracture, muscle injury, phlebitis, shin splints

Mouth

~ Canker sores, cold sores, dental cavities, gum disease, infection

Neck

~ Arthritis, meningitis, muscle injury, slipped disk, stress

Joint/muscle

~ Arthritis, lupus, strain or sprain, tendinitis

Throat

~ Cold, flu, laryngitis, strep infection, tonsillitis, quinsy

Paintfull intercourse

In Males

~ Penile warts, prostatic or urethral infection

In Females

~ Menopausal dryness, vaginitis, premenstrual syndrome

Palpitations

~ Anemia, anxiety, caffeine, heart disease, hypoglycaemia, menopause, medications, premenstrual syndrome, a thyroid disorder

Rashes

~ Allergies, drug reactions, eczema, an infectious disease, lupus, rosacea, toxic shock syndrome

Runny nose

~ Allergies, common cold, sinus infection

Seizures

~ Brain tumor, drug side effect, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, fever, head injury, hypoglycaemia, toxemia of pregnancy, meningitis, poisoning

Speech problems

~ Alcohol abuse, Alzheimer’s disease, Bell’s palsy, multiple sclerosis stroke, Parkinson’s disease

PART 4 will be posted soon.