Discover a broad spectrum of topics, from fundamental anatomy to the latest in medical research and treatments, all aimed at enhancing your understanding of health, wellness, and our bodies. Our resources are meticulously curated to offer precise and pertinent information to students, professionals, and anyone interested in learning more about the medical sciences. Dive in to stay informed, make well-informed health decisions, and explore the intriguing world of medicine.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
The compound monosodium glutamate has been identified in dairy, meats and vegetables, and provides an "umami"—Japanese for "tasty"—flavor to food. Studies in the late 1960s characterized MSG as harmful, but only when testing doses hundreds of times greater than what would be consumed in a typical diet.
It is estimated that nearly 350 million people worldwide are currently suffering from arthritis. This resource explores five of the most promising recent advancements in arthritis research as scientists work towards improved treatments and continue the search for a cure.
Clotting is how our body stops bleeding in the event of an injury. Typically, platelets adhere to exposed tissue, becoming sticky and forming a plug. Chemical signals trigger the coagulation cascade, converting fibrinogen into fibrin threads that stabilize the plug. This prevents bleeding but can obstruct vessels if overactive or misplaced.
Through a process called antigenic drift, influenza viruses accumulate tiny copying mistakes in their genes. These gradual changes alter the virus enough that immunity fades, making updated vaccines necessary each flu season.
Stomach acid and enzymes break down food into smaller particles, expelling a semi-fluid mass called chyme into the small intestine, where bile is added. As the intestines absorb nutrients and water, the chyme solidifies and changes color.
Inspired by how fine hairs stand on the skin with goose bumps, researchers have recently created artificial skin that raises artificial goose bumps when exposed to a laser. This type of precise, localized, and controllable system could potentially fuel later development of programmable machines that could be used for information storage.
A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is suddenly interrupted, either by a blockage (ischemic stroke) or bleeding (hemorrhagic stroke). Each year, nearly 800,000 Americans experience a stroke, with around 85% of them being ischemic.
Studies on sleeping cats, rats, fish, and finches show that their brains fire as if performing actions from waking life. Spiders and insects also have REM-like sleep. Whether these findings indicate that animals dream depends on one's definition of dreaming.
When penicillin became widely available in the 1940s, newspapers and doctors alike celebrated it as a “wonder drug” that could cure infections once considered fatal.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a specific type of arthritis that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks normal cells within the joint and degrades them. This sets off a painful cycle of inflammation and joint destruction that often requires lifelong medication to control.