Understanding 5 Serious Diseases: Symptoms and Treatments
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is irreversible and it destroys memory and judgment skills. Its main causes are amyloid plaques, that cause degeneration and neuronal death, and neurofibrillary tangles, that affect the part of the brain responsible for memory. Its symptoms are classified into three stages. Firstly, patients show a minimum loss of memory and tend to be less energetic. They progressively become disabled and, finally, they lose control of their body functions and die. It is mainly
Read MoreAdvancements in Reproductive and Genetic Medicine
Artificial Insemination
Artificial insemination is the introduction of semen or healthy sperm into a woman’s vagina in order to achieve a pregnancy. Normally, with this technique, in 100 cycles of insemination, 13 result in pregnancy, and in 100 couples who completed 4 cycles, 60 get pregnant. Of all pregnancies achieved, 15-20% are twins and another 15% are miscarried. There are two situations depending on the origin of semen:
Homologous or Conjugal Artificial Insemination (HAH)
The semen comes from
Insulin, Glucagon, and Adrenal Hormones
Insulin
Insulin is a peptide hormone composed of 51 amino acids (aa) and has a molecular weight of 30700 kD. It consists of two chains: an A-chain with 21 aa and a B-chain with 30 aa. Insulin is produced by the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the endocrine pancreas. Beta cells make up approximately 80% of the two million islets.
Synthesis: Insulin is initially synthesized as preproinsulin (105 aa), which is then processed into proinsulin (82 aa). Proinsulin is further cleaved into C-peptide
Read MoreAnimal Phyla: A Comprehensive Look at Eumetazoa, Diblastica, and Triblastica
Animal Phyla: Eumetazoa, Diblastica, and Triblastica
Eumetazoa – Important Phylum:
Diblastica: Phylum Cnidaria
Cnidarians have simple body structures. They inject a toxic liquid using specialized cells. Morphologically, they are divided into two categories: polyps (sessile) and medusae (free-swimming). All cnidarians live in aquatic environments.
Triblastica:
Acoelomates: Phylum Platyhelminthes (Flatworms)
Platyhelminthes have flat bodies with tissues, organs, and some possess a simple nervous system.
Read MoreUnderstanding Ear Anatomy and Function
The Ear: Balance and Sound Reception
The ear, responsible for balance and receiving acoustic stimuli, is divided into the inner, middle, and external ear.
Ear Structure Overview
The ear comprises the following structures:
- External Ear: pinna, external auditory canal.
- Middle Ear: tympanic cavity, hammer, anvil, stirrup, Eustachian tube.
- Inner Ear: bony labyrinth (vestibule, semicircular canals, cochlea); membranous labyrinth (utricle, saccule).
Detailed Ear Structure
1. External Ear
The external ear receives
Read MoreHuman Body Systems: Digestion and Respiration Explained
The Importance of Nutrients and Body Systems
The cells of all organisms need nutrients to grow and function. Heterotrophic organisms, like us, can’t produce their own nutrients. They obtain them from food. Multicellular organisms have many organs. These organs are grouped together into different systems that perform diverse functions. Five important systems work together to maintain our organisms correctly: Digestive, Respiratory, Circulatory, Excretory, and Lymphatic systems.