A runny nose, or leaky nose, are the common terms for rhinorrhea or nasal discharge. In most cases, nasal discharge is due to hypersecretion of mucus from the lining of the nasal passages. However, pus and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may also exit through the nose. Nasal discharge is in most cases accompanied by sneezing, as >> Read More ...
What is rhinitis? Rhinitis is the term for inflammation of the lining of the nasal passages. This epithelial lining contains hairs to filter incoming air, produces mucus to trap dust and dirt and has sensory receptors which can trigger the sneeze reflex to expel any irritants. When inflamed or irritated, it triggers a >> Read More ...
What is a sneeze? A sneeze is a sudden and forceful expiration of air through the nose or sometimes partly through the mouth. Its function is to clear the nasal passages of any irritants. However, sneezing is a common feature of the various nasal disorders even though no irritant is present in the nasal passages. This is >> Read More ...
What is the Endocrine System? The endocrine system comprises the multiple glands that secrete chemical messengers, known as hormones, into the bloodstream. These hormones may act on almost every cell of the body or it may be tissue-specific and only act on certain types of cells. The endocrine system is the body’s >> Read More ...
An offensive smelling odor from the ear is often assumed to be a sign of infection but there are other non-infectious causes that also need to be considered. The odor may be associated with an ear discharge, ear wax or occur on its own for no clearly identifiable reason. Due to the rather small entrance to the ear canal, >> Read More ...
There is a wide range of stomach problems that present with different signs and symptoms. Some of these problems may be isolated to the stomach or include surrounding parts of the gut, like the esophagus proximally (before the stomach) and small intestine distally (after the stomach). At times, the entire gastrointestinal >> Read More ...
What is diplopia? Diplopia, or double vision, occurs when an individual sees two or more images of the same object. It should not be confused with blurred vision where a single object appears unclear. Vision in humans is single binocular vision. This means that the images from both eyes are recorded and processed by the >> Read More ...
What is Odynophagia? Odynophagia is the medical term for pain when swallowing. The pain may stem from the mouth, throat (pharynx) or esophagus (gullet). At times, odynophagia may also be related to pathology within the larynx. The mechanism of swallowing is both voluntary and involuntary and starts in the throat and >> Read More ...
Swallowing is a process of moving food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. It is composed of three phases that starts in the throat and extends down to the esophagus. Swallowing is partly voluntary but mainly an involuntary reflex that comprises a well coordinated sequence of events to complete its function. The >> Read More ...
Digestion is the process by which food is broken down into simpler substances so that it can be absorbed by the alimentary tract. It is both a mechanical and chemical process that starts from the time food enters the mouth. Problems with digestion (maldigestion) may arise in any part of the alimentary tract. A disruption >> Read More ...
