Vomiting is the process of expelling the upper gastrointestinal contents in a forceful manner. Also known as emesis, vomiting occurs when the nervous supply to the pharynx, esophagus, stomach and duodenum of the small intestine is overstimulated. This often occurs as a result of overdistention or irritation of these areas. >> Read More ...
Most fat in the body is in the form of triglycerides which are primarily stored in the adipose tissue and liver. It is one of the three main forms of lipids in the body, along with cholesterol and phospholipids. Triglycerides are derived from food or manufactured in the liver. It is transported through the body by bonding >> Read More ...
What are Digestive Enzymes? Digestive enzymes are the chemical catalysts that break down food into simpler nutrients so that it can be absorbed. These enzymes make up a crucial part of the digestive process known as chemical digestion and acts along with mechanical digestion (chewing and churning) to allow for maximum >> Read More ...
Cholesterol is one of the three main lipids in the body and is a major risk factor in the development of certain diseases like coronary heart disease. There are a number of important functions of cholesterol and it is manufactured in the liver (endogenous cholesterol) or to a lesser extent, it is sourced from food >> Read More ...
Triglycerides are one of the types of lipids present in the human body and can be sourced from food or is manufactured within the body. It derives its name from its chemical structure – three long chain fatty acid molecules bind with one glycerol molecule. The most common fatty acids found in triglycerides are >> Read More ...
Neonatal jaundice is the yellow discoloration of the skin, sclera (“whites” of the eyes), mouth and deeper lying tissues of the body in a newborn baby due to a high level of bilirubin in blood (hyperbilirubinemia). Jaundice can lead to a complication known as kernicterus which is the damage to the brain as a >> Read More ...
Lipids are substances that are insoluble or poorly soluble in water. This means that it cannot dissolve in water. Lipids as a group comprises fats, oils and waxes. Apart from being produced in the body, lipids are an essential component of the human diet as it is needed for a number of purposes to maintain health >> Read More ...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance known as a sterol that is manufactured primarily by the liver or to a lesser extent by other cells in the body (endogenous cholesterol) and is also absorbed from food in the gut (exogenous cholesterol). Cholesterol does not contain fatty acids but since it is made from fatty acid molecules, >> Read More ...
What is a bile duct stone? Bile duct stones (choledocholithiasis) are gallstones that are present in the bile ducts, sometimes within the cystic duct of the gallbladder but more frequently in the common bile duct. Most gallstones are formed in the gallbladder and if small enough, it will pass out into the cystic duct and >> Read More ...
Asymptomatic gallstones (silent gallstones) do not need to be treated. In majority of the cases, these gallstones will not cause any symptoms. Gallstone disease (symptomatic gallstones) requires treatment and these days surgical removal of the gallbladder, known as a cholecystectomy, is frequently conducted. However, if >> Read More ...
