The heart receives blood in its atria and pushes out blood from its ventricles. There are four such chambers in the heart – right and left atria (singular ~ atrium) and the right and left ventricles. The right side of the heart (right atrium and right ventricles) handles deoxygenated blood (blood that is low in >> Read More ...
Congenital heart defects arise in the fetal stage in life when the development of the heart and/or great blood vessels is disrupted in some manner. This leads to a structural abnormality in the heart or vessels which depending on the type and extent may case mild to severe symptoms or can even be life threatening. The >> Read More ...
The terms congenital and acquired are frequently used in medicine to describe a disorder, disease or defect that is either present from birth (congenital) or develops during the course of life (acquired). Congenital defects stem from fetal development but is often only obvious after birth once the baby’s body has to >> Read More ...
The heart is a muscular pump with its own electrical system to keep it functioning independently. Electrical impulses are generated in the sinoatrial node (SA node) in the atrial wall, passes directly to the muscles of the atria, is delayed in the atrioventricular node (AV node) and then transmitted to the muscles of the >> Read More ...
The heart has a complex electrical system which regulates the contraction and relaxation of its muscular wall. This enables the heart to function by receiving blood during relaxation and pumping it out with force to the lungs and other parts of the body. The rhythm of the heart beat is controlled by a natural pacemaker >> Read More ...
The brain is a complex organ which controls all the functions of the body. By receiving, processing and transmitting electrical impulses, the brain is able to carry out its diverse functions. At any given time, there is extensive electrical activity in the normal human brain due to the incoming, outgoing and crossing >> Read More ...
One of the most important functions of the kidneys in a healthy individual is to filter and remove harmful waste products from the blood. Furthermore, by regulating the amount of urine excreted, the kidneys can help to maintain the fluid balance of the body. Blood electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate >> Read More ...
Blood flow to the brain needs to be constant and adequate so that a sufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients can reach it. The brain is an ‘oxygen hungry’ organ accounting for about 20% of the oxygen consumption in the body although it only weighs in at 1% to 2% of the total body weight. If there is an >> Read More ...
The brain, like every part of the human body, derives its oxygen and nutrients through the the blood that reaches it. This blood is pumped from the heart and travels by way of blood vessels, specifically arteries, to the brain. Waste substances and carbon dioxide are removed from the brain by veins. Although the brain >> Read More ...
The main function of the kidney is to filter fluid from the blood and concentrate the solution of waste materials which is passed out as urine. It can also control the levels of electrolytes and water that is lost in the urine or retained in the body thereby influencing blood volume and blood pressure. This ensures that >> Read More ...
