The tongue occupies most of the oral cavity and any disorder affecting the mouth will usually involve the tongue as well. The outer part of the tongue is covered by a mucous membrane similar to most of the inner lining of the mouth. It has various papillae (projections) which house the taste buds. Moisture of the tongue is >> Read More ...
Heartburn is a burning chest pain or discomfort that is a characteristic feature of acid reflux – when stomach acid rises up into the esophagus (food pipe). The pain may be similar to that of a heart attack. It is not uncommon for patients with acid reflux or indigestion to present in an emergency room with the >> Read More ...
Drug usage for recreational purposes is an age old practice but addiction to these substances is now one of the main social ills that plagues communities across the globe. It is scourge that is destroying communities, families and lives at a faster rate than many biological diseases. It is not a problem only among lower >> Read More ...
What is loss of taste? Taste loss is the partial or complete impairment of the sense of taste. A partial loss is known as hypogeusia whereas a complete loss is known as ageusia. It is one type of taste disorder (dysgeusia). There may be several other abnormalities with the sense of taste which can be an indication of local >> Read More ...
Joint Flexibility There are different types of joints in the body, all of which allow for some degree of movement. Without joints, the body would be inflexible since the bones are rigid structures. Joints are the site where two bones meet and are able to move (articulate) by the action of muscles attached to the bone. Some >> Read More ...
What are the bowels? The bowels are the intestines which are the longest part of the human gut. There are two sections – the small intestine and the large intestine. Each section is in turn divided into separate areas depending on its anatomical location, difference in structure or function. The small intestines is >> Read More ...
What is a fluttering heart? A fluttering heart or heart flutter is commonly used to describe certain chest symptoms or cardiovascular conditions. It is not a specific medical term but in most instances it describes palpitations – the perception of the heart beating harder or faster. The term fluttering heart >> Read More ...
What is insulin? Insulin is a hormone secreted from beta cells of the pancreas. It helps to control the blood glucose levels preventing hyperglycemia (high glucose levels) which can damage the cells. In diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), there may be a lack of or deficiency of insulin thereby leading to abnormal >> Read More ...
What is a locked jaw? Locked jaw is a broad term to describe any dysfunction with the nerves, muscles and jaw joints that hampers opening or closing of the mouth. The term lockjaw refers to tetanus of the jaw muscles which means that the muscles are in spasm (tightly contracted). It therefore prevents opening of the mouth >> Read More ...
What is tongue paresthesia? Paresthesia of the tongue is any abnormal sensation from the tongue which includes sensations such as numbness, tingling or prickling (“pins and needles”). The tongue is one of the most sensitive organs of the body. Sensations of temperature, pressure, texture and pain are often >> Read More ...
