The 25th of April marks World Malaria Day. Malaria is a disease contracted from mosquito bites. Specifically, from mosquitoes that are infected with a parasite from the genus plasmodium.   (1) When an infected mosquito bites your skin, it can transfer the parasite to you. (2) These parasites travel to the liver where they mature. The […]阅读详情

Skeletal muscle is one of the three main types of muscle found in the body; cardiac and smooth muscle being the other two. Skeletal muscles are under voluntary control and are responsible for moving our bodies. Let’s explore the anatomy of skeletal muscle starting with one of the smallest units, the myofibril. Myofibrils are contractile […]阅读详情

March marks Brain Injury Awareness Month. Let’s explore one of the more common types of brain injury, a concussion. A concussion is classified as a mild traumatic brain injury. A concussion may be caused by a large impact or trauma to the head. Concussions can also be caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration of the […]阅读详情

January marks Glaucoma Awareness Month. Glaucoma is a condition that affects the eyes. It can be caused by a number of factors. The most common cause is the build-up of fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye due to the fluid not being able to properly drain. This in turn can lead to increased […]阅读详情

At this time of year, there are different seasonal worries. In the southern hemisphere, where it is summer, rhinitis can be more prevalent. While in the northern hemisphere, where it is winter, the flu is more widespread.  Rhinitis is inflammation and swelling of the nasal passageway. This is caused by a trigger or allergen that […]阅读详情

Today marks World Contraception Day. Let’s explore the different types of contraception.  The first type of contraception is a physical barrier that prevents the sperm interacting with the egg. These include condoms and the diaphragm. Male condoms are worn on the penis to prevent the sperm being released into the vagina. Female condoms are placed […]阅读详情

Auricular hematoma, more commonly known as cauliflower ear, describes the lumpy, deformed appearance of the ear. This is usually caused by blunt trauma to the outer ear. It is common in close-contact sports such as boxing, wrestling and rugby.   The outer ear includes the auricle and the external acoustic meatus, or auditory canal. The auricle […]阅读详情

With the current forest fire outbreaks around the world, let’s examine how wildfire smoke can affect your health.   Wildfire smoke releases a number of pollutants that irritate our lungs. For example, particle pollution found in smoke can lodge itself deep within our lungs, causing asthma attacks, heart attacks, strokes and even death. Wildfires also release […]阅读详情

Many of us are familiar with the iconic Barbie high heel and would wear high heels ourselves. But have you ever thought of how your anatomy is affected by wearing high heels?  Many parts of your body are impacted by high heels. Most obviously, your feet are put into an unnatural position. In fact, the […]阅读详情

July 12th marks National Different Coloured Eyes Day. Let’s explore where your eye colour comes from and how individuals can have different coloured eyes.  The colour of your eyes comes from the iris. Located posterior to the cornea and anterior to the lens, the iris is a muscular, ring-shaped structure that surrounds the pupil. The […]阅读详情