Human Anatomy

Recently Answered

• QWhat are the most active muscles in the body?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  

  The most active muscles in your body aren't the ones in your legs, back, or arms; they're the ones in your eyes. Your eyes have over 2 million working parts and the ability to process 36,000 bits of information every hour (that's a lot of information; to put it in perspective, 36,000 is about the number of people who fit in a sold-out Fenway Park in Boston).
  
  What's more, your eyes are always moving-even when they're not open (remember, REM sleep stands for rapid eye movement). That makes your eyes one of your body's most powerful tools.
  
  It's so powerful, in fact, that many cultures have used the eyes as symbols of power. There's the evil eye, which is described by many cultures as having such a mystical quality that you can inflict malice on someone through a gaze. There's the center of a hurricane (while the actual eye of a hurricane is a relatively calm place, the most violent weather occurs right outside of it). And let's not forget the ultimate measurement of perfection for an archer or dart-thrower-a bull's eye.

  

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  YOU: The Owner's Manual, Updated and Expanded Edition: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger
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• QWhat are characteristics of the apple body type?

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  A Dr. Anthony M. Gonzalez, MD , Surgery, answered on behalf of Baptist Health South Florida

  We have learned through research that people who are shaped like apples -- with their fat mainly in the abdomen -- have worse illness associated with them. Patients who are shaped like apples are more likely to suffer from:

  • high blood pressure
  • high cholesterol
  • diabetes
  • heart disease
  • cancer

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• QIs there agreement about what constitutes vestigial organs?

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  A Discovery Health answered

  Opponents of evolution, including proponents of intelligent design or creationism, say that there is no such thing as vestigial organs, because a creator would not design something imperfectly or without a purpose.

  At a minimum, those who doubt evolution reject the notion that an atrophied organ proves there was a common ancestor. One common argument that is used is that if we do not know the purpose a body part, it may be because of a lack of anatomical knowledge.

• QWhat are characteristics of the pear body type?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Pears are plagued by what many of you may know as “junk in the trunk.” Pears carry most of their weight on their lower hips, thighs, and butt, and perhaps most frustrating of all, a stubborn pooch of tummy fat. While it may take longer to accumulate this kind of fat, it’s also much harder to get rid of. Why? This kind of fat is influenced by estrogen, according to nutrition specialist Dr. Jeffrey Morrison. And estrogen makes fat. When a woman gets pregnant, estrogen spikes (which is why many women keep the weight on long after the baby is born). When a woman has a heavy period, estrogen spikes -- making more fat. The good news is that this kind of fat is not as dangerous as belly fat, but it may be more unsightly, as it can become that cheesy, cellulite-type fat that is every woman’s nightmare. And while an apple cannot become a pear, with excessive weight gain, a pear may wind up transforming into an apple.
  
  Pears are at a higher risk for osteoporosis. During menopause, pears make much weaker estrogen, which is not strong enough to keep calcium in the bones. Other health issues for this type are cellulite, varicose veins, and joint problems.
• QWhat are mucous membranes?

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  A RealAge answered

  Mucous membranes are moist tissues that contain mucous glands. These membranes line and protect many body parts including the nose, eyelids, mouth, lungs, vagina, urinary tract and digestive tract. The mucous glands within the membranes release a thick fluid called mucus, which helps to keep the membranes moist. The mucus also helps trap bacteria and other disease-causing pathogens and prevent them from infecting the body.
• QHow does body shape affect health?

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  A HealthyWomen answered

  Where excess body fat is distributed on your body plays a role in your risk for disease. Weight gain around your waist (specifically in your abdominal area) is more of a health risk than weight gained on your hips and thighs. Unlike fat around the thighs, which is more common in women and is more likely to serve as an energy reservoir, abdominal fat deposits fatty acids directly into the bloodstream for immediate short-term energy, increasing triglyceride and, eventually, cholesterol levels. Therefore, excess abdominal fat is associated with an increase in blood cholesterol and insulin resistance, which may result in diabetes. An "apple shaped" figure may also raise your risks for other life-threatening illnesses, such as heart disease and stroke.
• QWhat is basal body temperature?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Basal body temperature is the body's lowest temperature measured at absolute rest. This is often used as a natural way to assess fertility, since a woman's basal body temperature is likely to be slightly higher during ovulation.

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• QWhat is a fistula?

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  A Society of Interventional Radiology answered

  A fistula is an communication that connects internal structures with the body’s surface. This can be surgically created but usually it is an abnormal formation that requires treatment.
• QHow does the body naturally detox itself?

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  A Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

  Oftentimes people don't realize that the body has its own extraordinary internal detoxification system. Here's a brief look at three critical organs involved:
  

  • The Liver: Your first line of defense against toxins is your liver, which acts like a filter in preventing toxic substances contained in foods from passing into your blood stream.
  • The Colon: This organ has bacteria that produce both healthy and unhealthy chemicals. You want to keep your colon flowing regularly since its main role is to flush out toxic chemicals before they can do you any harm.
  • The Kidneys: Like clockwork, the kidneys are constantly filtering your blood and getting rid of toxins in the form of urine.

  
  This content originally appeared on doctoroz.com
• QWhat is the function of the pelvic floor?

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  A Dr. May M. Wakamatsu, MD , Gynecology, answered

  The urinary system, the intestines, and the reproductive organs are supported by ligaments and the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is an important network of muscles and connective tissue that extends from your pubic bone to your tailbone, with openings for the urethra and anus, as well as the vagina in women. Most of the time, certain pelvic muscles stay contracted to hold the pelvic organs in place against the pull of gravity.
  
  When you are active or trying to avoid urination, you can voluntarily tighten these muscles, along with the external urethral sphincter, to provide added support and prevent leakage. When you urinate, your pelvic floor muscles and urethral sphincter relax, and your bladder muscles contract, sending the urine from the bladder, through the urethra, and out of the body. When the bladder is empty, the bladder muscles relax, and the sphincter and pelvic muscles tighten.