An electrocardiogram, called an EKG or ECG, measures the electrical activity of the heart and collects data about heart's health. Typically, a doctor or technician places electrodes connected to a ...

Naegleria fowleri is a rare but deadly organism that lives in warm freshwater like lakes, rivers, and hot springs. Most people recognize this dangerous organism by its common name: the brain-eating ...

Although their functions may appear simple, the ureters perform essential excretory work for the body. These two slender tubes transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder. The ureters use a ...

Peripheral neuropathy is a broad term for any condition that damages the peripheral nerves that transfer sensory information and carry signals from the central nervous system in the brain and spinal ...

A nodule is an abnormal tissue growth that can appear anywhere in the body and can form for various reasons. Depending on their location, nodules may not cause symptoms, and many people with nodules ...

The prevalence of plastic surgery in celebrity circles and throughout Hollywood means that we get so used to seeing altered faces, we assume everyone's doing it. While there's no shame in making ...

The good news: blue waffle disease isn't a real STI. Back in 2010, this urban legend began with a photograph showing an infected vagina with a blue labia. While there's no definitive information about ...

The practice of bloodletting goes back 3,000 years. In fact, this ancient medical practice was so revered for centuries that it’s only since the 19th century that the practice fell into disfavor.

Pneumonia occurs when bacteria enters your lungs, when food, stomach acid, or your saliva goes down or comes up the esophagus -- the wrong channel. This condition is called pulmonary aspiration, and ...

Vasodilation is the widening of the blood vessels, a process that happens naturally in response to various conditions to ensure blood flow is directed to where it is needed. Vasodilation can be useful ...

Glomeruli are clusters of small blood vessels in the kidney that allow waste to pass from the blood and into the urine. Glomerulonephritis occurs when the glomeruli swell, damaging the kidneys and ...

The hypothalamus is the part of the brain in charge of thermoregulation and is often referred to as the body's thermostat. The hypothalamus has messengers all around the body that sense temperature ...