The cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system, includes the heart and blood vessels. It plays an important role in transporting blood to organs and tissues throughout the body. It has four chambers: two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health These chambers are separated by valves to keep blood flowing in the proper direction. There are two main types of arteries: systemic arteries and pulmonary arteries....

The clock-drawing test (CDT) is a simple tool used to check for signs ofdementia, includingAlzheimers disease. It is often used in combination with otherscreening testsbut can provide valuable clues on its own. To complete the clock-drawing test, one must draw a clock with hands pointing to a specific time. Verywell / Jessica Olah It also discusses some of the benefits and drawbacks of testing. This ability is often lost in people with early dementia....

Theendocardiumis a thin, smooth tissue that makes up the lining of thechambers and valves of the heart. It also houses the heartsconduction system, which regulates the activity of cardiac muscles. Most notable among these isendocarditis, an infection and inflammation of these tissues that affect the valves particularly. The endocardium is one of three layers that make up the hearts walls. Endocarditis Endocarditis is an infection andinflammationof the endocardium. It is the most significant and most common condition of the endocardium....

Fast Facts Why Might People With IBD Have More Calprotectin in Their Stool? This is a result ofCrohn’s diseaseorulcerative colitiscausing inflammation in thedigestive tract. How Is a Fecal Calprotectin Test Done? EzumeImages / istockphoto Why Is Fecal Calprotectin Useful in IBD? This was particularly true more often in ulcerative colitis than it was in Crohn’s disease. In children with IBD, a fecal calprotectin may be especially useful. Is the Fecal Calprotectin Test Covered By Insurance?...

This group of organs is responsible for producing sex hormones, includingestrogenandprogesterone. What Is the Reproductive System’s Role? The female reproductive system produces egg cells and sustainspregnancy. The external parts of the female reproductive system include the vulva, labia, and mons pubis. Once a person goes through puberty, these external parts are covered withpubic hair. The internal parts include the following: The ovaries produce and release a mature egg eachmenstrual cycle....

What Causes the Flu? You are never immune to the virus. But even with a flu shot, you might still get the flu, although generally less severely. PhotoAlto / Anne-Sophie Bost / Getty Images This is because theirimmune systemshave not yet developed a defensive response to the virus in the form ofantibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system that target disease-causing organisms like the flu virus for destruction....

These ingredients are rich in nutrients and provide various health benefits, she added. Those benefits are wide-ranging. What Are the Health Benefits of Jamu? Photo Illustration by Michela Buttignol for Verywell Health; Getty Images The powerhouse ingredients used in jamu can provide many benefits, butreducing inflammationis among the biggest. It may also improve digestion and help boost your immune system. Its also been proven to help combatnausea, Badgett added. Tamarind contains high levels of fiber that can help you haveregular bowel movements, Johnson said....

It also offers tips on how to keep your large intestine healthy to avoid disease. The large intestine is so named because of its width. It is approximately 3 inches in diameter compared to the small intestine which is closer to 1 inch. FG Trade Latin/Getty Images What Is a Tortuous Colon? Atortuous colon, also known as a redundant colon, is one that is longer than normal. Each plays a specific role in digestion and your digestive health....

Thelymphaticsystem (also called the lymphoid system) is part of the immune system. The system moves lymph, a clear fluid containingwhite blood cells, through your bloodstream. These nodes are found throughout the body (neck, armpits, groin, chest, and abdomen). Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/MNPhotoStudios / Getty Images This article explains the function of the lymphatic system, lymphatic diseases, and how to improve lymphatic health. How Does the Lymphatic System Work? The lymphatic system includes tissues, vessels, and organs that move fluid throughout the body and fight infection....

Marburg virus disease is a deadly, but rare, hemorrhagic fever similar toEbola. As many as nine in 10 people with the virus die as a result of the infection. Outbreaks of Marburg virus are extremely uncommon. eggeeggjiew / Getty Images The outbreaks started in laboratory workers and then spread to healthcare workers and caregivers. The initial infections were traced back to a shipment of infected African green monkeys from Uganda....

It seems to happen every month, like clockwork. Could you be imagining it, or is premenstrual acne a real phenomenon? Premenstrual Acne Symptoms Premenstrual acne is a real phenomenon. ferlistockphoto / Getty Images Some people find that their existing acne gets worse right before their periods. ThosePMSbreakouts are different than your “typical” breakouts. They tend to be deepred and inflamed papuleswhich rarely develop a white head. These breakouts appear mostly on the lower part of the facecheeks, jawline, chin, and neck....

How does your brain know when you feel pain? How does it know the difference between the soft touch of a feather and a needle prick? And, how does that information get to your body in time to respond? Tetra Images / Getty Images How does acute pain becomechronic pain? The brain sends information back to the motor nerves, which help us perform actions. Its like having a very complicated inbox and outbox for everything....

However, the renin-angiotensin system also promotes protective, anti-inflammatory responses through its alternative renin-angiotensin pathway. Renin by itself does not really affect blood pressure. It is not able to alter the blood pressure as a precursor molecule. Hero Images / Getty Images It must be transformed into the active form of angiotensin. Angiotensin I Angiotensin I also does not affect blood pressure much itself. More specifically, it is called angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1)....