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 […]READ POST
Author: Sinaoife Andrews
Brain Injury Awareness Month
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 […]READ POST
Glaucoma Awareness Month
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 […]READ POST
‘Tis the season…for rhinitis
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 […]READ POST
Types of contraception
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 […]READ POST
Cauliflower Ear
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 […]READ POST
How Wildfire Smoke Can Affect Your Lung Health
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 […]READ POST
The effects of wearing high heels
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 […]READ POST
National Different Coloured Eyes Day
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 […]READ POST
Does shaving really make hair grow back thicker?
Many of us have worried that when we are shaving that our hair will end up growing back in thicker and darker. However, this have been proven to be a myth. In fact, shaving your hair does not change the thickness, colour or the rate of growth. To first understand this myth, let’s understand the […]READ POST