Author Archive

May 29, 2006: 9:02 pm: bbcarterReproduction/Sexual Function

Adnexa = accessory structures of uterus = fallopian tubes, ovaries, supporting ligaments
Fimbriae = ends of uterine tube = singular form is fimbria, pronounced fim-bree-uh; plural is fimbriae, prounced fim-bree-ee = they collect ova and deliver them to the tubes
uterine and fallopian tubes are the same thing
uterus = womb = egg implants and develops
men/o = menstruation, menses; from greek for month - womb sloughes off during menstruation
metro/o, metri/o = uterus
metrorrhagia vs. menorrhagia- meno refers to monthly which is consistent, so menorrhagia happens with the regular monthly period, while metrorrhagia happens irregularly- menorrhagia is often due to fibroids, and metrorrhagia may be due to tumor or IUD (intra-uterine device)
endometriosis = abnormal growth of endometrium (inner uterus) outside the uterus, e.g. in the ovaries, peritoneum, small intestine; symptoms are dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, infertility, and dyspareunia (painful intercourse)
dysmenorrhea = painful menstrual flow
dys- = bad painful or difficult
-rrhea = flow or discharge
dyspareunia = painful intercourse, from the greek pareunos for ‘lying beside’ (para = beside, eune = bed)

April 6, 2006: 6:03 pm: bbcarterReproduction/Sexual Function

Ok, not exactly a medical term, but involves a word that most people don’t know used to refer to a used condom!

Word geeks will appreciate this.

March 7, 2006: 5:47 am: bbcarterRespiratory System

There are lots of free sound samples online if you want to know what regular breath sounds, rales, wheezing, rhonchi, etc.

Here’s another bunch of breath sounds

: 4:06 am: bbcarterImmune System, Lymph System

The palatine tonsils are so named because they are attached to the side of the soft palate. The hard palate is at the front near the mouth, the bony part that separates the nasal and oral cavities. The soft palate is in the back, is muscular, and ends in the uvula, the flap that hangs down.Soft and Hard Palate and the Palatine Tonsils

January 4, 2006: 10:48 pm: bbcarterImmune System

Here’s another nice reference for the immune complement system.

antibodies identify targets, but it’s the complement system that destroys them.

more to look at there later.

: 10:34 pm: bbcarterAcupuncturists, Blood

Plasminogen to Plasmin

: 10:32 pm: bbcarterBlood

Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation=inappropriate and excessive clotting

dissemminated intravascular coagulation

no time to answer the question.

: 10:20 pm: bbcarterAcupuncturists, Immune System, Blood

It’s not easy to find online resources for this.

Here’s a page on the kinin forming system. The pathway we’re interested in involves Hageman Factor and Bradykinin.

Here’s a nice overview of the complement system and help understanding the c3 and c5 roleplayers.

Here’s a diagram of plasminogen to plasmin:
Plasminogen to plasmin

Revelation: this could be the biological correlate to xue yu leading to heat. Xue yu or clotting requires plasmin, and plasmin sets off the inflammatory cascade.

A picture of plasmin:
Human plasmin model

December 17, 2005: 10:47 pm: bbcarterAnatomy, Acupuncturists, Psychology

somatosomatic - muscle problem affecting adjacent problem
viscerovisceral - one organ problem affecting another organ
viscerosomatic - organ disease producing body pain, e.g. heart attack pain down left arm or pancreatitis sharp stabiing pain to back
somatovisceral - acupuncture affecting organ

psychosomatic is yet another category- e.g. anxiety leading to stomach pain or diarrhea

: 10:38 pm: bbcarterAcupuncturists, Immune System

stage 6 of tissue response to needling = inactivation (cortisol release) after 30-45 minutes
short period of needling = inflammation
long period = anti-inflammatory
histamine, inflam agent-
benadryl (antihistamine) makes you sleepy, so it’s yin
histamine is yang
short time is tonifying
long is sedating