The Anatomy of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocation and How It WorksAnatomical VariationsAssociated ConditionsTreatment Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Location and How It Works Anatomical Variations Associated Conditions Treatment The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) anatomy is designed to supply function to most muscles of the larynx (voice box). It branches from thevagus nerve(cranial nerve 10) but follows an unusual pathway to reach the larynx. The paired nerves don’t follow the same symmetrical course....

January 17, 2025 · 12 min · 2404 words · Ashley Welch

The Anatomy of the Retina

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTestsWhen to See a Provider Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Tests When to See a Provider The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the very back of the inside of the eyeball. The retina contains millions of cells that perceive light, color, and fine details in the things you see. A number of diseases can affect the retina, including cancer....

January 17, 2025 · 4 min · 692 words · Bridget Reynolds

The Anatomy of the Retromandibular Vein

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionClinical Significance Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Clinical Significance The retromandibular vein is located in the facial area in front of the ear. This is a paired vein, with one on each side of the face. This deep vein of the face drains deoxygenated blood from various parts of the head and itself drains into thejugular veinsto return the blood to the heart and lungs....

January 17, 2025 · 7 min · 1363 words · Vanessa Solis

The Anatomy of the Ribs

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTreatment Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Treatment The ribs are a set of bones that course from yourspinal column, around your body, and attach to yoursternum, or breastbone. These bones serve to protect the contents of your thoracic cavity. They also serve as an attachment point for many muscles and are active during respiration. You have 24 ribs in total; there are 12 on each side of your body....

January 17, 2025 · 12 min · 2518 words · Gail Bennett MD

The Anatomy of the Rotator Cuff

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsRisk FactorsRehabilitationPrevention Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Risk Factors Rehabilitation Prevention Your rotator cuff is made up of four muscles: thesupraspinatus,infraspinatus, teres minor, andsubscapularis. The muscles start on the shoulder blade (scapula) and join as tendons to form a thick covering at the top of the humerus (the bone in the upper arm). The rotator cuff has several important jobs, including stabilizing the shoulder, elevating and rotating the arm, and ensuring the head of the humerus stays securely placed in the shoulder socket....

January 17, 2025 · 6 min · 1108 words · Victoria Howard

The Anatomy of the Sacral Vertebrae

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTreatmentFrequently Asked Questions Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Treatment Frequently Asked Questions Your sacral vertebrae develop in the first and second months of embryonic development. The first three vertebrae of the sacral region form the wide lateral wings called the alae. The alae (also called the ala or wing of sacrum) connect with the blades of pelvis—called theilium....

January 17, 2025 · 7 min · 1468 words · Walter Vazquez

The Anatomy of the Saddle Joint

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated Conditions Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions A saddlejoint—also called a sellar joint—allows for many types of movements in many directions. A saddle joint includes one concave bone—shaped like a saddle—and another convex bone—shaped like a rider sitting on a horse’s saddle. The design of a saddle joint helps keep it stable and reduces the risk of damage from constant use....

January 17, 2025 · 10 min · 1921 words · Michele Drake

The Anatomy of the Scrotum

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionConditions That Affect the Scrotum Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Conditions That Affect the Scrotum The scrotum is the sac of skin and other tissues that hold thetesticles. Because the scrotum keeps the testicles, or testes, outside the body, they can stay cooler than body temperature. This helps keep them at the ideal temperature to make sperm. This article explains the structure of the scrotum, its function, and possible problems that involve the scrotum....

January 17, 2025 · 7 min · 1329 words · Troy Griffith

The Anatomy of the Seminal Vesicles

The seminal vesicles are a pair of glands along the back of the bladder base in men and are part of the male genital system. Their main function is to produce a fluid that makes up semen, which is released duringejaculation. SEBASTIAN KAULITZKI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images Anatomy The seminal vesicles look like two tightly coiled tubular sacs on either side of the back of thebladderbase, or fundus. They are about 2 cm–4 cm (centimeters) long and 1 cm–2 cm in diameter....

January 17, 2025 · 5 min · 999 words · Jason Whitney

The Anatomy of the Skin

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTests Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Tests The skin is the largest organ of the human body. Its main functions are protection, thermal regulation, and sensation. The skin is made up of three main layers: theepidermis, thedermis, and thesubcutaneous layer. Verywell / Alexandra Gordon The skin is part of theintegumentary system, which also includes the nails, hair, and exocrine glands....

January 17, 2025 · 9 min · 1752 words · Jake Lynch

The Anatomy of the Small Saphenous Vein

The small saphenous vein is a blood vessel in the lower leg. It starts from two veins in the foot and runs up the leg. Aside from the large saphenous vein, the small saphenous vein is one of the leg’s major venous blood vessels. Getty Images /Shidlovski The small saphenous vein is also known as the lesser saphenous vein. Other names include: What Is a Vein?Veins are blood vessels that return deoxygenated blood to the heart....

January 17, 2025 · 5 min · 1035 words · Brian Haynes

The Anatomy of the Sphenopalatine Artery

The sphenopalatine artery enters the back of thenasal cavity, the inside of the nose, providing blood supply to the inner and outer walls of the nasal cavity and to the adjacent sinuses. It is clinically important since it is a frequent cause of nosebleeds. Shima Science Photo / Getty Images Anatomy Anatomy and Function of the Nasal Bone Location The sphenopalatine artery is the last branch of the maxillary artery, which is a branch of theexternal carotid artery, a major artery supplying the head and neck....

January 17, 2025 · 8 min · 1537 words · Lisa Walls

The Anatomy of the Spleen

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAnatomyFunctionAssociated ConditionsTests Table of ContentsView All View All Table of Contents Anatomy Function Associated Conditions Tests Clinically, the spleen can become enlarged (a condition called splenomegaly) due to a range of conditions, including cancer,pressure from the veins, and bacterial or viral infections. Furthermore, this organ can be injured due to significant abdominal trauma; in serious situations,splenectomy surgery, which is the removal of the spleen, may be required....

January 17, 2025 · 5 min · 883 words · Roger Campbell