The most common position of the uterus is anteverted (cervix angles forward) and anteflexed (body is flexed forward). The position of the uterus in the adult is liable to considerable variation, depending chiefly on the condition of the bladder and rectum. Adnexa: In gynecology, the appendages of the uterus, namely the ovaries, the Fallopian tubes, and the ligaments that hold the uterus in place.

Colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer, rectal cancer or bowel cancer) is the development of cancer in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. People with HNPCC tend to develop colon cancer before age 50. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). FAP is a rare disorder that causes you to develop thousands of polyps in the lining of your colon and rectum. People with untreated FAP have a greatly increased risk of developing colon cancer before age 40.

What could cause a blockage in the stomach? Mechanical causes of intestinal obstruction may include: Adhesions or scar tissue that forms after surgery. Foreign bodies (objects that are swallowed and block the intestines) Gallstones (rare) Hernias. Impacted stool. Intussusception (telescoping of one segment of bowel into another) Tumors blocking the intestines. Less common radiologic signs are seen in specific circumstances. Most closed-loop obstructions (75%) are caused by adhesions. A closed-loop obstruction occurs when a loop of bowel is not decompressed by the caudal passage of gas and fluid.

Neurogenic shock is a distributive type of shock resulting in low blood pressure, occasionally with a slowed heart rate, that is attributed to the disruption of the autonomic pathways within the spinal cord. It can occur after damage to the central nervous system such as spinal cord injury.

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The name myasthenia gravis, which is Latin and Greek in origin, literally means "grave muscle weakness."

The arm and leg muscles are affected later. Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease — a disease that occurs when the immune system attacks the body's own tissues. In MG, that attack interrupts the connection between nerve and muscle — the neuromuscular junction.

Memory Loss & the Brain. It's not just a movement disorder. Besides causing tremors and other motion-related symptoms, Parkinson's disease affects memory, learning, and behavior. Parkinson's disease is notorious for so-called motor symptoms like muscle rigidity, tremor, slowed movement, and unsteady posture and gait.

Hodgkin's lymphoma — formerly known as Hodgkin's disease — is a cancer of the lymphatic system, which is part of your immune system. In Hodgkin's lymphoma, cells in the lymphatic system grow abnormally and may spread beyond the lymphatic system. As Hodgkin's lymphoma progresses, it compromises your body's ability to fight infection. Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of two common types of cancers of the lymphatic system. The other type, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is far more common. Advances in diagnosis and treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma have helped give people with this diagnosis the chance for a full recovery. The prognosis continues to improve for people with Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The long-standing answer has been that sneezing is a reflex. When irritants — such as germs, dust, pollen, animal dander, or pollutants, just to name just a few — infiltrate the nose lining, the brain sends out a signal to get rid of it. That triggers a deep breath, which gets held in the lungs.

Pruritis is itchy skin that makes you want to scratch. It can be caused by many things. Normally, itchy skin isn't serious, but it can make you uncomfortable. Sometimes, itchy skin is caused by a serious medical condition. It can occur in association with a primary rash (e.g. dermatitis) or may occur because of hypersensitive nerves in the skin (neuropathic pruritus). ... Scratching a localised itch may lead to lichen simplex, prurigo or prurigo nodularis. Systemic causes of pruritus. Sytemic diseases may cause generalised pruritus.

Testicular torsion occurs when a testicle rotates, twisting the spermatic cord that brings blood to the scrotum. The reduced blood flow causes sudden and often severe pain and swelling. Testicular torsion is most common between ages 12 and 16, but it can occur at any age, even before birth. Testicular torsion usually requires emergency surgery. If treated quickly, the testicle can usually be saved. But when blood flow has been cut off for too long, a testicle might become so badly damaged that it has to be removed.

Closed Reduction of Distal Radius Fractures - Discussion: (distal radius fracture menu) - closed reduction & immobilization in plaster cast remains accepted method of treatment for majority of stable distal radius frx; - unstable fractures will often lose reduction in the cast and will slip back to the pre-reduction position; - patients should be examined for carpal tunnel symptoms before and after reduction; - carpal tunnel symptoms that do not resolve following reduction will require carpal tunnel release; - cautions: - The efficacy of closed reduction in displaced distal radius fractures. - Technique: - anesthesia: (see: anesthesia menu) - hematoma block w/ lidocaine; - w/ hematoma block surgeon should look for "flash back" of blood from hematoma, prior to injection; - references: - Regional anesthesia preferable for Colles' fracture. Controlled comparison with local anesthesia. - Neurological complications of dynamic reduction of Colles' fractures without anesthesia compared with traditional manipulation after local infiltration anesthesia. - methods of reduction: - Jones method: involves increasing deformity, applying traction, and immobilizing hand & wrist in reduced position; - placing hand & wrist in too much flexion (Cotton-Loder position) leads to median nerve compression & stiff fingers; - Bohler advocated longitudinal traction followed by extension and realignment; - consider hyper-extending the distal fragment, and then translating it distally (while in extended position) until it can be "hooked over" proximal fragment; - subsequently, the distal fragment can be flexed (or hinged) over the proximal shaft fragment; - closed reduction of distal radius fractures is facilitated by having an assistant provide counter traction (above the elbow) while the surgeon controls the distal fragment w/ both hands (both thumbs over the dorsal surface of the distal fragment); - flouroscopy: - it allows a quick, gentle, and complete reduction; - prepare are by prewrapping the arm w/ sheet cotton and have the plaster or fibroglass ready; - if flouroscopy is not available, then do not pre-wrap the extremity w/ cotton; - it will be necessary to palpate the landmarks (outer shaped of radius, radial styloid, and Lister's tubercle, in order to judge success of reduction; - casting: - generally, the surgeon will use a pre-measured double sugar sugar tong splint, which is 6-8 layers in thickness; - more than 8 layers of plaster can cause full thickness burns: - reference: Setting temperatures of synthetic casts. - position of immobilization - follow up: - radiographs: - repeat radiographs are required weekly for 2-3 weeks to ensure that there is maintenance of the reduction; - a fracture reduction that slips should be considered to be unstable and probably require fixation with (pins, or ex fix ect.) - there is some evidence that remanipulation following fracture displacement in cast is not effective for these fractures; - ultimately, whether or not a patient is satisfied with the results of non operative treatment depends heavily on th

A distal radius fracture almost always occurs about 1 inch from the end of the bone. The break can occur in many different ways, however. One of the most common distal radius fractures is a Colles fracture, in which the broken fragment of the radius tilts upward. This fracture was first described in 1814 by an Irish surgeon and anatomist, Abraham Colles -- hence the name "Colles" fracture.

Fibrocystic breasts are composed of tissue that feels lumpy or rope-like in texture. Doctors call this nodular or glandular breast tissue. It's not at all uncommon to have fibrocystic breasts. More than half of women experience fibrocystic breast changes at some point in their lives. In fact, medical professionals have stopped using the term "fibrocystic breast disease" and now simply refer to "fibrocystic breasts" or "fibrocystic breast changes" because having fibrocystic breasts isn't really a disease. Breast changes categorized as fibrocystic are considered normal. Although many women with fibrocystic breasts don't have symptoms, some women experience breast pain, tenderness and lumpiness — especially in the upper, outer area of the breasts. Breast symptoms tend to be most bothersome just before menstruation. Simple self-care measures can usually relieve discomfort associated with fibrocystic breasts.

The lumps may be hard or rubbery and can appear as a single breast lump that may be large or small. Fibrocystic changes also can appear as thickening of the breast tissue. Fibrocystic changes can occur in one or both breasts and are the most common cause of benign breast lumps in women age 35 to 50.

There are a number of different causes of vertigo. Vertigo can be defined based upon whether the cause is peripheral or central. Central causes of vertigo arise in the brain or spinal cord while peripheral vertigo is due to a problem within the inner ear. The inner ear can become inflamed because of illness, or small crystals or stones found normally within the inner ear can become displaced and cause irritation to the small hair cells within the semicircular canals, leading to vertigo. This is known as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV).

A new Harvard study claims a breakthrough that could lead to a new treatment of Type 1 diabetes. WSJ's Ron Winslow explains what it means on Lunch Break. Photo: Getty

Systemic circulation carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle, through the arteries, to the capillaries in the tissues of the body. From the tissue capillaries, the deoxygenated blood returns through a system of veins to the right atrium of the heart.

The hepatic portal system is the system of veins comprising the hepatic portal vein and its tributaries. It is responsible for directing blood from the region of the gastrointestinal tract between the esophagus and rectum and also includes venous drainage from the supplementary organs such as the spleen and pancreas.

Radiosurgery: Radiosurgery devices, such as the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, offer patients a new option for the treatment of lung cancer. The CyberKnife® System is used to treat lung cancer patients who cannot tolerate surgery, have an inoperable tumor, or are seeking an alternative to surgery.