Originally broadcast November 21, 2014.

They advertise low, low prices. But does anyone actually pay that rate? Erica Johnson investigates.

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See what it’s like to get LASIK eye surgery from Lisa Homsy’s perspective. Keep watching until the end to see the final results!

A new bionic body part that talks to your phone is the next frontier in knee replacements. It's called a smart knee, a new technology designed to improve recovery after surgery. Stephanie Stahl reports.

surgical examination of intra abdominal lump or mass

Optimal blood pressure typically is defined as 120 mm Hg systolic — which is the pressure as your heart beats — over 80 mm Hg diastolic — which is the pressure as your heart relaxes. For your resting heart rate, the target is between 60 and 100 beats per minute (bpm)

Examination of lumbar spines

Full clinical and physical assessment of the knee and the knee joint

How to measure blood pressure

Two methods to reduce the shoulder are demonstrated and the need for analgesia or anesthesia discussed

a video showing Phlebotomy steps

This patented device replaces cumbersome metal retractors for a variety of surgical procedures. The surgeon has maximum unobstructed exposure and the size of the required incision is minimized.

This video shows the Assessment of coordination

Cerebellar functions of the lower limbs from the USMLE collection

Removal of pregnancy within the fallopain tube using laparoscopic keyhole surgery. A segment of the tube together with the pregnancy within is removed.

The complex circuitry interconnecting different areas in the brain, known collectively as white matter, is composed of millions of axons organized into fascicles and bundles. Upon macroscopic examination of sections of the brain, it is difficult to discern the orientation of the fibers. The same is true for conventional imaging modalities. However, recent advancements in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) make such task possible in a live subject. By sensitizing an otherwise typical MRI sequence to the diffusion of water molecules it is possible to measure their diffusion coefficient in a given direction1. Normally, the axonal membrane and myelin sheaths pose barriers to the movement of water molecules and, thus, they diffuse preferentially along the axon2. Therefore, the direction of white matter bundles can be elucidated by determining the principal diffusivity of water. The three-dimensional representation of the diffusion coefficient can be given by a tensor and its mathematical decomposition provides the direction of the tracts3; this MRI technique is known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). By connecting the information acquired with DTI, three-dimensional depictions of white matter fascicles are obtained4. The virtual dissection of white matter bundles is rapidly becoming a valuable tool in clinical research.

Our journey begins with a transverse section of tightly packed axons as seen through light microscopy. Although represented as a two-dimensional "slice", we see that these axons in fact resemble tubes. A simulation of water molecules diffusing randomly inside the axons demonstrates how the membranes and myelin hinder their movement across them and shows the preferred diffusion direction --along the axons. The tracts depicted through DTI slowly blend in and we ride along with them. As we zoom out even more, we realize that it is a portion of the corpus callosum connecting the two sides of the brain we were traveling on and the great difference in relative scale of the individual axons becomes evident. The surface of the brain is then shown, as well as the rest of the white matter bundles--a big, apparently chaotic tangle of wires. Finally, the skin covers the brain.

With the exception of the simulated water molecules, all the data presented in the animation is obtained through microscopy and MRI. Computer algorithms for the extraction of the cerebral structures and a custom-built graphics engine make our journey through the brain's anatomy possible in a living person.

Micrograph courtesy of Dr. Christian Beaulieu, University of Alberta.
Music by Mario Mattioli.

References:
1. Stejskal, E.O., et al., J. Chem. Phys., 1965. 42:
2. Beaulieu, C., NMR Biomed., 2002. 15:435-55.
3. Basser, P.J., et al., J. Magn. Reson. B, 1994. 103:247-54.
4. Mori, S., et al., NMR Biomed., 2002. 15:468-80.

Intercostal Nerve Block

Ultra Sound-Guided Interscalene Block

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS, also known clinically as Stein-Leventhal syndrome), which is an endocrine disorder that affects 5--10% of women. It occurs amongst all races and nationalities, is the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, and is a leading cause of infertility. The symptoms and severity of the syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are unknown, insulin resistance (often secondary to obesity) is heavily correlated with PCOS.

A video-animation presentation about sentinel lymph node biopsies for breast cancer diagnosis. 3D graphics are used to explain the process. Topics include the lymphatic system and the methods used. This video is part of the breast cancer education series produced by CancerQuest at Emory University

A quick look at an early stage stomach abnormality.