The little fleshy appendage hanging from the back of your soft palate is called the “little grape” in Latin. As part of the palate the uvula helps seal off your nasal cavity from your throat cavity during swallowing. This works
Anatomy word of the month: Uvula Read More
The Community Ambassador Program (CAP) at Des Moines University offers area students – grade school through college – opportunities to learn about various health and medical topics and issues. Schools and classes that participated in CAP in recent months include
Community Ambassador Program – Spring 2012 Read More
“To make an X” (Latin). A decussation is an intersection of pathways in the form of an X. Most nerve pathways between our brain and spinal cord cross over at some point. This accounts for why each side of our
Anatomy word of the month: Decussation Read More
“Vinegar cup” in Latin. The hip joint is made up of a deep rounded socket, the acetabulum, on the side of the pelvis and the round head of the femur (thigh bone). It is a very stable joint that is
Anatomy word of the month: Acetabulum Read More
“Cross-shaped” in Latin. In the knee joint are two ligaments that cross over each other, the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments. These ligaments help stabilize the joint, in particular, to prevent the femur (thigh bone) from slipping too far forward
Anatomy word of the month: Cruciate ligaments Read More
The phrenic nerves control the diaphragm, our major muscle of respiration (breathing). From the Greek, phrenic means both diaphragm and mind. The ancient Greeks believed that the diaphragm was the seat of our emotions. Sound farfetched? Have you ever “heaved
Anatomy word of the month: Phrenic nerve Read More
Vagus means “wandering” in Latin. This aptly named nerve (there are a pair of them) meanders from our brainstem, down the sides of our neck giving branches to our palate, larynx and pharynx, through our chest cavity providing branches to
Anatomy word of the month: Vagus Read More
The most feared of all the Roman emperors? Not really! The gluteus maximus (Latin- largest of the buttock) is the muscle mass making up most of the buttocks. Contrary to popular opinion, we do not sit on these muscles, because they
Anatomy word of the month: gluteus maximus Read More
Want to learn how the cardiovascular system works during exercise and how it responds to exercise training? Want to explore the unique “features” that allow elite athletes to attain world-class performance? Then mark your calendar for tomorrow night’s Cafe Scientifique
Learn how elite athletes maximize performance Read More
“Twelve each” in Latin. The duodenum is the first section of the small intestine attached to the outlet of the stomach, the pylorus. Early anatomists measured it as approximately twelve fingers’ breadths long. Duodecim is the number 12 in Latin. Take the
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