What Does the Spleen Do?

January 8, 2010

The spleen sits just under your ribs in the upper, left portion of your abdomen and is responsible for filtering out old red blood cells, storing monocytes and collecting antibody covered bacteria and blood cells for removal from the body. Red blood cells; the cells responsible for carrying oxygen to the body’s tissues, have a […]

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What Does the Secretary of State Do?

January 7, 2010

This answer refers to the U.S. government only; although many other countries have a government seat with this same title. The U.S. Secretary of State is the highest ranking Cabinet official and is appointed by the President of the United States. Although the Executive Branch of the government is appointed and serves at the pleasure […]

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What Does the Small Intestine Do?

January 7, 2010

Your small intestine is a bundled up, continuous tube located in your abdomen that receives food from the stomach at the duodenum, digests and absorbs food in the jejunum, and deposits food into the large intestine at the ileocecal valve. Stretched out, the small intestine of the average adult measures 5 meters in length and […]

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What Does the Appendix Do?

January 4, 2010

Your appendix is located in your lower right abdomen, attached to the large intestine. Just past the ileocecal valve; the gateway between the small and large intestine, is the cecum; a bulbous mass located at the bottom of the ascending colon. The appendix is a vermiform (worm shaped) organ that hangs off the end of […]

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What Does Your Heart Do?

December 30, 2009

This article is for Mike We all know the simple answer; it pumps blood, but how exactly does it work. Let’s piggy back on a red blood cell and follow its journey as it leaves the lungs with a fresh supply of oxygen. But first, understand there are many components that make up our blood […]

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How Long Does Xanax Stay in Your System?

September 14, 2009

The short answer, between 2 days and 2 weeks. For a more detailed answer read on. Xanax, also known as Alprazolam, is a benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety, convulsions and depression. It is also used as a muscle relaxant. How long Xanax stays in your system depends on your dosage, weight, age and your body’s […]

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What Does the Liver Do?

July 28, 2009

Don’t mess with your liver. It serves a vital function in almost every system in your body; from hormone and digestive enzyme production to blood filtration and the last stop in chemical digestion of medications. It is both an endocrine and exocrine organ, and along with the heart, brain and pancreas is an organ that […]

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Necessarian Section

July 3, 2009

My beautiful children have been in my life for three and a half years and 16 months now respectively. I brought them into this world naturally. How else could they have come? Unnaturally? A good friend of mine told me that she had a real problem with the terms “natural” and “unnatural” childbirth. My children […]

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What is the Difference Between Blood Plasma and Blood Serum?

July 2, 2009

Blood plasma and blood serum are both devoid of blood cells and platelets.  The difference is in the clotting factors. Blood plasma still contains the proteins that allow it to clot: fibrinogen and other clotting factors, whereas blood serum has had the clotting factors removed. What’s left you might wonder. Blood serum is about 90% […]

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What is Mercury Poisoning?

June 16, 2009

Firstly, where is the mercury coming from? Everywhere apparently! The most common poisonings come from ingesting fish such as swordfish, shark, king mackerel, and tuna. The mercury comes from the environmental build up of industrial wastes and other sources and is concentrated up the food chain: fish “a” is contaminated by its environment. Fish “b” […]

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