Medical dictionary

What does the spleen do?   The spleen is a small, fist-sized organ that’s filled with blood. It’s delicate and located underneath the left rib cage, close to the stomach. The spleen is a key component of the immune system as it contains white blood cells that kill bacteria and fight infections, called macrophages. The spleen also filters out old red blood cells from

What is split earlobe repair? Split earlobe repair is a minor procedure performed to bring together an earlobe that has separated into two or partially split. What can cause split earlobes? There are many possible causes of the splitting of one or both earlobes. Most often, wearing earrings is related to the problem. Possible causes of split earlobes include: Acute trauma:&

Spondyloarthritis, also known as spondyloarthrosis or osteoarthritis of the spine, is a degenerative disease affecting the cartilage of the joints in the cervical, lumbar or dorsal area of the spine. The causes of spondyloarthritis can be ageing, trauma, vertebral deformity, infections, obesity, genetics, postural problems and other conditions, such as rheumatism or collagen diseases. The mai

What is spondylolistheis? Spondylolisthesis is a condition affecting the spine where the vertebrae slip out of position, either forwards or backwards. In children, it mostly affects the L5 (5th lumbar vertebra) and the pelvis. To formulate an accurate diagnosis of spondylolistheis, your doctor will examine your spinal column or will have you raise your leg up, which could cause you some

What is spondylosis? The term “osis” refers to a disease process whilst “spond” refers to the spine. Spondylitis, therefore, is “itis” of the spine which refers to inflammation. Whilst some of the symptoms are shared in common, the underlying cause and treatment for this can vary considerably. Spinal degeneration is what is being referred to with spondylos

What are growth factors for sports injuries? Using plasma rich in growth factors is a technique used to treat injuries, especially sports injuries. Growth factors are proteins found in the blood which have a great capacity to accelerate the regeneration of tissue. Growth factors have biological effects such as cell proliferation and differentiation, regeneration of blood vessels (angiogenesi

What is sports nutrition? Sports nutrition is the branch of nutrition and dietetics focused on people who practice intense or endurance sports. Depending on the final objectives of the sport and the training, sports nutrition will emphasise different foods and diets. Why is sports nutrition necessary? Sports nutrition is necessary because the nutritional needs of an athlete a

What is sports physiology? Sports physiology looks at how exercise alters the function and structure of the body. A physiologist monitors how well an athlete performs using special tests and technology that are designed to accurately measure their characteristics. This allows the doctor to advise coaches and athletes on their training and competitions to ensure that they are performing at their

What is sports cardiology? Sports cardiology is a sub-specialty of cardiology that diagnoses and treats heart conditions in athletes and assesses if the patients are fit to participate in sports. It encompasses a series of tests aimed at identifying heart muscle diseases that may pose a risk when playing sport. These tests allow doctors to analyse the health of the heart and how well it copes w