Prothrombin time or PT test is a blood test that is used to measure the time it takes for blood to clot. The results of this test can be expressed in seconds or as a ratio International Normalised Ratio or INR. It is used to diagnose blood disorders which may result in a defect in […]
Diseases
Conduction System of Heart
The conduction system of the heart or cardiac conduction system is a collection of nodes and specialized conduction cells that are responsible for the initiation of the normal heart cycle and coordinate the contractions of cardiac chambers. Conduction system of heart consists of the following Sinoatrial node Atrioventricular node Atrioventricular bundle (bundle of His) Purkinje […]
Lymph Node Structure and Function
The lymph node is small, oval bean-shaped structure of lymphatic system formed of lymphoid tissue enclosed in a connective tissue capsule. These occur in association with the lymphatic vessels and serve as filters for the blood. They are typically found concentrated near junctions of the major lymphatic vessels, most prominently in the neck, groin, and […]
Subclavian Steal Syndrome Presentation and Treatment
Subclavian steal syndrome is said to be present when the blood flow in vertebral artery reverses due to significant stenosis or occlusion of the ipsilateral subclavian artery just before the origin of the vertebral artery. As a number of these cases are asymptomatic, the term Subclavian steal syndrome is used when there is a presence […]
Splenomegaly- Causes, Investigations and Treatment
Splenomegaly is an enlargement of the spleen due to any cause. The spleen is an important organ located in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm and next to the stomach. It lies underneath the ninth, tenth, and eleventh ribs. In a normal person, the spleen is not palpable. Not only […]
Dietary Iron Requirement and Sources
Iron is a mineral vital for performing various functions in the human body. Its most important function is that it is one of the components of hemoglobin, the protein present in red blood cells that helps the blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. Therefore, it becomes essential to know about dietary iron, our main […]
Iron Deficiency Anemia: Causes, Lab Diagnosis and Treatment
Iron deficiency anemia is a type of anemia which occurs when the body does not have enough iron to produce the hemoglobin it needs. Functions and Metabolism of Iron Iron is present in all cells in the human body. It performs several vital functions including: Carrying oxygen to the tissues from the lungs in the […]
Myelophthisic Anemia: Causes, Features, Lab diagnosis and Treatment
Myelophthisic anemia is a type of anemia that is caused due to the replacement of normal bone marrow by nonhematopoietic or abnormal cells. These abnormal cells ( which could be either cancer cells, granulomas or fibrosis) result in disturbed hematopoiesis due to the following reasons: By physically replacing the native marrow cells By disturbing the […]
Postpericardiotomy Syndrome – Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
Postpericardiotomy syndrome (PPS) occurs in a subgroup of patients who have undergone cardiothoracic surgery and is characterized by fever, pleuritic pain, pleural effusion, and pericardial effusion. It occurs due to immune-mediated inflammation of the pleura and pericardium. Postpericardiotomy syndrome after is known to occur following myocardial infarction too and it is called Dressler syndrome. Both fall […]
Macrocytic Anemia: Types, Causes, Investigations and Treatment
Macrocytic anemia is a type of anemia in which the red blood cells are larger than their normal volume. The term ‘macrocytic’ is a Greek word meaning ‘large cell’. Macrocytic anemia comes under the morphological classification of anemia; in which anemia is classified according to the size of red blood cells. The size is reflected in the mean corpuscular volume (MCV). […]