Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with anatomy

What's causing the yucky taste?

Melismata — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:29:50 -0800

I have a cold, and my mouth tastes yucky. What specifically is happening? While having this mild chest cold, my mouth tastes like sour dirty socks, with a flavor of what's coming up in my chest and very magnified by whatever I've just eaten. (Throat a bit sore, but not too bad; no other symptoms.) What is the connection between the virus causing the cold and the taste buds/olfactory nerves acting weird? What is going on here physiologically/anatomically?

(With some colds I get a metallic taste, but not this one; the sourness seems to be the overriding distinction.)

Bodyhacks

bobobox — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 10:39:32 -0800

I am looking for experiments, useful tricks, and fun things to try out, using my biological cycles, chemistry and anatomy. I recently reset my day/night cycle to combat jet lag after a long flight using information from this thread and knowledge of my circadian rhythm and the experience was SUPER satisfying to me. Whenever I need to sneeze and don't want to at that moment, I can get rid of it by pressing my tongue into my soft pallet, interfering with some facial nerve, I suppose. I am eager to try out other bodyhacks but I can't think of any more.

I found this article on Men'sHealth.com which has some good stuff in it but not quite what I am looking for.

I am most interested in: the useful, complex, or grand, along the lines of clock reseting
I am less interested in, but am open to: gimmicky tricks of the anatomy, along the lines of the sneeze example.

I am willing to use: supplements (used melatonin to help reset my clock), diet, my environs, and of course, my senses, anatomy and anything in it.
I am not willing to use: illegal drugs, anything I have to spend a lot of money on, ideally I should already possess everything I need to do it

I am female so if you know of any that are gender specific I will only be able to do things that require two X chromosomes. But feel free to contribute XY suggestions for the sake of completeness.

If you have suggestions, please also give the scientific explanation of how it works.

When in doubt, it's a "renal" something or a "hepatic" something.

houseofdanie — Tue, 13 May 2008 00:23:07 -0800

On Thursday morning, I'm taking my final exam in Anatomy & Physiology II. I typically have test anxiety, and this time, it's reaching fever pitch. What are your favorite little mnemonics and/or rules of thumb that you rely upon in order to remember... uh, everything? Tho I tend to test well, this particular exam is a pivotal one in my education. I have extensive notes, charts, books, diagrams, and what-not, all of which I've studied til the cows came home, but I find it comforting to have little mental crutches when thinking about complex subjects.

As an example, I adore the "Never Let Monkeys Eat Bananas" mnemonic for remembering the leukocytes and their relative percentages in blood. From this, I can imagine the pictures I've drawn for each cell type, what they do, and so on and so forth.

On this exam will include: endocrine system, reproductive systems, fertilization and development, lymphatic and immune systems, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, metabolism (redox reactions; anabolism/catabolism of carbs, fats, and proteins), electrolytes in body fluids, and acid-base balance. I think that about covers it. The nervous system was covered in detail last semester, but of course, it permeates every other system, so it's still important to keep in studies.

My weak points are histology (locations of various connective tissues will kill me) and anatomical precision in areas such as cardiovascular layout. I'm strongest with chemistry and general physiology.

Aaaanyway, just as a matter of keeping my panic to a dull buzz, will you please share your mental crutches with me? My future patients and I thank you very much!

Show me bellybutton backside!

uandt — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:42:45 -0800

What does the navel look like from the inside?

Human Anatomy Lab courses in NYC

iamck — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:38:10 -0800

Human Anatomy/Microbiology Independent Lab courses for college credit...in NYC? Anywhere? In my chase to acquire prereq's for a post-bacc nursing program, I've found that I'm missing two major requirements - laboratory courses for Human Anatomy and Microbiology. My University in Oregon offered them separate from lecture, but I can't seem to find anything like that in NYC, at any of the city or state schools. Am I going to have to go back to Oregon?

Is there any way to search quickly for courses without going on a scan college by college basis?

Finding anatomy poster source image?

andreux — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:50:06 -0800

How can I find the original source image from an anatomy poster? I'm looking for the original source image that this poster is taken from.

It looks like it's from an old anatomy textbook and is probably something now in the public domain.

I've found similar old anatomy color plates on Wikipedia and Project Gutenberg but can't find this particular work. I've also tried Googling some of the phrases from the inscription, but no luck.

Any suggestions?

Do I just suck it up?

repoman — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 12:58:19 -0800

Currently, I am 39 years old. Everybody seems to think I look fit & trim. I do exercise 4-5 times a week with cardio and weights and when I look in the mirror, I am generally pleased. So the question is why, when I let my self completely relax, I still have this gut? Is there some inner muscle I need to be working (my core), or is it a product of age? Do most people walk around subconsiously holding in their stomachs?

Like I said, it is only when I let myself completely relax in a standing position. Potbelly city man! Please tell me this is normal. Thanks.

Help me study human anatomy!

schroedinger — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 18:17:37 -0800

Your favorite human anatomy study resources? I'm looking for the best online quizzes, websites, and flashcards, as well as the best paper flashcards. More detailed is favored over less detailed--though right now they're only for my EMT-B certification, eventually I'd like them to carry me all the way to my EMT-P (Paramedic). For example, I've been looking at the Netter's Anatomy Flashcards. Has anyone had any luck with these?

Gross Anatomy for the Layperson?

minervous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:28:28 -0800

I want to learn gross anatomy. Help me find a cadaver. This article in the New York Times about high school students getting cadaver dissection experience made me 1) jealous and 2) motivated to find my own gross anatomy course.

I own several anatomy books and know them well, and have a good working knowledge of the body from dance training. But I really, really want to take classes that will lead to hands-on dissection. (Barring my actually getting to wield a scalpel, I'll settle for watching and getting to touch.)

So, any ideas how or where I could get hands-on anatomy training?

(I'm in NYC, I'm not going to attend medical school, and I've been to see the Bodies exhibit already.)

Thanks!

People paws?

gottabefunky — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 10:49:14 -0800

If toes and fingers are digits, and arms and legs are appendages (limbs, extremities), what's the general anatomical term for hands and feet?

When I bite down lightly on the inside of my lower lip, I feel something resembling little balls. What are they?

tweebiscuit — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:46:16 -0800

When I bite down lightly on the inside of my lower lip, I feel something resembling little balls moving between my teeth, as though it were full of the stuff that's inside a hacky-sack. What are those little balls? Note that this isn't a question about any odd medical condition -- I'm under the impression that everyone has these little ball-like things.

Extra credit: When I close my eyes, then pinch my closed eyelids, I hear and feel a tiny "squinch" noise, and feel a mass between my fingers that feels separate from my eye. (Obviously, I do this lightly.) Am I squeezing a part of my eye (such as my cornea) when I do this, or am I simply manipulating a vacuum inside my closed eye? (I've discussed this matter with friends before and opinion is divided.)

Fish skull thingies

casarkos — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 20:18:18 -0800

Icthyoid anatomy question: what are these things inside fish skulls? When I pick apart the skull from a whole fish to get at the last tasty meat bits, I frequently find a pair of hard brittle pieces sitting just behind the fish brain, which don't seem to be attached to anything. These pieces are different shapes and sizes depending on the fish species, and are harder and more brittle than fish bone - actually they seem to have the same texture as tooth enamel or seashells, and each pair is exactly symmetrical, so I don't think they're calcium deposits or somesuch. Anyway what are these things, and what are they for? Do other vertebrates have them, and I'm only finding them in fish because that's the vertebrate skulls I'm most likely to have access to?

It's my secret X-men ability.

flod logic — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:44:52 -0800

MutantFilter: For as long as I can remember, I've had what I thought was a muscle missing in my upper right arm. I've never seen anyone else with this, nor have I been able to figure out if that's it for sure. Anyone who knows something about anatomy want to take a look at this? (Pictures included.) I've always had this "line" or indentation running across part of my upper arm where it looks like a muscle should be, but isn't. Until now, I've figured some muscle must be missing because I can poke that part of my arm and feel the bone in there, but looking at muscle diagrams and stuff hasn't helped to figure out which one(s) are missing, exactly.

Other people have suggested that it's not a muscle missing after all, mainly because I would have a limited range of motion in my arm or other movability issues with it if it were.

Pictures here, here, and here.

Any ideas as to what this is?

What is the proper anatomical term for the top of your foot?

mattholomew — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:27:19 -0800

What is the proper anatomical term for the top of your foot?

How do I organise my college course modules into one cohesive format?

ajp — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 05:29:05 -0800

How do I organise my college course modules into one cohesive format? Help! I'm drowning in college coursework. How do I organise my course modules into one cohesive format that I can easily update, expand, and use for revision?

There are some highly specific details in this question, but it's essentially a problem of organising related but distinct information into one cross-referenced and definitive source.

I'm currently studying osteopathy, and have a huge amount of anatomical information to learn. The course is split over several modules which are roughly:

1. Structural and functional anatomy (lists of bones, muscles, joints, etc. and how they work together).

2. Dysfunction (problems that arise, currently specifically in the musculo-skeletal system, although cardio-vascular systems and other organs of the body will also be included).

3. Technique (how to detect and treat problems using manual therapy).

The fundamental problem I have is that the course is structured in such a way that I find it very hard to relate these subject areas to each other. The modules are taught separately, and although there has been a clear attempt by the faculty to integrate the subject matter, I simply don't find it cohesive enough. A "perfect" lecture for me would be one whole day studying one anatomical feature. For example, starting with anatomy of the foot, moving onto its dysfunctions, and culminating in diagnostic and treatment techniques. Timetable restrictions prevent this. We may study the anatomy of the foot one morning, but learn technique for treating the back in the afternoon. Our study notes reflect this fractured approach: we may learn about the thigh while we're in college, but be expected to "read ahead" about the bones of the pelvis concurrently.

Revision is similarly tricky. If we want to revise all techniques, that's fine. But if we want to revise "the back", and include all three modules, we have to collate notes from multiple sources. This is time-consuming, and potentially leaves us open to accidentally missing information that is buried deep in one module. I'd like to organise revision (and the notes themselves) arbitrarily, not just by module. For example, it may make sense to revise "the foot", or "muscle attachements", or "nerve supplies".

How do I organise this fractured information into one cohesive, cross-referenced format?

Pointers on where to start looking, rather than definitive solutions, will be gratefully accepted. Googling has revealed plenty of well-organised and detailed information, but I'm not looking for yet more information on the subject matter.

I'm going to start by checking out mind-mapping, so if anyone has experience of learning anatomical or medical information using mind-maps, it would be very useful. The info I need to capture from my course is a combination of detailed text, bullet-point facts, and images. Mind-maps seem good for this; any words of wisdom? I'm not entirely convinced that they will handle the cross-referencing aspect very well: I'd have to settle on a means of organising the course material - probably by anatomical feature - then maybe have standard branches from each subject, maybe one for each module. Somehow that doesn't seem "good enough" to me! I've also just found GraphViz.org which looks interesting.

Bonus points: Whatever solution I settle on, I'd ideally like to put it online in some collaborative format, so my fellow students and I can combine forces to create a definitive coursework model. I have access to a Linux web-server with Dreamhost, but of course I only have user-privileges, not admin. PHP apps will probably be fine, maybe Java. Can anyone recommend appropriate software? (I am going to ask the college faculty if they'd outline all modules as mind-maps, maybe even the entire course, but I won't hold my breath).

Apologies for the length of this question :-)

The inside of the penis sac contains a penis?

nekton — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 15:08:06 -0800

TechnicalSpanishFilter: What parts of a snail's anatomy are the "verga" and "estimulo"? (Discussion of snail's reproductive organs inside. Perfectly safe for work unless you're not allowed to read the word "penis".) I am translating a journal article about snails from Spanish into English, and I have had great success except for two words: "verga" and "estimulo".
I know that these are intended to be nouns, specifically, body parts.
I know that "verga" can mean "rod" and can also mean "penis", but the text uses "pene" for penis.
I have no idea what an "estimulo" could be, but it seems to be a synonym for "dart sac".

Here are some sample sentences:
"El interior del saco del pene contiene una verga muy simple y desarrollada: es un organo imperforado, de forma ovoidea, terminado en una punta roma."

"Cerca del epiphallus es muy notable la presencia de un estimulo o saco del dardo."

Do birds burp?

zembla3 — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 11:38:07 -0800

Do birds burp? No, seriously. My childhood pet, a parakeet (he will be missed!), used to make these gassy noises occasionally that sounded like burping. Can birds actually emit stomach gas through their beaks? I've always wondered ...

Can water go between ear and mouth?

j_gd00 — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 14:38:18 -0800

There isn't a connection between the ear and mouth that water can possibly flow through...is there? After a recent trip to the beach, a friend put some alcohol in his ear to dry up the extra water. He swears he could feel it run through and taste alcohol in his mouth afterward. I always thought the inner ear was closed and had no opening. Any way this could have happened? (first post, hi everyone)

Chicken parasite?

nervestaple — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 15:08:42 -0800

Found a "worm" in a supermarket chicken! Is it fair game or foul play? In the neck of a supermarket chicken, just under the skin, I found something that looks suspiciously like a worm or a parasite. I found one once before a few weeks ago and returned the chicken to the supermarket. Now, finding one again, I'd like to know what exactly it is, and if the chicken is safe to eat!

Here's a (gross!) picture of what remained of the anomaly (it's on the left, still attached to some skin) after being cut from the chicken. If it is a parasite, i'm assuming the head was lopped off in the cut and remains inside. I was thinking it could be a normal part of chicken anatomy, but the fact that I've only seen it twice raises my suspicion.

Loosey goosey girl

acoutu — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:45:54 -0800

PhysioFilter: Where can I find information about really loose ligaments with a tendency to subfluxation? We were in a car accident last month. (It wasn't our fault and we're mostly okay.) My husband and I both sustained whiplash. Mine is worse. The physio says this is partly because I didn't see the car coming and couldn't brace. However, she said that I have incredibly loose ligaments and so I don't have much stability. Apparently, my muscles usually have to do the work of my ligaments and, when injured, that means I'm in a worse situation. (She says I missed my calling as a ballerina.) She said that I am thus very prone to subfluxation and that it's going to take a long time to recover. My central nervous system is still sending out mixed messages and is in a heightened response mode.

I would like to read about this loose ligament and subfluxation stuff -- preferably materials in plain language, since I don't have a strong background in anatomy. I don't even know if there is a name for this sort of situation. I just want to learn about it and compare it to what my physio tells me. I do trust my physio and my doctor, but I always like to be well informed. My physio is great.

I don't really have much experience with physiotherapy and reading some of this would also make me feel a bit more comfortable with the work she's doing on me. I am not clear on the line between spinal manipulation and just getting stuff back to normal, for example. I'm astounded that my central nervous system could still be freaking out a month after an accident. It's just that I'm not well-informed about these things. I believe what she's telling me about my ligaments, because I know I do hyperextend. (Enough that she started to look ill when she asked me to do a few things for her.)

Thanks.

Does the pelvis/the hip bones spread with age?

A189Nut — Sun, 28 May 2006 07:18:16 -0800

Anyone have medical/anatomical knowledge to support the observation that the pelvic girdle/hips grow wider as a person ages? I don't mean getting fat - I mean literally do the bones spread outwards, increasing the hip size and so the width between the legs. I see this on old men especially

Where to find illustrated body parts to mix to create infinite character position/attitudes ?

vincentm — Tue, 14 Mar 2006 02:51:22 -0800

Where to find illustrated body parts to mix to create infinite character position/attitudes ? I'd like to find body parts (heads, hands, arms, clothes, objects) that I can assemble (in illustrator or flash) to create different situations/actions/gestures. Do you know a free or low cost website that provide this ?

The parts should be available in different configuration (angles, positions, etc...) so that I can create an almost infinite set of characters.

Guest actress on Grey's Anatomy?

KevinKarl — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 12:14:58 -0800

Does anyone know of the name of the actress who played the elderly patient who's no longer sick, but refuses to leave the hospital on the 1/22/06 airing of Grey's Anatomy [entitled: Tell Me Sweet Little Lies]? The show website does not list the guest actors and, strangely, IMDB does not have this episode listed. It's driving us nuts as to who she is as she seemed quite familiar.

help needed finding a webpage with an image

mirileh — Thu, 28 Jul 2005 01:38:24 -0800

ImageSearchFilter: I'm looking for a webpage with an image I should have bookmarked. Please help me find it! While researching a medical problem I came across a webpage with an illustration of the neck muscles responsible for bending the head forward (I think the motion is defined as neck flexion). The picture showed the side view of a person, shoulders up, bending his head forward. It was an outline of a person where you could see the muscles and bones. The muscles participating in the motion were named. Something that might help with the search: the same site had an equivalent page for neck extension (taking the head back).

I forgot to bookmark the page and really I need it. I have searched and searched and I can't seem to find it again. Can anyone help me out?

Help me get to the bottom of this ...

Shadowkeeper — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 22:33:02 -0800

Is there a doctor in the house? Does the human body contain one gluteus maximus muscle (spanning both buttocks) or two (one at the top of each leg)? I'm pretty proficient at Internet research, but I'm having a hard time nailing down a definitive answer for this. My question: does the human body contain one gluteus maximus muscle (spanning both buttocks) or two (one at the top of each leg)? I'd always thought one, but I'm having difficult confirming this because most anatomy texts online describe the muscles of the thigh / leg, and the accompanying illustrations only show half of the maximus (or perhaps all of the maximus, if there are two).

Also, most sites say that the buttocks are made up of three muscles: the gluteus maximus, the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus. That would settle the matter, except that it seems like medius and minimus come in pairs (but I could be wrong). So how many muscles, really, form the buttocks?