Immune System Problems

Things That Can Go Wrong With the Immune System Disorders of the immune system can be broken down into four main categories: immunodeficiency disorders (primary or acquired)autoimmune disorders (in which the body's own immune system attacks its own tissue as foreign matter)allergic disorders (in which the immune system overreacts in response to an antigen)cancers of the immune system Immunodeficiency Disorders Immunodeficiencies occur when a

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Heart and Circulatory System Problems

Problems of the Heart and Circulatory System Problems with the cardiovascular system are common — more than 64 million Americans have some type of cardiac problem. But cardiovascular problems don't just affect older people — many heart and circulatory system problems affect children and teens, too. Heart and circulatory problems are grouped into two categories: congenital, which means the problems were present at birth, and acquired, which mea

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Vision Problems

Some of the most common eye problems are refractive errors. These are the problems that eye doctors check for routinely in a vision test. Refraction means bending of light rays to focus the light coming from an image. Refractive errors are problems with the focusing of the eye, because of the way the eye is shaped, which causes the image you see to be blurred. Refractive errors include: Astigmatism. In astigmatism, there's a problem with the c

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Endocrine System Problems

Problems With the Endocrine System Too much or too little of any hormone can be harmful to the body. For example, if the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone, a child may grow excessively tall. If it produces too little, a child may be abnormally short. Controlling the production of or replacing specific hormones can treat many endocrine disorders in children and adolescents, some of which include: Adrenal insufficiency. This cond

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Digestion Problems

Digestive System Problems Nearly everyone has a digestive problem at one time or another. Some conditions, such as indigestion or mild diarrhea, are common; they result in mild discomfort and get better on their own or are easy to treat. Others, such as inflammatory bowel disease, can be long lasting or troublesome. A doctor who specializes in the digestive system is called a GI specialist or gastroenterologist. Problems With the Esophagus Pr

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Brain Problems

Things That Can Go Wrong With the Brain Because the brain controls just about everything, when something goes wrong with it, it's often serious and can affect many different parts of the body. Inherited diseases, brain disorders associated with mental illness, and head injuries can all affect the way the brain works and upset the daily activities of the rest of the body. Problems that can affect the brain include: Brain tumors. A tumor is a s

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Bones, Muscles, and Joints Problems

Problems With the Bones, Muscles, and Joints As strong as bones are, they can break. Muscles can weaken, and joints (as well as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage) can be damaged by injury or disease. Problems that can affect the bones, muscles, and joints include: Arthritis. Arthritis is the inflammation of a joint, and people who have it experience swelling, warmth, pain, and often have trouble moving. Although we often think of arthritis as

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Blood Problems

Things That Can Go Wrong With Blood Most of the time, blood functions without problems, but sometimes, blood disorders or diseases can cause illness. Diseases of the blood that commonly affect kids can involve any or all of the three types of blood cells. Other types of blood diseases affect the proteins and chemicals in the plasma that are responsible for clotting. Diseases of the Red Blood Cells The most common condition affecting RBCs is a

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Male Reproductive System

All living things reproduce. Reproduction — the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves — is one of the things that sets living things apart from nonliving things. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems it's not essential to keeping an individual alive. In the human reproductive process, two kinds of sex cells, or gametes, are involved. The male gamete,

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Female Reproductive System

All living things reproduce. Reproduction — the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves — is one of the things that sets living things apart from nonliving matter. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not essential to keeping an individual alive.In the human reproductive process, 2 kinds of sex cells, or gametes, are involved. The male gamete, or s

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Spleen and Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is an extensive drainage network that helps keep bodily fluid levels in balance and defends the body against infections. It is made up of a network of lymphatic vessels that carry lymph — a clear, watery fluid that contains protein molecules, salts, glucose, urea, and other substances — throughout the body.The spleen, which is located in the upper left part of the abdomen under the ribcage, works as part of the lymphatic sys

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Skin, Hair, and Nails

Skin BasicsSkin is our largest organ. If the skin of a typical 150-pound (68-kilogram) adult male were stretched out flat, it would cover about 2 square yards (1.7 square meters) and weigh about 9 pounds (4 kilograms). Our skin protects the network of muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Our eyelids have the thinnest skin, the soles of our feet the thickest. Skin is essential in many ways. It forms a barr

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Mouth and Teeth

Here's how each aspect of the mouth and teeth plays an important role in our daily lives.Basic Anatomy of the Mouth and TeethThe entrance to the digestive tract, the mouth is lined with mucous membranes. The membrane-covered roof of the mouth is called the palate. The front part consists of a bony portion called the hard palate, with a fleshy rear part called the soft palate. The hard palate divides the mouth and the nasal passages above. The so

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