Credit: iStock/ibreakstock The adrenergic system is a crucial component of the sympathetic nervous system and has widespread effects throughout the body. “Adrenergic” comes from “Andren,” relating to “adrenaline” (a stress hormone also referred to as epinephrine in the U.S.), and “ergic” derived from the Latin “ergy,” meaning “at work.” Put together, the word “adrenergic” is … Continue reading History of Adrenergic Receptors
Nervous System
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
Credit: iStock More than 7 million people in the U.S. live with neurodegenerative disorders. These are chronic diseases of the nervous system that worsen over time. Degenerative disorders are difficult to slow or reverse when nerve cells (neurons) stop working the way they should or die. Examples include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and … Continue reading How Exercise Protects You from Dementia
From Burn to Balm: How Capsaicin Can Help Treat Pain
Credit: iStock Ever wondered why your mouth feels like it’s on fire after eating something spicy? It’s not just the food—there’s a chemical called capsaicin that’s behind that fiery sensation. Capsaicin is a natural compound found in chili peppers. The more capsaicin a pepper has, the hotter it feels when you eat it. It’s thought … Continue reading From Burn to Balm: How Capsaicin Can Help Treat Pain
Spotlight On: The Vagus Nerve
Credit: Yoko Wang In recent years, the vagus nerve has become more well-known than ever before, as it has become a golden target for many chronic disease therapies. What is the vagus nerve? And what does it do, and why is it so important to our health? For centuries, the vagus nerve (also called the … Continue reading Spotlight On: The Vagus Nerve
Zebrafish Help Advance Physiology
Credit: iStock Zebrafish (scientific name Danio rerio) are freshwater fish native to South Asia that can be a little over half an inch to two inches long. About 70% of their genes share a common ancestor with our genes—even more if you look specifically at disease-causing genes. Like us, they have a spinal cord, eyes, … Continue reading Zebrafish Help Advance Physiology
Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!
Credit: iStock Nausea, whether from motion sickness, hormones, stress or even a questionable meal, is a feeling many of us are familiar with. From attempting to read in a moving car to indulging in a bit too much ice cream, this pesky symptom has the uncanny ability to transform an otherwise enjoyable day into a … Continue reading Feeling Queasy? Try Some Ginger!
Keep the Rhythm Steady: Changes to Your Body’s Rhythms Could Increase Your Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease
Credit: iStock Circadian rhythms are the natural internal processes that regulate our sleep-wake cycle and other physiological functions such as hormone secretion and metabolism. Maintaining healthy circadian rhythms is essential for our overall health and well-being, but modern lifestyles can make this challenging. Exposure to artificial light, shift work and irregular sleep schedules can all … Continue reading Keep the Rhythm Steady: Changes to Your Body’s Rhythms Could Increase Your Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease
Spotlight On: Alzheimer’s Disease
Credit: iStock As we age, the risk of developing dementia increases. Dementia is basically losing the ability to think and remember clearly, though it is a general term, not a specific disease. There are many diseases that fall under the umbrella term of “dementia.” One of the most common is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease was … Continue reading Spotlight On: Alzheimer’s Disease
Spotlight On: Smell
Credit: iStock Each time we stop to smell the roses, we should thank our sense of smell (olfaction) that allows us to detect airborne chemicals (odors) from the environment. Olfaction is one of the ancient senses used by animals to monitor the external environment. Although olfactory systems vary in different animals—insects, for example, use antennae, … Continue reading Spotlight On: Smell