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It helps to filter and humidify the air that we breathe. The nasal conchae (plural of concha) are also sometimes called turbinates. They are often described as being “spongy” bones. Layla Bird / Getty Images The nasal conchae are able to accomplish this by increasing the surface area of the nasal cavities. Additionally, these bones are lined with mucous membranes containing cilia. The blood vessels lining the inferior nasal concha warm and humidify the air before it reaches the lungs....

The IVC gets its name from its structure and location. Anatomy The IVC is formed by the merging of the right and left commoniliacveins. These veins come together in the abdomen, carrying blood from the lower limbs. Steve Debenport / Getty Images How big is the inferior vena cava? The IVC is one of the largest veins in the body, carrying a large volume of blood. It is about four inches long and almost 1 inch in diameter....

The kidneys are the body’s filter system The kidneys are the body’s filtration system. They produce urine to carry the wastes out of the body. Anatomy Each person has two kidneys. Mohammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/iStock/Getty Images The kidneys are sandwiched between the diaphragm and the intestines, closer to the back side of the abdomen. Each kidney is connected to the bladder through a ureter. Together, all of these organs make up the renal system....

It is continuous with the occipitomastoid suture, which connects the occipital bone with the temporal bones. This article looks at the anatomy of the lambdoid suture, its function, and associated conditions. The lambdoid suture gets its name from its resemblance to the uppercase Greek letter lambda (). ericcote / Getty Images Like all cranial sutures, the lambdoid suture is made up of dense, fibrous bands of tissue. This line looks as if it has been stitched....

Unlike blood vessels that circulate blood in a continuous, closed-loop system, lymphatics carry fluid in one direction. The lymphatic pathway begins with lymph capillaries, the smallest key in of vessel. Lymph capillaries are made up of a single layer of overlapping cells. myboxpra / iStock / Getty Images This arrangement allows fluid to flow into the vessel but not out. Lymph capillaries merge to form progressively larger lymphatic vessels. The largest of these are lymphatic trunks and ducts....

The macula is part of the eye’sretina. Learn more about the important role the macula plays inside the eye. Anatomy Structure The macula is an oval-shaped area near the center of the retina. saginbay / Getty Images The retina is a light-sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye. It is made up of 200 million neurons, but is only about 0.2 millimeters thick. Images that you see come through the eye’s lens and are focused on the retina....

Themastoid processis a bony projection on the temporal bonelocated behind your ears on each side of your skull. Due to its location, ear issuessuch as a middle ear infectioncan cause pain at the mastoid process. This bone also provides an attachment point for several muscles. marvinh / Getty Images These bones are located on each side of the skull. Structure The mastoid process is cone-shaped. The occipital groove is located on the mastoid process....

The maxillary branch is involved mostly in the sensory function. Significantly, this nerve gives off a number of important branches that play a role in conveying sensory information. For instance, it can be what is called bifid, meaning it is split into two parts. Notably, there have also been cases where people have multiple infraorbital foramina as opposed to just one. Treatments for this condition include everything from pharmacological approaches to surgery....

This article explains the anatomy and function of the medulla oblongata and conditions that can affect it. It contains both white and gray matter. What Is White and Gray Matter? Simonkr / Getty Images White matter makes up the deeper brain tissue. Gray matter is the tissue on the surface of the brain. It contains neuron cell bodies, which give it its gray color. The brainstemincluding the midbrain, pons, and medullahouses the starting points of 10 of the 12cranial nerves....

The oculomotor nerve contains both motor and parasympathetic fibers, which classifies it as a mixed nerve. Cranial nerves come in pairs, with generally symmetrical courses on each side of your head. In the brainstem, two clusters of neurons called nuclei give rise to the oculomotor nerve. MMarieB / Getty Images They’re called: Each of these nuclei supplies the nerve with a different punch in of fiber. Its major branches are:...

The ophthalmic nerve is the first branch of thetrigeminalnerve, which is also known as the fifth cranial nerve. The ophthalmic nerve lies below the oculomotor andtrochlearnervesand divides into the frontal, lacrimal, andnasociliarynerves. These nerves then enter the orbital cavity (eye socket) through the superior orbital fissure. Mimi Haddon / Getty Images Your eye begins to blink quickly so you can remove the irritant. This quick response is made possible by the sensory innervation of the ophthalmic nerve....

It’s the largestsesamoidbone in the body. A sesamoid bone is one that is embedded in a tendon. In the patellas case, it exists within thequadricepstendon. Alice Day / EyeEm / Getty Images This article will discuss the anatomy and function of the patella. It also covers the three main types of patella injuries and how to treat them. For these people, the patella forms as two separate bones. This is called abipartite patella....

Tube used by both the respiratory and digestive systems Thepharynxis the medical term for the throat. The pharynx is also what helps you talk, as muscles in the throat vibrate to help make sound. This article explains the structure and function of the pharynx. Martin Barraud/Getty Images While the tube is largely made up of muscle, some areas consist of soft tissue. For example, the nasopharynx is made up of respiratoryepithelium....