Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Spontaneous tearing and rupture of the esophagus. Typically, Boerhaave’s syndrome requires an operation for repair.

Any of a number of therapeutic or simply relaxing practices that involve the manipulation, massage, or regimented movement of body parts. Examples include massage, craniosacral therapy, and Pilates. Bodywork may be used as an adjunct to medical treatment, or it may be prescribed as a form of physical therapy for certain conditions.

Part of the eye, the ciliary body is a thin vascular (blood vessel-filled) middle layer of the eye that is situated between the sclera (the white of the eye) and the retina (the nerve layer that lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain). The…

A small oval structure in the temporal lobe of the brain that is closely connected to the hypothalamus, the hippocampus, and the cingulate gyrus. The amygdaloid nucleus is part of the olefactory and limbic systems and plays a role in the sense of smell, motivation, and emotional behavior. It was named the amygdaloid nucleus because anatomists thought it was shaped like…

A somewhat old-fashioned term used to classify the human shape into three primary types: ectomorphic, mesomorphic, or endomorphic.

BSA. The total surface area of the human body. The body surface area is used in many measurements in medicine, including the calculation of drug dosages and the amount of fluids to be administered IV. A number of different formulas have been developed over the years to calculate the body surface area and they give…

The swallowing of relatively small amounts of loosely wrapped illicit drugs because of the fear of arrest.

The practice of internally concealing illicit drugs.  An individual who ingests wrapped packets of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, marijuana, or hashish to transport them. A person who transports illicit drugs by internal concealment.

An individual who ingests wrapped packets of illicit drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy, marijuana, or hashish to transport them. A person who transports illicit drugs by internal concealment.

An unpleasant smell produced after perspiration. Body odor occurs when sweat contacts bacteria that normally reside on the skin. Sweat itself is almost odorless, but the combination of sweat with skin bacteria can produce an offensive odor. Good hygiene and antiperspirant or deodorant products can be used to manage the condition. In some unusually severe…