Tag Archives: System – Sensory

What Is DHA? Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential omega-3 fatty acid that is abundant in the brain, being crucial in brain structure. As such DHA is a key component of neuronal membranes together with arachidonic acid (a major opposing ...

What Is Thiamin? Thiamin, also called vitamin B1, is an essential vitamin that is required to convert foodstuffs into energy and for the health and proper functioning of the nervous, muscular and cardiovascular systems. In the bloodstream, 90% of active ...

What Is Chronic Dry Eye Syndrome? Chronic dry eye syndrome is an inflammatory condition of the conjunctiva with inadequate tear production or distribution over the eye surface. It is characterized by surface damage to the conjunctiva, giving the appearance of ...

What Is Vitamin B12? Vitamin B12, also called cobalamin, is a highly complex vitamin that functions in two coenzyme forms: adenosylcobalamin and methylcobalamin. These forms of the vitamin play important roles in the physical and chemical processes by which amino ...

What Are Cataracts? Cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens in an affected eye characterized by blurred vision and progressive blindness due to loss of the len’s ability to focus light rays on the retina. Cataracts can occur ...

What Are Bitot’s Spots? Bitot’s spots are superficial foamy patches that develop on the exposed bulbar conjunctiva (white of the eye) as a manifestation of advanced vitamin A deficiency. This painless eye disorder is reversible only with vitamin A therapy. ...

What Is Loss of Smell? Loss of smell is a disorder that is characterized by impaired olfactory sense, or olfaction. Partial or complete loss of smell can result from malnutrition, chronic rhinitis, polyps, chronic sinusitis, medications, old age, head trauma, ...

What Is Xerophthalmia? Xerophthalmia is a serious condition of extreme drying and thickening of the conjunctiva following chronic inflammation and failure to make tears, characterized by hazy, dry cornea. Vitamin A is obtained from the diet and is required in ...

What Is Non-Infectious Uveitis? Non-infectious uveitis, as opposed to that which is caused by an infection, is an inflammatory eye disorder characterized mainly by swelling of the uveal tract structures in the anterior (front) of the eye.   Inflammation can also affect the ...

What Is Non-Response to Tuberculosis Treatment? Non-response to treatment for tuberculosis means that proper medical treatment failed to control active disease. Tuberculosis is an infection that may be dormant or active. Q: What happens in active tuberculosis? A: Tuberculosis is ...

What Is Arachidonic Acid? Arachidonic acid is a major essential (must have/can’t make) omega-6 fatty acid. Structurally, arachidonic acid is a key component of nerve membranes, together with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a major opposing omega-3 fatty acid, making up 15-20% ...

What Is Riboflavin? Riboflavin, also called vitamin B2, is fundamentally required for the breakdown of carbohydrates, amino acids, and fats in metabolism, enables oxygen to be used by cells, and acts as a component of more than a dozen enzymes involved ...

What Is Non-Infectious Blepharitis? Non-infectious blepharitis is an inflammatory condition of the eyelids that is NOT caused by an invading organism but rather nutritional deficiencies. It is characterized by non-ulcerative inflammation of the hair follicles and lacrimal glands along the eyelid edges. Q: ...

What Is Ocular Myopathy? Ocular myopathy is an impairment of musculature of the eyeball that is characterized by abnormalities of eye movement that make initiating and maintaining eye movement and eye contact difficult. What Is Ocular Myopathy In Celiac Disease ...

What Is Night Blindness? Night blindness is a visual defect caused by lack of rhodopsin in the rods of the retina located in the back of the eyeball due to inadequate vitamin A. Q: How does inadequate vitamin A cause ...