Vena amoris

The thing I learned today is that "vena amoris" is the name of a traditional belief that the vein of the fourth finger runs directly to the heart (and thus is the reason wedding bands are placed there).  This belief is false.

The stages of human hair growth

The thing I learned today is there are three stages of human hair growth, and they are named the anagen, catagen, and telogen phases.  The anagen phase is the growth phase.  The catagen phase is the transition phase that signals the end of growth.  The telogen phase is the resting phase; effluvium follows.  Here is a mnemonic: ACT. Anna is growing, cats just sit around not doing much, and you can tell this one is about to fall out.

The bones of the leg

The thing I learned today is that the main bones of the human leg are the femur (thigh bone), fibula (calf bone), and tibia (shin bone).  Of course there is also the patella, or kneecap.  Here is a mnemonic: associate females with thighs, fibbing with calves (about where they come from)?, and tipping with shin (hitting your shin on the tip of something).

The syrinx

The thing I learned today is that the syrinx is the avian equivalent to the mammalian larynx. It is forked and is set lower than the voice box, so birds can create a wider variety of sounds and appear to sing without taking a breath.

Calorie to body fat ratio

The thing I learned today is that it takes approximately 3500 calories to make one pound of body fat.

Minamata disease is a neurological condition brought on by severe mercury poisoning. Ataxia, numbness, paralysis, loss of senses, and muscle weakness are all symptoms. It is named after a Japanese city where the Chisso company opened a chemical plant in 1908.

Sonic Hedgehog protein

Even though this sounds ridiculous, the gene that helps determine physical structures in people, including teeth and appendages, has been named Sonic Hedgehog (SHH). Yes, after the video game character. It is one of three hedgehog homologues in mammals.

Vitamin D is classified as a hormone because it is produced by the body (under the ultraviolet light of the sun), as well as being synthesized when taken in.

The radial artery runs from the base of the palm down the anterior forearm to the elbow pit. Medical professionals commonly take the radial pulse from the wrist.

Sadly, there is no consensus on how much saliva is produced by a typical human per day. Estimates range from .75 liters to 1.5 liters (a liter is slightly less than a US quart).

Myology is the study of muscles. It is very important not to confuse this with mycology, which is the study of fungi. Look, my muscles don't make me a fun guy. That's Mike, he's the fun guy.

Wisdom teeth are the third molars (the flat grinding teeth) and usually erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people have four wisdom teeth.

Paul Ehrlich

Paul Ehrlich was a German scientist who won the 1908 Nobel Prize for Medicine. He worked in hematology, immunology, and chemotherapy. He is noted for coining the term "chemotherapy," predicting autoimmune disorders, and developing the concept of the "magic bullet" to fight disease, as well as the first antibiotic drug. He used arsenic to fight syphilis.

Striae gravidarum is the medical term for stretch marks caused by the weight gain of pregnancy.

The deltoid muscle forms the shoulder and is named after the Greek letter delta for its triangular shape.

There are around 3500 calories in a pound of body fat. Or so say most sources. Others say 4000 calories.

Carlo Urbani, an Italian doctor, was the first to diagnose SARS (in American patient Johnny Chen, in Hanoi). He died of SARS in 2003.

ACTH (AdrenoCorticoTropic Hormone), also known as corticotropin) is a hormone produced and secreted by the pituitary gland. It stimulates the adrenal gland and is produced in response to stress.

White blood cells, or leukocytes, are cells of the immune system that defend the body against both infectious disease and foreign materials.

Retinol is the animal form of Vitamin A, which helps maintain vision and bone growth.