Septic arthritis (also known as infectious arthritis) happens when an infection spreads to one or more of your joints and causes inflammation. The inflammation is in the surface of the cartilage (a type of connective tissue) that lines your joints and the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints. Bacteria, a virus or fungus may cause the infection, which usually comes …

A broken arm is a bone fracture (broken bone) in your arm. There are three bones in your arm, including your: Humerus (upper arm bone). Ulna (the bone in your forearm on the medial side — the same side as your pinkie finger). Radius (the bone in your forearm on the lateral side — the same side as your thumb). It’s possible that an injury …

Arthritis in your thumb occurs when the protective cartilage cushioning your thumb joints starts to wear out and deteriorate. This type of arthritis is called osteoarthritis. In your thumb, osteoarthritis develops most often in the basal joint at the base of your thumb. This is also called your thumb carpometacarpal (CMC) joint. The CMC joint is located near your wrist at the …

A Chiari malformation is a growth abnormality where brain tissue in the lower back of your skull extends into your spinal canal (the base of your skull). It happens because of a structural problem like a smaller-than-expected skull size. If you don’t have enough room in your skull, part of your brain, specifically your cerebellum, will grow downward where there’s extra space in …

Learn about , an irregular heartbeat that can affect the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively.

Arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis are sometimes used to mean the same thing. But there’s a difference between the two terms. Arteriosclerosis happens when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body become thick and stiff. These blood vessels are called arteries. Healthy arteries are flexible and elastic. But over time, the walls in …

An arteriovenous fistula is a medical condition where an artery and vein connect directly, causing blood to flow between them. It can happen at virtually any place in your body where an artery and vein are close together, especially inside of your organs and limbs (arms and legs). Depending on where fistulas are, why they happened and their size, they …

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal tangle of blood vessels that looks like a bird’s nest. The tangle is made of arteries that would normally provide blood to your brain and veins that would normally drain blood from brain tissue. Blood moves through your body within an organized closed circuit of blood vessels. Your arteries carry oxygen-rich blood from your heart to your brain and to the …

Temporal arteritis (TA), or giant cell arteritis (GCA), is a form of vasculitis (inflammation of your blood vessels) that affects the arteries of your scalp, neck and arms. With this condition, most commonly your temporal arteries (the blood vessels near your temples) become inflamed (swollen) and constricted (narrowed). Your temporal arteries supply blood from your heart to your scalp, jaw muscles and optic (eye) …

Takayasu’s arteritis (also called Takayasu disease, pulseless disease or TAK) is an uncommon form of vasculitis or inflammation in your blood vessels. It affects your biggest arteries, like your aorta (the main blood vessel that leaves your heart) and arteries that branch off of your aorta and bring oxygenated blood from your heart to your body tissues. Affected arteries include the ones that supply …