Find out about the mysterious, life-sustaining fluid called blood.
Our bones, muscles, and joints form our musculoskeletal system and enable us to do everyday physical activities.
If the brain is a central computer that controls all the functions of the body, then the nervous system is like a network that relays messages back and forth to different parts of the body. Find out how they work in this Body Basics article.
Most people think digestion begins when you first put food in your mouth. But the digestive process actually starts even before the food hits your taste buds.
The endocrine system influences almost every cell, organ, and function of our bodies. It is instrumental in regulating mood, growth and development, metabolism, and sexual function, among other things.
Although your eyes are small, their structure is incredibly complex. Find out how they work in this body basics article.
The heart and circulatory system (also called the cardiovascular system) make up the network that delivers blood to the body's tissues.
The immune system is made up of special cells, proteins, tissues, and organs that defend people against germs and microorganisms.
The kidneys perform several functions that are essential to health, the most important of which are to filter blood and produce urine.
Each day you breathe about 20,000 times. Find out more about the lungs and breathing process.
Your body gets the energy it needs from food through a process called metabolism. Get all the facts on metabolism in this article.
Did you know that your mouth is the first step in the body's digestive process? Or that the mouth and teeth are essential for speech? Learn about the many roles your mouth and teeth play.
Our skin protects the network of tissues, muscles, bones, nerves, blood vessels, and everything else inside our bodies. Hair and nails are actually modified types of skin.
The lymphatic system is an extensive drainage network that helps keep bodily fluid levels in balance and defends the body against infections.
How can you get ready to play your best season ever? Read these tips for teen athletes.
If you're having trouble choosing a sport, this article can help!
Just as professional sports stars need medical care to keep them playing their best, so do student athletes. That's why it's important to get a sports physical.
Getting the right amount of exercise can rev up your energy levels and even help you to feel better emotionally. Find out why.
If the tendon just above your heel becomes swollen or irritated due to overuse, it can lead to a painful condition called Achilles tendonitis. Find out how to treat it - and prevent it.
A sprained ankle is a very common injury that happens when the ligaments that support the ankle get overly stretched or torn. Find out how to avoid ankle sprains and what to do if you get one.
ACL injuries can happen in active and athletic kids when excessive pressure is put on the knee joint, resulting in a torn ligament.
Although the name athlete's foot sounds funny, if you have this skin infection, you're probably not laughing. The good news is that it is generally easy to treat.
A broken collarbone is one of the most common types of broken bones. Find out how it can happen - and how to treat and avoid fractures.
Burners - also called stingers - usually happen in the neck or shoulder. They take their name from the burning or stinging sensation they cause. Find out how to treat burners - and prevent them.
Bursitis, an irritation of the small fluid sacs that provide cushioning in some joints, is often caused by sports-related injuries or repeated use of a particular joint.
This article for teens has tips on taking care of a cast so it keeps working as it should.
In a concussion, the brain shifts inside the skull. This can cause a sudden - but usually temporary - disruption in a person's ability to function properly and feel well. Here's what to do if you suspect a concussion.
All body parts take time to heal, even brains.This article for teens has tips on what doctors often recommend to help people heal from a concussion.
You practiced hard and made sure you wore protective gear, but you still got hurt. Read this article to find out how to take care of sports injuries - and how to avoid getting them.
Dehydration is when the amount of water in the body has dropped too low. Read about what causes dehydration, what it does to your body, and how to prevent it.
Fainting is pretty common in teens. The good news is that most of the time it's not a sign of something serious.
Female athlete triad is a combination of three conditions: disordered eating, amenorrhea (loss of a girl's period), and osteoporosis (a weakening of the bones).
A greenstick fracture is a type of broken bone. The bone cracks on one side only, not all the way through the bone.
A groin strain is when one or more of the muscles in the inner thigh gets stretched, injured, or torn. Find out what to do for groin strains.
A hamstring strain happens when one or more of the muscles in the back of the leg gets stretched too far and starts to tear. Find out how to treat hamstring strains in this article for teens.
Most hip pointer injuries can be easily treated and heal in their own time. Find out what to do in this article for teens.
Jock itch is a pretty common fungal infection of the groin and upper thighs. It is generally easy to treat - and avoid - by following a few simple steps.
Jumper's knee is an overuse injury that happens when frequent jumping, running, and changing direction damages the patellar tendon.
Healthy knees are needed for many activities and sports and getting hurt can mean some time sitting on the sidelines.
MCL injuries happen when excessive pressure is put on the knee joint, causing a torn ligament.
The key to healing meniscus tears is not to get back into play too quickly. Find out what meniscus tears are and how to treat them.
Osgood-Schlatter disease (OSD) is an overuse injury that can cause knee pain in teens, especially during growth spurts. Learn more.
Overuse (or repetitive stress) injuries happen when too much stress is placed on a part of the body, causing problems like swelling, pain, muscle strain, and tissue damage.
Patellofemoral pain syndrome (or runner's knee) is the most common overuse injury among runners, but it can also happen to other athletes who do activities that require a lot of knee bending.
In teens, biceps tendonitis is usually an overuse injury that causes tendons in the upper arm to be swollen or irritated. Most cases heal on their own if you follow a few guidelines from your doctor.
Quadriceps contusions are common in sports that have a lot of direct contact or a chance of collisions or wipeouts. Find out what to do if you get one - and how to avoid them.
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) happen when movements are repeated over and over, damaging a bone, tendon, or joint.
Shin splints are pain on the inner part of the shinbone, often from running or another high-impact activity. They get better with rest.
This growth-related injury is more common in teens who play sports that require a lot of running or jumping. Find out why it happens - and what you can do to avoid and treat it.
As long as people play sports, there will be concussions from time to time. Find out how to protect yourself and what to do if you get a concussion playing sports.
It's not always easy to tell if you have a stress fracture, and stress fractures can get worse quickly. This article explains how to prevent and treat them.
You probably can't wait to get back to your normal activities, but it takes a while for a limb that's been in a cast to finish healing. Here's what to expect.
This glossary provides definitions for some common sports medicine terms.
Here are 5 practical tips on goal setting that can help make it easier to set and reach goals.
Winning is all that matters when you play sports, right? Not when that means you can't even enjoy the game. Read about how to handle sports pressure and competition.
Everyone struggles with staying motivated and reaching their goals. Just look at how many people diet, lose weight, and then gain it back again. But it's still possible to stay motivated if you take the right approach.
Some people define good sportsmanship as treating the people that you play with and against as you'd like to be treated yourself. Learn more about what good sportsmanship is all about.
Scientists are learning that positive emotions have a powerful effect on our brains and bodies, helping us feel, and act, our best. Let this article help you tap into the power of positive emotions.
You might find yourself wanting to quit a sport. Here are some ways to decide what to do.
Breathing and meditation techniques can have subtle but powerful effects on everything from stress to sports performance. Try these four techniques.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Find out what the experts have to say.
Alex plays high school football, track, basketball, and lacrosse. He's had two concussions. Here, he talks about his experience and what he learned.
Caroline loved sports. But when an ongoing knee injury kept her from playing the sports she loved, she discovered new interests. Read her story.
How can you get ready to play your best season ever? Read these tips for teen athletes.
You've prepared for the game in almost every way possible: but now what should you eat? Read about performance foods, nutritional supplements, and more.
Will using steroids transform you into the most powerful athlete your coach has ever seen? Read this article to learn the facts on steroid use.
Repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) happen when movements are repeated over and over, damaging a bone, tendon, or joint.
Baseball is by no means a dangerous sport. But it can present a very real risk of injuries from things like wild pitches, batted balls, and collisions in the field.
It's fun to play and great exercise, but basketball is also a contact sport, and injuries happen. To stay safe on the basketball court, follow these safety tips.
Cheerleading today requires considerable athletic ability. The more challenging it gets, the greater the risk of getting hurt. Find out how to avoid injuries.
Softball is a very safe sport, especially slow-pitch. But in fastpitch, things speed up, and that increases the chances of getting hurt. So keep these safety tips in mind.
Field hockey is a contact sport, and injuries are bound to happen. To minimize your risk of injury, follow these safety tips.
Football is a lot of fun, but since the name of the game is to hit somebody, injuries are common. To keep things as safe as possible, follow these tips.
While it may seem silly to think of golf and danger in the same sentence, injuries can and do happen. To learn how to stay safe on the golf course, take a look at these safety tips.
Gymnastics is a great sport and a fun way to get a muscular, toned body. But, it also presents a very real risk of injury. To keep things safe during practice and competition, follow these tips.
As fun as it is, ice hockey carries a very real risk of injury. To find out how to stay as safe as possible, follow these tips.
Inline skating is good exercise and an excellent off-season training program for hockey and skiing. To stay safe while inline skating, take a look at these tips.
When everyone's moving so fast and using sticks to sling a solid rubber ball around, injuries are bound to happen in lacrosse. Here's how to avoid them.
Injuries can be common, and runners should always be aware of their surroundings. To keep things safe while running, follow these tips.
Skateboarding is undeniably cool, but it's also easy to get hurt. Keep it safe while skateboarding with these safety tips.
There's a lot to love about skiing, but it can also present some very real dangers. Follow these tips to stay safe on the slopes.
Sledding is a lot of fun, but can also cause injuries, some of them pretty serious. To keep yourself safe while sledding, follow these safety tips.
Snowboarding is a great way to have fun, but it can also present some very real dangers. Follow these safety tips to learn how to stay safe on the slopes.
Soccer is easy to learn at a young age, and it's great exercise. But it's also a contact sport, and injuries are bound to happen. To help prevent mishaps, follow these safety tips.
To keep things as safe as possible for swimming season, follow these tips.
Injuries in tennis are rare, but it's good to be aware before you play. To minimize your risk of injury while playing tennis, follow these safety tips.
Following these tips can help protect you from injuries while playing volleyball.
In wrestling, injuries are bound to happen sometimes. To keep things as safe as possible, follow these tips.
Playing hard doesn't have to mean getting hurt. The best way to ensure a long and injury-free athletic career is to play it safe from the start. Find out how.
Just as professional sports stars need medical care to keep them playing their best, so do student athletes. That's why it's important to get a sports physical.
Sports supplements are products used to enhance athletic performance. Lots of people who want to improve their performance have questions about how supplements work and whether they're safe.
Is working out with weights safe for teens? The best way to build muscle tone and definition is to combine aerobic and flexibility exercises with the right kind of strength training.
You may have heard mixed things about stretching before working out. Here are the cold, hard facts on warming up, stretching, and cooling down.
