Illustration of prostatitis, an infected and moderately enlarged prostate gland. This anterior 3D view shows its position within a sagittal section of the male pelvis. Bacterial pathogens are shown conceptually at left. The bladder (above), penis tissues (below), and rectum (to left behind the prostate) are also shown.

Illustration of prostatitis, an infected and moderately enlarged prostate gland. This anterior 3D view shows its position within a sagittal section of the male pelvis. Bacterial pathogens are shown conceptually at left. The bladder (above), penis tissues (below), and rectum (to left behind the prostate) are also shown.

Illustration of diabetic retinopathy (retinopathy secondary to diabetes). Shown are retinal hemorrhages and proliferative fibrous tissues near the ends of the retinal arteries and veins that emerge from the optic disk (yellow, left).

Illustration of a urinalysis test strip. The strip is being dipped by a gloved hand into a urine specimen within a sample collection bottle.

Photo illustration of the concept of medical diagnosis and treatment: an EKG under a compass with a caduceus indicating the direction of treatment.

Photo illustration of the concept of managing medical costs.

Photo illustration of the concept of medical directions and the future of medicine.

Photo illustration of the concept of vision problems: a blurry eye chart with a close-up on an eye superimposed on it.

Illustration of the concept of an artificial heart, shown with an EKG, gears, and computer chips.

Conceptual photo illustration of a laser scanning pills with bar codes. Hospitals use bar codes on medication packaging and patient wristbands to help prevent errors.

Illustration of a cellular energy source: an adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecule is shown losing a phosphate group to become adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and releasing energy.

Illustration of sports-related eye injuries and their clinical diagnosis. Shown are: a normal eyeball, parasagittal section (foreground); a baseball heading toward the eye; an examiner using a litmus-type paper and fingers to sample fluid content, aligned with a CT scan of an orbit fracture; and a retinal photograph of an injured retina (orange background).

Kidney failure and high blood pressure. A normal kidney, transparent to show the collecting calyxes and blood supply, glows to convey inflammation. Aspects of clinical diagnosis are shown: heart monitoring (normal EKG), high blood pressure (blood pressure gauge), extensive bloodwork (blood cells, vials, and reports), and potassium monitoring (K+ wallpaper).

Generic cochlear implant artificial hearing device in a child. An external device picks up sounds and transmits processed digital auditory signals to a subcutaneously implanted receiver. This in turn relays the signals by wire via the middle ear to the implant in the cochlear coil of the inner ear, where electrode-stimulated nerves send signals to the brain.

Illustration of a normal heart, anterior view. The top two ECG traces show normal rhythms. The next two traces below, which pass through the center of the heart, show an arrhythmia. The bottom trace shows atrial fibrillation. A representation of the electrical conduction system inside the heart is shown in orange.

View from inside the eye looking out through the lens at a dropper poised to release a drop. The lens is suspended by fine zonular fibrils (collectively, the zonule, or suspensory ligament), which are held by ciliary processes that radiate outward (collectively, the ciliary body). When the ciliary body contracts, the zonule pulls and flattens the lens.

Asthmatic terminal bronchi. Blood oxygen exchange takes place in the alveoli, the balloon-like sacs on the ends of the bronchi. The tiny muscles that encircle these bronchi constrict in asthma patients and restrict the volume of inhaled oxygen. The air passageway is also constricted by mucous collecting in the bronchial lining, shown in the cut section.

Illustration of the aorta, left side section view, showing a balloon catheter inflated inside for intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP). IABP therapy helps the heart decrease its workload and increase coronary blood flow by inflating during diastole (rest phase) and deflating during systole (work phase).

Illustration of the typical vein pattern in the arm, showing their position relative to important nerves to avoid when performing venapuncture.

Illustration of normal female pelvic anatomy, three-quarter view seen from below, with an orange and yellow glow implying inflammation. Pelvic inflammatory disease is often abbreviated as PID.