302 OLIVE OILS AND HEALTH MONOUNSATURATED FATS (See LIPIDS / Unsaturated lipids / Monounsaturated lipids) MONOUNSATURATED FATTY ACID/S (See LIPIDS / Concepts / Fatty acids; see also in LIPIDS / Unsaturated lipids/ Monounsaturated lipids) MYALGIAS Muscle pain that may affect one or several muscles, as well as tendons and ligaments. It is a symptom that can occur in various situations, most commonly due to overload, tension, or muscle injuries caused by intense physical exertion or trauma. Myalgia may also be associated with certain illnesses, such as influenza, or with the use of drugs and specific medications. When the pain is widespread throughout the body, the condition is referred to as fibromyalgia. MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION Necrosis or death of heart muscle cells due to insufficient blood supply caused by a blockage or severe narrowing (stenosis) of one or more coronary arteries. MYRISTIC ACID (See LIPIDS / Saturated lipids) NEOPLASIA A mass in a tissue is called a tumour, and it can arise from various causes (e.g., inflammation, blood accumulation, etc.). When a tumour originates from uncontrolled cell division (= proliferation), it is referred to as a neoplasia, a term meaning “new growth”. It involves the abnormal multiplication of cells, which divide excessively and without the normal regulatory mechanisms, growing faster than healthy cells. Neoplasias may be benign or malignant, but only malignant neoplasms are considered cancer. Benign neoplasms can grow significantly but do not spread or invade distant organs. In contrast, malignant neoplasms (cancer) can infiltrate surrounding tissues and spread through the bloodstream or lymphatic system, giving rise to new tumours in other organs, known as metastases. (See also “Carcinoma”) NEOPLASMS (See NEOPLASIA) NERVOUS SYSTEM (See PHYSIOLOGY) NEURAL TUBE The neural tube is a structure that develops in the embryo and gives rise to the central nervous system (the brain -including the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem- and the spinal cord). When the neural tube fails to develop properly, it can lead to congenital conditions affecting the brain, spine, or spinal cord. These defects occur during the first month of pregnancy. The most common are spina bifida and anencephaly. In spina bifida, the fetal spinal column does not close completely, often causing nerve damage and resulting in mild paralysis in the legs. In anencephaly, large parts of the brain and skull do not form. Babies with anencephaly are usually stillborn or die shortly after
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