Reproduction is the process by which organisms make more organisms like themselves. But even though the reproductive system is essential to keeping a species alive, unlike other body systems, it's not ...

Abstinence is choosing not to have sex. Abstinence is the most effective form of birth control. If two people don't have sex, sperm can't fertilize an egg and there's no possibility of pregnancy.

Why Do Ears Make Wax? Earwax is made in the outer ear canal, the area between the fleshy part of the ear on the outside of the head and the middle ear. The medical term for earwax is cerumen ...

What Is Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip? Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a problem with the way a baby's hip joint forms. Sometimes the condition starts before the baby is born, and ...

Toxic synovitis has a scary name, but it's not a scary condition. This temporary inflammation of the hip can cause limping and pain in the hip and leg. This can be unpleasant for a child and ...

What Is Coarctation of the Aorta? Coarctation of the aorta (COA) is a narrowing of the aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to the body. This narrowing causes the left ...

Erythema toxicum (air-uh-THEE-muh TOK-sih-kum) is a common skin rash that many healthy newborns get. It usually appears in the first few days after birth and fades within a week. The rash can be on ...

Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID) is a fairly new eating disorder. Children with ARFID are extremely selective eaters and sometimes have little interest in eating food. They may eat a ...

Cancer is a scary word. Almost everyone knows someone who got very sick or died from cancer. Most of the time, cancer affects older people. Not many kids get cancer, but when they do, very often it ...

The eye infection conjunctivitis (kun-junk-tih-VY-tus) — often called pink eye — is common in young kids. It's usually contagious, and breakouts can sweep through preschools and playgrounds. But even ...

What Is the Heart and What Does It Do? The heart is an organ that’s a pump, usually beating about 60 to 100 times per minute. With each heartbeat, the heart sends blood throughout your body, carrying ...

An ultrasound scan is a medical test that uses high-frequency sound waves to create live images from the inside the body. Also called a sonogram or sonography, ultrasounds let doctors see the body’s ...