Body Parts You Never Knew: The Ultimate Guide for Anyone Learning English

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Do you know your own body?

Well, let’s find out! Here are some goals for this exercise:

Objectives

  • Learn body parts vocabulary
  • Practice vocabulary in context of Alex’s Daily Routine
  • Practice vocabulary in context of doctor’s visit
Head and Face
  • Head: Contains the brain and other sensory organs.
  • Skull: Bone structure that protects the brain.
  • Cranium: The upper part of the skull.
  • Scalp: The skin covering the skull.
  • Forehead: The part of the face above the eyebrows.
  • Eyes: Organs that enable vision.
  • Eyelids: Skin that protects the eyes.
  • Eyebrows: Hair above the eyes.
  • Eyelashes: Hair along the edge of the eyelids.
  • Nose: Used for smelling and breathing.
  • Nostrils: The openings of the nose.
  • Mouth: Opening through which food is ingested.
  • Lips: Fleshy edges of the mouth.
  • Teeth: Hard structures for chewing food.
  • Tongue: Muscle in the mouth used for tasting and speaking.
  • Chin: The lower part of the face below the mouth.
  • Cheeks: The sides of the face below the eyes.
  • Cheekbones : Bones that define the cheeks.
  • Jaw (Mandible): The bone that forms the lower part of the face and moves during chewing.
  • Philtrum: The groove between the nose and upper lip.
  • Temples: The sides of the head between the forehead and ears.
Upper Body
  • Neck: Connects the head to the torso and contains the throat and cervical spine.
  • Clavicle (Collarbone): A bone that connects the shoulder to the sternum.
  • Shoulders: The area around the joints that connect the arms to the torso.
  • Scapula (Shoulder blade): A flat bone on the back that helps with arm movement.
  • Sternum: The breastbone, located in the center of the chest.
  • Chest: The area of the body housing the lungs and heart, protected by ribs.
  • Ribs: Bones forming the ribcage to protect the lungs and heart.
  • Spine (Vertebral column): The backbone that runs from the neck down to the lower back.
  • Back: The posterior part of the torso, containing the spine and muscles.
  • Abdomen (Stomach): The area between the chest and pelvis, containing the digestive organs.
  • Pelvis: The bone structure at the base of the spine that supports the torso and legs.
  • Waist: The narrow part of the body above the hips.
Arms and Hands
  • Arm: The upper limb extending from the shoulder to the hand.
  • Humerus: The bone of the upper arm.
  • Elbow: The joint between the upper and lower arm.
  • Ulna and Radius: The two bones of the forearm.
  • Wrist: The joint connecting the hand to the forearm.
  • Carpals: The small bones in the wrist.
  • Hand: The part of the arm below the wrist.
  • Metacarpals: The bones of the palm.
  • Fingers: The digits of the hand.
  • Thumb: The short, thick first digit.
  • Index finger: The first finger next to the thumb.
  • Middle finger: The longest finger.
  • Ring finger: The fourth finger.
  • Pinky (Little finger): The smallest finger.
  • Phalanges: The bones in the fingers.
Lower Body
  • Hips: The area on either side of the pelvis where the legs connect to the torso.
  • Buttocks (Glutes): The muscles and fat at the back of the hips.
  • Thighs: The upper part of the legs.
  • Femur: The bone in the thigh, the longest bone in the body.
  • Knees: The joints between the thighs and lower legs.
  • Patella (Kneecap): The bone covering the knee joint.
  • Calves: The back of the lower legs.
  • Tibia and Fibula: The two bones in the lower leg.
  • Ankles: The joints connecting the legs to the feet.
  • Achilles tendon: The tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel.
  • Feet: The lower extremities that support the body during standing and movement.
  • Tarsals: The bones in the ankle and upper foot.
  • Metatarsals: The bones of the midfoot.
  • Toes: The digits of the foot.
  • Big toe: The largest toe.
  • Little toe: The smallest toe.
  • Phalanges: The bones in the toes.
Internal Organs
  • Brain: The organ inside the skull responsible for controlling the body’s functions and activities.
  • Heart: The muscular organ that pumps blood through the body.
  • Lungs: Organs for breathing, located in the chest.
  • Stomach: The organ where food is digested after swallowing.
  • Liver: The large organ that processes nutrients and detoxifies the blood.
  • Pancreas: The organ that aids in digestion and blood sugar regulation.
  • Kidneys: Organs that filter blood and produce urine.
  • Bladder: The organ that stores urine.
  • Small Intestine: The long, coiled organ where most digestion and absorption of nutrients occur.
  • Large Intestine: The organ that absorbs water and forms waste for excretion.
  • Spleen: An organ that filters blood and helps with the immune response.
  • Gallbladder: The small organ that stores bile produced by the liver.
Muscles
  • Deltoids: The muscles of the shoulders.
  • Biceps: The muscles at the front of the upper arm.
  • Triceps: The muscles at the back of the upper arm.
  • Pectorals: The chest muscles.
  • Abdominals (Abs): The muscles of the stomach.
  • Gluteal muscles (Glutes): The muscles of the buttocks.
  • Quadriceps (Quads): The muscles at the front of the thighs.
  • Hamstrings: The muscles at the back of the thighs.
  • Calf muscles: The muscles in the lower legs.

Circulatory and Nervous System
  • Arteries: Blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart.
  • Veins: Blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood back to the heart.
  • Nerves: Bundles of fibers that transmit signals between the brain and the body.
  • Spinal cord: The bundle of nerves running down the spine, connecting the brain to the rest of the body.

Body Parts You Never Knew —Discover with Alex’s Daily Routine!

Alex at home

Alex woke up early one morning to the sound of their alarm ringing. The first thing they noticed was a dull ache in their back. Sitting up in bed, they stretched their arms high above their head, feeling the muscles in their shoulders and neck loosen up. With a deep yawn, they rubbed their eyes and swung their legs over the edge of the bed, feeling the cool floor beneath their feet.

As Alex walked to the bathroom, they caught a glimpse of themselves in the mirror. Their hair was a mess, sticking up in all directions. They ran a hand through it and sighed, noticing that their forehead had a few new creases from sleeping awkwardly on the pillow. After washing their face and brushing their teeth, Alex examined their chin in the mirror and decided it was time for a shave. The smooth razor glided along their jaw, leaving behind clean skin. Once finished, they splashed water on their cheeks and patted them dry with a towel.

Heading to the kitchen, Alex could feel a slight twinge in their knees from their morning run the previous day. Despite the discomfort, they moved around the kitchen with ease, grabbing a piece of fruit and a slice of toast. As they bit into the apple, their teeth crunched through the skin, and they savored the taste on their tongue. After breakfast, Alex stretched their arms above their head again, feeling their spine crack slightly as they bent forward to touch their toes.

It was time to get dressed for work. Alex pulled on a shirt, feeling the fabric brush against their shoulders and settle on their chest. They fastened a belt around their waist and slipped into a pair of comfortable shoes that supported their ankles and feet.

Alex at work

Before leaving, Alex grabbed their bike helmet and strapped it securely under their chin. They were ready for their daily bike ride to the office. As Alex pedaled through the streets, they could feel their thighs and calves working hard, powering them forward. The wind rushed past their ears and cooled their skin as they navigated the busy city roads. Their hands gripped the handlebars, and they could feel the tension in their wrists and fingers as they controlled the bike.

Arriving at work, Alex locked their bike and rolled their shoulders to release some of the tension from the ride. Inside the office, they settled into their chair, feeling the pressure shift from their legs to their buttocks as they leaned back comfortably. Typing on the keyboard, Alex’s fingers moved swiftly across the keys while their eyes focused on the screen.

Around midday, it was time for a break. Alex stood up, stretching their arms and twisting their waist from side to side to loosen up. They walked to the break room and poured themselves a glass of water, feeling it cool their throat as they swallowed.

In the afternoon, Alex joined a meeting where they had to present to a group. Standing in front of the room, they spoke confidently, feeling the vibrations of their voice in their chest and through their vocal cords. As they gestured with their hands, they felt their biceps and triceps subtly contract and release with every movement.

Alex back at home

After a long day of work, Alex biked home, their legs tired but satisfied from the exercise. Back at home, they sat on the couch, propping their feet up on the coffee table. They ran their hands over their knees, massaging the muscles around their joints, which had begun to feel sore.

Finally, Alex decided to wind down with a hot shower. As the warm water cascaded over their skin, they could feel their muscles relaxing from their shoulders down to their calves. The water eased the tension in their back and neck, and soon the aches from the day began to melt away.

Later that evening, Alex curled up in bed, pulling the blanket over their chest and resting their head on the pillow. They felt their heart beating steadily in their chest and their lungs expanding rhythmically as they took slow, deep breaths. With one final stretch of their arms and legs, Alex drifted off to sleep, their entire body finally at rest after a long, productive day.

Going to the Doctor

Nice job! Now imagine you fall sick. You go to the doctor and have to describe your signs and symptoms. What do you say?

Doctor: Hey there! What brings you in today? What has been bothering you?
You: …

Head and Face

  • Headache: Throbbing or sharp pain, tension, dizziness, sensitivity to light
  • Migraine: Severe headache, nausea, visual disturbances
  • Nasal Congestion: Blocked nose, stuffy airways
  • Eye Irritation: Redness, itchiness, dryness, blurred vision
  • Ear Pain: Earache, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, fullness in the ear
  • Toothache: Sharp or throbbing pain in a tooth or jaw, sensitivity to temperature

Neck and Shoulders

  • Stiff Neck: Limited range of motion, soreness, tension
  • Shoulder Pain: Stiffness, sharp pain with movement, difficulty lifting the arm
  • Neck Pain: Throbbing, aching, pain radiating down the arms

Chest

  • Chest Pain: Tightness, pressure, sharp pain
  • Heartburn: Burning sensation behind the breastbone, often after eating
  • Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing, gasping for air, tightness in the chest

Abdomen and Stomach

  • Stomach Ache: Cramping, sharp or dull pain
  • Bloating: Feeling of fullness or swelling in the abdomen
  • Nausea and Vomiting: Upset stomach, queasiness, actual vomiting
  • Constipation: Difficulty passing stool, bloating, abdominal pain
  • Diarrhea: Frequent loose stools

Back

  • Lower Back Pain: Dull ache, stiffness, sharp pain when bending or lifting
  • Upper Back Pain: Tightness, muscle spasms, sharp pain between shoulder blades
  • Sciatica: Shooting pain down the leg, numbness, tingling in the lower back and leg

Arms and Hands

  • Arm Pain: Dull or sharp pain, numbness, tingling, weakness
  • Wrist Pain: Pain with movement, swelling, stiffness
  • Finger Joint Pain: Swelling, stiffness, difficulty bending fingers

Hips and Legs

  • Hip Pain: Aching, sharp pain with movement, stiffness
  • Knee Pain: Swelling, stiffness, sharp or dull pain, difficulty bending the knee
  • Leg Cramps: Sudden sharp pain in the calf or thigh, muscle tightness
  • Ankle Pain: Swelling, tenderness, difficulty walking, instability

Feet

  • Foot Pain: Soreness, throbbing, sharp pain, difficulty standing or walking
  • Heel Pain: Sharp pain in the heel, especially in the morning or after rest
  • Toe Pain: Swelling, throbbing, pain in the joints of the toes

General Symptoms

  • Fatigue: Tiredness, weakness, lack of energy
  • Fever: Elevated body temperature, sweating, chills
  • Dizziness: Lightheadedness, vertigo, balance issues
  • Swelling: Puffiness or fluid retention in any part of the body
  • Numbness or Tingling: Pins and needles sensation, loss of feeling

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