Human Anatomy

A good deal of this, to be strictly accurate, is probably physiology.  I'm not enough of an expert to separate them out ...

Also, some of it applies to all animals, not just humans. But if in doubt, assume it means humans only.

Chambers in the heart		4
Pairs of ribs		12
Bones in the skull		22
Bones in each wrist		8
Bones in each ankle		7
Bones in each hand and foot (not including the wrist or ankle)		19
Total number of bones in the hands and feet (including the wrists and ankles)		106
Chromosomes in a human cell		46 (23 pairs)
Bones in the human body		206

Normal body temperature	Fahrenheit		98.4°
	Centigrade		36.9°

Teeth

Milk teeth

20

The full adult quota is:

Incisors		8
Canines		4
Premolars		8
Molars (including wisdom teeth)		12
Total		32

Vertebrae

Cervical		7
Thoracic		12
Lumbar		5
In the sacrum (fused)		5
In the coccyx (fused)		4
Total		33

Total number of vertebrae, counting the sacrum and coccyx as one each

26

If the sacrum and the coccyx are counted as one vertebra each, the twelve thoracic vertebrae can accurately be described as the central ones (with seven above and seven below).

Somatotypes

The taxonomy of somatotypes was developed in the 1940s by the US psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, to categorize the human physique. Sheldon's initial visual methodology has been discounted as subjective and has never been widely recognised in medical science, but later variations are said to be still in academic use. They also still come up in quizzes occasionally.

Long, thin muscles and limbs, low fat storage; usually referred to as slim		Ectomorph
Large bones, solid torso, low fat levels, wide shoulders with a narrow waist		Mesomorph
Increased fat storage, a wide waist and a large bone structure		Endomorph

The action of focusing the eye		Accommodation
Socket in the hip into which the femur fits		Acetabulum
Tendon that joins the calf muscles to the heel bone – a.k.a. the calcaneal tendon		Achilles
Common name for the laryngeal prominence – formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage		Adam's apple
Common name for the nasopharyngeal tonsils – enlargement of glandular tissue at the back of the nose		Adenoids
The two small ductless endocrine glands, located above the kidneys: they produce a variety of hormones, including the steroids aldosterone and cortisol (known as hydrocortisone when used as a medication) – but the best–known hormone is the one that's named after the glands		Adrenal glands
Hormone that prepares the body for action in emergency situations, triggering a "fight or flight" response (a.k.a. – especially in the USA, where adrenalin is a trade name, but not colloquially even there – epinephrine)		Adrenaline
Starts at the mouth and ends at the anus		Alimentary canal
Cells in the lungs where oxygen is transferred from the bronchioles to the blood vessels (capillaries)		Alveoli
20 naturally occurring substances (acid molecules): the basic blocks used in the body for producing proteins		Amino acids
The fluid that surrounds a foetus in the womb		Amniotic fluid
Talus (TAY–lus) or astragalus (ast–RAG–uh–lus (cf. Calcaneus)		Ankle bone
Substance produced by the body as a response to the action of an external organism		Antibody
The largest human artery – carries blood from the left ventricle to all parts of the body		Aorta
Common name for the axilla		Armpit
Blood is carries away from the heart by the		Arteries
The topmost vertebra – supports the head		Atlas
Either of the two upper chambers in the heart, which receive the blood – the left one from the lungs, the right one from the veins; they pump blood to the respective ventricles when the heart muscle contracts		Atrium
The second cervical vertebra – the one that the atlas rotates on		Axis
Alternative name for the premolar teeth (cf. canines)		Bicuspids
Common name for the hallux		Big toe
Fluid, produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder: aids digestion by emulsifying fats and neutralizing acids		Bile
Common name for a naevus		Birthmark or mole
Layman's term for the part of the eye that's technically known as the optic disc		Blind spot
Vesicle: medical term for a		Blister
Myeloid tissue (which produces blood cells) is mainly found in		Bone marrow
Haversian canals (Canals of Havers) are in		Bones
Alternative name for the large intestine – comes ultimately from the Latin word for "a little sausage" (botellus)		Bowel
The corpus callosum is a bridge of neural connections that connects, and promotes communication between, the two halves of the		Brain
Ventricles are found in the heart and the
The medulla oblongata, the pineal gland, the limbic system, the Circle of Willis, the Fissure of Silvius, the Betz cells and the Island of Reil are found in the
Astrocytes are characteristic cells found in the
Airway branches that enter the alveoli (in the lungs) – the first that don't contain cartilage		Bronchioles
Common name for the nates (NAY–tees)		Buttocks
Fifth most abundant element, by weight, in the human body (after oxygen, carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen) – and the most abundant metal – the skeleton contains about one kilogram		Calcium
Major chemical constituent of bones		Calcium phosphate
The gastrocnaemius (gast–rock–NEE–mee–us) and soleus muscles are found in the		Calf
Pointed teeth between incisors and premolars (a.k.a. cuspids, dog teeth or eye teeth)		Canines
Small blood vessels that carry blood from the arteries to the veins		Capillaries
The two arteries that carry blood to the head		Carotid arteries
Technical name for the eight bones of the wrist		Carpus
The upper seven vertebrae (in the neck)		Cervical
Region in the lower part of the brain, that controls muscle tone, movement and co–ordination – highly developed in birds and humans		Cerebellum
Infolded layer of grey matter that covers the cerebrum		Cerebral cortex
Consists of two hemispheres separated by a central fissure; co–ordinates all voluntary activity		Cerebrum
Common name for the zygomatic bones (a.k.a. the malar bones)		Cheekbones
In anatomy, the adjectives 'mental' and 'genial' (from the Latin mentum and the Greek geneion respectively – genial pronounced juh–NYE–uhl) refer to the		Chin
HMG–CoA reductase is an enzyme (inhibited by the drugs known as statins, used to treat cardiovascular disease) central to the body's production of		Cholesterol
The main component of connective tissue in the human body, and the most abundant protein		Collagen
Common name for the clavicle		Collarbone
The four lowermost vertebrae (fused)		Coccyx
Spiral canals in the ear (and hence any spiral): includes the organ of Corti		Cochlea
The largest part of the large intestine, with which its name is often used synonymously; shares that name with a punctuation mark! Has ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid parts, with the right colic (or hepatic) flexure between the ascending and transverse parts, and the left colic (or splenic) flexure between the transverse and descending parts		Colon
Cells of the retina that respond to colour		Cones
The membrane that covers the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelids		Conjunctiva
Transparent front part of the eye – covering the iris, pupil and anterior chamber		Cornea
Supplies blood to the heart itself (i.e. for its use – not for circulation)		Coronary artery
Technical name for the eight bones of the skull that protect the brain		Cranium
Calcified tissue, similar to bone, surrounding the pulp cavity of a tooth (beneath the enamel) - ivory is also a type of		Dentine
Chief muscle used in breathing – separates the chest cavity from the abdomen		Diaphragm
The period between contractions (systoles) when the heart relaxes		Diastole
Common name for a buccula		Double chin
The last part of the upper gastrointestinal tract – part of the small intestine, immediately below the stomach: name comes from the Latin for "twelve fingerbreadths" (that's how long it is); attached to the diaphragm by the ligament of Treitz		Duodenum
The malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup), collectively known as the ossicles (little bones), are bones in the		Ear
The auricle – also known as the pinna, particularly in zoology – is the external (visible) part of the
The tragus and antitragus are parts of the
Common name for the tympanic membrane		Eardrum
Balance is maintained by fluid and hairs in the canals of the		Ears (inner)
Common name for cerumen		Ear wax
The olecranon is a bony prominence (the end of the ulna) in the		Elbow
The system (including the thyroid and adrenal glands) that secretes hormones directly into the blood system		Endocrine (system)
"Natural painkillers" produced in the brain, having a similar effect to morphine		Endo(mo)rphins
A protein that acts as a catalyst in chemical reactions in the body		Enzyme
Flap of cartilage that covers the trachaea (windpipe) during swallowing, to prevent food entering it – forms part of the larynx (voicebox) – cf. Uvula		Epiglottis
Links the middle ear to the throat (pharynx)		Eustachian tube
The vitreous and aqueous humours, and the lacrimal gland, are in the		Eye
Remains virtually the same size, from infancy, through to adulthood
Non–technical name for the supercilium		Eyebrow
Non–technical name for the cilia		Eyelashes
The ovaries are connected to the uterus by the		Fallopian tubes
Artery in the muscles of the thigh, providing the main blood supply to the leg		Femoral artery
Thigh bone; the longest bone in the human body		Femur
Protein used in clotting blood		Fibrin
Common names for the phalanges		Fingers and toes
The part of the skin that grows hair by packing old cells together – also the sac that a tooth grows from		Follicle
Membranes that cover the gap in the skull of a new–born baby (from an Old French word for a little spring or fountain)		Fontanelles
The radius and the ulna are the bones in the		Forearm
The cuboid and navicular bones, the three cuneiform bones, and the five metatarsals, are in the		Foot
Common name for an ephilis (e–FEE–lis); the same common word is sometimes used for a lentigo		Freckle
Small organ attached to the liver, where bile (a fluid produced by the liver) is stored and concentrated before it is released into the small intestine		Gall bladder
The area (of skin and bone) above the nose and between the eyebrows		Glabella
Interface between the kidneys and the blood		Glomerulus
The muscle of the buttock – the largest in the human body		Gluteus maximus
Cutis anserine; produced by the reflex known as horripilation or piloerection		Goose pimples
Red pigment of blood – an iron–containing oxygen–carrying metalloprotein – carries oxygen around the body		Haemoglobin
Common name for any one of the semimembranosus, the semitendinosus or the biceps femoris (three muscles in the leg)		Hamstring
The five metacarpals are the bones of the		Hand
The occiput is the back of the		Head
The atrium, the bicuspid valve and the bundle of His are all in the		Heart
The pericardium, myocardium and endocardium are the three main layers of the wall of the
Skin is least sensitive at the		Heel
Common name for the calcaneus (cal–KAIN–e–us) (cf. Talus)		Heel bone
Artery that feeds the liver		Hepatic artery
Vein that links the gut to the liver		Hepatic portal vein
Coxa, and coxal, are respectively the technical name and adjective for		The hip
Common name for the innomintate bone		Hip bone
Substance secreted in the body to pass messages from one cell to another		Hormone
Bone of the upper arm		Humerus
Most abundant element in the human body, by atomic percentage (63%; oxygen 26%, carbon 10%). See Oxygen		Hydrogen
The only bone in the human body that's not articulated to any other: located in the throat, it's held in place by cartilage; it helps in the movement of the tongue		Hyoid bone
Part of the brain that controls rhythmic functions and physiological stability, including temperature		Hypothalamus
The posterior part of the small intestine		Ileum
Uppermost and largest bone in the pelvis – shares its name with the Latin name for Troy		Ilium
The lymphatic system is part of the		Immune system
Front teeth, used for biting		Incisors
Hormone that controls (reduces) the level of sugar in the blood		Insulin
Muscular tissue that provides the eye colour		Iris
The group of cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin and glucagon (which respectively reduce and increase the amount of glucose in the blood)		Islets of Langerhans
Masseter muscle: controls the		(Lower) jaw
Return deoxygenated blood from the head to the heart (via the superior vena cava)		Jugular veins
Tough, fibrous protein: the main structural component of nails and hair (also hooves and horns)		Keratin
The Loop of Henle and Bowman's capsule are in the		Kidney
The anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, and the medial and lateral meniscuses, are in the		Knee
The largest joint in the human body
Patella – a diminutive of the Latin word for a shallow dish – is the technical name for the		Kneecap
Cavities of the inner ear		Labyrinth
The last part of the gastrointestinal tract: consists of the caecum, colon, rectum and (in most sources) the anal canal		Large intestine
Medical term for the voice box		Larynx
Bones are connected at joints by		Ligaments
The largest internal organ in the human body, and the only one that's capable of natural regeneration of lost tissue: a gland, whose functions include the production and storage of glycogen, decomposition of red blood cells, plasma protein synthesis, hormone production, and detoxification; produces about 20 to 25% of the body's cholesterol, and converts it to bile (which is stored in the gall bladder)		Liver
Hepatocytes are its chief functional cells – making up about 70% of its mass
Glisson's capsule is its fibrous covering
The Kupffer cells play a critical role in maintaining its functions
The space of Disse (a.k.a. perisinusoidal space or the Disse space) is found in the
The tibia and the fibula are the bones of the		Lower leg
The five vertebrae immediately below the thoracics (in the lower back) – some people have six		Lumbar
The alveoli and the pleura are in the		Lungs
Technical name for the crescent–shaped white part at the base of a fingernail (the "moon")		Lunula
The place in the centre of the retina where vision is particularly sharp – damage to it results in loss of central vision; name is Latin for 'yellow spot'; often known by the first word of its name (which simply means '(the) spot')		Macula (lutea)
Technical term for the lower jaw – said to be the hardest bone in the human body		Mandible
Technical term for the upper jaw		Maxilla
Region at the back of the brain, which co–ordinates basic activities such as breathing and temperature control		Medulla
Pigment that determines skin colour and causes it to darken on exposure to sunlight; also found in the hair and the the iris, and in most other organisms – but lacking in albinos		Melanin
Hormone, produced by the pineal gland, that regulates the sleep–wake cycle		Melatonin
Teeth used for grinding and chewing		Molars
Can be skeletal, smooth or cardiac (type of tissue); actions can be voluntary or involuntary; flexors and tensors (a.k.a. extensors) are two types of		Muscle
The matrix, the plate, the lunula (LOON–you–la) and the free margin are all parts of a		Nail (finger– or toe–)
More common name for the umbilicus		Navel (or belly button)
Omphalic (from the Greek): of or pertaining to the
The vomer is a bone in the		Nose
Medical name for the gullet (the muscular passage down which food travels to the stomach, after passing through the pharynx)		Oesophagus
Nerve that carries the sensation of smell from nose to brain		Olfactory nerve
Nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain (a.k.a. the second cranial nerve)		Optic nerve
Collective name (meaning 'little bones') for the malleus (hammer), incus (anvil) and stapes (stirrup) – the bones of the inner ear, and the three smallest in the human body		Ossicles
The largest cell in the human body, by volume – according to most sources (cf. smallest)		Ovum (egg)
Most abundant element in the human body, by mass (65% – carbon 18%, hydrogen 10%); see Hydrogen		Oxygen
Gland (both endocrine and exocrine) that contains the Islets of Langerhans (where insulin and glucagon, which respectively reduce and increase the amount of glucose in the blood, are secreted		Pancreas
Two pairs of endocrine glands situated behind the thyroid		Parathyroids
Ileum, acetabulum, ischium, pubis: parts of the		Pelvis
Enzyme, produced in the stomach: the principal agent in the digestion of proteins		Pepsin
Smooth membrane surrounding the heart		Pericardium
The wave of motion that propels food along the alimentary canal		Peristalsis
The lining of the abdominal cavity		Peritoneum
Hidrosis (most commonly in hyperhidrosis), diaphoresis		Perspiration (sweat)
(Bones of the) fingers and toes		Phalanges (phalanx)
Medical name for the throat		Pharynx
The groove in the upper lip		Philtrum
Gland in the brain, at the top of the spinal cord, that produces melatonin (its name comes from a type of tree, whose reproductive organ it resembles in shape)		Pineal gland
Endocrine gland at the base of the brain: secretes the hormones that help to control growth, blood pressure, certain reproductive functions, thyroid glands and metabolism		Pituitary (body)
The colourless deposit of bacteria that forms on the teeth (and elsewhere in the mouth) – forming calculus (tartar) if not removed by brushing or flossing		Plaque
The fluid part of blood (making up 55% by volume)		Plasma
The third main type of blood cells, along with red (erythrocytes) and white (leukocytes): a.k.a. thrombocytes, their function is to cause clotting		Platelets
Blood cells that cause primary haemostasis, leading to the formation of blood clots
The membrane that covers the lungs and lines the chest cavity		Pleura
Common name for the bicuspids (teeth)		Premolars
Having a projecting lower jaw		Prognathism (–ous)
Enzyme secreted in saliva, converts starch to sugar: name comes from the onomatopaeic Greek word for spitting		Ptyalin
Carries blood from the heart to the lungs, to collect oxygen		Pulmonary artery
The only vein that carries oxygenated blood (to the heart – from the lungs)		Pulmonary vein
Mydriasis and miosis are two reactions that may be observed in the		Pupil
Opening of the stomach to the intestine		Pylorus
Group of four muscles at the front of the thigh		Quadriceps
Used to measure the pulse at the wrist		Radial artery
Bones of the lower arm (forearm)		Radius, ulna
Common name for erythrocytes		Red blood cells
Inner lining of the eye, with light–sensitive cells called rods and cones		Retina
The adjective 'costal' refers to the		Ribs
Cells of the retina that respond to intensity of light		Rods
The five fused vertebrae between the lumbars and the coccyx		Sacrum
The longest muscle in the human body: runs down the thigh (from near the outside at the hip, to the inside at the knee)		Sartorius
Largest (longest and widest) nerve in the human body		Sciatic
The opaque, fibrous, protective outer layer of the eye: white in humans, and known as the white of the eye; in other mammals it's the same colour as the iris; name is from the Greek word for "hard"		Sclera
Wall of cartilage that separates the nostrils		(Nasal) septum
Clear fluid with no blood cells or fibrinogens, separates from coagulating blood		Serum
The deltoid muscle is in the		Shoulder
The rotator cuff is a sheath of muscles and tendons that act to stabilise the		Shoulder
Common name for the scapula		Shoulder–blade
Cutaneous: pertaining to the		Skin
Integumentary system; the largest organ in the human body
The Malpighian layer is the innermost layer (now classed as two layers) of the
Frontal bone, parietal bones, ethmoid bone, sphenoid bone, temporal bones, occipital bone: found in the		Skull
The part of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine – where most of the end absorption of food takes place: consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum		Small intestine
The first sense to develop		Smell
Common name for the velum		Soft palate
The smallest cell in the human body, according to most sources (cf. largest)		Sperm cell
Removes old blood cells, produces antibodies		Spleen
The smallest bone in the human body		Stapes (stirrup)
Technical name for the breast bone		Sternum
Gastro–: pertaining to the		Stomach
Borborygmus is an onomatopoeic word for		Stomach rumbling
Immovable joints in the skull		Sutures
The junction (gap) between two nerve cells		Synapse
Fluid that lubricates the joints		Synovial fluid
Contraction of the heart		Systole
Collective name for the talus (ankle bone), the calcaneus (heel bone), the cuboid and navicular bones, and the three cuneiform bones		Tarsus
Alternative name for calculus – the yellow or brown deposits that form when dental plaque hardens above or below the line of the gums		Tartar
Sense that relies on the gustatory nerve		Taste
Produced in the lacrimal glands		Tears
Muscles are connected to bones by		Tendons
Hormone that stimulates development of male characteristics		Testosterone
The sartorius is a muscle in the (part of body)		Thigh
The middle twelve vertebrae (there are seven above and seven below, counting the sacrum and coccyx as one each)		Thoracic
Common name for the pollex		Thumb
Large endocrine gland in the neck (in front of the trachea, below the Adam's apple): controls how quickly the body uses energy (produces hormones that control the metabolic rate), makes proteins, and controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones		Thyroid
Shin bone; name is the Latin name for a Greek flute (aulos in Greek)		Tibia
Bones of the lower leg		Tibia, fibula
Common name for the glossa – the only muscle that's attached at one end only		Tongue
Pharyngeal, palatine, lingual and tubal are the names of the four pairs of (see also Adenoids)		Tonsils
Hardest substance in the human body; often said to be the only part that can never repair itself		Tooth enamel
Medical name for the windpipe		Trachea
The small pointed prominence (or 'flap') in front of the opening to the ear canal (which you press when you don't want to listen) – helps to collect sound from behind you; name is from the Greek word for a goat		Tragus
Muscle that moves the shoulder–blade and supports the arm		Trapezius
The tube that connects the kidneys to the bladder (cf. below)		Ureter
The tube that connects the bladder to – Ahem! – the place where the urine leaves the body (cf. above)		Urethra
The pigmented layer between the retina and the outer fibrous layer (composed of the sclera and cornea) of the eye – which delivers oxygen and nutrients to the eye tissues – named after the Latin for a grape		Uvea
Flap of tissue that hangs from the soft palate, at the back of the mouth – often incorrectly referred to as the epiglottis; plays a role in speech, particularly in eastern European languages; name literally means 'little grape'		Uvula
Blood is carries back to the heart by the		Veins
Either of the two larger chambers in the heart, which receive blood from the atria and pump it away: the right one to the lungs to receive oxygen, the left one around the body via the aorta and the arteries		Ventricle
The 33 individual bones of the spine		Vertebrae
Relating to the palms of the hand or the soles of the feet		Volar
Common name for leucocytes and phagocytes		White blood corpuscles
Non–technical name for the third molar (tooth) – known to dentists as a "number 8"		Wisdom tooth
The scaphoid bone, lunate bone, triquetrium (or triquetral bone), pisiform bone, trapezium, trapezoid bone, capitate bone and hamate bone (or unciform bone) – collectively known as the carpus – are the eight bones of the		Wrist

© Haydn Thompson 2017–23