By far the hardest part of the body is the teeth. These structures are very important for chewing and speaking. A tooth is composed of the enamel, dentin, pulp, cementum and periodontal ligament. The enamel is the hard white “shell” of the tooth. Made of a hard mineral called calcium phosphate, the enamel encases the
Human Anatomy – Tonsils
Palatine tonsils, or simply, tonsils, are the two masses of tissue you see at the back of your throat. They form part of the lymphatic system, the organs in the body which serve to fend off infections. Made up of cells not unlike those in the lymph nodes, the tonsils grow in size whenever the
Human Anatomy – Tongue
One of the strongest muscles in the body is the tongue, the organ that gives you the sense of taste. In addition, the tongue is imperative for speech as well as chewing food. A tongue is covered with innumerable taste buds, clusters of cells that link to nerves connected to the brain. As a result,
Human Anatomy – Esophagus
From the throat, food comes down to your stomach through the esophagus, an 8-inch long muscular tube lined with mucosa. It is situated in front of the spine, just behind the heart and the trachea. It passes through the diaphragm just before entering the stomach. Esophagus muscles are divided into two: the upper esophageal sphincter
Human Anatomy – Stomach
On the left side of the abdomen is your stomach, a sac-like, muscled organ designed to digest your intake. Filled with acid and enzymes, the stomach is lined with muscles called rugae, which contract every so often to churn food, hastening digestion. From the esophagus, food enters the stomach through a muscular valve called the
Human Anatomy – Liver
One of the most vital human organs, the liver is essential for filtering the blood from the digestive system before relaying it to the body. The liver is also designed to metabolize medicines and detoxify chemicals. Furthermore, it forms proteins essential for blood clots, among others. It is situated on the right side of the
Human Anatomy – Gallbladder
Bile, a substance manufactured in the liver, is used by the body to digest fats and absorb them into the bloodstream. It is stored in the organ known as the gallbladder. Located just below the liver, the gallbladder appears like a deflated balloon after a meal. Before meals, bile blows the gallbladder up, which then
Human Anatomy – Pancreas
Pancreas refers to a six-inch long gland at the back of the belly, just at the rear of the stomach. This organ is made up of cells called islets, which secrete the vital enzymes insulin and glucagon. These enzymes maintain healthy levels of glucose, a kind of blood sugar. A pancreas is linked to the
Human Anatomy – Spleen
Spleen refers to that fist-like organ situated to the left of your stomach, in the upper left of your abdomen. Usually 4 inches long and colored purple, the spleen has several vital functions. In a healthy lifestyle, the spleen is crucial for filtering the blood; through it, red blood cells are recycled. Also, the spleen
Human Anatomy – Appendix
Just where the large intestine and the small intestine meet, in the lower right part of the belly, is a four-inch, finger-like organ called the appendix. No one knows exactly what this organ is for. Healthy lifestyle pros believe that the appendix serves as a depot for good bacteria, helping digestive organs recover from diarrhea













