Body Parts

Body Parts work together to perform different functions required for life. Learn how your internal organs operate in this section.

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In 2017, scientists discovered the 79th organ of the body. What took them so long and what does it do?

By Alia Hoyt

It's the organ commonly found in animals where multiple body systems come together into one opening for both defecation and reproduction. But in humans, having a cloaca causes huge problems.

By Alia Hoyt

You probably remember the jingle from kindergarten ... the shin bone's connected to the, wait, what bone is it?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

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The Golgi apparatus is the mail room of the cell, packaging up proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum and sending them to their final destinations.

By Jesslyn Shields

'Emma' is the hard-to-ignore embodiment of what years behind a desk could do to your body. She's hunched over, has bad skin and even varicose veins. Don't become Emma.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

It seems pretty safe to blow the old honker, doesn't it? Well, think again.

By Jesslyn Shields

A group of scientists are trying to end the misleading claim that excessive sitting is just as bad for you as smoking.

By Alia Hoyt

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HowStuffWorks interviews Dr. Mathew Pombo a Orthopedic Sports Medicine Surgeon at Emory about how 3d printing is used to help people walk

You'll probably be OK if your tongue turns black and hairy, but you should definitely see a medical professional.

By Jesslyn Shields

Eyebrow trends over the last 100 years

Whether you have an innie, an outie, or none at all (you'll have to read the article to find out how that's possible), we've got you covered.

By Dave Roos

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The discovery of a new interstitial "organ" may explain how cancers metastasize, how acupuncture works.

By Stell Simonton

A study asked participants to determine where a number of body parts such as the spleen, liver and thyroid were located in the human body. The only part everyone got correctly was the brain. Think you can do better? Take this quiz and find out!

By Alia Hoyt

No. 5 may seem like it's just hanging out there, but if you've ever injured it, you may have discovered how important it is for walking.

By Alia Hoyt

The Jamaican sprinter has a uniquely uneven gait. Is he the fastest man alive because of, or despite, this asymmetry?

By Patrick J. Kiger

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The human tongue is essential for speaking and eating ice cream. Ever worry about swallowing yours? We can put that concern to bed.

By Laurie L. Dove

There's nothing worse than biting your tongue. Unless it swells up and gets infected — thankfully it's pretty rare. See why.

By Jennifer Sellers

One of the world's most enduring questions – besides "why do men have nipples?" – is "why don't women have Adam's apples?" The answer isn't as simple as you might think.

By Jennifer Sellers

Were you ever subjected to "tickle torture" from an older sibling? If you're feeling uncomfortable right now, you might be more sensitive to the dreaded tickle monster than the rest of us.

By Jennifer Sellers

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Vagina dentata is the stuff of legends — but is it possible for a woman to have teeth in her vagina? The answer might surprise you.

By Laurie L. Dove

You can test this pretty easily for yourself, but does it hold true for most people? Da Vinci has the answer.

By Laurie L. Dove

So many notes announcing new babies start, "Everyone's safe and healthy with 10 fingers and 10 toes." But why do most folks have 10 of each?

By Laurie L. Dove

As anyone who's ever used a cotton swab knows, human ears generate a fair amount of earwax. But what exactly is the stuff, and do you need to make a point of clearing it out every so often?

By Jennifer Sellers

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If you have chronically itchy elbows, you're probably irritated in more than one way, as elbows aren't easy to scratch. For what it's worth, you're also in good company: A certain Civil War general shared your itchy condition.

By Jennifer Sellers

Certain scientists have taken on the unappealing job of evaluating the debris that hangs out in the human belly button. What's hiding in your belly button?

By Jennifer Sellers