Body Systems

Your body is pretty amazing. At any given point you have many biological processes going on -- circulatory, digestive, brain & central nervous systems and more. Learn about these body systems as well as the eye, ears, nose and throat.

Topics to Explore

How does your stomach keep from digesting itself?

How much oxygen does a person consume in a day?

Without a Hippocampus, Your Long-term Memory Is History

Adrenal Gland Treatments

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Farts Can Be Silent, But Can They Be Deadly, Too?

Maybe you've never even thought about it when you've smelled — or emitted — a particularly odoriferous fart. But can that fart spread disease?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Feb 28, 2020 Body Systems / Digestive System

Why Can't You Smell Your Own House?

You almost never notice the way your own place smells. Why is that?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler Feb 6, 2020 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Nose & Throat

The Cerebellum Is the Body's Little Brain

The cerebellum is the part of our brain that controls voluntary movements like posture, balance, coordination and speech.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Aug 19, 2019 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Feeling Hungry? Tired? Moody? Thank Your Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus is a tiny area of your brain that keeps everything — hunger, thirst, sleep, energy, mood — in balance.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jul 24, 2019 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Does Oxytocin Make Us Fall in Love?

Sometimes referred to as the "cuddle hormone," oxytocin is released during sex and breastfeeding. But does it make you fall in love with someone or just bond you more with someone you already love?

By Dave Roos Jul 23, 2019 Body Systems / Endocrine System

Without a Hippocampus, Your Long-term Memory Is History

Located in the temporal lobe, this tiny horseshoe-shaped organ plays a massive role in both the storage of long-term memories and the creation of new ones.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jul 18, 2019 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

5 Ways Homeostasis Keeps Your Body Humming Along

Homeostasis comes from the Greek words for "similar" and "steady" but this state of steadiness is anything but boring. In fact, it's what you want your body to be.

By Alia Hoyt Jul 17, 2019 Body Systems / Endocrine System

The Amygdala: Gatekeeper of Human Fear

The amygdala is a small part of the human brain that most humans have probably never heard of.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jun 10, 2019 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Toilet Stools, Like Squatty Potty, Really Get Things Moving, Study Says

A new study found that giving your feet a boost in the bathroom lessened constipation (and straining) significantly.

By Alia Hoyt Feb 4, 2019 Body Systems / Digestive System

Don't Let Travel Impact Your Pooping Routine

Travelers commonly experience unusual bowel symptoms while traveling. Why is this, and what can we do about it?

By Jesslyn Shields Nov 12, 2018 Body Systems / Digestive System

Why Won't My Eye Stop Twitching?

The eye twitching that's driving you crazy — it's likely caused by nothing more than stress or fatigue. But you may need to see a doctor if you have other symptoms, too.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Nov 2, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Eye

5 Things You Didn’t Know About Donating Your Brain to Science

Listed as an organ donor on your driver's license? That designation does not include your brain.

By Chris Opfer Oct 31, 2018 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Are Flavored Vaping Liquids Safe?

Chemical flavorings interact with the solvents in vaping liquids, forming dangerous new compounds. And that's before they're even heated.

By Patrick J. Kiger Oct 30, 2018 Body Systems / Respiratory System

Scientists Discover Protein That Could Help Restore Hearing

For over 40 years, scientists have been searching for the protein that allows us to hear. Its recent discovery might help people regain their hearing.

By Jesslyn Shields Sep 4, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Ear

Please Stop Flushing Your Contacts!

Contact lenses fragment into microplastics that slip through water filtering systems and ultimately end up in the oceans.

By Stell Simonton Aug 23, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Eye

More Americans Than You'd Think Smell 'Phantom Odors'

About 1 in 15 Americans over 40 smell odors that aren't there, according to a new study. And the reason why is still a mystery.

By Alia Hoyt Aug 22, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Nose & Throat

Does Everyone Have the Ability to Become a Genius?

Sudden savant syndrome can make you a math whiz or musical prodigy instantaneously. But how?

By Jesslyn Shields Aug 14, 2018 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Ever Stand Up and Get Dizzy?

It happens to almost everyone and there are lots of possible explanations.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky Jul 3, 2018 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

Do Blue Light-blocking Glasses Even Work?

Blue light-blocking glasses are super popular these days. But do they even work the way marketers promise?

By John Perritano Jun 18, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Eye

Every Coffee Drinker Is Unique

What's behind the fact that you can drink three cups of coffee and still feel sleepy while your coworker feels jittery after one cup? Our bodies all process caffeine differently. Here's why.

By Laurie L. Dove Jun 18, 2018 Body Systems / Brain & Central Nervous System

The Man Whose Blood Saved More Than 2 Million Babies

James Harrison's blood contains a rare and powerful antibody that's saved millions of Australian babies. Now, at age 81, after donating 1,173 times, he's hoping someone else will pick up where he left off.

By Christopher Hassiotis May 18, 2018 Body Systems / Circulatory System

This Year's Must-have for Music Festival Season: Ear Plugs

Music festivals are a blast, but research shows they can also be a bummer for your ears. One study even says that alcohol, coupled with loud music, can make the hearing loss worse.

By Dave Roos May 1, 2018 Eye, Ear, Nose & Throat / Ear