Vocabulary: body

Homophone of "waste". "Waistline": measurement around the waist; also a figure of body shape. "Waist-deep": submerged to the waist.

• the part of the body between the ribs and the hips

  He wore a belt around his waist.

Cheek dimples are a genetic trait: caused by a slight muscle defect, considered cute in many cultures. Also: chin dimples, golf ball dimples (aerodynamic).

• a small natural depression in the cheek or chin

  She has dimples when she smiles.

"Palm off" = get rid of by deceit.

• the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers

  She read the lines on his palm.

• the round part of the eye inside the eyelids

  The doctor examined his eyeball with a bright light.

Endless idioms: "on the other hand", "hands down", "out of hand", "hand in hand", "upper hand".

1. the end of a person's arm, including the fingers and thumb

   She raised her hand to ask a question.

2. the cards a player is holding in a card game

   She had a strong hand and raised the bet.

• the fleshy back part of the lower leg

  He pulled a muscle in his calf.

"Back", many idioms: "behind one's back", "back to back", "have someone's back". Body part: spine area. Football: defensive position.

• the rear surface of the body

  He has a sore back.

• the front part of the body between the neck and waist

  He had pain in his chest.

Adjective: 'glandular'. Examples: thyroid gland, sweat glands, salivary glands.

• an organ that produces and releases substances such as hormones, sweat, or saliva

  The thyroid gland helps regulate metabolism.

Produces insulin (controlling blood sugar) and digestive enzymes.

• a large gland behind the stomach that secretes digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin

  The pancreas plays a key role in blood sugar regulation.

Plural: rectums or recta. From Latin "straight". Related: rectal (adj).

• the final section of the large intestine, ending at the anus

  The doctor performed a digital rectal exam.

• the area of the body where each of the legs meets the lower abdomen, or the muscles in that area

  He pulled a groin muscle while running.

• a small cavity, sac, or gland in the body, especially one from which a hair grows

  The shampoo claims to nourish hair follicles.

"Shin splints": painful condition affecting the front of the lower leg, common in runners. The shinbone is the tibia.

• the front part of the leg below the knee

  He kicked her in the shin.

• one of the curved bones in the chest that protect the heart and lungs

  He broke a rib in the fall.

The small intestine handles digestion; the large intestine (colon) absorbs water. Often used in the plural.

• the long tubular organ in the body where most digestion happens; the bowels

  The food passes from the stomach into the small intestine.

Broader than the larynx (voice box) alone - includes the throat, mouth, and nasal cavity, all of which shape the final sound of speech.

• the passage from the vocal cords to the lips and nostrils through which speech sounds are shaped

  The shape of the vocal tract changes constantly as we speak.

"Breathe from your diaphragm" - common advice for singers and public speakers, for deeper, more controlled breaths.

• the dome-shaped muscle below the lungs that contracts to draw air into the body

  Singers are taught to breathe using the diaphragm, not the chest.

Named after Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow and messenger of the gods - fitting, since irises come in many colors. Also a genus of flowering plants (unrelated sense, not covered here).

• the colored, ring-shaped part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil

  Her iris was a striking shade of green.

The light-sensing layer at the back of the eye, containing the rods and cones. "Retina display" (Apple's marketing term) borrows the name for screens sharp enough that individual pixels aren't distinguishable.

• the layer of light-sensitive tissue lining the back of the eyeball

  A detached retina requires prompt surgery to prevent vision loss.

"Drop one's jaw" = look astonished. "Jaw-dropping": amazing. "Jaws": 1975 Spielberg shark film. "Lockjaw": old name for tetanus.

• either of two bones of the mouth

  He clenched his jaw in anger.

Connects bone to bone at a joint. Not to be confused with tendon, which connects muscle to bone.

• a short band of tough fibrous tissue connecting two bones at a joint

  She tore a ligament in her knee during the match.

• firm flexible tissue found in joints, ears, and noses

  The injury damaged cartilage in his knee.

'Bone up on' = study hard. 'Bone-dry' = completely dry. 'Make no bones about' = be frank about.

• any of the hard pieces that make up the skeleton of a person or animal

  The dog buried a bone in the garden.

• the part projecting above the mouth on the face of a person or animal, containing the nostrils and used for breathing and smelling

  He has a large nose.

• one of the limbs used for standing or walking

  He broke his leg skiing.

Carries deoxygenated blood back to the heart (except pulmonary veins). "In the same vein" = in the same manner/style.

• 1a blood vessel that returns blood to the heart

  The nurse drew blood from a vein in his arm.

Carries oxygenated blood away from the heart (except the pulmonary artery). "Clogged arteries" - major risk factor for heart attacks.

• 2a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart

  The aorta is the body's largest artery.

American spelling. British spelling: oesophagus.

• the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach

  Acid reflux can irritate the esophagus.

British spelling of esophagus.

• the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach

  The report used the spelling oesophagus.

• the tube carrying air from the throat to the lungs

  The trachea branches into two bronchi.

Everyday word for trachea.

• the trachea

  Food stuck near his windpipe.

• an organ that stores urine

  The infection spread to his bladder.

Humans have two; one is often donated for transplant. "Kidney bean": named for its shape. "Kidney stones": painful mineral deposits.

• either of two organs that filter the blood

  He donated a kidney to his brother.

"Butterflies in stomach" = nervous. "Iron stomach" = can eat anything. "On an empty stomach": without eating first.

• the organ that digests food

  His stomach growled with hunger.

Largest internal organ. Crucial for filtering toxins and metabolism. Eaten in many cuisines (foie gras, liver and onions). Damage is often alcohol-related.

• the large organ that processes nutrients and filters blood

  Excessive drinking can damage the liver.

Two in humans. "At the top of one's lungs" = as loudly as possible. "Iron lung": historical breathing aid for polio patients.

• an organ for breathing

  Smoking damages the lungs.

• the large bony structure near the base of the spine to which the hind limbs or legs are attached in humans and many other vertebrates

  She fractured her pelvis.

The "-ngue" spelling is unusual in English; the final "e" is silent.

• the soft, fleshy muscular organ in the mouth used for tasting, swallowing, and speaking

  He burned his tongue on the hot soup.

Common name: collarbone. One of the most frequently broken bones in the body.

• the bone connecting the breastbone to the shoulder blade; the collarbone

  He fractured his clavicle in the bike accident.

Idioms: "play it by ear" = improvise; "have someone's ear" = have their attention; "go in one ear and out the other" = not be listened to. "Ear" of corn = the seed-bearing part of a grain plant.

• the organ of hearing on either side of the head

  She whispered something in his ear.

"Pain in the neck" = annoying person. "Neck and neck" = even, tied. "Stick one's neck out" = take a risk.

• the part of the body connecting the head to the shoulders

  She wore a scarf around her neck.

"Shooting from the hip" = speaking impulsively. "Joined at the hip" = inseparable.

• the projection of the pelvic bone on each side of the body

  She put her hands on her hips.

Idioms: "arm and a leg" = expensive; "twist someone's arm" = pressure them.

• each of the two upper limbs of the human body

  He broke his arm playing football.

Medical term: patella. "Kneecapping" = a brutal form of punishment shooting the kneecap, historically used in Northern Ireland.

• the convex movable bone that forms the front of the knee; the patella

  He fractured his kneecap in the fall.

Often shortened to "lash". "Mascara" is the cosmetic used to darken/lengthen eyelashes. Average eyelash lifespan: about 3 months.

• each of the short curved hairs growing on the edges of the eyelids

  A tear ran down her eyelashes.

Adult humans have 206 bones (babies have ~300, some fuse over time). "Skeleton in the closet": a shameful secret. "Skeleton crew" = the minimum number of staff needed.

• the internal framework of bones in a body

  The museum displays a dinosaur skeleton.

Famous idioms: "in the eye of the storm", "the eye of the needle", "see eye to eye", "apple of one's eye". Homophone with "I" and "aye".

• each of a pair of organs of sight

  She has blue eyes.

From Latin musculus (little mouse): because muscles look like mice moving under the skin. "Muscle car": high-performance American car (1960s-70s). Homophone with "mussel" (the shellfish).

• a body tissue that produces movement

  He pulled a muscle in his back.

The male reproductive/urinary organ.

• the male organ used for urination and sexual intercourse

  The doctor examined the penis for signs of infection.

Initial "w" is silent (same as in "write", "wrong"). "Slap on the wrist" = mild punishment. "Limp wrist": sometimes used pejoratively.

• the joint connecting the hand and the forearm

  She wore a bracelet on her wrist.

"B" is silent. Idioms: "thumbs up/down" (approve/disapprove), "rule of thumb" (general guideline), "under someone's thumb" (controlled by). "All thumbs" = clumsy.

• the short thick finger on the inner side of the hand

  He gave a thumbs up sign.

• the organ that pumps blood

  His heart was beating fast.

Vast metaphorical range: leader, top, beginning, mind. Many idioms: "over my head" (too complex), "head over heels" (deeply in love), "a head start".

• the top part of the body containing the brain

  He nodded his head.

• the firm tissue around the teeth

  His gums were sore.

"Keep your chin up" = stay optimistic. "Take it on the chin" = endure criticism stoically. "Double chin": extra fat below jaw.

• the part of the face below the mouth

  He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

Two senses: student and eye opening. Same Latin root "pupilla" (little doll - because you see your own tiny reflection in someone's pupil).

• the dark center of the eye that lets light in

  Her pupils widened in the dark room.

"Raise an eyebrow" = show surprise/skepticism. "Eyebrow" trends: bushy, thin, microbladed, fashion changes by decade.

• the line of hair above the eye

  She plucked her eyebrows.

"Highbrow" / "lowbrow": class-coded terms for cultural sophistication. "Furrowed brow": sign of worry.

• the forehead; an eyebrow

  She wiped sweat from her brow.

• the internal passage from the uterus to the outside of the female body

  The doctor explained the anatomy of the vagina.

• strong tissue that connects muscle to bone

  He injured a tendon in his ankle.

Named after Achilles, whose heel was his weak spot in Greek myth.

• the tendon connecting the calf muscles to the heel

  A torn Achilles tendon can take months to heal.

• one of the two male sex organs that produce sperm and testosterone

  The exam checks for lumps in the testicles.

"Skull and crossbones": pirate flag (Jolly Roger), poison warning. "Numbskull": fool. "Get something through your thick skull" = make someone understand.

• the bony structure of the head

  The skull protects the brain.

"Shoulder the burden" / "shoulder the blame": take responsibility. "Cold shoulder" = deliberate snub. "Cry on someone's shoulder": seek emotional comfort.

• the joint between the arm and the body

  He carried the bag on his shoulder.

• the hard thin covering at the end of a finger

  She broke a fingernail while opening the box.

• the hollow under the arm where it joins the shoulder

  He tucked the thermometer under his armpit.

Idioms: 'cross your fingers' (hope for luck), 'point the finger' (blame), 'green fingers' (UK gardening skill).

• any of the slender parts at the end of the hand (sometimes including the thumb)

  She pricked her finger on a thorn.

• the flat area on each side of the head between the forehead and the ear

  Gray hair flecked his temples.

• a cavity within a bone or other tissue, especially one in the bones of the face or skull connecting with the nasal cavities

  She had a severe sinus infection.

• a female reproductive organ in which ova or eggs are produced

  Ovarian cancer.

• the lower extremity of the leg below the ankle, on which a person stands or walks

  My right foot.

• the passage which leads from the back of the mouth of a person or animal; the front of the neck

  He cleared his throat.

Silent 'k'. 'Knuckle down' = apply oneself seriously. 'Knuckle under' = submit. 'Brass knuckles' = a metal weapon worn over the knuckles.

• a part of a finger at a joint where the bone is near the surface, especially where the finger joins the hand

  He rapped his knuckles on the table.