all you need to know about your organs and where to find out more.

Thyroid gland : Your thyroid gland is one of the endocrine glands, which make hormones to regulate physiological functions in your body. The thyroid gland manufactures thyroid hormone, which regulates the rate at which your body carries on its necessary functions.

Trachea : tubular passageway ( windpipe ) for air intake which branches to left and right bronchi ( lungs )

superior vena cava : receives blood from the head and arms and chest and empties into the right atrium of the heart; formed from the azygos and both brachiocephalic veins

lung : either of two sack like respiratory organs in the chest that serve to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood.

liver : large and complicated reddish-brown glandular organ located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity; secretes bile and functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat; synthesizes substances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifies poisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes

inferior vena cava : receives blood from lower limbs and abdominal organs and empties into the posterior part of the right atrium of the heart; formed from the union of the two iliac veins

gallbladder : is a pear-shaped organ that stores bile until the body needs it for digestion. It is connected to the liver and the duodenum by the biliary tract.

kidneys : pair of bean-shaped organs in the back part of the abdominal cavity that form and excrete urine, regulate fluid and electrolyte balance, and act as endocrine glands.

Ureters : are the ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. The ureters are muscular tubes that can propel urine along by the motions of peristalsis.

Appendix : is a blind ended tube connected to the cecum. It develops embryologic ally from the cecum. In adults, the appendix averages 10cm in length but can range from 2-20cm.

urinary bladder : is a hollow, muscular and distensible organ that sits on the pelvic floor to store urine until capacity is reached.

urethra : is a tube which connects the urinary bladder. to the outside of the body. The urethra has an excretory function in both sexes, to pass urine to the outside, and also a reproductive function in the male, as a passage for sperm.

Aorta : largest artery in the human body, the aorta originates from the left ventricle of the heart and brings oxygenated blood to all parts of the body in the systematic circulation

Heart : chambered muscular organ in vertebrates that pumps blood received from the veins into the arteries, thereby maintaining the flow of blood through the entire circulatory system.

esophagus: is the muscular tube through which ingested food passes from the mouth to the stomach.

Diaphragm : is a shelf of muscle extending across the bottom of the ribcage & when relaxed is dome shaped. Critically important in respiration by drawing air to the lungs & enlarging the thoracic cavity. When relaxed air is pushed out.

spleen : large, highly vascular lymphoid organ, lying to the left of the stomach below the diaphragm. It stores blood, disintegrates old blood cells & filters foreign substances from the blood & produces lymphocytes.

stomach : one of the principal organs of digestion, located between the esophagus and the small intestine.

pancreas : is a glandular organ secreting digestive enzymes and hormones and lies beneath the stomach connecting to the small intestine. Pancreatic juice has 3 digestive enzymes: tryptase, amylase & lipase, that complete the digestion of proteins, carbohydrates & fats respectively.

small Intestine: part of the gastrointestinal tract and is responsible for extracting nutrients from food. It has 3 structural parts: duodenum, jejunum & ileum.

large Intestine: or the colon, primarily extracts water from feces & together with small intestine it also extracts nutrition from food. It is the section from the cecum to the rectum.

rectum: is the final portion of the large intestine, terminating at the anus.

Click on encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com and enter your selected body part.