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Essential Vocabulary for the GRE - Anatomy of Human Body

Here you will learn some English words about anatomy, such as "bowel", "diaphragm", "trachea", etc. that are needed for the GRE exam.

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Essential Words Needed for the GRE
anatomy
anatomy
[noun]

the branch of science that is concerned with the physical structure of humans, animals, or plants

Ex: His research in comparative anatomy helped explain evolutionary relationships among species.
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torso
torso
[noun]

the upper part of the human body, excluding the arms and the head

Ex: The yoga instructor led the class in a series of poses to strengthen the muscles of the torso and improve core stability .
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vertebra
vertebra
[noun]

(anatomy) any of the bony segments and cartilages of the spinal column

Ex: The human spine consists of 33 vertebra, including the coccyx and sacrum .
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artery
artery
[noun]

any blood vessel, carrying the blood to different organs of body from the heart

Ex: Arteries are blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood away from the heart to various parts of the body .
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tissue
tissue
[noun]

a group of cells in the body of living things, forming their different parts

Ex: Adipose tissue , commonly known as fat tissue, stores energy and cushions organs in the body .
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spinal cord

the inner part of the spine containing a mass of nerves that connects the brain to almost all the body parts

Ex: The brainstem connects to the spinal cord and regulates basic bodily functions .
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ribcage
ribcage
[noun]

(anatomy) the bony structure in the chest formed by the ribs which protects organs in the thoracic cavity

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cranium
cranium
[noun]

(anatomy) the bone structure that surrounds and protects the brain

Ex: The cranium is essential for maintaining the shape and structure of the head .
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cortex
cortex
[noun]

(anatomy) the outer layer of the anterior part of the brain, called cerebrum, containing gray matter

Ex: The somatosensory cortex, located in the parietal lobe , receives and processes sensory information from the skin , muscles , and joints .
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brow
brow
[noun]

the part in someone's face that is below the hair and above the eyes

Ex: Sunglasses can protect the eyes from sun glare and shield the brow.
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womb
womb
[noun]

the part of the body of a woman or female mammal where the baby develops before birth

Ex: The mother sang lullabies to her unborn child , hoping to soothe and comfort them within the womb.
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uterus
uterus
[noun]

(anatomy) the organ in the female body where the fetus is conceived and grown before being born

Ex: The uterus is held in place by ligaments and pelvic floor muscles .
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shin
shin
[noun]

the front part of the leg that is between the foot and the knee

Ex: The doctor examined the patient 's swollen shin and recommended ice and rest .
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biceps
biceps
[noun]

the large muscle at the front of the upper part of the arm, which flexes the forearm

Ex: Swelling and pain in the biceps can result from overuse or injury .
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armpit
armpit
[noun]

the part under the shoulder that is hollow

Ex: The shirt had stains under the armpits from excessive sweating .
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eardrum
eardrum
[noun]

a thin piece of skin in the middle ear that vibrates by sound waves and enables one to hear sounds, also known as tympanic membrane

Ex: Pressure changes during air travel can sometimes cause discomfort or pain in the ears due to unequal pressure on the eardrums.
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pharynx
pharynx
[noun]

(anatomy) the passage in the throat that connects the mouth to the gullet

Ex: Doctors use a lighted instrument to examine the pharynx during a throat examination .
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trachea
trachea
[noun]

(anatomy) the membranous tube in the body that carries air from the throat to the bronchi

Ex: Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure in which a hole is created in the trachea to bypass an obstruction or assist with breathing .
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saliva
saliva
[noun]

the liquid produced in the mouth to make chewing and swallowing easier and to prepare food for digestion

Ex: The forensic scientist collected saliva samples from the crime scene to extract DNA evidence .
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phlegm
phlegm
[noun]

the thick mucus that is formed in the nasal and throat cavities, usually secreted in excessive amounts as a result of common cold

Ex: Over-the-counter medications may help to reduce phlegm production and alleviate symptoms of congestion and coughing .
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enamel
enamel
[noun]

the hard white external layer that covers the crown of a tooth

Ex: Enamel can be damaged by excessive brushing, grinding teeth, or trauma to the mouth.
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respiration

(anatomy) the act or process of breathing

Ex: Infants exhibit rapid respiration rates compared to adults , reflecting their developing respiratory systems .
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retina
retina
[noun]

(anatomy) the sensory membrane at the back of the eye that transmits light signals to the brain through optic nerves

Ex: The retina undergoes continuous renewal , with photoreceptor cells being replaced throughout a person 's life .
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cornea
cornea
[noun]

(anatomy) the transparent layer that covers the outside of the eyeball

Ex: Corneal transplantation, also known as a corneal graft, may be necessary to restore vision in cases of severe corneal damage or disease.
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pupil
pupil
[noun]

(anatomy) the small round black area in the center of the eye, through which light enters

Ex: The photographer adjusted the camera settings to capture the reflection of light in the model 's pupils.
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renal
renal
[Adjective]

relating to the kidneys or their function

Ex: Renal health is vital for maintaining proper fluid balance and filtering waste from the body .
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abdomen
abdomen
[noun]

the lower part of the body below the chest that contains the digestive and reproductive organs

Ex: She engaged her core muscles , feeling a slight burn in her abdomen as she completed another set of crunches .
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diaphragm
diaphragm
[noun]

(anatomy) the muscular body partition that separates the chest and abdomen

Ex: Contraction of the diaphragm allows air into the lungs during inhalation .
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pancreas
pancreas
[noun]

a large gland in the body that produces insulin and glucagon and substances that help the body digest food

Ex: The islets of Langerhans within the pancreas contain beta cells that produce insulin , essential for glucose metabolism and energy production in the body .
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spleen
spleen
[noun]

(anatomy) an abdominal organ that controls the quality of the blood cells

Ex: The spleen also serves as a reservoir for platelets and white blood cells , releasing them into circulation as needed to support the immune response .
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pelvis
pelvis
[noun]

(anatomy) the large round bone structure that the limbs and the spine are joined to, which also protects the abdominal organs

Ex: The pelvis is a key component of the human skeletal system , providing support and protection to internal organs .
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appendix
appendix
[noun]

a sack of tissue that is attached to the large intestine and is surgically removed if infected

Ex: Appendicitis is inflammation of the appendix and requires surgical removal .
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bladder
bladder
[noun]

a sac-like organ inside the body where urine is stored before being passed

Ex: The ultrasound showed that the bladder was functioning normally .
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bowel
bowel
[noun]

(usually plural) the tube in the body through which digested food passes from the stomach to the anus

Ex: A healthy diet rich in fruits and vegetables supports optimal bowel function .
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bone marrow

the soft substance that fills the cavities of bones, which is either yellowish and consists of fat cells or reddish and makes blood cells

Ex: Diseases such as leukemia and multiple myeloma can affect the production of blood cells in the bone marrow, leading to serious health complications .
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tendon
tendon
[noun]

(anatomy) an elastic cord or band that connects a muscle to a bone

Ex: Tendons are composed primarily of collagen fibers .
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cartilage
cartilage
[noun]

an elastic tissue that supports or connects joints in an infant and turns into skeleton during growth

Ex: Chondrocytes are cells responsible for producing and maintaining cartilage.
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antibody
antibody
[noun]

a blood protein produced to fight diseases or infections, or in response to foreign substances in the body

Ex: Drugs that weaken your immune system can lower antibody levels .
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gland
gland
[noun]

an organ in the body that produces certain chemical substances to be used in the body or to be discharged into the surroundings

Ex: The doctor prescribed medication to stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas gland in the patient with diabetes .
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bile
bile
[noun]

a greenish-brown alkaline fluid that is produced by the liver in order to help the body digest fats

Ex: After a fatty meal , the gallbladder contracts , releasing bile into the duodenum to facilitate the digestion and absorption of dietary fats .
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