Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL - The Human Body

Here you will learn some English words about the human body, such as "hormone", "forehead", "calf", etc. that are needed for the TOEFL exam.

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adrenaline [noun]

a body hormone produced in case of anger, fear, or excitement that makes the heart beat faster and the body react quicker

Ex: The adrenaline surge during the roller coaster ride left her breathless and exhilarated .

hormone [noun]

a chemical substance produced in the body of living things influencing growth and affecting the functionality of cells or tissues

Ex:

anatomy [noun]

the human body

Ex: The textbook provided detailed diagrams of anatomy for students to learn from .

appendix [noun]

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

Ex: After removal , the appendix typically does not affect normal bodily functions .

armpit [noun]

the part under the shoulder that is hollow

Ex: The doctor examined the swollen lymph nodes in the patient 's armpit to assess their health .

artery [noun]

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

Ex: The largest artery in the body is the aorta , which originates from the left ventricle of the heart and distributes blood to the rest of the body .

biceps [noun]

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

Ex: Tendons connect the biceps muscle to the bones of the forearm .

breastbone [noun]

a long flat bone at the center of the chest that connects the ribs and the shoulder girdle

calf [noun]

the muscular part at the back of the leg between the knee and the ankle

Ex: Stretching exercises can help prevent cramps in the calf muscles after intense physical activity .

cell [noun]

an organism's smallest unit, capable of functioning on its own

Ex: The discovery of cells and the development of cell theory by scientists such as Robert Hooke and Theodor Schwann revolutionized our understanding of living organisms .

cheekbone [noun]

the bone that is just below the eye

Ex: In some cultures , prominent cheekbones are considered a symbol of beauty and elegance .

chin [noun]

the lowest part of our face that is below our mouth

Ex: He scratched his chin , trying to recall the answer to the question .

circulation [noun]

the flow and movement of blood around and in all parts of the body

Ex: Cold weather can slow down circulation and make extremities feel numb .

collarbone [noun]

either of the pair of bones that go across the top of the chest from the base of the neck to the shoulders

Ex: She wore a strapless dress that elegantly showcased her collarbone and shoulders .

fist [noun]

the hand with the fingers tightly bent toward the palm

Ex: She pounded her fist on the table , demanding to be heard in the heated argument .

palm [noun]

the inner surface of the hand between the wrist and fingers

Ex: He wiped the sweat from his forehead with the palm of his hand .

forehead [noun]

the part of the face above the eyebrows and below the hair

Ex: The doctor gently placed his hand on her forehead to check if she had a fever .

genitals [noun]

the external sex organs of the body

Ex: The biology textbook included detailed diagrams illustrating the male and female genitals .

heel [noun]

the back part of the foot, below the ankle

Ex: She stepped on a pebble , causing discomfort in her heel .

gut [noun]

the lower part of digestive tract responsible for food absorption

Ex: The gut microbiome plays a vital role in digestion and overall health by breaking down food and absorbing nutrients .

hip [noun]

each of the parts above the legs and below the waist at either side of the body

Ex: She wore a sash that draped elegantly over her hip .

intestine [noun]

a long, continuous tube in the body through which the food coming from the stomach moves and is passed

Ex:

stomach [noun]

the body part inside our body where the food that we eat goes

Ex:

joint [noun]

a place in the body where two bones meet, enabling one of them to bend or move around

Ex:

jaw [noun]

the lower bone of the face containing the chin and the bottom teeth

Ex: The boxer suffered a broken jaw after the intense match .

lap [noun]

the upper part of the legs that form a flat surface when one is seated

Ex: He placed his laptop computer on his lap , typing away on the keyboard with ease .

limb [noun]

an arm or a leg of a person or any four-legged animal, or a wing of any bird

Ex: After a day of hiking , her limbs were sore and in need of rest .

nervous system [noun]

the network of neurons and fibers that interpret stimuli and transmit impulses from the body to the brain

vein [noun]

any tube or vessel that carries blood to one's heart

Ex: Veins have thin walls and valves to keep blood moving in the right direction .

tissue [noun]

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

Ex:

thigh [noun]

the top part of the leg between the hip and the knee

Ex: The dancer 's graceful movements showcased her strong and toned thighs .

spine [noun]

the row of small bones that are joined together down the center of the back of the body

Ex: The x-ray revealed a curvature in the spine , indicating a case of scoliosis .

pulse [noun]

the rhythmic beating of the blood vessels created when the heart pumps, especially felt on the wrist or at the sides of the neck

ribcage [noun]

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

skull [noun]

the bony structure that surrounds and provides protection for a person's or animal's brain

Ex: The human skull has several openings , including the eye sockets and nasal cavity .

Essential Vocabulary for TOEFL
Family and Relationships	Stages of Life	Personal Characteristics	Feelings and Emotions
Appearance	Clothing and Fashion	Colors and Shapes	Education
Employment	Language and Grammar	The Human Body	Communication
Travel and Tourism	Transportation	Means of Transportation	The Computer World
Society and Social Issues	Healthcare and Medicine	Medical Examinations and Procedures	Physical Conditions and Injuries
Mental Disorders	Physical Disabilities and Illnesses	Geography	Space
The Environment and Weather	The Animal Kingdom	The Art World	Cinema and Theater
Music	Literature	Broadcasting and Journalism	Food and Restaurant
Diet	Agriculture and Plants	Point of View	Cause and Effect
Certainty and Doubt	Suggestions and Rules	Pride and Prejudice	Houses and Buildings
Hobbies and Games	Shopping	The Economy	The Business World
Success and Failure	Politics	Law and Order	Crime and Punishment
War and Peace	Religion	Biology, Physics, and Chemistry	Mathematics and Measurement
Engineering and Research	Athletics	Time and History