Showing titles in Anatomy & Physiology

The nose helps your body do more than just sniff and smell yummy foods! Without your nose, your favorite foods won't taste as good, your lungs won't have the warm air needed to stay healthy, and germs from outside your body will have an easier route in! Did you know your body makes mucus to wash away germs that find their way in your body? Discover how fabulous your nose really is!

Have you ever wondered how your senses work? Learn about the interesting ways your senses allow you to perceive the world around you by doing the fun tests with some friends! Learn about how your sense of smell and taste are affected by completing these fun activities!

Did you know your eyelids close and open 10 to 20 times a minute! Your eyes have parts that work together. The pupil lets light into your eyes. The iris controls how much light gets in. The cornea, a bowl-shaped layer, covers and protects your eyeballs. Discover how hairs on your eyelashes protect your eyes from germs and dirt, and other ways your eyes help you see and keep you safe!

Do you know how your ears can hear? Did you know they’re responsible for other things, too? For one thing, they keep you balanced on your feet! Learn about the anatomy of your ear and how its structure allows you to hear all the different noises you experience every day.

Tiny creatures called microbes live in, and on your body that can be helpful. But some are bad like bacteria and viruses–in fact, they can make you sick! Your body needs medicine called antibiotics to fight and kill these germs so you can feel better. You must get a different medicine called a vaccine to keep from catching a virus.

Germs are everywhere and make your body sick. Never fear–the body is a germ-fighting machine designed to fight these intruders and keep you healthy. If you get a cut, blood clumps together to stop bleeding. Mucus, the sticky goo in your nose, catches germs to help you sneeze them out. Eyelashes and eyelids form tears that block some germs! Discover ways the body fights to keep germs out.

Have you ever been sick with strep throat? It's an illness caused by bacteria that gives you a painful sore throat! Learn how doctors can diagnose it by your symptoms and a test, and how medicine can cure strep throat so you can get better. Be sure to take all of the medicine until its gone if you have strep. You might even impress your doctor on your next visit with your new knowledge!

Your senses are an amazing part of the human body. They allow you to see, smell, hear, and taste things! Did you know you can trick them? Learn about the different optical illusions that will make your senses go wild!

How smart can humans really be? According to a panel of expert canines, we're awfully confusing! We ignore the fact that we have a big water bowl in the bathroom, and don't even re-eat our vomit! Follow along and see why our pets might think we're a little silly.

What would you give for a bucket of pee? You might be surprised—pee is full of useful stuff! It’s had a lot of uses throughout history. See how people have used urine for important aspects of life— including cleaning your clothes and brushing your teeth!

Learn about how the body processes food by following Joe's pizza lunch—from the plate to his mouth to his stomach and beyond. The nutrients from food are absorbed in the small intestine, which are delivered to rest of the body.

Red is a red blood cell. Luke is a leukocyte, or white blood cell. Patty is a platelet. What do these three have in common? They are the workers in your blood. Listen to find out why each worker is important for your body.

Your skin does a lot to make sure you are healthy and feeling good. It can keep you warm on a cold day, and cool on a hot day. It's tough and helps protect you from the sun. Its ridges help you grip things. Let's face it, your skin has you covered.

Al igual que los humanos, los delfines aprenden jugando, observando y experimentando. Algunos comportamientos aprendidos son cosas divertidas para pasar el tiempo. En diferentes partes del mundo los delfines han aprendido algunas técnicas de caza fascinantes. Sin importar si el comportamiento aprendido es enseñado de generación en generación o aprendido mediante la observación, esos delfines tienen habilidades de caza únicas que solo pueden encontrarse en esas zonas.

Marine mammals known as cetaceans are broken into two large groups: toothed whales (including dolphins and porpoises) and baleen whales. One group has a single blowhole to breathe air, the other has two. One group has tall dorsal fins to help maintain balance as they chase prey. The other scoops up water and prey in their large mouths as they swim slowly along—they don’t need large dorsal fins. One group uses echolocation, the other doesn’t. Learn more about what these animals have in common and how they are different in this latest installment of the Compare and Contrast Series.

Kelly's grandmother is a doctor who has a scary-looking skeleton named Skully in her office. One day, Skully comes to life and explains to Kelly all the important things a skeleton does. Suddenly, Skully isn't so scary anymore.

If you've ever blown a snot rocket, had a cold, or picked your nose, you know that your nose is capable of amazing things.

What causes itches, and how does scratching stop it? This Q & A explains what tells your brain you have an itch and how long to scratch.

Why and how do tears form? In response to a reader question, a psychologist explains that feeling overwhelmed is a major cause of emotional tears, which appear to be unique to humans.

The Director of the Sinus Center at Johns Hopkins University explains why our noses start to run in cold weather.