Human Parts

Bones

Depending on the structures that join bones and on the degree of movement, joints are also classified into structural or functional types. Though these areas have been studied in the Level one unit, we shall be taking another look at joints towards the end of the semester. In the meantime, some relevant features will be introduced along with the vertebral column. The functions of this system have been outlined above. The system begins at the mouth. The mouth cavity is equipped with teeth to cut, tear and grind food. The tongue moves the food around in the mouth during this process and also helps in swallowing. The tongue is also an organ of taste and helps in speech. The mouth is kept moist by saliva produced by three major pairs of salivary glands around the mouth and numerous smaller glands in the lips, cheeks and tongue. Swallowing takes food through the pharynx, from where the oesophagus carries it through the neck and thorax to the belly in the abdomen. The baglike belly stores food for a short while and initiates digestion of proteins. The rather long, tubular small intestine completes digestion, helped further by digestive juices from the pancreas and bile from the liver.