Labelling the Human Body Trivia Quiz

The thyroid is a gland in the neck region of the body, resembling a butterfly in its shape. It is one of the endocrine glands responsible for the release of hormones. The main hormone secreted by the thyroid is thyroxine, which governs the rate of metabolism - the speed at which our bodies work.

Common problems with the thyroid lead to the over or under production of thyroxine. Too much speeds up the functions and can cause issues with your heart or lead to digestive problems when food is not digested properly. An under production of the hormone can cause weight gain as the body's systems work too slowly. Medication is available for both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Hallux is the medical name for the big toe, the one located on the inner side of the foot. According to some sources, it is derived from the Latin word 'allex' which referred to that toe. The big toe is important in balance and proper walking.

Problems which can affect the big toe include bunions and arthritis.

The olecranon is part of the ulna, one of the bones of the lower arm, and is the bony part you can feel in your elbow. It forms a joint with the humerus, the bone in the upper arm - a hinge which allows the arm to bend.

Nearly every one of us will know the pain of hitting the 'funny bone', although the description is inaccurate. It is actually the ulnar nerve which causes the pain which is suffered as the nerve is so close to the vulnerable part of the elbow. The olecranon is also prone to fractures.

The spleen is situated on the left side of the body, lying next to the stomach. It is one of the organs which humans can live without, since the versatile liver will perform some of its functions if necessary.

The spleen plays a role in the prevention of infection as it contains white blood cells and is also important in the removal of damaged red blood cells. If damaged, the spleen usually has to be removed as repairing it is difficult due to the high concentration of blood it holds. Most often damage to the spleen is caused by accidents, especially in vehicles, or in sports. Living without a spleen does increase the risk of infections becoming serious, but most people function perfectly well without this organ.

The vomer is a small bone in the nose, dividing the nose into the two sections. The cartilage which forms the nose is attached to the vomer, which is the smallest bone in the skull.

The vomer can be broken by a heavy blow and congenital problems, such as a deviated septum, can be caused by the bone being misaligned. The division of the nasal cavity into two sections is essential for breathing and smelling and, maybe less obviously, is important in speech production.

The scaphoid is one of the carpal bones which lie between the hand and arm, in the wrist. The scaphoid lies in line with the thumb and index finger.

The scaphoid is the wrist bone most prone to being broken in falls, and can take some time to mend due to lacking much of a blood supply. Other carpal bones include the hamate, on the same side as the little finger, the trapezium and the capitate.

Found only in men, the prostate gland is about the same size as a walnut and is located under the bladder. Its function is to create the fluid in which sperm are transported.

In later life, the prostate can grow larger, restricting the urethra, the tube which transports urine from the bladder and runs through the middle of the gland. It is also a common site in which cancer can develop, especially in men aged fifty or over, and can be detected by physical examination or blood tests.

Better known as the kneecap, the patella is the largest of the sesamoid bones of the body. These are bones which form part of the tendons and allow the tendons to move with less effort. Others are found in the hands and feet.

The patella is roughly triangular in shape and lies at the front of the knee joint in the quadriceps tendon. Its main purpose is to protect the knee and assist in straightening of the knee joint. The problems which affect the patella tend to be due to wear and tear, although it can also be dislocated if a sudden and unexpected movement occurs.

The largest internal organ of the body, the liver is located in the upper right of the body, lying above the stomach and right kidney and underneath the diaphragm.

Medical research has found more than five hundred different functions that the liver carries out, with the creation of bile being one of the most important. Bile helps in the removal of waste products and can break down fats. The liver also stores glycogen and iron, needed for energy and blood production respectively, and can remove toxins from the body.

Liver diseases include hepatitis, caused by viruses or drinking alcohol to excess, cirrhosis, which is scarring caused by earlier episodes of inflammation, and fatty liver, found in people who are seriously overweight.

The clavicle is commonly known as the collar bone, lying horizontally across from the top of the arm to the sternum, the breastbone and linked to the scapula (shoulder blade). It is one of the most easily broken bones of the body, especially following falls when the natural instinct is to put out a hand to reduce the impact. The stress travels up the arm to the weakest point - around the mid point of the clavicle.

The clavicle provides support for the arm and allows free movement of the limb. The size of the clavicle can be different between the left and right, which is unusual in paired bones.