Human body

Where can I find information about the human body?

(Years 5-8)

3D model showing different parts of the human brain. — Image: Nervous system - Functional areas of the Brain -- Smart-Servier by
Laboratoires Servier on Wikimedia Commons.

Entry last updated: 25/07/24

Introduction

The human body is made up of many different parts, all of which have a special function or job. When several parts work together they are called body systems. There are many different systems such as the nervous system and the digestive system. The systems are made up of the different parts of the body like the brain (part of the nervous system), the stomach (part of the digestive system) and the lungs (part of the respiratory system). All of these different parts and systems of the body are made up of cells.

The study of the individual parts of the body is called human anatomy. The study of how the separate parts work together and in systems is called human physiology.

Parts of the body

Here is a list of some of the parts that make up the human body. The resources suggested below will help you find information about these and other body parts and body systems.

Body systems: several organs working together to do a particular job, like the digestive system.

Brain: is part of the nervous system and controls all the body's activities.

Cells: very small parts that form the basis of all living things. Cells join together to form tissue.

Ears: work with the brain to process sounds so you can hear.

Eyes: the brain controls the function of the eyes enabling you to see.

Heart: the organ that pumps blood around the body and is part of the circulatory system.

Lungs: the organs that are responsible for breathing as part of the respiratory system.

Muscles: enable our arms and legs and other body parts to move, and are part of the muscular system.

Organs: are formed from tissue and each one has a particular job. Organs include the lungs and the stomach.

Skeleton: supports and protects internal organs as part of the skeletal system. Bones are the main part of the skeleton.

Skin: covers and protects the whole body as part of the Integumentary system.

General websites

Here are some websites that have information about the human body.

KidsHealth

KidsHealth is a great website with all sorts of information about your health, including topics like how the body works. There are three sections on the site – one for kids, one for teens and another for parents. Each article includes the name of the person who wrote it and when it was written, which helps us know it’s reliable.

Go to the For Kids section.
Choose How the body works from the menu.
Find quizzes, articles and activities on body parts like
kidneys, tongue, and videos about how does the digestive system work and more.

Tips: Websites that have .org in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About KidsHealth link on the website to find out what the organisation’s mission and values are.

Britannica School Primary

Britannica School is one of the EPIC databases. EPIC is a collection of reliable resources covering lots of different topics. It’s put together especially for New Zealand school students and helps to answer questions like this. You can search Britannica School in 3 different reading levels.

Use the search bar and enter 'human body'
Choose the article Human body.
Explore the links like eye, ear, or the cardiovascular system.
Or search for particular organs and body parts like heart or skin.

Tips: To get to the EPIC resources you will need a password from your school librarian first. Or you can chat with one of our AnyQuestions librarians between 1 and 6pm Monday to Friday and they will help you online. Some EPIC databases may also be available through your public library.

Khan Academy

This is a great place to find out more about human anatomy. It's a free website filled with educational articles, exercises and videos on a range of topics, including the human body.

Use the search bar and enter 'human body'.
Choose an article, video, exercise or a complete course eg Organization in the human body.

Tips: Search words, or keywords, are the most important words in our question. You can leave out small words like ‘the’ and ‘of’ and just choose the main ones, eg human body. We can always change our keywords or add more if we need to.

Science Learning Hub

This site is funded by the New Zealand Government. It has lots of articles, videos and activities for intermediate students. There are also lots of videos and interactives for primary students too. You can search by topic, concept or search feature.

Go to Topics, then look for Human Body.
This has lots of articles, activities, videos and more.
Explore the links eg meet some muscles or Food's journey through the digestive system.
Go to Concepts and check out what is snot? or fighting infection.

Innerbody - Human Anatomy Explorer

Innerbody is a human anatomy website. This interactive site opens with diagrams of each body system, which you can then explore in detail.

The Skeletal System has an interactive skeleton.
It lets discover every bone in the human body with names and facts about each one.
Or choose a different system to find out about eg The Cardiovascular System.

Tips: Websites that have .com or .co in the address can have good information, but you need to assess how reliable it is. Check the About us link at the bottom of the page to find out who has put the information on the website.

Books

Check your school or public library to see what they have on physics. Here are some titles to begin with:

Human body by Bipasha Choudhy
Stuff you should know about the human body by John Farndon
A really short journey through the body by Bill Bryson and Emma Young
Bots and bods: how robots and humans work from the inside out by John Andrews
It takes guts: how your boyd turns food into fuel (and poop) by Dr Jennifer Gardy

SCIS no: 1896610

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