Characteristics of the Human Body

Question: How many basic tastes can humans sense?

Answer: Humans can sense five basic tastes: salty, sweet, sour, bitter, and umami (representing chemicals known as amino acids).

Question: How much blood is in the average human body?

Answer: The average human carries about 192.7 ounces (5.7 liters) of blood. Altogether, this quantity of blood circulates through the body twice a minute.

Question: What sensory function do the ears provide other than hearing?

Answer: The ear is also responsible for maintaining the body’s equilibrium, or balance.

Question: How many facial muscles are involved in speaking?

Answer: About 70 muscles are involved in speaking. These are located in several parts of the head, neck, and mouth.

Question: Which of these is not part of the endocrine system?

Answer: The major glands of the endocrine system include the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands, as well as the pancreas. The lungs are part of the pulmonary system.

Question: What is the word for a person with very pale skin and eyes?

Answer: An albino is a person or animal who is born without any natural pigmentation in the skin, eyes, or hair. Albinism is very rare.

Question: How many sweat glands does the average person have?

Answer: The average person has 2.6 million sweat glands, which are widely distributed over the body.

Question: Which of these joints is not found in the human body?

Answer: A mortise and tenon joint is used in architecture. Gliding, ball and socket, and suture joints can be found in the human body.