Body parts that start with G show up in every corner of the body. The gluteus maximus is the largest muscle you have, the gallbladder stores the bile that helps digest fat, and the glottis in your throat is where your voice begins.
Here are more than 20 human body parts beginning with G, grouped by body system, each with a short and accurate explanation.
Quick List: Body Parts That Start With G
| Gallbladder | Glenoid cavity | Gracilis |
| Ganglia | Glomerulus | Great toe |
| Gastric glands | Glottis | Greater omentum |
| Gastrocnemius | Gluteus maximus | Grey matter |
| Genioglossus | Gluteus medius | Groin |
| Glabella | Gluteus minimus | Gums |
| Glands | Gonads | Gyrus |
Brain and Nervous System
Grey matter: Brain and spinal cord tissue made mostly of nerve cell bodies. It forms the outer layer of the brain and the core of the spinal cord, and it is where most information is processed.
Gyrus: One of the ridges on the surface of the brain (plural: gyri). The ridges and the grooves between them, called sulci, give the brain its wrinkled look and pack a large surface area into the skull.
Ganglia: Clusters of nerve cell bodies that lie outside the brain and spinal cord. They act as relay stations for signals travelling to and from the body.
Head, Face and Throat
Glabella: The smooth area of skin and bone between the eyebrows, just above the nose. Frowning creates lines here.
Gums: The pink tissue, called gingiva, that surrounds the base of the teeth and covers the jawbone. Healthy gums hold teeth firmly; inflamed gums are a sign of gingivitis.
Genioglossus: The main muscle of the tongue, fanning out from the inside of the chin. It pushes the tongue forward, which is how you stick your tongue out.
Glottis: The opening between the vocal cords in the voice box. Air passing through it makes the vocal cords vibrate, which produces your voice. It closes when you swallow or hold your breath.
Digestive and Urinary System
Gallbladder: A small, pear-shaped organ tucked under the liver. It stores and concentrates bile, then squeezes it into the small intestine after a meal to help digest fat. Hard deposits called gallstones can form inside it.
Gastric glands: Millions of tiny glands in the lining of the stomach. They produce stomach acid, digestive enzymes and a protective layer of mucus.
Greater omentum: A large, apron-like fold of fatty tissue that hangs from the stomach in front of the intestines. It stores fat and contains immune cells that help wall off infection in the abdomen.
Glomerulus: A tiny knot of capillaries inside each filtering unit of the kidney. Blood pressure forces water and waste out of these capillaries, which is the first step in making urine.
Glands and Reproductive System
Glands: Organs or groups of cells that make and release substances. Some release them through ducts, like sweat and salivary glands; others release hormones straight into the blood, like the thyroid and adrenal glands.
Gonads: The reproductive glands: the ovaries in females and the testes in males. They produce eggs or sperm and sex hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone.
Muscles
Gluteus maximus: The largest muscle in the human body, forming most of the buttock. It straightens the hip, powering you up stairs, out of a chair and into a run.
Gluteus medius: A fan-shaped muscle on the outer hip, partly under the gluteus maximus. It moves the leg out to the side and keeps the pelvis level when you stand on one leg.
Gluteus minimus: The smallest and deepest of the three gluteal muscles. It works with the gluteus medius to steady the hip when walking.
Gastrocnemius: The large, two-headed muscle that gives the calf its shape. It lifts the heel so you can push off when walking, run or stand on tiptoe, and it also helps bend the knee.
Gracilis: A long, thin muscle on the inner thigh. It helps pull the legs together and bend the knee.
Bones, Joints and Body Regions
Glenoid cavity: The shallow socket on the shoulder blade where the head of the upper-arm bone sits. Because it is so shallow, the shoulder moves very freely but can also dislocate more easily than other joints.
Great toe: Another name for the big toe, known medically as the hallux. It bears much of the body’s weight when you push off to walk.
Groin: The area where the front of the thigh meets the lower abdomen. Important blood vessels, nerves and lymph nodes pass through it, and groin strains usually involve the inner-thigh muscles.
Common Mix-Ups to Avoid
- Gallbladder vs. bladder: The gallbladder stores bile for digestion; the urinary bladder stores urine.
- Glottis vs. epiglottis: The glottis is the opening between the vocal cords; the epiglottis is the flap that covers it when you swallow.
- Gyrus vs. sulcus: A gyrus is a ridge on the brain’s surface; a sulcus is a groove between ridges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the largest body part that starts with G?
The gluteus maximus. It is the largest muscle in the human body.
Which organ starts with G?
The gallbladder is the best-known organ that starts with G. The gonads (ovaries and testes) are also organs.
What are easy G body parts for kids?
Gums, great toe and groin are simple words children can learn. Older children often enjoy learning gluteus maximus as the name of the biggest muscle.
Conclusion
From the gyri on the surface of your brain to the great toe that pushes off with every step, the letter G covers parts of nearly every body system. Learning them in groups makes them easier to remember and shows how they work together.
Continue the series with body parts that start with F and body parts that start with H.
Where to Learn More
For a clear overview of how the body’s systems fit together, see the Britannica guide to the human body. For trusted health information about body parts and conditions, visit MedlinePlus from the US National Library of Medicine. To check the meaning and pronunciation of tricky words, use the Cambridge Dictionary. You can also jump to the end of the alphabet with body parts that start with Z.
This article is for general education only and is not medical advice. If you have a health concern, please talk to a doctor.
