bodily function

Thân thiện

A child learns about the bodily function of breathing in a health class.

Definition

Noun: A natural, involuntary, or automatic organic process that occurs within a living body to maintain life and health. These are essential physiological activities.

Usage

The term "bodily function" is a neutral, formal term used to refer to the basic internal processes of a living organism. It is often used in medical, biological, or polite conversational contexts.

Examples

• Digestion is a fundamental bodily function.
• The doctor asked if all his bodily functions were normal.
• Sleep is necessary for the regulation of many bodily functions.

Advanced Usage

• Euphemistic Use: The term is frequently used as a polite or indirect way to refer to excretory functions (e.g., urination, defecation).
  • The patient needs assistance with basic bodily functions.

Variants and Related Words

• Bodily Process (n): A synonym, often used in more technical or scientific writing.
  • The study monitored several key bodily processes.
• Physiological Process (n): A more technical term with the same core meaning.
  • Homeostasis regulates vital physiological processes.

Synonyms

• Physical function
• Organic process
• Vital function (specifically for processes essential to life, like circulation)

Related Phrases

• To perform a bodily function: To carry out such a process.
  • The injury made it difficult for him to perform certain bodily functions.

Học thuật

Noun

1. an organic process that takes place in the body
   • respiratory activity

Từ đồng nghĩa

• bodily process
• body process
• activity