Human Body
Concept: Composition of Our Body
The human body consists of six main elements, namely—
(i) Oxygen (ii) Carbon (iii) Hydrogen
(iv) Nitrogen (v) Calcium (vi) Phosphorus
Apart from these, elements like potassium, sodium, chlorine, magnesium, and sulphur are also present in tiny quantities in the body.
All of the above-mentioned elements are extremely vital for the proper functioning of our bodies. Let us have a detailed look at the elements—
| Name of the element | Quantity (in percentage) | Name of the element | Quantity (in percentage) |
| (i) Oxygen | 65% | (vii) Potassium | 0.4% |
| (ii) Carbon | 18.5% | (viii) Sulphur | 0.3% |
| (iii) Hydrogen | 9.5% | (ix) Sodium | 0.2% |
| (iv) Nitrogen | 3.3% | (x) Chlorine | 0.2% |
| (v) Calcium | 1.5% | (xi) Magnesium | 0.1% |
| (vi) Phosphorus | 1% |
Functions of the main elements:
New Words
Calcification-A process in which calcium builds up in the body tissues and helps in the formation of bones.
Synthesis-Formation of a substance by the combination of different things.
Did You Know?
- Milk, yogurt and cheese are foods rich in calcium, and should be included in our diet.
- Not drinking sufficient amount of water may lead to dehydration, weakness, dry skin and digestion-related disorders.
