THE HUMAN BODY
A roller coaster ride through the nephrons of this organ would include the loop of Henle
Kidneys
Highlight
This brand of fizzy water originated in Wisconsin & its name rhymes with enjoy, so stop trying to sound French when you say it
LaCroix
Before these were tiny headphones, the term referred to little shoots of young corn
Earbuds
When I ask if you have this kind of pain, I mean is it sharp or sudden, not from an angle of less than 90 degrees
Acute
Looking directly at the Sun during an eclipse can burn this light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye
Retina
During violent winter storms, penguins gather for protection in a tightly packed group called this, just like in football
Huddle
R.I.P. this 1-calorie soda, 1963-2020, the Coca-Cola company's first diet beverage but not its last
Tab
A 90-pack--that's 45 pairs!--of these from Bausch & Lomb should keep things clear for awhile
Contact lenses
I'm afraid you've broken a brachial bone, brachial meaning a part of this body part
Arm
Humans have apocrine & eccrine these, found in the skin; the eccrine ones help regulate temperature
Sweat glands
In biology, it's a thin outer layer of a cell; osmosis is the passage of a fluid through a semipermeable one
Membrane
When does a bitter alkaloid extracted from tree bark equal refreshment? When it's this distinctly flavored ingredient in tonic water
Quinine
Before cellphones, every kid wanted a pair of these rhyming handheld communication devices
Walkie Talkies
I've got one of these forecasts for you, from Greek for "prediction"
Prognosis
The ball of the ball-&-socket shoulder joint is the head of this arm bone
Humerus
This wedge-shaped piece is at the summit of an arch & holds the rest of the pieces in place
Keystone
It contains safrole, an aromatic oil banned by the FDA in 1960; before that, it was the "root" in most commercial root beer
Sassafras
Galileo made a table of probabilities based on a set of 3 of these, but today we more often see them in pairs
Dice
When I say this is "thready", I mean it's barely perceptible & feels kind of like a thin fiber moving under my finger
A Pulse
The heart's alternating periods of contraction & relaxation are called these 2 similar words
Systole & Diastole
An electromagnetic emanation around living things; a red one means you are energetic
Aura
Champagne's fizzy Italian cousins include prosecco & this type of sweet sparkling wine made in Piedmont
Asti (spumante)
Up to 7 feet long, the traditional Alaskan type of these are great for walking on deep, dry powder in open country
Snowshoes
I need to examine your ear--hold on while I grab this doohickey with a handle & a light that lets me look inside
Otoscope