What Every Person Should Know

What every person should know…

I was recently asked, “What is something you think every person should know?”  As a PT, I feel that is a loaded question, but when I took a few more seconds to contemplate, I realized, I want every person to know about their body.  I do not necessarily mean the ins and outs of how the body works nor in depth physiology.  I want people to have a very basic understanding of their anatomy and it’s basic function.  But even more than each person having an understanding of their anatomy and function, but to also openly talk about it.

Let’s take our shoulders for example.  Our shoulders are crucial to daily life. They help us reach overhead for objects, reach in front to grab the steering wheel of a car, lift things up.  When we sleep, many of us sleep on our sides.  When our shoulders do not function well and are limited in range of motion or are painful, then our life is disrupted and we begin to talk about it.  Usually, we openly talk about it to our friends, family, and physicians and from there we seek out help to resolve the discomfort.  No shame, no embarrassment, no hesitation.

What I find interesting is that we openly discuss body parts such as the shoulder, the knee, the ankle, etc. and we openly talk about their function, but what we do not openly discuss are our bowel, bladder, and reproductive organs.  In my practice, I also find that people rarely have looked at these body parts or understand the proper terminology.  And even moreso, there is so much shame surrounding our bowel, bladder, and reproductive organs.  But, guess what, when we break it down, it is just anatomy.  It is the basics of human functioning.

Let’s start with the vulva.  Say it outloud, scream it! VULVA!  The vulva is the term used t describe external female genitalia and encompasses the labia minor, majora, clitoris, opening of the urethra, and opening of the vagina.

Next up, the PENIS! Scream this one, PENIS!  The penis is the male external organ that transports urine from the bladder to outside the body and semen from several organs to outside of the body.  

And now for the URETHRA!  The urethra connects from the bladder and transports fluid waste from inside to outside of the body.  Anything that has water or fluids is filtered through your body and then whatever the body does not need it empties into the bladder.  The urethra helps transport that to outside of the body.  The urethra is pretty great! 

And for the finale, the RECTUM!  The rectum is situated behind the vulva and penis.  The rectum becomes the anus which is the opening and helps you evacuate solid waste from the body.  It’s pretty incredible that what you eat travels through your intestines and your body absorbs what it needs for energy and then expels the rest!  The rectum and anus is very important! 

And all of these external organs pierce the pelvic floor muscles.  But what are the pelvic floor muscles muscles you may ask?  The next post will focus on these muscles and their importance in daily functioning.  I will also explain why every person should have a basic understanding of these muscles because these muscles strongly impact the way the bowel, bladder, and reproductive organs function.  

For now, all I ask is you use the proper terms for these body parts.  And remember, they are just like any other body part...your elbow, your knee, your shoulder, and your vulva or penis!  They all have a purpose and let’s be accepting of that!