Can you name all of the body parts that start with d? It may be tricky because many people haven’t heard of them or seen pictures. But don’t worry! In this post, we will explore some of the many different parts that start with D.
A body without its parts is impossible to imagine. Whether it’s the spine, which provides our central nervous system with a way of receiving and sending messages, or the diaphragm which separates the lungs from the stomach so you can breathe in air, every part has an important job to do for your health.
To learn more about some other fascinating body parts starting with D, read on!
List of Human Body Parts That Start With D
What would a body be without its various parts? It wouldn’t have all the necessary functions that allow it to live and grow. We have listed a handy list of the body parts that start with the letter d for your convenience below:
- Diencephalon
- Dura Mater
- Dura cranial
- Dermis
- Diaphragm
- Duodenum
- Digestive System
- Descending Aorta
- Dorsal Cavity
- Dorsal muscle
- Dorsalis pedis
- Dua’s Layer
- Ducts
- Digits
- DNA
- Dentin
- Deltoid muscle
- Deviated septum
- Double chin
8 Most Significant Body Parts Starting With The Letter D
The human body is a complex machine. With so many internal organs and parts starting with the letter d, you might find yourself struggling to identify them all on your own!
Here’s an easy list of some common definitions with function for the most important human body part that starts with D:
Diencephalon: Diencephalon is the anatomical name for the part of the brain that lies between the cerebrum and cerebellum, to one side of the mesencephalon, and connects – to more superior parts of the brain.
It is supposed that this region of the brain controls functions like hunger, arousal, sexual drive, thirst, and our ability to smell. There are two important structures in this region of the brain.
Function:
- It functions mainly in the regulation of energy, autonomic aspects of homeostasis, circadian rhythm cycles, and immune function.
- It contains many nuclei, including those controlling hunger, body temperature regulation, moods (emotions), memories, and activity cycles (the biological clock).
- Regulating responses like this may be what makes us feel so good when we satisfy these cues with food, water, or sex – at least until we overeat or ejaculate!
Dura Mater: There are two layers of membrane that comprise the dura mater. The outer one called the periosteal or superficial layer, is a dense fibrous tissue. This layer functions as a protective barrier that covers the surface of the brain and spinal cord.
The inner, called the meningeal or deep layer, is a porous tissue composed mainly of water and glycosaminoglycans (or GAGs).
The meninges form a protective curtain around either side of your spinal column and your cranial vault- covering them to protect from any injury from above, below, next to them, or in front of them. They also help hold cerebrospinal fluid in place which protects your central nervous system from mechanical forces.
Function:
- The important functions of dura matter are to protect cerebral spinal fluid and the brain from injuries
- One of its other main functions is to protect the membranes around the brain and spine (meninges).
- It also absorbs shock waves during an earthquake.
- Keep the cerebrospinal fluid flowing through spaces between its cells.
- And to maintain a tight seal around blood vessels.
Dermis: The Dermis, or the “skin deep” layer, is called that because it provides a deeper and more extensive surface. It’s also the most abundant of the 3 layers of skin and consists of connective tissue which helps to bind all other structures in place and provides elasticity and flexibility.
Together with hair follicles (which secrete an oily substance), sebaceous glands (which produce oil), and sweat glands (which secrete water through their ducts to cool down your body heat), we can consider this layer as the one representing our deepest fantasies.
Function:
- The primary function of the Dermis is to provide support for the epidermis.
- The secondary functions are to produce keratin fibers and collagen, store fat cells, and produce hair.
- The most important function of the Dermis is to keep the body insulated from both heat and cold.
- The Dermis also protects underlying tissue and conduits such as ligaments, tendons, hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels, and nerves.
- The other primary functions are to promote glycogen storage for energy during periods when energy intake may be inadequate.
- And finally, it stores cholesterol until it can be transported out of the body.
Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities, filling out the space created by the lungs expanding and contracting. The diaphragm contracts and relaxes to control your breathing and push air in and out of your lungs.
It has an area of about 3 square feet, which puts it in competition with much larger muscles like your heart.
Moreover, the diaphragm is not much thicker than a piece of paper – meaning that when you’re lying down for such procedures such as MRI scanning (which deforms the anatomy), viewing structures in three dimensions can be difficult or impossible because structures may show up either too close together or too far apart from one another.
Function:
- The diaphragm plays an important role in respiration by contracting when we inhale and relaxing when we exhale.
- It pulls down on the bottom of the lungs so air can fill them, and downward pressure also pushes up on body organs.
- This great wall of muscle helps to control breathing and maintain posture during exercise.
Duodenum: Duodenum is the first section of the small intestine and it takes in digestive juices from the stomach and starts secreting enzymes that break down protein (pepsinogen) and starts to digest carbohydrates.
The duodenum also absorbs vitamin B12, bile salts, hydrochloric acid, pancreatic secretions—amylase (starch-hydrolyzing enzyme), lipases (fat splitting enzymes), and sodium chloride (isotonic fluids).
Function:
- Its function is to collect bile from the liver and pancreatic juices from glands to chemically digest food.
- The duodenum usually empties dinner within thirty minutes of eating.
- It loves to serve up calcium-rich bile secretions to help break down fat.
Digestive System: The digestive system of the human body is made up of the different parts that break down food so it can be efficiently digested and assimilated.
The process starts in the mouth with salivary amylase helping to break down starch into maltose which gets broken down further to glucose molecules in your small intestine.
It then moves on through your esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine (colon), rectum, and then finally out of the anus while passing through many organs including your liver, to name just one organ.
Function:
- It protects us from outside invaders by letting only certain things inside our bodies.
- It breaks down the foods we eat so that they can be turned into energy/nutrients.
- It sends those nutrients to all the right places for us to stay alive.
Digits: The human body has 10 digits- five on the hands and five on the feet. These are often referred to as “fingers” or “toes.”
This comes from counting joints that can be used by animals to grab things with two of their appendages, for example how an anteater relies on its long tongue but also has four three-pronged claws at the back of its front paws for gripping food items.
However, since an anteater doesn’t walk upright as humans do, it is incorrect that they have more than two usable appendages on each leg.
Function:
- Digits are used for basic human needs, such as using hands to use tools, gripping objects securely with fingers and thumbs, and communicating through gestures.
- Apart from these functions, the digits of the hand can also be found in maintaining body temperature.
- This is because they have a high density of sweat glands that help to dispose of excess heat.
DNA: DNA is an example of a molecule. All cells contain the genetic information necessary to reproduce, so in most cells, two copies of this molecule are present. The key thing to remember about DNA is that it takes on the characteristics of its surroundings.
For example, when there is very little external iodine exposure (such as for many people living in remote areas), then your body makes less thyroid hormone because it doesn’t sense any need for more.
The “genetic memory” is preserved indefinitely in each cell — which means that you have iodine levels forever even if an exposure happens only once every 10 years or so. That’s why some people will never get syphilis again after experiencing one episode long ago, while others can get it more.
Function:
- DNA is the blueprint that determines your appearance and also your fingerprints.
- Most importantly it contains all of our genetic information.
- This data can be interpreted in a variety of ways like gene expression, RNA generation
- It provides instructions to make proteins and enzymes function properly.
- Besides, regulating the amount of inherited genetics that are present on its chromosome at any given point in time.
Conclusion
In this post, we have explored some of the many different body parts that begin with the letter d. We hope you’ve been able to find a few new words and learn something interesting along the way!
If there’s occurs for D in different parts around your body or if any other posts would be helpful going forward or anything else you want us to explore in future posts, please let us know by commenting on our blog.

I am a health advisor(therapist), writer, and therapy expert who researches various therapy topics to help people live happier lives, and I have shared many tips and tricks on many types of therapy for the standard of living.